Around the World Travel Summary Part 2/2

Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, recently on a 90-day journey around the world, excited to connect with fellow travelers and share our experiences.

Quick-fire FAQ:

The FAQ for today is: about Single Supplements. These are extra fees that are essentially doubled when part of a package group tour. Refer to the notes for further information on this topic.

When do I want to pay for them or not? Look at this link. 

There may be times you will pay for this, but the practice is getting attention with cruise ship business, and the more successful ones are eliminating the fees or reducing them dramatically.

I had to pay for a whole room on my cruise from Helsinki to Stockholm for one night. It was a tiny room on one of the lower levels, with no window. I’ll address this issue again in future episodes, but I’d like to hear from you on the topic, too.

60-second confidence challenge

Find a world map, whether it is a flat map, a round map, or an atlas. Get one and explore the map as if you lived in the world. You do. I challenge you to know your geography a little better than you did yesterday.

World map

World Map

If you like today’s Confidence Challenge, Chapter 3 of my book dives deeper—link in description.”

See Book A for addressing all of these items.

Find it on the website​​  https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It’s a several-part series.

Destination Deep‑Dive

Today’s special destination is: 

A summary of my 90-day trip. Part Two

 I ended Part One of this summary with my visit to South Africa, specifically Johannesburg. Let's move forward now on the second half. I flew on the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere, June 21, to the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere on June 22, when I landed in Athens, Greece, flying through and stopping off in Qatar overnight. Qatar's airport was immense.e I was shocked at how large it was. It was actually like a little city and quite the Commerce capital of the world from my perspective. You could stay there for weeks without going outside if you wanted to. There was just so much going on at any time of the day. I tried to access the airport lounge as I had a very long layover. Still, they insisted I couldn't check in until three hours before my flight or something like that, so I had to shop and come back. When I did go to the airport lounge, it was delightful, even at two in the morning. My credit card for this trip allowed me to use the Priority Pass lounges and even bring a guest, so I took advantage of that benefit and passed it on to others who became friends along the way. Now back to Greece. I didn't have a clear plan for what I was going to do in Athens. I stayed at a hostel located in a not-so-great area of the city. It was on the fringe, and by that I mean the only stores nearby were small markets that primarily sold take-out groceries. No other stores, such as dry cleaners or dog grooming shops, were in the neighborhood. The residents here were mainly short-termers, not people planning to stay for very long, hence markets that sold convenience goods. However, they were not called 7-11’s or chain stores, and inside, they had a small selection because the stores were small for the most part. There were many intersecting streets, and not all of them had well-marked names. I also had some struggles with Google Maps on this trip, but I enjoyed the visit nonetheless. I went to an island called Hydra. The locals called Ira, and then I also went and visited an island called Paris. I stayed overnight on the island and had a pleasant visit, spending time swimming in the ocean, hiking along the shore, and exploring its natural beauty.

 The next day, when I returned to Athens, I checked back into the hostel, more for convenience and budget, and stayed one more night. I did feel a bit more secure. I remember it being so hot that even several stores and shops had closed. I took a taxi to the Acropolis Museum and enjoyed the air conditioning inside before heading back to my Hostel. The next day, I took a train to Thessaloniki, a five-hour ride, and stayed there for two nights to explore the outskirts of other cities beyond Athens. I returned to Athens a few days later and visited the Acropolis, the architectural museum, as well as several other local places of interest. I flew to Krakow, Poland, and then to Warsaw, Poland . I then returned to Dansk for another night. These cities hold significant historical importance for World War II. However, when I arrived at Dansk, I saw the World War II museum and realized that it had many artifacts well displayed for the public. If you're at Dansk, I recommend this museum. Some of the things I did in Dansk, such as getting a haircut and having a massage, were important for self-care. After, I flew to Finland and then took a ferry to Estonia for a few days.

Then I went back to Helsinki and stayed some time there before going to Stockholm, Sweden, and then going to Oslo and then to Bergen, Norway for a few days, I went back to Oslo and then went to Copenhagen for a few days and then I went to our house denmark, and then back to Copenhagen before going to the Netherlands. I had a friend in the Netherlands. I visited Melvin, who lived in Amsterdam, but I also visited Haarlem, Rotterdam, and Harlem while I was there. Afterwards, I flew to Edinburgh, Scotland, and took a train to North Berwick, where I spent a wonderful day exploring, swimming, and getting to know the town. I left Edinburgh for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 27 and spent the next two weeks in Canada. I enjoyed the Eastern Canadian hospitality, the Celtic culture, and the nature I saw throughout the 1,500 kilometers I drove. I finished my week in Toronto, exploring Niagara Falls, the city, and its suburbs, and swam three times during my stay. It was hot before I came home to San Diego.

Smart Move and Slip-up pairings

 My slip-up in Edinburgh was dropping my iPad on my tiny toe at 5 AM in the dark. I was hurt, but I didn't know how badly it had broken. Four other people were sleeping in my hostel room at the time. I was getting ready to leave for the airport when this happened. Still, three weeks later, my toe is sensitive, but I think it will be okay. My lesson for you is this: when you're packing your bags, turn the light on so you can see what won't fall on your foot.

60-second confidence challenge

 Here's my challenge for you. 

 My travel challenge for you is to get to know your apps on your phone. Download at least three travel apps, including Google Maps, Rome2Rio, and consider moving it. You might have some other good apps that you would recommend, so please let me know what they are. You need these to help you navigate your way in a new city or a new country. Always download your city's Google map so that you have it if you're not in a Wi-Fi area. Download it in advance.

Resources Roundup

 One of my favorite apps is called Currency. I can look at the currency of my current location and compare it to another currency, such as the US dollar or the currency of a destination I may be traveling to. This Currency App is a valuable resource that does not require Wi-Fi to use.