Solo Travel Adventures: Faith-Rooted Intentional Travel for Christian Women Over 50

If you are in Europe, you need to make time to visit Bruges, Belgium. Even if you only have one day, you will experience an idyllic city in Europe mostly untouched by the war. Bruges is located in Northwestern Belgium know for its picturesque streets and historic medieval architecture. It is a quiet city surrounded by canals like Amsterdam but less touristy, It is also a UNESCO Heritage location....

Do you create travel goals every year? Where do you want to go in 2024? Unsure of where to go? I combined a list of 12 trendy destinations for 2024 I gathered from trusted resources such as Travel & Leisure, The Points Guy, CNN, Lonely Planet and Conde Nast Travel. I picked locations that are safe for solo women travelers. Listen in on how I faired in accomplishing my 2023 travel goals and wha...

Where are you traveling to in 2024? Can't decide? Have a bucket list a mile long? Consider these ways to help you pick a place. In January, I will be hosting a mini workshop to help you go more in-depth on deciding where to go but also on how to start planning that trip.  Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

Have you ever considered walking the Camino, also known as The St. James Way? Is it on your bucket list? There are several different Camino routes one can take and my guest today, Joy Alway, has walked many of them. Joy Alway grew up in Devon, England but always dreamed of travelling and seeing the world so studied Business Studies (Travel and Tourism) and moved into the world of tour operating, w...

Are you needing to buy gifts for the traveler in your life? Maybe these are ideas you can pass along to family and friends to buy for you. They all make great stocking stuffers or even Birthday gift ideas without breaking the bank. All the ideas mentioned can be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers. Share the episode with your family and friends as a hint for gift ideas. Support the show...

In the US we have 63 National Parks to explore with Big Bend in the state of Texas. Big Bend in located far West Texas on a bit over 800,000 acres of geographic marvel of vast desert landscapes with rocky mountain ridge tops and carved out canyons near the border of Mexico. It is the 15th largest National park in the US. BEST TIME TO GO: Spring and Fall or November thru April. HOW TO GET THERE: Yo...

Everyone loves "hacks" whether for travel or general life hacks to make our lives easier. These 7 airport travel hacks will save you time, money and reduce your stress. 1) Get TSA Pre-check status or Global Entry to save time during security check. Lines are shorter, you move through the process quicker and you don't have to remove your shoes. 2) Take an early morning flight. The fi...

Do you question why travel solo when you could share the experience with others? Maybe your friends or family don't understand why you would even want to travel alone. Traveling alone can be rewarding and transformative especially for women over 50. 1) Self-discovery 2) Independence 3) Flexibility 4) Personal growth 5) Cultural immersion 6) Easier to make new friends 7) Increased mindfulness....

Celebrating 1 year of this show and I couldn't have done it without all of you listeners. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this show a success. In the coming year, I will be more present within my Facebook community where I encourage members to ask questions, offer advice on travel to those asking. https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200 I plan to bring on more expert...

Hey Sisters! Your safety and life matter to me. If you plan to travel during this tumultuous time in our world, with war and killings happening, please reference the government travel advisory sites. US Travel Advisory: travel.state.gov Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade www.dfat.gov.au or Smarttraveller.gov.au Canada: travel.gc.ca Or follow @safeexpat on Instragram Two Things to...

My guest today, Karen Gershowitz, has over four decades of global exploration, and a two-time travel book author, unveils solo travel's potential as more than an alternative - it's an avenue to immerse in cultures and forge bonds. Karen Gershowitz has been traveling solo since age seventeen, when she flew to Europe and didn’t return to the US for three years. In her career as a marketing...

Paget Rhee of Be Balanced Centers, shares her story about how reclaiming her health has empowered her and given her the confidence to travel and even be bolder in her business and life. Our health can affect our travels both physically and mentally, making us question if we can even do certain activities. As women, we are expected to do it all, but this causes stress that affects our health. Fear...

Explore the United States beautifully preserved 63 National Parks. But before you go, do these 5 things. 1) Check the weather 2) Go to www.nps.gov website for the park you are visiting and check for any alerts or road closures. 3) Obtain any permits (if needed), and make reservations if camping. 4) Get a physical map of the park. 5) Buy an annual National Park pass if you plan to visit more than 1...

We all love travel hacks, especially when it comes to packing lighter and smarter. 1) This hack is a double bonus in that it also reduces your liquids if traveling with only a carry-on. (Refer to episode 47 for more ways to reduce liquids when packing). Soak a cotton ball with eye make-up remover, astringent, perfume, etc and seal in a ziploc bag. This will not count towards your liquids. Along th...

Have you ever been to an airport lounge? It is well worth it! With unlimited food and drinks plus a quiet place to take a nap or lounge, a place to shower or watch tv, the hours before an international flight can be relaxing in an airport lounge. But who wants to pay for a high annual fee credit card just to get access? You don't have to have those high status credit cards to get into an airp...

Are you an introvert? As you have aged are you becoming more introverted? Traveling solo seems to fit well for an introvert's personalities but all types can travel alone. There are plenty of places that can cater to both introverts and extroverts. If you do not like crowds, you can consider the following places. Six Places Recommended for Introverts: 1) New Zealand 2) Camino de Santiago 3) F...

Do you worry about your safety while traveling alone? Safety is a common concern for women travelers. But we have 3 Superpowers within us to keep us safe, no matter where we are. No gadgets required. Don't let fear hold you back from solo traveling. By honing these "superpowers" or skills, you can access a situation and its safety for yourself. Support the show https://www.cherylbec...

What habits or routines do you do every morning or evening? Are you continuing those while traveling? We are a species that thrives on routine. Consider the routine of a school year for example. Sleep and other daily routines often get out of whack while traveling such as sleep, eating patterns, exercise and more. Ask yourself, what current daily(morning and evening routines) do you habitually per...

Guest Interview with Wendy Valentine of The Midlife Makeover Show Wendy Valentine, writer, motivational speaker, master coach, and host of The Midlife Makeover Show, ranked in the top 1.5% in the world out of 3 million podcasts and #1 in midlife on iTunes and Spotify, is a champion for midlifers.  Since Wendy’s own midlife revolution, she’s been helping people all over the world navigate challenge...

What does curiosity and travel have in common? Lisa Hawkins, a past travel agent, demonstrates that having curiosity can deepen your travel experience. After spending 10 years creating  dream vacations for others, living in Hawaii and doing her share of solo travel, Lisa now uses her skills of curating and innate curiousness to now guide people in Life Coaching. Bullet Points from Interview: 1) Ev...

We all desire to travel light and easily with a simple carry on. But what do you do with all your liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes of your personal items? In general, when traveling, we are limited to a total of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters of liquid, gels, pastes or spray/aerosol items. All items must be displayed in a clear plastic bag, such as a quart Ziploc type sealable bag.  Australia has...

The time between Christmas and New Years is one of the most expensive times for flights, with a general higher airfare from December 17th through January 7th. 1) Book your holiday travel at least 5 months out. The closer you get to the actually holiday, you will see continual incremental increases. 2) Travel on the holiday itself: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Avoid December...

Here are some snippets from the top 4 episodes with the most downloads. Listen to the full episodes to get the complete message. Episode 25: Must Have Packing Items: My 12 Unconventional Items I Always Pack Episode 16: How To Pack With Just a Carry On Bag Episode 2: Afraid To Travel Solo? 4 Ways To Overcome The Fear of Traveling Alone Episode 42: Is Solo Cruising Right For You? What To Expect Shar...

Where is the #1 place you want to travel to? Where do you dream of going, all the time? If you were given 1 last trip of a lifetime, where would it be? I was recently asked this question and initially was surprised I couldn't answer it quickly because I have  so many place I desperately want to visit. But when it came down to framing the question as though  I was dying and only had 1 opportun...

How many remember dressing up nicely to travel back in the day? Now anything goes when you travel from pajamas, slippers, crop tops, etc. Although we want to be comfortable, there are a few things we should avoid. AVOID: 1) Offensive clothing- whether it's swear words or political words or symbols, these could trigger others to be hostile. To avoid confrontation, wear basic clothing. 2) Sanda...