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

Is it ok to go on a cruise alone? My guest today, Alyssa Johnson is a Travel Advisor and Cruise Expert who specializes in solo travel. Her goal is to help women comfortably and confidently travel the world solo so they no longer feel like they have to wait for anyone else to see the world. She will be sharing cruise tips and what to expect as a solo traveler on a cruise, what cruise lines cater to...

Road trips are so much fun because of the ability to take your time and stop along the way to see interesting sites. Road trips also allow the freedom to pack whatever you want without limitations you experience with air travel: no limit on liquid amounts, no baggage fees, no wasted time waiting at airports or cramming all your clothes into a small bag. There are 25 essential items you must take o...

Planning a trip in general can be stressful but getting everything ready right before you leave can be even more overwhelming- arranging house/pet sitter, mail, work obligations. Packing should not be on that list of stressors as long as you follow this advice: PACK A WEEK EARLY. The week prior to your departure, lay out all you plan to take. Preparing early gives you the opportunity to gather thi...

Losing luggage while traveling can be such an inconvenience and stressful too. Although the stats of lost baggage doubled in 2022 from previous years according to The Guardian, especially for international flights, there is still only a 2% chance of losing your luggage. Since travel is higher in the summer, the odds increase. 4 Ways to Prevent Lost Luggage: 1) Arrive early to the airport if you ar...

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As travelers, it is important that our feet are comfortable since we will likely be walking a lot. Everyone has different needs for their feet and not every shoes works for all. The best travel shoe should have: 1) Rubber sole 2) arch support or supportive insole 3) Ankle support Tennis shoes/sneakers are going to be your best bet. If you want to be more fashionable then try, ANOTHERSOLE brand. Th...

Summer Travel Tip #3 this month. It is high season in travel for the northern hemisphere so everything is more expensive. Allow room in your budget for the higher prices and extras so you will not be financially stressed upon your return or while you are traveling. Buffer your travel budget with maybe about 20% extra in finances. Refer to episode 35 on how to keep track of your spending while trav...

How many of you return from a trip only to have incurred debt on your credit card? To avoid this problem of overspending, it needs to begin before you even book that flight. 1) Set a budget based on your savings and how much you can realistically afford. 2) Consider the big ticket items such as; Airfare and Accommodations Meals and  Ground Transportation Google costs or use Booking.com, Expedia, A...

Whether you are taking a road trip or flying somewhere this summer, don't forget about fueling your body, especially to avoid the crankiness of travel fatique. STAY HYDRATED and PACK SNACKS For hydration, I recommend drinking plenty of water. To reduce single-use plastics, I travel with a water bottle to fill up (and it saves money). I use LifeStraw as my water bottle. Snacks- whatever you li...

Researching your travel destination is an essential part of trip planning. It helps you gather information about the place you're visiting, including its culture, attractions, safety considerations, and practical details. Here are some steps to effectively research your travel destination: Set your goals: Determine what you want to get out of your trip. Are you interested in historical sites,...

Are you planning a summer trip? The summer of 2023 is heating up to be the busiest travel season in years. Experts predict travel will be up 20% from last year. This summer also marks the first summer in the world since the pandemic that most travel restrictions have been completely lifted in most countries. TRAVEL TIP #1: BE PATIENT and BE FLEXIBLE Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com...

Do you struggle with decision overwhelm when it comes to WHERE you should travel to? Is your list of places you want to visit long? How do you decide where to go? Five Factors to Consider to help you decide where to travel to: 1) Time- how much time do you have available for  your travels? 2) Costs- are you on a budget? If so, this may limit where you travel. Listen to episode 18 for tips on how t...

Save your money for more meaningful travel expenses by avoiding buying these 4 items at the airport. 1) Bottled water. Invest in a good water bottle with a filter to take with you and fill up at water fountains or sinks. Plus, save the environment by reducing the single use plastic containers, such as water bottles. I use LifeStraw water bottle. 2) Snacks and Food. These items can be purchased muc...

Is travel insurance worth it? Even though we are in post-covid, it may be something to still consider. I used to never purchase travel insurance but have changed my mind on the importance of this peace of mind. Travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected events that can occur before or during your trip. While it's not a legal requirement to purchase travel insurance, it can be highly re...

Do you dream of hiking the Torres del Paine trail in Chile, Patagonia region? Listen in on an interview and follow up with Bonnie from pre-trip interview of Episode 17 and see how her trip turned out. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solo-travel-adventures-safe-travel-for-women-preparing/id1650161410?i=1000600784609 Helpful Tips about the trail: * The popular O Circuit trail and W trail are v...

We spend so much time planning a trip that we often forget that there are important things we must do after our travels. 1) Check your credit card statement to make sure the charges look correct. Make sure you have a credit card that does not charge any foreign exchange fees. 2) Upload your photos. Save those precious photos either to the cloud, laptop or into a photo album while the places you we...

Paris, the City of Lights and the City of Love. With so much to see in this historical and amazing city, avoid these pitfalls. #1: Do NOT use unvetted "taxi" services at the airport. They are a scam and will charge you double.         DO pre-schedule your transport-hotel shuttle, real taxi or the train #2: Do NOT exchange your currency at the airport-horrible exchange rates.           DO...

Some of these items you may have thought of and already have on your list but maybe not. Here are my 12 unconventional items (excluding electronics and clothing packing items). 1) Pillowcase 2) Wash Cloths 3) Charcoal tablets 4) Vitamins and Essential Oils 5) Tennis ball 6) Compression socks 7) Ziploc bags 8) Water bottle with filter 9) Duct Tape 10) Toilet paper or small packet of tissues 11) Eye...

Life is busy and we often say we will travel "someday" or when we retire. But we are not guaranteed those days so why not take the leap TODAY and book that trip. This year, 2023, is the year to travel. Many tour groups, airlines and hotels are seeing a huge uptick in bookings. Where is your #1 bucket list place? Go right now and book that flight. Stop thinking (or using the excuse) that...

People that don't solo travel or worry about you pursuing solo travels may try to discourage you with these 4 myths. MYTH #1: Solo Travel is Unsafe There are plenty of safe places for a woman solo traveler to go. Do your research on safe places to travel or the area where you might be staying. Listen to episode #12 on the 10 safest countries to travel to for women travelers https://www.buzzsp...

With so much happening in our world, changes in an area can occur overnight even such as global pandemics, natural disasters, political and civil unrest, one has to be vigilant about travel safety. But before you cancel your trip (or hopefully reschedule) consider these 3 questions. QUESTIONS TO ASK: 1) HOW BAD IS IT TRULY? Check local and reputable media outlets for the true story. Go to US State...

 Hi sister Travelers. Do you get excited just thinking about going on a trip or even just planning a trip? You have this excitement inside you, or maybe you come across some pictures on Instagram or you see some reels of some really amazing places and that gets you so excited. You wish you were there. Well, I'm gonna tell you. Go ahead and go there. Go there in your mind. Because there are ac...

What types of traveler are you? What does your personality lend itself to? What types of experience do you want? I have identified 5 Types of travelers based on personality and even budget. 1) The Budget Traveler/Backpacker 2) The Luxury Traveler 3) Package/Tours/Cruises Type Traveler 4) Touristy Traveler 5) The Adventure Traveler Plan your trips based on your travel style and personality. Tell me...

You have caught the travel bug now and want to go on longer trips and maybe even take a year of sabbatical travel or try out long term traveling. Before you start booking those flights, you need to prepare with these 4 steps. 1) First you need to reduce your belongings and maybe even adopt a minimalist approach and lifestyle. Get rid of excess. Purge items you no longer use or love. As Marie Kondo...

Do you desire to travel to more places? Learn how to plan a trip backwards and find the best flight deals. As long as you are flexible on dates and where you go, then this method of booking flights can be the way to get to more places. Get your laptop out and go to: *Google Flights *Click the icon on the left side "EXPLORE". Input your home airport and see what comes up by looking at the...