Greetings, Travel Tip-Seekers!

Send us your best shots! Enter our travel photo contest and you could win a big fat prize! We’re looking for travel photos from anywhere you’ve traveled (not necessarily with NextTribe) that capture a sense of wonder.

The contest will be judged by some high-profile photo women—two from National Geographic, one a Pulitzer Prize winner. Who knows? Maybe it will launch you into a whole new career!

Check out all the details here.

Now, back to the news. The good news!

Here are this week’s tips curated for you from our reliable sources in the travel industry and from general interest newsletters, websites, and publications.

Even if you have a Global Entry account, consider downloading the free Mobile Passport Control app to use if/when Global Entry is not available. As of today, March 3, Global Entry is still not available due to the US government shutdown. Pre-Check yes, Global Entry no. Beware of imitators of this app, though. You want the one that looks like the image above. Available for Android and iPhones. Lines using MPC are not as short as Global Entry used to be, but they’re much shorter than the regular lines.

Credit: Brandee Anthony Media

I grew up long before the days of Ariel, the animated mermaid. Even my daughter was born too late to get reeled in by that Disney franchise. But what young woman hasn’t been captivated by stories and illustrations of these mythical sea creatures? Now, no matter your age (or gender!) you can live out your mermaid fantasy while on vacation! Sign me up.

I had breakfast with Jan Gelman, a woman who helped me with the Rwanda portion of our Africa trip last year. Through her connections with some fascinating women in Kigali we were able to enhance the experience for our travelers, and we’re grateful she’s helping us again for this year’s trip.

Jan’s mother—Rita Golden Gelman—published her rich, gorgeous memoir “Tales of a Female Nomad” in 2001. For any woman who’s traveling alone these days her stories may feel familiar. But you might wonder (as I did) if you’d ever be brave enough to live lightly in the world for as many years as she did. What an inspiration!

I’m grateful to my Austin friend, Teri Citterman, for introducing me to Jan last year, and for insisting that I read her mom’s book last week! I couldn’t put it down. You can probably get it from your local library, but I bought it for my Kindle because I think it’s a book I will read again.

Get to know the author by watching her TEDx talk here.

Is it just me? Or do you love being in airports as much as I do?

When I’m waiting to board a plane by myself I can’t help it. I may be standing in a long line looking all nonchalant and bougie with my e-vest and my headphones around my neck, but inside I’m a kid again. Just starting my adult life. Excited to see new places, meet new people, and, always, make new friends.

I love traveling solo. And I encourage everyone who travels with us to also add solo trips to the mix. Being alone on the road opens up endless possibilities (as the Female Nomad has shown) and any challenges it presents can be overcome if you’re prepared.

Travel and Leisure offers some tips. One of the best: “Join a tour if you want but be selective.” BOOM.

You know I LOVE IT when you respond to this email every other Tuesday!

After I put an Air Tag tip in the last TTT newsletter, NextTribe traveler Leslie Garcia sent me this:

Thanks, Leslie!

I think she wants my job. :)

Hope to see you down the road—

Jeannie Edmunds

Chief Operating Officer

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