Greetings, Travel Tip-Seekers!

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.

Hate to rain on your holiday parade, but here’s something to prepare for. Remember when we were handing out gift cards to TSA workers? And Global Entry was shut down? And remember those crazy long lines at security? After a 75-day partial shutdown that ended in April, US elected representatives passed a temporary spending bill that kicked the can down the road to December 11. If you have year-end travel plans, be aware they may play this game of chicken again. No more tight connections!

Of course you’re going to buy that oversized rug. Or that mirror. Or that 4 foot alligator (someone just bought one on our San Miguel trip). That’s not even an issue. It’s calling you, and you’re not coming back here again, so you know it’s yours. Now how are you going to get it home?

Did you bring an extra suitcase? Did you pack a collapsible duffle bag? No? You could always buy one locally. You could ask the vendor to wrap your treasure really well so you can check it. Or, last resort, you can use a local shipper. This can be very secure (depending on the country you’re shopping from) but is almost always expensive. Still, if the item you bought is a bargain, factor the shipping into the price. It might still be worth it to you. If you don’t know where to find a shipper, ask your hotel. They deal with this all the time. You could stick to easy-to-pack purchases like jewelry or scarves, but if you see something you just know you want to live with, and every time you look at it it makes you smile and think about your trip, then you just have to say “yes” and get it home any way you can. Last year my husband and I bought a 2 ft. tin Christmas tree in Mexico and brought it back in the overhead bin. This year one of our trip leaders bought a bigger one and checked it as baggage. I’ll let you know how it arrived.

Moral of the story: don’t let transport be the thing that stops you from bringing home something that really calls to you. Especially a piece of art. You’re supporting a local artist and adding beauty to your home. That’s a win-win!

Tourists are just so damn obvious. Even if we’re not unfolding maps to figure out where we’re going, when we hang our heads down looking at our phones, then looking up, and look down again, it’s pretty clear what you’re doing . Don’t be that person. Step inside a doorway, into a cafe, somewhere you might look like less of a “mark.” And don’t fall for the old trick of someone bumping into you or spilling something on you. Pickpockets often work in pairs and while you’re getting cleaned up, you could be getting cleaned out!

Arriving a day or two before a trip starts may seem excessive, but the stress relief can’t be overstated. No need to panic about missing a connection and missing out on the first night’s dinner. You get a head start on recovering from jet lag. And in most cities if you walk into a salon as a traveler, they’ll squeeze you in for a blowout. Use your translation app to get tips from your stylist on local things to see and do that might not be on the trip itinerary, and when your fellow travelers arrive you’ll look like a supermodel. In all candor, your fellow travelers won’t care. But you’ll feel like a million Euros and that’s what counts!

From Lori “Yes, they are the patron's to take, and I do every time (and I take everything: shower caps, shoe polishers, hair products, etc.). After I've accumulated what my storage space allows,  I donate them to a local shelter or food pantry! These items are highly desired by those who use these services!”

From Amy “YES- I always grab an extra conditioner and body lotion when the samples are high end. I have one plastic shoebox size container under the bathroom sink on the ready for my travels in the air or in the van.”

Amy also offered some additional tips from her years of travel experience:

“I’ve been fortunate in my past career and my current one to travel extensively (I just so happened to have reached 2M miles on American on my flight last night from Croatia to NYC) where I bring a stealth amount of clothing, toiletries & electronics but  I do splurge on the jewelry and I’ve used everything I brought. The small flashlight becomes a night light in hotel bathrooms and a scarf becomes multiple utility needs, (warmth, eye or nose covering, pillow cover, or skirt).”

Thanks for reading. Happy travels!

Jeannie Edmunds

Chief Operating Officer

All the details here.

Our Paris guide, Ellen Williams, has spent four decades learning this city at street level. What she knows can’t be Googled. She’ll take you into the market streets where Parisians shop, the cafés where they linger, the hidden courtyards most visitors walk right past. Skip the Eiffel Tower line. Forget the Mona Lisa crowd. This is the Paris you’ve craved—even if you didn’t know it.

All the details here.

Barcelona and Andalusia move at two different speeds. Barcelona runs on ambition — Gaudí’s spires, a medieval quarter thick with stories, a food scene fiercely proud of its Catalan roots. What rarely gets told: women shaped its art, politics, and culture. This trip puts those stories front and center. Head south and the tempo drops. Seville is sun, orange trees, and courtyards wrapped in tile. Córdoba holds three civilizations in its stone and rewards travelers who slow down. Together, they’re a Spain that goes far past the postcard.

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