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| Can you believe it's already May? |
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Hi Friend and welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of "Secret Women's Business".
What an amazing adventure we all had in Antarctica and Galapagos in February this year as our first GOT trip for 2019. Incredible weather, spectacular wildlife and amazing company. Jan celebrated her birthday as we sailed out of Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel and from the moment we all gathered as a group it was evident once again that we were in for fun, laughter and adventure. I love this image above where I'm being photo bombed at Port Charcot by Dee and Ros. Do you think I could have hired a more colourful polar jacket?
So much fun was had on our first international GOT Past Travellers Reunion held in Singapore for 7 nights in March at the Four Points by Sheraton. I can thoroughly recommend this hotel if you're heading to Singapore and I thoroughly recommend Singapore as a destination for a short break but definitely no less than 7 days. We all said just another 2-3 days would have been perfect.
Adey had a ball with her small group in Italy and is looking forward to her next tour to UK & Republic of Ireland which is now a guaranteed departure.
I had a wonderful time exploring 'The Big Apple' and other parts of the East Coast for the first time in preparation for our 2020 'East Coast USA and Canada' tour. We'll visit New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Harrisburg, New Jersey and Niagara Falls and more.
If you're still looking to travel in 2019 please consider travelling with Girls On Tour and check out our tours that still have availability.
Thanks for your ongoing support. “Sometimes one day in a different place gives you more than ten years of life at home." Anatole France
Happy travels, Judy. |
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| Our 2019 "Antarctica, Galapagos & A Taste of South America" tour group onboard Ocean Atlantic: L-R Judy, Rhondda, Jan, Robin, Victoria, Dee, Judith, Jenny, Barbara and Karen. (Missing Ros and Marian). |
| | | Girls On Tour Singapore Sling Reunion
What a wonderful time we had for our week in Singapore in March taking in the culture, culinary delights, history and shopping!Pictured L-R here at Sentosa: Cheryl, Denise, Merle, Allie, Gillian, Margaret, Gracie, Maureen, Megan, Jenny, Lorraine, Rhonda, Lynne, Beverley, Jan, Gwen, Helen, Maree J, Judith, Di, Sonia, Meriel, Maree B, Marie. |
| | 2020 Touring Calendar We are currently working on our 2020 touring calendar and here are some of the amazing destinations that will be offered. Only 15 or 16 (for Alaska) places will be sold on each tour so if you want to be first to receive details as they are released, click on the button below to send through your 'Expression of interest' and get details sent out first before tours are released on our website and Facebook. |
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| | "East Coast USA & Canada" Join us on our first USA tour as we travel to the East Coast visiting New York, Boston, Washington DC, Lancaster County, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec and the magnificent Niagara Falls. We'll visit important buildings, historic cities and major attractions including the Liberty Bell, Lincoln Memorials, Wall Street, National September 11 Memorial, Times Square, Central Park, Amish Country, Niagara Falls and so much more! Departing 21st April, 2020 for 26 days. |
| | | "The 5 Golden Stans"
For the first time Girls On Tour will visit the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgystan. Initially we were being advised against going to all the Stans however after sit down meetings with suppliers who have been going there for years and still are I've gone back to my original plan of all The Stans. Approximately 26 days departing 4th June, 2020. **Please note this tour will not be advertised on Facebook or our website.** |
| | | "Splendid Sri Lanka"
In 2018 GOT visited beautiful Sri Lanka for the first time as part of a Southern India and Sri Lanka tour and it was unanimous, more time was needed in Sri Lanka to fully explore and enjoy it so in 2020 we will return to what Marco Polo called 'the most beautiful island in the world' as a dedicated destination. We will spend more time in each city with stays in Colombo, Negombo, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe National Park and Galle and will immerse ourselves in the beauty and culture of this friendly country. Enjoy jungle safaris, cooking class, cultural dancers, ancient temples and caves, colonial buildings, lush tea plantations and so much more. Departing July 2020 for approximately 20 days. |
| | | | "Wild Alaska and The Yukon" Come in search of The Northern Lights and Orcas as we head North to Alaska! From the glaciers to the gold rush this will be an exciting trip not to be missed. The itinerary will include Denali National Park, Prince William Sound, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Yukon Territory. Tentative departure date August, 2020. Duration and itinerary to be advised. |
| | | "Egypt, Jordan and Israel"
It's been way too long since we visited Egypt and I can't wait to return in 2020 when for the first time we'll include Israel on the itinerary. This tour will be jam packed with highlights but to mention a few, The Pyramids of Giza, Sakkara, Memphis, Luxor and Karnak Temple complexes, The Egyptian Museum, The Valley of the Kings, The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Abu Simbel, 4 day Nile Cruise, The Commonwealth War Cemetery of El Alamein, Jerash, Amman, Wadi Rum, Petra, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jerico, Masada and so much more. Approximately 28 days departing 16th October, 2020. **Please note this tour will not be advertised on Facebook or our website.** |
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"UK & Republic of Ireland" 2019 Don't miss out - Guaranteed Departure! 33 days departing 2nd October, 2019 - $15,907pp twin share*
There is still time to join this in depth tour throughout “England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland”. Starting in Coventry and visiting York, Lake District, Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Belfast, Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Waterford, Cardiff, Cornwall, Portsmouth and finishing with 5 nights in London, this trip is jam packed with historic sites, medieval castles, beautiful palaces and gardens and so much more. Visit our website for full details or contact Judy on info@girlsontour.com.au to book.
*based on minimum group of 10 travellers (maximum 15) plus approx airline taxes $360 |
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I'll soon be planning Info Days for 2019 so keep a look out for details to come. |
| | There are still places available on these exciting tours for 2019. Book soon to avoid disappointment! - UK and Republic of Ireland - 33 days departing 2nd October - escorted by Adey. Guaranteed departure.
- The Real Transylvania - 29 days departing 6th October - escorted by Judy - Guaranteed departure but must close soon!
- The Top End - departing July - including Kakadu National Park, Uluru, Darwin, The Olgas, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Litchfield National Park and Katherine Gorge - escorted by Judy. Guaranteed departure - must close soon.
Visit our website
https://www.girlsontour.com.au/trip/ to download flyers for all tours. Contact Judy at info@girlsontour.com.au to book or for more information.
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| | | Bad news, Good news! The bad news is for the first time in 5 years we don't have the numbers to take a dedicated GOT trip to 'The Kimberley'.
The Good News is, if The Kimberley is on your 'bucket list', the team at Adventure Wild have places left on some of their tours and are offering a $500 per person discount on the following departures providing you let them know you heard about it in our Girls On Tour newsletter:
1. Wednesday 17 July to Sunday 28 July 2019
2. Friday 19 July to Tuesday 30 July 2019
I absolutely personally recommend Simone and her team at Adventure Wild for an experience of a lifetime in one of Australia's most rugged landscapes.
Contact Simone on 1800 359 008 or email her at info@adventurewild.com.au and check out their website https://adventurewild.com.au/ |
| | | Once you book your Kimberley Adventure with Adventure Wild, your next step will be to book pre and post accommodation in Broome and your first choice should be Broome Time Resort.
Dean and his team have been looking after our groups since 2013 and I don't look any further when booking accommodation in Broome for our GOT tours. Their rooms are clean, spacious, comfortable and well equipped. Their rates are all inclusive: Accommodation, Breakfast, Wifi, Parking and Super Smiles are all included. Slip Into Broome Time. Phone: (08) 9194 1700 or by email gm@broometimeresort.com.au or visit the website www.broometimeresort.com.au |
| | | UK opens e-gates and ditches landing cards:
Effective June 2019 no special registration will be needed to use e-gates at UK International airports such as Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh. Just slide your ePassport (with an embedded smartchip) into the e-gate, step forward, smile for the camera and you'll be on your way.
You also won't need to fill out a UK landing card, those are also being abolished.
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| Air Drop using iPhone
If you have an Apple iPhone, did you know that you can easily share photos, files etc., with other iPhones using Air Drop?
You don't need data or Wifi to do this but you do need to have Bluetooth and Wifi turned on for each device as well as a couple of other steps which you can find by following this link courtesy of Apple Support. It's easy and you'll be able to share those holiday photos right there and then.
https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT204144
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| | Travel Tips:LAUNDRY: Although we're having fun travelling the world, there is still housekeeping to be done and keeping on top of your washing can be a drag and can be costly. Here are some travel essentials that I always take with me on tour to minimise what I have to send out to get laundered.
- A few pegs which can be used to hang on your line or to keep the curtains closed to keep out the light
- A pegless clothesline
- A universal plug
- A trouser hanger and either a wire hanger or a folding hanger
- A small supply of soap powder or liquid if you prefer. I go to the local laundromat before I leave home and get a box from the dispenser.
- A laundry bag to separate dirty clothes from clean ones
- Two suction hooks for those tricky hotel rooms that have absolutely nowhere for you to hang your clothesline.
If there is a self-service laundry close by I'll happily use it but where possible I will wash what I can in my room. With the use of Google Maps it's quite easy now to find laundromats in most cities but you may have to change your search depending on the country you're in for example it may be 'coin operated laundry' or 'self-service laundrette' or 'lavanderia' if in Italy. Evelyn found the most delightful laundromat on her recent trip to Trogir in Croatia and on most of our tours to Italy we can be found having a 'laundry party' in Florence and Sorrento so it's not all hard work!!
***Please remember to be courteous if you're sharing a room when travelling and discuss the do and don'ts of having a Chinese laundry in your room. |
| | Insurance Questions:
1. "DO YOU TRAVEL?"
2. "ARE YOU TRAVELLING WITH FAMILY OR A FRIEND?" You don’t have to be a couple to get couples cover and you may save $$$
If your answer is 'Yes' to both of these questions then this information is for you. Did you know you can often take out a joint insurance policy which may cover you in the event that your travel partner may not be able to travel? You don't need to be a couple to have a joint policy, some policies are called 'duo' policies and you just need to be booked to travel together and in the event of one traveller not being able to travel the other one should be covered for cancellation etc. The ladies from Suncity Travel can help you with insurance quotes and will be happy to assist with this matter. You can contact them by email on enq@suncitytravel.com.au and put the words "Insurance enquiry" in the subject line.
Other sites that I've found where there is some information available are#: https://www.comparetravelinsurance.com.au/family-travel-insurance/family-emergencies https://www.finder.com.au/couples-travel-insurance
#Please note I have no connection to these sites and have not used their products. They are forwarded to you for information purposes only. |
| | How well do you know your bag?
Did you know that in the event of your luggage being lost that there is a chart that you will be asked to look at to identify it? IATA the international airline body has a Baggage Identification Chart but how better to describe your luggage than to take a photo of it before you fly!! Thanks Lea (Greek Island Dreaming escort) for this great tip. |
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