Long check in and customs lineups, cancelled flights and lost baggage and delays and additional fees. Travelling light, including only packing a carry-on is becoming quite popular these days.

With this is mind, the travel experts at Airport Parking Reservations have compiled the ultimate guide to packing and travelling with a carry-on, with a helpful list of dos and don’ts.

Carry-on do’s

• Put all liquids in a clear zip bag: You will need to transfer your liquids into the airport-provided bags once at security, so make sure your toiletries are at the top of your bag and easily accessible. That way, you won’t be rummaging around your neatly packed bag to find items like your lipgloss, medications, or hand sanitizer. Grab a couple of extra clear bags for next time too! IMPORTANT: Only 1 bag is permitted per traveller

• Double check weight and size restrictions: We’re always triple checking the weight of our hold luggage to avoid extra fees, but some airlines weigh and measure your carry-on. The standard weight and size limits for international flights are about 7kg or 15.5lbs and 56cm x 36cm x 23cm or 22” x 5.5” x 9”. To maximize space, choose a softshell bag with multiple compartments and pockets, or invest if you’ve not already got one.

• Be the first on the plane: If you are near the end of the queue when it comes to boarding, your carry-on bag may not fit in the overhead compartment meaning you will have to store it under your seat or it could be put into checked luggage. This could result in endless waiting at the other end to retrieve your bag. Consider buying priority boarding ahead of time to make sure you’ll be first on the plane and save time.

• Roll your clothes: To fold or to roll is the age-old question, but we find that rolling is the best space-saving method. Clothes stack much easier when rolled, and if rolled tightly, creases are also avoidable. An alternative here would be to invest in packing cubes. They help you keep items separated and compact.

• Charge all your electronics fully: The last thing you want to be doing after spending hours packing your bag as tight and neat as possible is rummaging around for a charger. Avoid this hassle by ensuring all devices are at 100% before departing. It is also wise to pack electronics such as straighteners and laptops at the top of the case as you may need to get these out at security.

• Wear your largest items while travelling: We’re talking winter coats, big boots, hats, and even an extra pair of underwear.

• Pack versatile items: Make sure to pack things that can have multiple uses, for example, a scarf could be used as a blanket or an accessory.

• Buy things when you get there: Many everyday essentials, such as sun cream, sunglasses, and sunhats, will be available at your destination. So why not save space, and consider purchasing these out there?

• Go digital: Make the most of any available switches to digital devices such as ebooks, digital boarding passes, and any other important documents. This way they are easily accessible and won’t take up extra room in your bag.

Carry-on don’ts:

• Pack liquids above 100 ml: Even if you only have half of a 200 ml product remaining, you still cannot carry this in your hand luggage. Liquids must be contained in containers of 100 ml or less. Make sure liquids are kept at the top of the bag or in an easily accessible pocket so that you’re not holding up the queue at security.

• Pack meat, fruit, or other agricultural items: If you are wanting to bring any similar items, make sure to declare them to avoid potential prosecution.

• Pack any sports equipment: Even if it’s just a tennis racket, most sports equipment cannot be taken on as carry-on luggage. If you are planning on participating in any sports while away, plan ahead and hire some equipment out there.

• Pack powders more than 350 ml: First liquids, now powders? Yes, we now have to be wary of how much powder we’re bringing onto the plane – things like baby powder and dry shampoo. Women should double-check makeup bags before flying.

WHAT TRAVEL MEANS TO ME.
Debbie Ross, founder of the Womens Travel Network

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of travelling to far off places.  Visiting the ancient pyramids of Egypt, seeing elephants in the wild, exploring Rome’s colosseum and India’s Taj Mahal. Travel has a different meaning to everyone – some do it to escape their everyday life, some do it to take the kids on vacation, some do it to find themselves, but not me.

I live to travel – I wanted to make a life of travel. So, I did. When I created the Womens Travel Network I never imagined just how amazing this experience was going to be.

I look back at the past 19 years and am in awe at the places I’ve seen, experiences I’ve had and most of all the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

Travel means freedom, excitement, learning and connecting with others.

Travel to me means getting up at 5 AM to head out on a game drive to view the animals as they awaken. It means getting lost in a city like Paris and learning how to get around on local transportation to find iconic sites and fabulous museums.  It means trying to communicate in broken English and being thankful for the locals that are willing to try to understand you. It means learning patience and taking acceptance to a whole new level.

Travel to me means making friends with the locals and respecting their culture. It means trying out a restaurant because someone you met in passing recommended it to you. It means going places to truly explore, not just going places to say you’ve been there. It’s recognizing it’s better to visit one country at a time than try to jam in three.

Travel to me means building relationships with people you never would have met otherwise and treating them like family. It’s trusting people you barely know and putting your faith in the world that things will all work out. It’s having a burning urge to see as much as possible and really live in the moment. It’s helping when you see someone you don’t know struggling and sharing pieces of your heart with them.

Travel to me means getting lost in local markets, admiring the artisan’s handicrafts, and bravely trying new foods. Striking up conversation with those around you and appreciating the tiny treasures in the area you discover. It’s experiencing as many new things as you can. It’s not getting upset when the plane is delayed, or the bus is late and learning how to laugh at the situations you get into.

Travel to me means learning to live in the moment. Enjoying what you have, where you are and who you are with is what matters.

It’s realizing that that happiness comes from freedom.

Freedom to explore, to learn, to heal, to grow intellectually and spiritually. It’s seeing places you’ve always dreamed of with an open mind and  heart and a willingness to learn and grow from the experience.

Travel means being happy with a little bit of everything. It’s thrilling and sad, it’s exciting and scary, it’s every emotion wrapped up into a sea of memories and experiences that you wouldn’t trade for the world.

All I want from travel is to bask in the bliss I feel and learn to appreciate every moment life brings me. I want to form relationships that are going to leave me in tears when I’m forced to say goodbye. I want to learn as much as I can from everyone I cross paths with about their culture and lifestyles.

I want to trust that where I am is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I want to look past what’s right in front of me and learn to love the world for all it truly is.

This is what travel means to me – to live fully, to accept others, to learn in every area you can and to allow the world to shape you into the best person you can truly be.

To me, travel is far more valuable than money will ever be.

by WTN host Angela Dacey

Why group travel?

Ready to book an overseas adventure but don’t have anyone to travel with?

Planning
On a group trip, all the planning is arranged by the travel company. Your itinerary is entirely mapped out for you – including accommodation, activities and often meal stops, too. This means all you need to do is pack your bags and show up at the airport. Less planning means more time relaxing when you arrive. A group trip takes away the stress, especially in terms of money and time and the expert team guides you straight to the best spots.

Sightseeing
On a group trip sightseeing is scheduled. You won’t be able to swing by a temple you’ve spotted from the road – although you can go back and do this if you want to when you have free time. Group trips also offer the advantage of a local expert guiding the way, ensuring you discover off-the-beaten-track sights you might not have found travelling alone.

Safety
Travel companies do a lot of work to ensure the safety of their group tours, including insurance against theft, issues with transport and health risks (such as Covid-19).

Money
Depending on where in the world you’re going, having the right currency can be an arduous exercise, and if you have to carry cash on you, a nerve-wracking one. On group trips, nearly everything is prepaid, almost entirely removing cash as a day-to-day worry.

Making friends
A group trip has all the activities arranged with a single group of travellers in mind, the social wheels have been greased a little, making life easier for people who are shy. An excellent tour guide will ensure everyone is having fun and that no one is left out.

If things go wrong
Any trip carries a certain amount of risk. Luggage can be stolen, or injuries sustained; travel plans can go awry. On group trips, your tour company will have it covered – contingency plans are in place for any worst-case scenario.

Cost
Group trips aren’t cheap. Everything is bundled up into one price, from what you eat to where you stay, making it easier to plan your travel budget as most expenses are paid up front.

Say YES to a Group Travel!
Yes to rediscovering the world and all its splendours.
Yes to new adventures and memories.
Yes to making new friends.
Yes to finally checking-off your bucket list.

Womens Travel Network has expertly crafted small-group adventures that will take you to the world’s most exciting destinations.

Join one of our small-group tours and connect with like-minded women, enjoy the camaraderie, make new friends, see amazing places, have unique experiences, taste local cuisine and most of all have lots of fun.

The Womens Travel Network was founded by Debbie Ross, who provides the inspiration for women only small group trips as well as some mixed company trips.  The WTN is affiliated with Worldwide Quest, a TICO Travel Agency, that provides all of the trip logistics, trip designs and details, and also looks after the entire booking process and client care before, during and after your travels.

To Request a Detailed Itinerary or to Discuss a WTN Trip contact:

Worldwide Quest
491 King St. E, Toronto ON, M5A 1L9
Call:     416-633-5666 or 1-800-387-1483
Email:  travel@worldwidequest.com or Lewie@worldwidequest.com
Website: www.worldwidequest.com

For Information about the Womens Travel Network
Call: 905-771-8338 or 1-888-419-0118
Email:  info@womenstravelnetwork.ca
Website: www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

TICO REG. # 2667946

Top Experiences of the well-travelled.
After two years of no travel, we are all longing to get back out there and see the world. Fortunately, on the Covid front, both here in Canada and around the world things have improved significantly and vaccinations have provided us a way forward to reclaiming our lives.

To get you inspired, we’ve put together some top experiences of the well-travelled. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience that will absolutely wow you, look no further!

Tracking Gorillas in Uganda
Take an expedition to Uganda and go deep into the forest to track lowland gorillas. Trek into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where half the world’s surviving Mountain Gorillas live, and get an intimate gorilla habituation experience.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/uganda-safari-gorilla-trek/

Angkor Wat Temple
Angkor Wat is on many bucket lists, and for good reasons. The Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world by land area is a must-see for the well-traveled. The view at sunrise is spectacular.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/indochina/

Petra
Explore this ancient and beautiful archeological site in the southwestern desert of Jordan. Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and for good reason. Dating back to 3000 B.C., it carries memories of a long-forgotten civilization. The contrast between the surrounding cliffs and this marvelous site is spellbinding.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/israel-jordan/

Witness Spring Cherry Blossoms in Japan
The cherry blossoms in Japan is such a huge occasion that the national weather office runs a special service to predict when they will bloom. Flower festivals take place all throughout the country. Late March and early April the country’s landscapes are transformed into a sea of pink as the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/japan/

Migration at Masa Mara
This is a sight to behold – one of the world’s biggest and longest animal migrations takes place each year between June and December in East Africa. Over two million animals make their way across the continent in pursuit of greener pastures.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/kenya-wildlife-safari/

Sunset in Santorini, Greece
The two most ideal places in Santorini are in Fira, the area overlooking the caldera, and further north in Oia, home to one of the world’s best sunsets. Be sure to make a dinner reservation on a patio to enjoy a spectacular sunset.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/glorious-greece/

Cooking class in Marrakesh
This ancient walled city (known as The Red City due to the color of the brick) is home to mosques, palaces, and lush gardens. Expand your tasting palette and culinary repertoire with a private Moroccan cooking class, the best way to experience authentic recipes.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/morocco-mother-daughter/

Galapagos Cruise Expedition
Cruise in luxury on a private yacht through this majestic archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Discover natural wonders & unique wildlife, up close. Snorkel, hike, island hop and more.
http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/galapagos-expedition/

It’s time to get back to travelling!
Join one of our small-group tours and connect with like-minded women, enjoy the camaraderie, make new friends, see amazing places, have unique experiences, taste local cuisine and most of all have lots of fun.

The Womens Travel Network was founded by Debbie Ross, who provides the inspiration for women only small group trips as well as some mixed company trips.  The WTN is affiliated with Worldwide Quest, a TICO Travel Agency, that provides all of the trip logistics, trip designs and details, and also looks after the entire booking process and client care before, during and after your travels.

For Reservations, To Request a Detailed Itinerary or to Discuss Trip details contact:

Worldwide Quest
491 King St. E, Toronto ON, M5A 1L9
Call:     416-633-5666 or 1-800-387-1483
Email:  travel@worldwidequest.com or Lewie@worldwidequest.com
Website: www.worldwidequest.com

For Information about the Womens Travel Network
Call: 905-771-8338 or 1-888-419-0118
Email:  info@womenstravelnetwork.ca
Website: www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

TICO REG. # 2667946

As borders re-open and vaccinations rise, Canadians are increasingly planning to travel again, according to the latest figures from the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC). Based on the organization’s latest quarterly survey, close to half of all Canadians plan to take a trip by next spring – a significant rise over past intentions.
The pandemic is still the “primary deterrent” preventing a full return to travel normalcy however a 51% favourable rate for travel in October was over double the figure from January (22%). Moreover, currently 23% of survey respondents said they would travel outside the country for leisure, compared to just 16% at the start of this year.
While the latter figure still lags at about half of historical travel intentions (most Canadians plan to travel domestically), it is more than double the proportion recorded last year. The trajectory is definitely moving in the right direction.
The biggest barrier now is more likely to be related to testing requirements and other travel protocols, rather than health concerns.
Nevertheless, CBoC data says that 86% of Canadians surveyed said they miss travel, and when they do, will take into account a series of factors, dubbed the ‘4 Ps” – personal connection, proximity, pandemic management, and price.
It’s a checklist that bodes well for short-haul destinations, especially the US, where Canadians have close, easy access, and great familiarity. And now, a fully open border.
Canadians have become more accepting of and more comfortable with the health protocols that they’ve been subject to over the last year and half.
Yet, this acceptance comes with conditions: Canadians prefer destinations where vaccination rates are high and COVID protocols such as masks, social distancing and use of official proof of vaccination are in effect and they are also cognizant of the situation (i.e. COVID rates) at home. Logistical travel concerns include access to flexible change and cancellation policies and insurance; and are more accepting of testing protocols to enter a destination than to return home.
The travel demand is there with snowbirds making a large share of winter travellers. Two thirds of all US-bound travellers plan to do so by air – which is good for airlines and the travel industry and leading to an overall forecast of 40 to 50% of pre-pandemic volume of transborder traffic – “and that’s better than the 5% we saw last winter.
There is a lot of optimism in the market. Assuming there isn’t another significant wave, travel confidence will continue to grow prompting more people to travel.

Call us to book your next adventure.
Womens Travel Network
affiliated with Worldwide Quest
Reservations: 416-633-5666 or toll-free: 1-800-387-1483
Email: travel@worldwidequest.com

Our Flexible Booking Terms as of Sept. 15, 2021

• A deposit of US$/C$500 per person is due upon registration for your land tour.
•  A further deposit of US$/C$1,000 per person is due at six months prior to your tour’s departure date.
• Your tour balance is due at 60 days prior to your tour’s departure date.

Please note:
Because we charter small ships exclusively for our group, our ship-based tours have specific booking, transfer, and cancellation conditions. These are outlined on the Detailed Itinerary for each tour.

• The Canadian government does not have an ‘Avoid All Travel’ advisory to the country or region within a country for any part of the tour.
• No region of the tour has any significant COVID-19 related restrictions.
• There is reliable airline access for arrival and departure.
• WTN/Worldwide Quest and our in-country partners are confident that your trip can operate safely and enjoyably.

Please see our FAQs or call us for more details.

Womens Travel Network’s parent company Worldwide Quest has been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council’s #SafeTravels Stamp for adopting health and hygiene global standardized protocols.

This provides you with the assurance that we have implemented health and hygiene protocols for tour operators, as established by the World Travel and Tourism Council. The protocols cover operational and staff preparedness and the delivery of a safe experience with the goal of putting the safety, health, and security of travellers and the travel and tourism workforce at the core of the development of global protocols. Please see the WTTC #SAFETRAVELS site for more information: Click here.

These protocols will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.

When you’re ready to travel again, you have the assurance of our #SafeTravels protocols and our Tour Ready Criteria.

Our tours will proceed when all the following four-point Tour Ready criteria are met:

• The Canadian government does not have an ‘avoid non-essential travel’ or ‘avoid all travel’ to the country or region within a country for any part of the tour.
• No region of the tour has any significant COVID-19 related restrictions.
• There is reliable airline access for arrival and departure.
• Worldwide Quest and our in-country partners are confident that your trip can operate safely and enjoyably.

Travel Trends shaping the future of travel
by Debbie Ross
Every year travel trends come and go, however, 2021 is set to be one of tourism’s most significant years to date. As the world slowly recovers from COVID-19 and borders gradually start to open, we expect travel to look a little different than it did pre-pandemic. We will see emerging niches, new travel styles and a shift in travelers expectations. These are a some of the top trends shaping the future of travel.

1. Luxurious and experiential travel.
   People are wanting something that goes beyond the typical beach holiday. They are willing to spend a little more to have an experience that allows them to learn about other cultures.
2. Safety
   That is no surprise and it will be a top priority
   Attention to space, cleanliness and hygiene will be top of mind. Safety guide lines will be Tour companies and tourist attractions must do a great job of implementing safety measures..
3. Security
   With health and safety being a top priority people will look to tour companies for security and be more inclined to travel on a small group tour. They are looking for the peace of mind that comes with a guided group tour led by a specialist local guide who has first hand knowledge about the area.
4. Trips of a Lifetime
   Anytime after travel is interrupted the reopening period sees a surge in Bucket List travel. Exotic travel such as safaris or trekking holidays, more off the beaten path to lesser visited and undiscovered destinations or trips to far off places such as Australia & New Zealand, Bali, Indochina
5. The Great Outdoors
   Travellers will explore the great outdoors as its easier to carry out social distancing when you spend more time outdoors where ventilation isn’t an issue. Our Kenya wildlife safari or the Galapagos cruise expedition are perfect examples of this.
6. Multigenerational travel
   After all this time apart there will be a surge in vacations where we can spend time with family and friends. Mothers and daughters, sisters and girlfriends will be looking for adventures to share together. Our Mother & Daughter trip to Morocco is perfect for this.
7. Trust
   The value of booking with a trusted tour company for security, expert advice and up-to-date knowledge. These companies will help you navigate through the trip planning process as well as the new protocols and travel restrictions.

What’s shaping your decision making for your next trip?

Start by planning your next adventure with the Womens Travel Network 

View our Trip List

Contact us for details or to reserve your place on one of our upcoming trip.

For Reservations, To Request a Detailed Itinerary or to Discuss the Trip details contact:
Worldwide Quest
491 King St. E, Toronto ON, M5A 1L9
Call:     416-633-5666 or 1-800-387-1483
Email:  travel@worldwidequest.com or Lewie@worldwidequest.com
Website: www.worldwidequest.com

For Information about the Womens Travel Network
Call: 905-771-8338 or 1-888-419-0118
Email:  info@womenstravelnetwork.ca
Website: www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

TICO REG. # 2667946

Where can you go to heal the world and maintain optimum social distancing.
by Debbie Ross
No country has been left unscathed by the pandemic when it comes to tourism. The effects, however, will be most profoundly felt in those destinations that are most reliant on tourism for livelihoods and economic well-being. Tourism is a lifeline for the least developed countries, most notably within Africa, areas in Asia and South America.
The global economy needs a travel rebound and I’m sure you could use one too. As soon as it’s safe, make your plans count with some of these ideas to help heal the world. Whether you decide to book now or later there’s one guarantee you won’t be the only one benefiting from your long-awaited getaway.

The Moroccan desert
This is the year to visit the desert locations traditionally accessed with a caravan of camels and where the economics of tourism are a critical part of survival. Trips are customized to make a stop at stunning campsites in desert towns. Here you’ll spend time with the nomadic communities. Far from the big cities these nomads rely on tourisms to sustain their nomadic tribes, rural craftspeople and remote cooperatives. As a responsible tourist you will be helping to bolster local economy while preserving and sustaining natural and cultural resources for future generations.

Feed your spirit in Laos
Luang Prabang was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Vat Phou, the ancient Khmer temple near Champasak. Considered one of the sacred cradles of Buddhism travelers looking to find inner peace can do so here. Join novice monks at Wat Phu Temple in Luang Prabang or take a cruise up the Mekong to least visited devout villages. The tourism sector in Laos is now second in importance only to mining in the economy. As a whole, tourism and related services have generated over 385,000 jobs in the country, helping to improve income for the Lao people, particularly the poor.  

Breathe new life into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Rising temperatures have made coral bleaching a pervasive and ongoing threat, 30% of the coral perished in 2016 and another 20% in 2017. If current trends continue over 90% of the reef will be gone from central and southern parts of the reef in just 10 years. WWF work with the Australian Marine Conservation Society to manage the fight for the reef campaign. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the major threats to the reef including industrialization global warming and fertilizer runoff. As the largest economic contributor to the Australian economy from reef-dependent activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, marine tourism supports more than 60,000 jobs and provides access for more than 2 million tourists each year.

Champion biodiversity in Ecuador’s Amazon, Andes and Galapagos.
It’s hard to believe they are all represented in one tiny country that’s roughly the size of Nevada. Ecotourism profoundly affects the Amazon. Money spent directly in the local economy helps give financial value to rainforest preservation.  With eco-tourism, income is earned from preserving the rainforest and deforestation is discouraged.
Explore inland at Cotopaxi, an active straddle volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The volcano is an important part of the local culture and is held sacred by the Indian indigenous communities.  Tourism in the Galapagos is working because it has been developed under a systematic program that regulates how many tourists are visiting each island daily. They rotate the islands that each tour is able to take you to, and change the trails on the island, so no one trail is overrun. Here you will find a wide variety birds including Galapagos finches, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, sally light foot crabs,  sea lions, tortoises and penguins.  A nature lover’s paradise. Tourism has, for many years, been an important contributor to the Ecuadorean economy, and one of the main sources of employment for the Galapagos Islanders.

Take a wildlife safari in Uganda.
It’s one thing to view animals from the safe confines of a Jeep safari and yet another to hike through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to view the Mountain Gorillas. Almost half the world’s mountain gorilla population, around 450 of them, can be found in the 331 square kilometre park. Though still endangered, the population has been built back up over the last four decades through careful conservation efforts. This type of close encounter is restricted to a small group with a time limit set for viewing these majestic primates. Tourism dollars go towards anti-poaching and rangers protecting the animals and the once almost extinct mountain gorillas.

Responsible tourism in Kenya.
Kenya’s great Mara ecosystem is everything an animal devotee could ask for.  Maternal leopards with cute cubs, big elephant herds and millions of migrating wildebeest. Explore East Africa’s great rift valley by day citing animals and birds and then fall asleep to the grunts of hippos in the river. These trips are not only ideal for socially distant times but also critical to ensuring the future success of the area stewardship. Kenya’s people are being recognized as playing a pivotal role in the safari experience. They are the guardians of the precious wildlife, as well as being as intrinsic a part of a Kenyan holiday as the creatures themselves. Tourism has been an important part of Kenya’s recent history, resulting in the creation of vast national parks and game reserves and outlawing of hunting.  But Kenya’s ability to adapt to this shift – moving the emphasis from wildlife to people – will determine the impact that tourism has on its future.

You can help heal the world, start by planning your next adventure with the
Womens Travel Network 

View our Trip List

Contact us for details or to reserve your place on one of our upcoming trip.

For Reservations, To Request a Detailed Itinerary or to Discuss the Trip details contact:
Worldwide Quest
491 King St. E, Toronto ON, M5A 1L9
Call:     416-633-5666 or 1-800-387-1483
Email:  travel@worldwidequest.com or Lewie@worldwidequest.com
Website: www.worldwidequest.com

For Information about the Womens Travel Network
Call: 905-771-8338 or 1-888-419-0118
Email:  info@womenstravelnetwork.ca
Website: www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

TICO REG. # 2667946