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Please take our survey
Last week we sent out invitations to everyone to take a survey that we will use to help plan 2011 and beyond. With over 400 surveys completed, the response has been great! We hope that if you haven't taken it, or if you tried but the link was missing (this seemed to happen with specific email systems), or if you are just a procrastinator, you will take it right now by clicking or cutting and pasting this link:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KDQ8X8N. It only takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many comments you care to make.
Why do we want your thoughts? Because if you are reading this newsletter, you are obviously an intelligent and thoughtful woman with good taste, so of course we want to hear from you!
Why would you want to do it? Because you are a kind and thoughtful woman who wants to share your wisdom and make sure we offer the kinds of trips you want to take. And because as a bribe, oops I mean incentive, we will enter you into a raffle with 1 person winning a $250 voucher towards her next trip with us, 5 women winning $100 vouchers and 10 women winning $50 vouchers. And if you win and don't want to take a trip with us, you can give the voucher to whoever in your life needs a littl e more adventure in hers. So please, click here and take the survey now.
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Good News for Hikers
This combines two of my current interests: encouraging all hikers to use trekking poles and trying to avoid paying baggage fees!
I have warned before that you may not be able to take trekking poles in carry on luggage. However as airlines have started imposing fees for any baggage, I decided it was time to put it to the test. On my last trip, I pulled my poles completely apart so that they would fit into my carry-on suitcase and then arrived at the airport with plenty of time to check my bag if I got stopped by security. And I didn't! Someone else on the trip did get stopped but they pulled out the pole, looked at it, said it was dull, and let it go. So I am going to keep experimenting with it- except when flying back from an international destination because I hear security is brutal these days.
Incidentally, I did write TSA first. The response? "Regardless of whether an item is on the prohibited or permitted items list, the Transportation Security Officers (TSO's) have discretion to prohibit an individual from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat." Somehow I didn't find that really helpful.
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Spotlight: Waterfalls and Wineries
Do you want to combine springtime hiking in the gorgeous mountains of northern Georgia with eating phenomenal food and learning all about wine (including the experiential perspective)? And do it all in four days for under $700? Then Waterfalls and Wineries is the trip for you. Even women who didn't like wine loved this trip last year!
How do we keep the price low? Simple, we stay in a beautiful new hostel. As someone on last year's trip said "Hikers Hostel was great -- clean, lovely layout, gave a sense of privacy and lots of common spaces for conversation".
If this sounds appealing but you're just not sure, let us give you the emails of some women who were on the trip previously and have volunteered to act as references. Click here for all the trip details.
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Two tips I hope you don't need
Both of these were sparked by a recent trip. This first is something I didn't do and wish I had. Let's say you're tempted by a low airfare to some place you really have to get to. However, something feels a little unsettling- like maybe you're concerned the airline is about to go out of business or it has a connecting flight and its in the middle of winter. One option is to buy the cheap ticket and then buy an alternative fully refundable ticket on a flight that leaves later. Yes, it will be very expensive but hopefully you will never have to use it and you will get the refund. Knowing you have that alternative, however, can increase your peace of mind. And honestly, after this winter, I'm considering doing it as a standard practice for flights during the winter.
This second is both a tip and a warning. Rental companies don't have to honor your reservation if your flight is delayed and you don't get there until after they are closed. In practice this is not usually a problem. But if you have booked a specific type of car that they only have a limited number of, or if your reservation is during a high demand period (e.g. Presidents' Weekend or Spring Break), don't count on there being a car there when you finally do show up. Instead, first call the company at the actual location (not the nationwide reservation center), explain your problem, and ask if your car will be there. If they say no or give an equivocal answer, book another car for your new arrival time. And if your first reservation is there, great, just cancel the second. The most important thing you can do, though, is call and talk to an on-site human.
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Two useful articles
Two questions that often come up with international travel are 1) what is proper tipping protocol?; and 2) what is the best way to get the money you need.
The thing to be aware of about tipping is that in many countries it is either not expected or actually insulting. Big tipping Americans have already changed that ethic in some places, so it is worth knowing what the customs are. If you're on a trip with us, your guide will either take care of it or advise you what is customary. Otherwise, take a look at this article on Magellans (which has lots of other useful articles too). For domestic tipping, this SmarterTravel article has good advice and, bonus, a pocket-sized guide that you can download and stick in your pocket.
The whole issue of getting money when you're traveling overseas has done nothing but gotten more complicated. For a very thorough discussion of the issues, read this excellent article in SmarterTravel.com.
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Spotlight: the Black Hills
The Black Hills of South Dakota are way more than the site of Mt Rushmore and Wall Drugstore. Of course you have to visit those too, but the Black Hills are also the traditional and spiritual home of the Lakota Sioux. We have carefully designed Exploring the Black Hills to mix outdoor activities such as hiking and biking with the opportunity to learn about the Lakota culture and history from the people who live there. Relaxing in the peace and beauty of the Borderlands Ranch is sure to be another highlight. With an overnight visit to the Badlands and Wounded Knee, you will come away with a whole new understanding of this part of our country.
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Happy Spring!!
After living through two snowstorms that were each over 20 inches and three days apart, I have never been more ready for spring- a feeling that I am guessing many of you East Coasters may share. Fortunately I got a short break on our Death Valley trip and some of you also escaped to the Okefenokee or to Mexico. But if you're one of those people who just can't get enough of winter, take our last space on Dogsledding in the Northwoods. We'll even give you $300 off.
Here's to a warmer March and the blooming of Spring flowers.
-- Marian, for all the guides at Adventures in Good Company.
P.S. Are these pictures meant to rub it in? Yes.
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