July Meeting

Our July meeting, Tuesday, July 2nd at 7 pm will feature a group discussion on all things travel.  Topics include changing money abroad, pros and cons of mileage programs and using miles, discount travel internet sites and much, much more.  This annual discussion is always a favorite and the source of great information as we have so many experienced travelers in the club.  This is a not to be missed evening!

New Zealand Tour, 2014

Join us for a tour to New Zealand with Collette Vacations from February 23 to March 13, 2014.  The early booking price (before August 23, 2013) is $6,549. double occupancy, including round trip air fare from Sacramento.  Collette Vacations is a family owned company, in business more than 90 years, and includes many activities that are extra on other tours.  We will cover both North and South Islands.  For information and a brochure, contact Judith Anshin, penguinatlaw@gmail.com

Second Tour to southern Africa

I am forming another group to tour South Africa, Botswana and Zambia in late May, 2013.  I will not be able to accompany this group, but it will be led by Graham Maskill from Africa 2000 Tours.  Please contact me if you are interested in joining the group.  It will be a small group of 10, so don't wait, contact me asap if you think you want to take it.  Details, including prices, will be sent to you via email.

Travel Consulting

I, Judith Anshin, am available to consult with travelers to plan trips, find best deals, etc.  I am a member of the Century Club, having visited over 130 countries and having lived in many for various periods of time. I have been the leader of this travel club for nearly 10 years and am also a contributing editor with International Travel News and have been a travel writer for over 40 years.  I have many connections with tour operators in this country and in other countries as well.

The only charge for a consultation is a donation to the Friends of the Belle Cooledge Library.  Please email me if you are interested in a consultation.

Africa Tour - 2013

I will be forming another group for a tour but I will not accompany the group.  Please email me if you are interested.

This tour has been fully filled, but I am maintaining a waiting list.  If you want to be on the waiting list, please email me.  The tour dates are 4/29/2013-5/22/2013

I am putting together a group to visit South Africa, Botswana and Zambia in May of 2013. The itinerary is tentative for now but will cover Capetown, the Garden Route in South Africa, the wine country, Sabi Sand/Kruger National Park for game viewing, the Panorama Route, Johannesburg, covering Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. In Botswana we will visit Chobe National Park for great game viewing and in Zambia we will visit Victoria Falls. Our group will be small, approximately 10 travelers, and I'm trying to keep the price as low as possible.

If you are interested, or want to be kept informed as the planning progresses, please email me, Judith Anshin, at penguinatlaw@gmail.com and put South Africa in the subject line.

DON'T BUY CHILEAN SEA BASS

On my recent trip to Antarctica I learned that what is sold as Chilean Sea Bass is not a sea bass at all but a threated species known as Patagonian Toothfish. When it wouldn't sell under it's real name, the name Chilean Sea Bass was given to it, but the fish is not even a bass to begin with. Please help protect this threatened species by not buying it in supermarkets or restaurants, and passing the word to your friends.

Finding Travel Companions

Many people in the club are single and are looking for companions for trips. I am starting a new service of putting such travelers in touch with one another. If you wish to participate, send me an e-mail telling me what you are looking for in a travel companion, such as only males or females, a non-smoker or someone more interested in cultural trips than adventure travel, etc. Also tell me what countries you wish to visit and I will post the names of these countries on this site so that interested parties may respond. Also, if you are particularly interested in something such as snorkeling, as I am, or hiking where the destination is not so important, let me know that. I will not put any names on this site, but will keep it confidential until such time as I put the two parties in direct contact.

Any suggestions you may have on how to handle this new service will be greatly appreciated. My email is penguinatlaw@gmail.com

SINGLES LOOKING FOR TRAVEL COMPANIONS:

Middle aged woman, non-smoker, seeks only female companions for travel in US, Panama Canal and Antarctica. Available for travel any time.

Older woman seeks male or female non-smoking companions for cultural or snorkeling trips. Open to any ideas and dates.

Looking for travel partner(s) for international travel in 2012. My top travel locations that I'm currently exploring include 1. A Mediterranean cruise thinking of departing Barcelona and with ports of call in IT, Greece, Turkey and maybe Croatia. 2. Ecuador and Galapagos Islands and 3. SE Asia. I would be open to other suggestions for anyone seeking travel companions. Open to both male and female travel partner.