Newsletters

OCTOBER 2025

October is exciting - Starting with my Camino Frances final stage pilgrimage, to Morocco on a tour, to London for the World Travel Market, I am truly putting the “adventure” into my days!

I am very excited to be part of an event in London, hosted by Greether, where I will be a Brand Ambassador. Vanessa Karel who founded Greether was just on the Mexico version of Shark Tank. She is a go-getter for sure and a talented young woman. I used a Greether guide in Montreal and will also have one in Marrakech. The premise is one on one interactions that you customize with a local female-based guide. You can go for as little as 2.5 hours just to get started in an unfamiliar place or more. Here’s a link to read more about Greether. Here’s a link to a short video with my experience with my Montreal Greether!

The World Travel Market (WTM) is going to be quite an experience. I have 12 meetings booked with tourism boards, destinations and more. My goal is to find places to visit that are not only fun for solo travelers, but safe and truly respectful of the mature traveler. Stay tuned for more on that topic!

My October Senior Travel Adventures episode features Jeremy Perrin, from Camino Ways. We discuss some of the basics of considering a Camino journey. They are providing me with support along the way, booking my nightly accommodations and moving my luggage daily, for a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review and collaboration with them.

The show also features Part 2 with Lisa Watson in Africa, and her visit to the Masai Mara. Her visit to Zanzibar will be Part 3 and conclude that adventure in Africa (she went back since then!).

Click here to watch the October episode.

I have been blogging about my Camino training over the past few months, and Part 5 is on my website. My next big blog will be about actual adventure of course! I will be posting regularly on my Facebook pages - so be sure you follow me on https://www.facebook.com/seniortraveladventures

Click here to read my blog

Speaking of Taking a Trip

I'm always talking about trips, so if you don’t already have plans for the rest of the year, here’s a few ideas for you to consider:

1. Cozy, Not Crowded
November and December are made for travelers who love calm over chaos. Cooler temps, smaller crowds, and prices that finally make sense. Grab your favorite jacket and go claim your quiet adventure.

2. Europe in Winter Glow
The crowds go home, and the lights come on. Wander cobbled streets in Paris, sip mulled wine in Germany, or find yourself humming carols in a centuries-old square. Europe knows how to do cozy.

3. Chasing the Sun
If “sweater weather” sounds overrated, head south. Morocco’s golden deserts, the beaches of the Canary Islands, or a Caribbean island or two will warm your spirit and your bones.

4. Nature’s Private Showing
This is the quiet season for America’s national parks. No shuttle lines, no crowds—just the echo of your footsteps and the crunch of frost underfoot. Bring a camera. And maybe some cocoa.

5. The Gift That Travels
Forget the wrapping paper. Give a getaway—whether it’s a train trip, a guided tour, or a simple flight credit. Shared memories outlast any holiday sale.

6. Year-End Reset
December has a way of whispering, “start fresh.” Walk the Camino, join a wellness retreat, or just unplug for a weekend and let yourself breathe before the calendar flips.

7. Markets, Music, and Magic
Europe’s Christmas markets sparkle from late November through Christmas Eve - Vienna, Prague, Strasbourg, you name it. Handcrafted gifts, glowing streets, and enough hot chocolate to melt your heart.

NOTE: There is a group of travelers headed to the Danube December 5, 2026. Click here for more information. I am already booked and have several others about to put their $200 deposit down. Join us!

Top Travel Safety Tips for Solo Mature Travelers

Share Your Itinerary (With Someone You Trust)
Keep your circle in the loop and share your flight details, hotel info, and a rough daily plan with a family member or friend. It’s peace of mind for them, and a smart backup for you if anything goes sideways.

Use Share My location with family on your phone You can also use a tracker like an AirTag, Tile, or my new favorite, Spotminders! Have the family member set it up with you before you leave and then can “find” you anywhere in the world!

Keep Copies of Everything
Scan your passport, travel insurance, and key documents. Store them digitally (cloud or email) and print a copy or two. If your bag takes its own adventure without you, you’ll still have what you need.

Blend In, Don’t Broadcast
Skip the flashy jewelry and expensive-looking gear. Confidence and calm demeanor do more for safety than any hidden money belt ever could.

Trust Your Gut, Not Just the Map
If a street, situation, or person doesn’t feel right, just move on. Instinct sharpens with age; use it. Safety first, sightseeing second.

Stay Connected, Even Offline
Download offline maps, translation apps, and emergency contacts before you go. A local SIM or eSIM helps you stay reachable, but it’s your preparation that really keeps you grounded.

**My webinar on The Basics of eSIM is on YouTube - click here to watch**

Sip of the Season

Travel and wine go hand in hand for me, both tell stories about place, patience, and people who pour their hearts into what they create. This time of year, I like to slow down, raise a glass, and let the memories breathe a little.

Emmolo Merlot (Napa Valley, California)
If you’ve ever doubted Merlot, this bottle will change your mind. Jenny Wagner (yes, of the Caymus family) crafts a Merlot that’s rich and velvety without being showy. Think black cherry, cocoa, and a little nostalgia for Napa before it got too polished. I tried it last night at a Wine Tasting event, and I was sold.

Daou Chardonnay (Paso Robles, California)
Then there’s Daou, a sunshine-in-a-glass kind of Chardonnay. Grown on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific, Daou Winery’s location is something that needs to be experienced. One of my favorites in California. The Chardonnay is bright, layered, and beautifully balanced. Creamy but not heavy, with notes of pear and toasted vanilla. AND under $15 a bottle at Total Wine it’s a perfect day to day favorite.

So whether you’re wrapping up travel plans or just unwrapping cheese, these two wines are perfect company. A little Napa soul, a little Paso sunshine, and maybe a toast to adventures yet to come.

Adventure in the Oven

Olive oil, rosemary, and the faint sound of me pretending I’m in Tuscany…

When I’m not on the road, I still like to wander, just through my kitchen. A glass of wine, a bit of music, and something that smells like Italy in the oven does the trick. This easy focaccia brings that golden Italy feeling right to your table. Crisp edges, olive oil shine, Sea Salt and the kind of comfort that pairs perfectly with a good story and a better glass of wine like I just shared.

Easy Olive Oil Focaccia
(Prep: 10 min active, plus rising + baking)

Ingredients:

• 2¼ tsp (1 packet) instant yeast

• 1¾ cups warm water

• 2 tsp honey or sugar

• 4 cups of all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp salt

• ¼ cup good olive oil (plus more for drizzling)

• Toppings: flaky salt, rosemary, sliced olives, shaved parmesan,or cherry tomatoes

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk warm water, yeast, and honey. Let it sit 5–10 minutes until bubbly.

2. Stir in flour, salt, and olive oil until a shaggy dough forms.

3. Cover and let rise 1–2 hours, until doubled. (You can refrigerate overnight if life gets busy.)

4. Drizzle a little oil into a baking pan, then stretch the dough to fit. Poke dimples all over with your fingers—therapeutic bonus.

5. Top with herbs, olives, or whatever reminds you of the Mediterranean.

6. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for about 20–25 minutes, until golden and crisp at the edges.

Drizzle more olive oil when it’s warm, slice, and serve with wine, maybe that Emmolo Merlot you were just reading about.

In Memory

Sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall at 91.

Dr. Goodall transformed our understanding of the natural world. Her pioneering work in Tanzania revealed the rich emotional lives of chimpanzees. Beyond her research, she devoted her life to protecting wildlife, advocating for conservation, and inspiring young people to care for our planet through her Roots & Shoots program and the Jane Goodall Institute.

Her legacy is not in what she left behind alone, but in what she set in motion: a generation empowered to act, to care, and to hope. She blazed the trail for us – we must keep up her work and travel with respect to the environment.

Thank you, and rest in peace, Dr. Goodall.

A bit of help, please?

I need YOUR help. I am trying to gain traction on Instagram – just short travel tips or motivation. But until I gain more followers and views of my content, they toss my work aside. If you are an IG user – if you can please click the follow button for my account I would be grateful!

https://www.instagram.com/seniortraveladventures/

Here’s my post about Senior Travel Adventures too.

But enough about me – I would love to hear from you! I am seeking stories to share both on my show and in print. I can’t do it without YOU! Interviews are done via Zoom, and it is easy – just like we are having a friendly conversation. If you are interested in sharing please email me at debbie@seniortraveladventures.net with a brief summary of what you would like to share related to travel experiences.

Next Month’s Newsletter - topics to be determined by my travels!! Expect the November issue to arrive around 11/20/2025 so that I can include my visit to the World Travel Market in London!

Take care everyone - travel safe!

Debbie D.

SEPTEMBER 2025