A Lady Well-Travelled | World Travels & Savvy Travel Tips

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Join us for a captivating journey through Fredericksburg, Virginia, exploring its historic significance and vibrant local attractions. This episode offers insider travel tips and recommendations on where to eat, shop, and relax, ideal for travelers eager to experience cultural appreciation and regional specialties.

Fredericksburg is a hidden gem right off of Interstate 95 between Richmond, VA and Washington, D.C. that shouldn't be missed.  Don't just stop for gas and a tinkle, go on into town and be enchanted by the variety of restaurants, bars and specialty shops, plus special community events that happen all year long!

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Join as we explore empowering women's travel in Southeast Asia, focusing on cultural appreciation, healing journeys, and travel tips. Discover how to make your trip meaningful, safe, and transformative.

This episode, featuring guest Paula Barnes, highlights Southeast Asia, the best destinations for healing and renewal.  Learn how travel experiences can  empower and transform you as a woman and practical travel advice for a fulfilling journey, whether traveling solo, in a group or with a few friends.

If you've ever considered Expat Living, Paula also shares her 20+ years of experience and helpful tips on what factors to consider before moving abroad.

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Has international reaction to visiting the United States during the FIFA World Cup taken you by surprise?  Yeah, me neither!

Explore American culture, cuisine, and hospitality with Shannon Bednarova, from the perspective of international visitors, especially during the World Cup. Learn why being good ambassadors at home and abroad matters and discover travel tips to appreciate America’s diversity, vastness and warm hospitality.

Delve into international guest perceptions and firsthand experiences of American culture and hospitality during the World Cup, which have not aligned with the media narratives nor foreign governmental views regarding the US.

Understand what most Americans have known all along!

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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If you enjoy fine wines and gourmet cuisine while cruising, you'll want to listen to this episode of A Lady Well-Travelled!

Join Shannon Bednarova as she explores the culinary delights of Norwegian Encore in this detailed review, highlighting the private dining experience in The Haven and three specialty restaurants, Onda by Scarpetta (Italian), Le Bistro (French), and Cagney's Steakhouse. 

Perfect for cruise travel enthusiasts and foodies seeking tips and recommendations as to where to eat onboard, reviews of presentation, must-order menu items, and dining atmosphere.  Get insights on food quality, presentation, wine options and service that every traveler will appreciate.

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Do you travel often for business and make use of airport business lounges?  Then you won't want to miss this podcast!

In this episode, Host and Creator, Shannon Bednarova discusses the decline of airport business lounges due to overcrowding by non-business travelers and families using credit card access. She explains how this affects the business lounge atmosphere, food, and workspace quality. She also discusses the lack of a dress code and professional attire, the lack of parental control over children in the lounge and how those who complain about it are ignored by the airlines.  

Shannon also conducted interviews of airline lounge staff and asked for honest answers as to why airlines tolerate this downward spiral in quality and service - and it is all related to financial incentives. The airline staff also told Shannon that they do not forsee any changes to the status quo, as the airlines are making too much money off of credit card fees. A must-listen for frequent business travelers.

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Grab a pint of Smithwick's and settle in for a lively discussion and some fine fiddle playing to boot!  Yes, we're talking all things Ireland in this episode of A Lady Well-Travelled!

Join Shannon Bednarova as she interviews Tara Connaghan, a renowned Irish fiddle player, award-winning podcaster, educator, and tour guide, about Irish music etiquette, travel tips, and cultural insights. Discover how she teaches other Irish musicians to navigate Irish music sessions with confidence and poise and how she built a successful podcast out of doing so. 

Tara will also share two beautiful songs, The Maggie Picky and the Baitu Maithiu, playing on her fiddle, which she feels are highly evocative of the Donegal region and the Irish fiddle music tradition.  The Maggie Picky is a dance from the 1700s and the Baitu Maithiu is a mournful song of a mother's heartbreak for her son.

Explore hidden gems in the north of the Republic of Ireland and Donegal and learn about the Wild Atlantic Way with Tara. See why the area she calls home is truly an undiscovered treasure among tourists, who are typically steered toward the south of Ireland by tour companies.  Learn her travel hacks to get the most out of your visit to Ireland and uncover the rich traditions that make Ireland a unique travel destination.

Here is a link to Tara playing the Maithiu on You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hF7-NzBfCE&authuser=0

Contact Tara at:

www.sessionetiquette.com

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Do you love traveling to exotic locations to dive or snorkel?  Are you concerned about the health of our oceans and our coral reefs? Learn how you can get involved and make a difference in saving these precious ecosystems for future generations!

Join host and creator, Shannon Bednarova, as she explores the fascinating world of diving, coral conservation, and marine biology with dive master and marine conservationist, Denny Frazier. Discover his adventures, insights into coral health, and how everyone can contribute to ocean preservation.

Understand the Impact that human development, climate change and the offloading of ship ballast has on coral reefs

• Learn the difference between coral bleaching and SCTLD - Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, aka" Skittle D' 
• Learn what you can do to assist with Marine conservation and how to get involved
• Discover what research is being done to mitigate coral decimation worldwide
• Explore which oral restoration techniques are the most effective and new developments in transplantation

Helpful links:

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) - Coral Disease & Health Consortium

Home - Reef Renewal USA

Home - Coral Restoration Foundation

Coral Reef Alliance - Saving the World’s Coral Reefs

The Nature Conservancy: A World Where People & Nature Thrive

SEE THE SEA | Protect Marine Ecosystems—Get Involved       (Denny Frazier)

Carolina Dive Locker

Instagram: see-the-sea26 (for Denny Frazier's organization)

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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If you enjoy luxury cruising, you'll want to listen to this episode!

Shannon Bednarova, host and creator of A Lady Well-Travelled shares her experience about her luxury cruise on the Norwegian Encore, focusing on The Haven experience.  She and her two friends spent a week on the ship and enjoyed the ports of Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Harvest Key, Belize. She purchased this cruise as a gift and hoped it would turn out to be as nice as the Vacations To Go Cruise Representative promised.  Listen to find out if the experience matched what was represented!

She gets specific about the embarkation process, decor, staterooms, indoor pool, amenities, services, dining, crew, artistic touches that add to the cruiser's enjoyment. and her overall impressions of the cruise environment.

She does not spend one minute speaking about the hairy legs contest by the main pool, singing off-key karaoke in the country western bar, playing Bingo or attending the "I Love Elvis Review" in the ship's theatre.  As a matter of fact, she couldn't tell you if they had any of those things going on, but they probably had all of that and more on the ship as well!

Helpful links:

Luxury Cruises: The Haven by Norwegian | NCL

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Join host and creator of A Lady Well Travelled, Shannon Bednarova, as she interviews guest, Briana Gervat, An author, poet, photographer and fellow traveler, Briana discusses her 36-day, 500-mile journey along the Western Front through France and Belgium and how it inspired her latest book, There Will Come Soft Rains.

Briana details the heartbreak that led her to undertake the journey, seeking healing, wisdom and understanding by walking a path that witnessed unimaginable horrors in WWI, yet retained incredible beauty and told tales of the incredible resilience of humankind. She gives us a glimpse into her favorite sights along the way, the most sacred, meaningful and even angelic!

Briana shares one of her beautiful poems for the audience and discusses how she reveals her true heart through her poetry and photography. Shannon encourages everyone to visit Briana's gorgeous website, view her photographs and immerse yourself in her poetry.

Links:

Briana Gervat

theperegrinepilgrim.com

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Do you like cruising?  Or do you LOVE cruising?  You'll want to listen to this 14-minute podcast!

Join host and creator of A Lady Well-Travelled, Shannon Bednarova, as she reviews her latest experience using Vacations to Go cruise booking website and its featured 90-Day Ticker to find and book a luxury cruise as a gift for her friends.

Vacations to Go offers cruise search platform with extensive sorting and searching options. The 90-day ticker can provide discounts if you are flexible with travel dates.

Were they able to come through for Shannon with a wonderful cruise experience for her friends and also provide her with a great value for her money spent? You'll need to tune into the podcast to find out more....

Helpful Links:

Vacations to Go Website - https://www.vacationstogo.com/
Norwegian Cruise Line - https://www.ncl.com/
The Haven on Norwegian Ships - https://www.ncl.com/why-ncl/the-haven

DISCLAIMER: All opinions, recommendations and experiences shared on this podcast are solely those of the creator and/or her guests.  Please do your own research and consult the appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on content shared on this show. 

Thank you for listening!  I welcome your feedback and suggestions or you simply let me know if you are enjoying the show. You can reach me at [email protected]