Travel Therapy, Where Do You Need to Go? reads like “doctor’s orders”. It's the best vacation guide book for women who want advice for healing a broken heart. It's written by Karen Schaler, a woman with an extensive knowledge of exotic locations and some wild ideas for gals who want to jump start a new life.
Exotic Vacations
Besides excelling as a print journalist, Karen Schaler is also an award-winning television writer/reporter/producer. She was in Bosnia and Afghanistan, where she was embedded with a combat Apache Helicopter Unit. Schaler won an Emmy for her coverage.
This destination guide book, by Karen Schaler, prescribes exotic vacations for specific emotional needs, women’s issues, and the trauma of dying relationships. This book has exceptional advice for women who need change. "Doctor" Schaler doesn’t recommend “vacations”, she recommends "experiences" for jump starting a new life.
Many of these locations can be experienced solo or with a travel buddy.
Here are just a few of the possible “maladies” and their treatments in Schaler's destination guide:
Healing a Broken Heart
- Isla Guadalupe, Mexico: Shark diving (in a cage) lets a woman face her fears and walk away knowing she has survived, which fills her with new courage and pride.
- Sun Valley, Idaho: White water rafting challenges a woman to accept something utterly alien and totally outside her comfort zone, which leads her to accept new perspectives on life.
- Las Vegas: Qua Baths and Spa in Caesar’s Palace: Sometimes, breakup advice for women involves retreating to a safe, sheltering place. Very shell-shocked, wounded women need healing people around, to give them a stable, comforting base and a sense of being loved and cared for.
Over Stressed
This Diagnosis is made when a woman is bombarded by work, organizations, children, friends, coworkers, ex and/or current husbands. Hydra Therapy (ocean) is the remedy of choice.
- Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands: This private island allows a limited number of guests and completes the picture of "getting away from it all".
- Nantucket Island, Massachusetts: A slower version of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket is the perfect antidote for intense stress. Go in winter when the tourists have been sent home.
Feeling Sorry for Oneself (Depression) - Doctor's Orders
- La Esquintla, Guatemala: Join forces with a mighty volunteer group like "Ambassadors for Children", do light carpentry work, and bond with poverty stricken children.
- Malawi, Africa: Voluntourism brings people from all over the world to distribute food while bringing love and hope to children with HIV/AIDS in places like Mtendere Orphanage.
- Bang Pae Waterfall, Thailand: Care for endangered Gibbon monkeys before they are released into the wild.
Reinventing Oneself: Therapy Trips for Starting a New Life through Exotic Vacations
- Vietnam, a People Destroyed by War: The less populated areas of Vietneam offer interaction with locals who will offer lessons about forgiveness.
- New Zealand: Outrageously friendly and extremely helpful kiwis make NZ a perfect spot for traveling solo.
- Lyon, France: Become someone new by learning something new: take “chocolate making” classes.
- Santa Cruz, California: Drive the coast (Highway 1) to San Diego, stopping often for beautiful views and inducements like Hearst Castle. Learn to take life as it comes.
Pros and Cons of the book Travel Therapy - Where Do You Need To Go?
The "therapy" trips are a bit heavily weighted in favor of exotic vacations which may be out of the price range of average woman, such as Dubai. However, "Doctor" Schuler also includes some inexpensive journeys, like camping in Washington State, as a way to reconnect with loved ones in the solitude of the mountains. Travel Therapy is a great book to read after a break up.
Travel Therapy, Where do You Need to Go? is the best vacation guide book for women. "Doctor" Karen Schuler reaches out and gives examples, culled from her own world-wide experiences. She has great empathy and a sense of what works for healing a broken heart. Women should use her prescriptions to jump start a new life, because travel just might be the best therapy of all.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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