Are you like me? I want to stay connected with new friends I meet while traveling… yet I rarely do. Lately, I have been doing a better job of maintaining relationships by using the latest apps to keep connected at no or low cost.
Frankly, it took me a while to get used to WhatsApp, the popular international phone and text system. But now that I use it, I do keep in touch more frequently and have cemented many new friendships. Also, it’s how families stay connected across continents. And many tour operators coordinate groups without chaos.
Given WhatsApp’s popularity, some age-friendly alternatives have emerged for your consideration. Other travel tech apps that work for The Ageless Traveler are:
Viber — Offers voice and video calls and has Viber Out, which lets you call regular landlines or mobile numbers at low rates—ideal for travelers who may need to reach doctors, hotels, or family members who aren’t app-savvy. Age-friendly because: it has large, clear buttons, simple navigation, and reliable call quality, even on weak Wi-Fi.
BiP — A global app that supports text, voice, and video, with live translation into many languages—wonderful for travelers who need quick help communicating abroad. Age-friendly because: the interface is uncluttered, the translation feature is easy to find, and it offers emergency and location-sharing tools that give peace of mind on the road.
LINE— Popular in Asia but excellent worldwide. It supports voice and video calls, text, group chats, and easy photo sharing. Age-friendly because: it uses large icons, offers a clean high-contrast design, and provides extremely stable connections in countries where other apps may struggle.
What else brings us together? This week’s podcast is devoted to festivals that connect us to our local community. Join me as I speak with festival expert Haylie Robinson, host/producer of PBS Finding Festivals, about the fascinating world of festivals — the traditions they preserve, the joy they spark, and how they can redefine the way we travel.
In the usual sections:
Ask Adriane: How to have an animal-related adventure in Brazil.
News You Can Use: Here are best hotels to stay with your grandkids — and discover a thoughtful, screen-free gift they’ll love.
Culture Vulture: Athens may have the best culinary culture in the world — and one expert guide has me rethinking my usual routine there.
Luxury Travel for Less: Luxury is no longer thread count — it’s authenticity, connection, and feeling part of a place. See if you agree by taking our survey.
Christmas is around the corner. Check out my curated gifts on Tripped for the perfect packing-related gifts for travelers. The selection is ideal for Travel Bros (men who like to travel). And CruisesIt, with hundreds of cruises to choose from, provides you and your family with the gift of cruising at a discount for 2026-7. Last year, my pick was a three-day January cruise to Ensenada with my kids, grandkids, and even my son’s in-laws. The family bonding will last a lifetime.
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This Week’s Highlights
On Our Podcast
Finding Festivals Around the World
“Festivals are the only place where annual traditions are preserved, practiced, and actively participated in.” Haylie Robinson, Creator of Finding Festivals PBS
On this week’s podcast, I sat down with Haylie Robinson, creator of Finding Festivals, to explore her world — from small-town celebrations to cultural touchstones with global impact.
Haylie takes us from her days as a festival queen in Ohio to her work uncovering the most meaningful festivals across the U.S. and beyond. Her message is refreshing and straightforward: you don’t need a passport to experience culture. Sometimes the richest travel experiences happen right in your own backyard.
We talk about the Dublin Irish Festival, the Edgar Allan Poe Festival, and dozens more that blend food, storytelling, ritual, and pure community joy. Haley also shares her practical festival tips: arrive early, pace your day, stay hydrated, and leave room for surprise — because festivals are where spontaneity thrives.
We also explore what makes festivals tremendously successful: thoughtful traffic flow, strong themes that honor local culture, and organizers who understand the soul of their community.
By the end, you’ll see festivals the way Haylie does — as windows into the human spirit, and as one of the easiest, most joyful ways to keep traveling without going far.
A Deliciously Local Spin on Athens — According to Diane Kochilas
I’m in Athens frequently, and yet I tend to eat at the same handful of places. So, when I read chef and Greek food expert Diane Kochilas’ guide to dining in Athens, I wanted to share her picks with you. Next time I’m there, I may finally break my pattern — and let Athens feed me the way locals do.
In her Matador Network interview, Diane talks about a fresh “mixing and matching” of Greek regional traditions with global flavors. She says, whether you’re craving something rooted in the past or excited by modern culinary creativity, Athen’s food culture is thriving.
Start at The Central Market and go to a meze spot just across from the Koralis Fish Market. My husband and I ate there. The wonderful, colorful seat cushions and generous portions made us feel like locals and exotic at the same time. If you’re more intrepid, try Epirus, tucked inside the meat market — they sometimes serve things like tripe soup or chicken soup, depending on the day. These are not touristy “best photo” spots but the kind of places where the pulse of the city really shows through. For sweets, Diane suggests Mitropolitikon, a retro pâtisserie near Syntagma, where one of her favorite moments was biting into a candied mandarin.
If, like me, you’re keeping an eye on salt or want more plant-based options, order horiatiki (Greek salad), saganaki, or horta (greens). Even more “ladera” — Greek vegetable dishes cooked in olive oil —or vegetarian staples like spanakorizo (spinach and rice), simple greens, and pilaf. Greek cuisine is a prime example of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Diane’s cookbooks help you keep Greece’s culinary traditions alive at home.
Luxury Travel for Less
I just read an analysis of how luxury travel is shifting, especially in the Caribbean. And it made me rethink what “luxury” really means.
Today’s The Ageless Traveler isn’t chasing celebrity chefs or marble bathrooms. Or are we?
Here are the key takeaways of the Report. The luxury traveler wants:
1. Authenticity. Authentic experiences — real people, real food, real culture — cannot.
2. Personal attention. The places thriving today aren’t the largest or fanciest. They’re the ones where staff know your rhythms, your preferences, your stories.
3. Accommodations that Foster Relationships. You return year after year not for the infinity pool — but because you want to come home.
4. “Quiet luxury” Remote islands. Hard-to-reach villas. Places that feel discovered, not staged.
5. Cultural depth Destinations that protect their uniqueness — not mimic each other — command the highest rates.
What about you? Do you want these experiential luxuries or a great mattress and a fancy hotel? I want to know. Please take this survey…I can’t wait to hear from you. I know we all want it all…but please select your top priority.
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