What digital platforms do you post on?
We have this website, Facebook, Instagram, MeetUp, and a fledgling YouTube channel. On each of those platforms, search "Travel Sisters Network" (it's always plural) and look for the logo.
What's the best way to be "in the know" about this network?
Register for free off this website. Your registration will get processed the next business day unless we are in travel. If you did not get the welcome email, check your spam / junk folder and search in your search box for "Travel Sisters Network" or the email "info@travelsistersnetwork." Read the welcome email and click on the link to the "ticker file" (you might need to log into Google to do this). Bookmark the ticker file - it has all Zoom links and all details about in person gatherings. Read your emails, access the ticker file when you need a quick reminder - you are good to go and in the know!
How do I get a “spot” on a trip?
You enroll before the trip is full. You do that by pressing a button on this website under where the trip is posted. For premier trips it is $25 and for getaways $10. Note all the programming for this network is free - the website, the emails, the Zooms, the in person gatherings, packing demos, trip ideas, access to the grassroots trip launcher . . . all free. The only time you pay is if you want to enroll in a specific and those payments are nonrefundable.
Solo rooms are typically limited, so if you want a solo spot, you might want to check with us to see if any are still available before you enroll. If you want a solo spot, you want to let us know (email, text) at the time you deposit.
When the # of people enrolled reaches "critical mass" (typically 10-20, depending on the trip) we launch an email group of those enrolled and drive the trip forward step by step.
How does enrollment differ from deposit?
Enrollment says "I'm seriously interested and want more info." You enroll from the website. When you enroll you get an email that basically says, "thanks for enrolling, we're waiting for the trip to reach "critical mass" in terms of participation (typically 10-15 people), and we will launch an email group it does. In the email group you get all the details that help you decide if you want to make deposit.
Deposit is declared in the email group and that indicates you are going on the trip. Deposit is typically a payment of hundreds of dollars and it prompts the need to purchase insurance within 14 days. We typically have people declare they are ready to deposit, provide credit card info, and then we process those deposits in "waves" to ease the administrative load and make sure no balls are dropped.
I've enrolled or deposited, but I've kind of lost track of what happens next with our trip. Is there a place I can quickly check in?
There's a link at the bottom of every email sent (in the trip email group) to a document called the "Trip Ticker file." On that document, Angie builds a chart for all the trips in progress that tells all deadlines, plans, flights, links to the digital itinerary in progress, supplier websites etc. She can't post the trip ticker file on this website as it has people's addresses on it if they host a social. But you want to look for that document, bookmark it, and keep an eye on it as time goes by.
I see some getaways / grassroots trips involve driving. How does carpool work?
We devise the specific carpool plan about a month from travel. We survey folks to see who would prefer to drive, who would prefer to ride, and consider geographic realities / convenience. Those riding together might leave their cars in the driveway of the driving Travel Sister. We also have Travel Sisters meet to ride together at our storefront location.
The drivers contribute their labor and car mileage. The passengers cover gas. Parking fees are divided equally unless the network covers them as part of a package.
I like a solo room when I travel - how do I insure I get one?
When you enroll, you email us at [email protected] and tell us you want a solo spot if available. If you ONLY want to go solo, say so. You can inquire about remaining solo spots before enrolling if you would like and it is not time sensitive (it might take a day to reply and in the mean time someone might enroll before you and they would get "dibs.")
How do you match roommates?
This is more art than science. It starts with who is actually deposited and seeking a roommate. We put off the assignment as long as possible to give people a chance to get to know each other at meetings. If you are new to the network, we look at your registration survey to get a feel of your interests and habits. Sometimes Angie will call you and ask a lot of practical questions. Sometimes Angie will meet you for lunch, or arrange to be your roommate on a trip, so she can really get to know you and then can feel quite certain with placement.
But the REAL answer is that this is a community, not a transaction. Once you go on one trip with us, you meet a whole bunch of lovely people, form connections, get to know each other. Together we build a shared knowledge of each others' gifts and shadow sides, blind spots and limiting beliefs (yes we all have them) and we know how best to fit the puzzle together for maximum utility and comfort.
We also have a great "insurance policy"; that is the Travel Sisters leader traveling with the group. If your roommate needs support, gets sick, etc., the TSN leader can rotate into the room. After all, for them this is a "work trip" and it's their job to make your vacation the best it can be! That's just one concrete example of the value of a network, a community, and investing in group travel with a TSN leader at the helm.
How do you insure people feel comfortable before a trip launches?
Monthly Zoom meetings include breakout rooms by trip, so that is one way to get familiar with the faces and personalities you will travel with. Our monthly in person meetings also involve breakouts by trip.
For premiere trips (longer, larger trips that are usually international) we will host socials, create a pictorial directory, provide nametags, and gather for a pre-trip lunch on the day we pick up final documents.
When you have made final payment on a trip, we build a WhatsApp group. Whats App is a free end-to-end encrypted messaging platform that uses wifi (not cellular) and it is the international standard for communication in travel. A lot of informal convos happen there pre-trip, during travel, and even post trip!
How much do trips REALLY cost?
Getaways are priced based on the cost of trip elements at the time of the first booking. Since group space is not held, the price might go up. When that happens, Angie lets you know well in advance of departure and you can always withdraw from the trip. When she can hold group accommodation space, she will do so to mitigate that risk. One thing that makes that hard is she can't always predict what combination of different type cruise staterooms people might select (interior, oceanview, balcony or suite.) It can also be hard to find hotels in small towns that have lots of rooms with separate beds. So if a getaway grows larger than expected, we might have to add or change hotels and that can trigger price changes.
For premiere trips that are escorted motorcoach tours, the price listed on the website gives the base cost of the "land package" - meaning the tour guide and bus driver, ground transport once the tour departs the first hotel, hotels, breakfast, and a few lunches or dinners. Additional costs are unique to the person and cannot be accurately predicted so they are not included: insurance, airfare, rides to and from airports - these are called "transfers" - lunches/ dinners, gratuities to tour guide, bus driver& local guides, extra hotel nights at start or end of trip, optional excursions/ experiences, souvenirs, spending money.
For premiere trips that are cruises, the price on the website typically covers the cruise in the lowest price stateroom available, all meals, some onboard activities/entertainment & excursions. Additional costs are unique to the person and cannot be accurately predicted so they are not included: room type upgrades, insurance, airfare, rides to and from airports - these are called "transfers" - gratuities, beverage or soda packages, extra hotel nights at start or end of trip, optional excursions/ experiences, souvenirs, spending money.
If you opt into extras - pre stay hotel nights, currency requests, tipping, transfers, group dinners with set menus, etc. - that are pre-paid and anticipated, the Travel Sisters will charge those as "pre-trip expenses" and you pay them a few weeks out from travel (if required) or at final document pickup.
It's possible that in travel you might accrue expenses (the network leader picks up a lunch check, loans you currency, arranges an impromptu tour, etc,) and those will be calculated by trip end and you can pay in exact cash or check at trip end, or your card on file is charged back at the office (incurring a 4% transaction fee.)
What services does TSN offer that make travel easier and less stressful?
What if my roommate cancels before the trip?
If the cancellation is before final payment, we just reorganize roommates. The TSN leader is key to this reorganization as they are the "floater." If we have an even number of Travel Sisters who want roommates, the TSN leader can room solo. If one of the roommates falls through, the TSN leader can replace that person and forego that solo room.
If the cancellation happens after final payment or very close to travel, TSN requires each Travel Sister to get trip insurance that covers "single supplement" costs due to roommate cancellation. Typically that means the "now solo" Travel Sister pays a single supplement and files a claim to be reimbursed . . . and they have a solo room on tour.
What if I have to cancel my trip?
Life happens, and we understand. That's also why, for premiere trips, we require you to buy travel insurance. The cost of that insurance varies based on your age.
A key factor is when you cancel and why:
Cancel before deposit for any reason - no problem. We just pull someone up from the waiting list or reorganize the rooms.
Cancel after deposit for a qualifying reason (ex: illness, illness of a family member and you are caretaker, disability, etc.) - you file insurance to get back your deposit.
Cancel after deposit for a non-qualifying reason (ex: you have a calendar conflict you did not anticipate) - you lose your deposit (unless you bought Cancel For Any Reason insurance - CFAR)
Cancel after final payment for a qualifying reason (ex: illness, injury, death in the family, critical illness of a family member)- you file insurance and get back your money.
Cancel after final payment for a non qualifying reason (ex:fear of travel, lack of desire to go) - you lose your money and we work hard to contain your losses given the cancellation penalties(unless you bought Cancel For Any Reason insurance - CFAR).
What if I want to add on to my trip?
Great! We can assist with pre or post stays, or you can just inform us of your travel plans and we will add them to the itinerary.
Can I book my own flights?
Yes. You must book your own flights if you are using points or frequent flier miles. We can advise what flights to book, but we cannot book them. If we book your flights we charge $50. How flights are booked can be quite consequential , so we have a "flight sorter tool" to help people decide if/ when to book their own flights and it can be accessed here:
We have this website, Facebook, Instagram, MeetUp, and a fledgling YouTube channel. On each of those platforms, search "Travel Sisters Network" (it's always plural) and look for the logo.
What's the best way to be "in the know" about this network?
Register for free off this website. Your registration will get processed the next business day unless we are in travel. If you did not get the welcome email, check your spam / junk folder and search in your search box for "Travel Sisters Network" or the email "info@travelsistersnetwork." Read the welcome email and click on the link to the "ticker file" (you might need to log into Google to do this). Bookmark the ticker file - it has all Zoom links and all details about in person gatherings. Read your emails, access the ticker file when you need a quick reminder - you are good to go and in the know!
How do I get a “spot” on a trip?
You enroll before the trip is full. You do that by pressing a button on this website under where the trip is posted. For premier trips it is $25 and for getaways $10. Note all the programming for this network is free - the website, the emails, the Zooms, the in person gatherings, packing demos, trip ideas, access to the grassroots trip launcher . . . all free. The only time you pay is if you want to enroll in a specific and those payments are nonrefundable.
Solo rooms are typically limited, so if you want a solo spot, you might want to check with us to see if any are still available before you enroll. If you want a solo spot, you want to let us know (email, text) at the time you deposit.
When the # of people enrolled reaches "critical mass" (typically 10-20, depending on the trip) we launch an email group of those enrolled and drive the trip forward step by step.
How does enrollment differ from deposit?
Enrollment says "I'm seriously interested and want more info." You enroll from the website. When you enroll you get an email that basically says, "thanks for enrolling, we're waiting for the trip to reach "critical mass" in terms of participation (typically 10-15 people), and we will launch an email group it does. In the email group you get all the details that help you decide if you want to make deposit.
Deposit is declared in the email group and that indicates you are going on the trip. Deposit is typically a payment of hundreds of dollars and it prompts the need to purchase insurance within 14 days. We typically have people declare they are ready to deposit, provide credit card info, and then we process those deposits in "waves" to ease the administrative load and make sure no balls are dropped.
I've enrolled or deposited, but I've kind of lost track of what happens next with our trip. Is there a place I can quickly check in?
There's a link at the bottom of every email sent (in the trip email group) to a document called the "Trip Ticker file." On that document, Angie builds a chart for all the trips in progress that tells all deadlines, plans, flights, links to the digital itinerary in progress, supplier websites etc. She can't post the trip ticker file on this website as it has people's addresses on it if they host a social. But you want to look for that document, bookmark it, and keep an eye on it as time goes by.
I see some getaways / grassroots trips involve driving. How does carpool work?
We devise the specific carpool plan about a month from travel. We survey folks to see who would prefer to drive, who would prefer to ride, and consider geographic realities / convenience. Those riding together might leave their cars in the driveway of the driving Travel Sister. We also have Travel Sisters meet to ride together at our storefront location.
The drivers contribute their labor and car mileage. The passengers cover gas. Parking fees are divided equally unless the network covers them as part of a package.
I like a solo room when I travel - how do I insure I get one?
When you enroll, you email us at [email protected] and tell us you want a solo spot if available. If you ONLY want to go solo, say so. You can inquire about remaining solo spots before enrolling if you would like and it is not time sensitive (it might take a day to reply and in the mean time someone might enroll before you and they would get "dibs.")
How do you match roommates?
This is more art than science. It starts with who is actually deposited and seeking a roommate. We put off the assignment as long as possible to give people a chance to get to know each other at meetings. If you are new to the network, we look at your registration survey to get a feel of your interests and habits. Sometimes Angie will call you and ask a lot of practical questions. Sometimes Angie will meet you for lunch, or arrange to be your roommate on a trip, so she can really get to know you and then can feel quite certain with placement.
But the REAL answer is that this is a community, not a transaction. Once you go on one trip with us, you meet a whole bunch of lovely people, form connections, get to know each other. Together we build a shared knowledge of each others' gifts and shadow sides, blind spots and limiting beliefs (yes we all have them) and we know how best to fit the puzzle together for maximum utility and comfort.
We also have a great "insurance policy"; that is the Travel Sisters leader traveling with the group. If your roommate needs support, gets sick, etc., the TSN leader can rotate into the room. After all, for them this is a "work trip" and it's their job to make your vacation the best it can be! That's just one concrete example of the value of a network, a community, and investing in group travel with a TSN leader at the helm.
How do you insure people feel comfortable before a trip launches?
Monthly Zoom meetings include breakout rooms by trip, so that is one way to get familiar with the faces and personalities you will travel with. Our monthly in person meetings also involve breakouts by trip.
For premiere trips (longer, larger trips that are usually international) we will host socials, create a pictorial directory, provide nametags, and gather for a pre-trip lunch on the day we pick up final documents.
When you have made final payment on a trip, we build a WhatsApp group. Whats App is a free end-to-end encrypted messaging platform that uses wifi (not cellular) and it is the international standard for communication in travel. A lot of informal convos happen there pre-trip, during travel, and even post trip!
How much do trips REALLY cost?
Getaways are priced based on the cost of trip elements at the time of the first booking. Since group space is not held, the price might go up. When that happens, Angie lets you know well in advance of departure and you can always withdraw from the trip. When she can hold group accommodation space, she will do so to mitigate that risk. One thing that makes that hard is she can't always predict what combination of different type cruise staterooms people might select (interior, oceanview, balcony or suite.) It can also be hard to find hotels in small towns that have lots of rooms with separate beds. So if a getaway grows larger than expected, we might have to add or change hotels and that can trigger price changes.
For premiere trips that are escorted motorcoach tours, the price listed on the website gives the base cost of the "land package" - meaning the tour guide and bus driver, ground transport once the tour departs the first hotel, hotels, breakfast, and a few lunches or dinners. Additional costs are unique to the person and cannot be accurately predicted so they are not included: insurance, airfare, rides to and from airports - these are called "transfers" - lunches/ dinners, gratuities to tour guide, bus driver& local guides, extra hotel nights at start or end of trip, optional excursions/ experiences, souvenirs, spending money.
For premiere trips that are cruises, the price on the website typically covers the cruise in the lowest price stateroom available, all meals, some onboard activities/entertainment & excursions. Additional costs are unique to the person and cannot be accurately predicted so they are not included: room type upgrades, insurance, airfare, rides to and from airports - these are called "transfers" - gratuities, beverage or soda packages, extra hotel nights at start or end of trip, optional excursions/ experiences, souvenirs, spending money.
If you opt into extras - pre stay hotel nights, currency requests, tipping, transfers, group dinners with set menus, etc. - that are pre-paid and anticipated, the Travel Sisters will charge those as "pre-trip expenses" and you pay them a few weeks out from travel (if required) or at final document pickup.
It's possible that in travel you might accrue expenses (the network leader picks up a lunch check, loans you currency, arranges an impromptu tour, etc,) and those will be calculated by trip end and you can pay in exact cash or check at trip end, or your card on file is charged back at the office (incurring a 4% transaction fee.)
What services does TSN offer that make travel easier and less stressful?
- Tipping - you can opt in to prepaying your tips for the tour guide, bus driver & local guides and the TSN leader will take care of all that for you. That drastically cuts down on the amount of foreign currency (in small bills) you need, and it cuts down on the risk of having money lost or stolen on the trip.
- Currency - you can request foreign currency in whatever amount you desire, prepay for it, and it will be delivered in your final documents package
- Photography / social media posts - the TSN leader takes photos & posts on Facebook and Instagram all through the day on tour, so you can share those posts at your leisure and keep your friends and family up to speed . . . and stay present making great memories on tour!
- Air support - if you let TSN book your flights, we handle any schedule changes and negotiate for the best solutions if changes are warranted and necessary. If flights are cancelled in travel, we handle getting you rebooked.
- In travel problem solving - when you are traveling with our network, you are traveling with your travel agent, and they are on a work trip with laptop in hand. Need an emergency flight home? No problem. Has your roommate fallen ill and you don't want to wear a mask on your room? The TSN leader will switch with you - they have a mask. Want to set up a new activity (not on the itinerary) and split the cost? We can handle that. It's a level of peace of mind that is really powerful and hard to quantify until you experience it.
- Insurance claim support - if you let us issue your insurance and a claim needs to be made, we can provide all the documents, details, dates, links, step by step guides, etc. to get that claim processed and get you reimbursed for losses.
What if my roommate cancels before the trip?
If the cancellation is before final payment, we just reorganize roommates. The TSN leader is key to this reorganization as they are the "floater." If we have an even number of Travel Sisters who want roommates, the TSN leader can room solo. If one of the roommates falls through, the TSN leader can replace that person and forego that solo room.
If the cancellation happens after final payment or very close to travel, TSN requires each Travel Sister to get trip insurance that covers "single supplement" costs due to roommate cancellation. Typically that means the "now solo" Travel Sister pays a single supplement and files a claim to be reimbursed . . . and they have a solo room on tour.
What if I have to cancel my trip?
Life happens, and we understand. That's also why, for premiere trips, we require you to buy travel insurance. The cost of that insurance varies based on your age.
A key factor is when you cancel and why:
Cancel before deposit for any reason - no problem. We just pull someone up from the waiting list or reorganize the rooms.
Cancel after deposit for a qualifying reason (ex: illness, illness of a family member and you are caretaker, disability, etc.) - you file insurance to get back your deposit.
Cancel after deposit for a non-qualifying reason (ex: you have a calendar conflict you did not anticipate) - you lose your deposit (unless you bought Cancel For Any Reason insurance - CFAR)
Cancel after final payment for a qualifying reason (ex: illness, injury, death in the family, critical illness of a family member)- you file insurance and get back your money.
Cancel after final payment for a non qualifying reason (ex:fear of travel, lack of desire to go) - you lose your money and we work hard to contain your losses given the cancellation penalties(unless you bought Cancel For Any Reason insurance - CFAR).
What if I want to add on to my trip?
Great! We can assist with pre or post stays, or you can just inform us of your travel plans and we will add them to the itinerary.
Can I book my own flights?
Yes. You must book your own flights if you are using points or frequent flier miles. We can advise what flights to book, but we cannot book them. If we book your flights we charge $50. How flights are booked can be quite consequential , so we have a "flight sorter tool" to help people decide if/ when to book their own flights and it can be accessed here:
What if TSN booked my flights but I want to change/ check my seat assignments?
Great! Click on this button for a quick tutorial:
Great! Click on this button for a quick tutorial:
How is TSN like a co-op?
Travel Sisters are very talented people and tend to be generous with their time and energy. They might bring a snack to meetings, help clean up or set up, host a social, help with administrative tasks in the office, help make videos, write blog posts . . . so many things! To recognize emotional and physical labor, if you "do a thing" you can report your hours and for each hour you get a raffle ticket with your name on it. When we launch a premiere trip, we have a drawing for freebies (free tips, group dinner, free transfers, etc.) and celebrate all the women making this network "go!"
What is Caw Caw! And CFJ about?
One of our first Travel Sisters was Zoe Welsh. Zoe was a beloved mother, career science teacher, and friend. She was not just a participant in the network, she was a huge cheerleader for this collective effort and a model of how to be authentic, yet joyful and adaptive, no matter the circumstances.
In January of 2026, Zoe was brutally murdered in her home by an intruder / stranger. Our collective grief was heavy. At her brilliant memorial service, videos from teaching during Covid were shown, and in them she joked that we should greet each other with joy and energy by offering a hearty Caw! Caw! when we met. She also spread the slogan "Choose Fucking Joy" among her colleagues. Given the fact young ears were all about, it was better to just say CFJ. It perfectly summarizes the ethic she lived by. Circumstances may not be perfect, but the sun is still shining, water is still wet, dogs are still adorable, and love is all around us. So we will sometimes greet each other or yell CFJ! (or get it tattooed on our body, lol!) to remember Zoe, and invite her spirit to commune with us, yet again. CFJ, all the way, we say!
Travel Sisters are very talented people and tend to be generous with their time and energy. They might bring a snack to meetings, help clean up or set up, host a social, help with administrative tasks in the office, help make videos, write blog posts . . . so many things! To recognize emotional and physical labor, if you "do a thing" you can report your hours and for each hour you get a raffle ticket with your name on it. When we launch a premiere trip, we have a drawing for freebies (free tips, group dinner, free transfers, etc.) and celebrate all the women making this network "go!"
What is Caw Caw! And CFJ about?
One of our first Travel Sisters was Zoe Welsh. Zoe was a beloved mother, career science teacher, and friend. She was not just a participant in the network, she was a huge cheerleader for this collective effort and a model of how to be authentic, yet joyful and adaptive, no matter the circumstances.
In January of 2026, Zoe was brutally murdered in her home by an intruder / stranger. Our collective grief was heavy. At her brilliant memorial service, videos from teaching during Covid were shown, and in them she joked that we should greet each other with joy and energy by offering a hearty Caw! Caw! when we met. She also spread the slogan "Choose Fucking Joy" among her colleagues. Given the fact young ears were all about, it was better to just say CFJ. It perfectly summarizes the ethic she lived by. Circumstances may not be perfect, but the sun is still shining, water is still wet, dogs are still adorable, and love is all around us. So we will sometimes greet each other or yell CFJ! (or get it tattooed on our body, lol!) to remember Zoe, and invite her spirit to commune with us, yet again. CFJ, all the way, we say!
