In 1985 Marybeth began writing about women travel and encouraging all women to ‘go for it’ alone, with friends, or groups. She knew her subject well, for she had just returned from two years traveling alone around the world. During this journey she met her future husband, an American, in Katmandu. Her eleven books cover solo, family, adventure and girlfriend travel.

Award-winning author of National Geographic travel books, her latest are 50 Best Girlfriend Getaways, Gutsy Women, and A Woman’s World Again (all released in 2007). She is the Travel Spokesperson for corporate clients including AAA and Hilton Garden Inn.
Rita Lewis
As a 24-year Travel Industry veteran, Rita began her career as a travel agent in Ellicott City, Maryland. Her first role at Disney was with the Walt Disney Travel Company and she has held roles in Human Resource Training & Development for the Disney Resorts and Sales areas. Since 1996, Rita has been responsible for developing and facilitating Disney Destination training programs for travel professionals from around the world.
Rudy Maxa
Rudy Maxa is a contributing editor with National Geographic Traveler magazine and one of America's premier consumer travel broadcasters on public radio and television. You may know him as "The Savvy Traveler" on public radio's business show, "Marketplace."
Susan Foster
As a consummate outsider/insider of the travel industry, Foster has become an authoritative media source regarding the ever-changing airline and TSA rules and guidelines as well as packing in general for almost any occasion. In November 2007, Foster hosted the “Dodge VANtastic Holiday Voyage” challenges in Charlotte, NC and Minneapolis, MN offering simple tips for families, showing them how to pack more efficiently so vehicle travel can be more enjoyable for everyone. She is also a past spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson, and a popular professional speaker.

In 2000, she assembled her tips into a fact-filled, well-illustrated book, Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler. A revised and expanded edition was released in early 2004, and the newly updated Third Edition was released in April 2008. For the past few years, her website, www.smartpacking.com, has offered additional aid to travelers and media researchers with information about the travel industry’s latest rules and policy changes.