Helpful resources for women who travel
Going back to the basics
In today’s newsletter: going back to basics with helpful travel resources for women. If you’ve found your way here but are not yet subscribed, let me help you with that:
As a travel editor, I always get asked the same two questions: what’s your favorite destination, and what are your best travel tips? While my answer to the first question is simple (Cartagena, Colombia is my happy place), my answer to the second one is a bit more extensive. So, for today’s newsletter, I’m bringing things back to basics. From women-run tour companies to accommodation sites catering exclusively to women—I’m sharing resources for how to find travel advice and connect with other women who travel.
The Joys Of Women-Only Trips
A few years back, I traveled with Purposeful Nomad on a women-only trip to Guatemala, an experience that left me feeling invigorated and inspired. Not only did the trip connect me to wonderful women of all ages, but the itinerary had a focus on connecting us with local Mayan women, healers, and artisans. There are several women-owned travel companies and women-only tours that cater specifically to women travelers, offering a range of experiences designed with their specific needs in mind. Intrepid Travel’s women-only expeditions, for example, connect you with other women travelers as well as local guides in countries like Nepal, Morroco, and Iran. Similarly, Trafalgar has a line of women-only tours to destinations like Italy, Ireland, and France. While women-owned Damesly offers a mix of adventures and creative retreats that pair the beauty of a place with the promise to help cultivate a new skill.
Blogs & Websites
If you’re subscribed to this newsletter, chances are you’ve heard of Unearth Women, which was built with the mission to champion women and inspire their future travels. There is no shortage of women-founded travel websites that offer practical travel tips, inspiration, and guidance for your own travels. From publications like Unearth Women to travel blogs like World of Wanderlust (one of my favorites), these sites provide a wealth of information on everything from budget travel to solo travel. Another tip? Follow travel bloggers and other travel-focused accounts on social media for destination inspiration and travel tips. Not sure who to follow? Check out this round-up of inspiring women.
Joining Online Travel Groups
Online groups can be an impactful way for women travelers to connect, ask questions, and share their respective travel experiences. These groups not only are a great place to swap travel tips that help you plan your journey, but they can be a valuable resource should you need support while abroad. Girls LOVE Travel (GLT) is a massive online community on Facebook that connects women across the globe. Not only does GLT offer travel inspiration, but the group has proven instrumental in helping its members out of tricky situations, whether it’s a last-minute place to stay, finding a friend abroad, or advice on navigating unexpected problems overseas. Similarly, Wanderful is an inspiring and supportive community founded by Beth Santos. The Wanderful community hosts annual conferences and routinely shares virtual events that invite its members to discuss the latest in travel.
Finding Safety Resources
There are several apps and resources available to help women stay safe while out in the world. The Safer Travel App, for example, provides information on potential risks and safety alerts in specific destinations, as well as emergency contact information for local authorities. The Smart Traveler App offers similar features but was developed by the U.S. Department of State and shares specific government information about a foreign destination, such as current travel warnings and alerts.
Hotel Websites
Finding safe and affordable accommodations can be a challenge, but there are several hotel websites that cater to women’s needs. For budget travelers, Hostel World recommends hostels around the world that are perfect for women who are solo traveling. For homestays, Airbnb allows its users to filter their search results by women hosts, while FemmeBnb—a Black woman-owned vacation rental site run by women, for women—caters exclusively to women looking for accommodations.
Regardless of your travel style, there are plenty of online resources available to offer travel advice, a supportive community, or safety resources, for your next big adventure.
My Travel Memoir Comes This November!
Tiny Beautiful Things, wedding traditions, and how online internet sleuths rocked a small Idaho town.
I’m currently in the throes of planning my wedding, which has got me thinking a lot about wedding traditions: how we celebrate them, how they came to be, and how they differ around the globe. This inspired this week’s new story on Unearth Women about unique wedding traditions.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I interviewed the celebrated author Cheryl Strayed ahead of the Hulu adaptation of her book Tiny Beautiful Things. I finished watching all eight episodes and am here to report that they are delightful. The show does a beautiful and creative job of honoring the book’s poignant and inspiring letters.
Finally, this week I read this article, which appears in the new issue of Vanity Fair. The article explores the oddity of online internet sleuths and our collective fascination with true crime, particularly as it applies to the horrific murder of four University of Idaho students and the media surge that impacted the small town of Moscow.
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