Travel is a great way to discover the culture and beauty of the place you are visiting. It is not always feasible or desirable to travel with a friend. Solo travel is liberating and can provide a sense of security. If I travel to Nairobi, Kenya, or Newton, Kansas, I follow the same guidelines. Communication […]
The appeal of solo traveling for many women is the freedom of finally saying “yes” to a world where we are told “no.” And yet, despite this, we still find reasons not to get our passports stamped. The New York Times published an article last week with the salacious headline ” Adventureous, Alone and Attacked” that […]
It’s incredibly exciting to step off a plane and into a new country by yourself. You can explore the world at your leisure without any restrictions or expectations. Traveling alone can be like Marmite for women; you either love it or hate it. Some people who fall into this category believe that traveling alone means […]
In the days before the lockdown, the sun shone brightly above the Kaveri river in Coorg. While I was giggling in a boat, a young lady asked me with a hint of admiration: “Solo-travel?”. In India, which is considered the most dangerous country for women, many female travelers are willing to risk the thrills of […]
Three pairs of shoes is all you need Women traveling alone should pack light. Shoes are a particularly bulky and heavy item. You can manage most of the time with just three pairs. I have used this method on dozens of trips lasting anywhere from four days up to four months. Take a pair of […]
I’m standing with my surfboard on the beach in Pichilemu, Chile. It’s January–the height of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer–the sun is out, and there’s a near-constant breeze rolling in off the Pacific Ocean. A series of black-sand coves frame the main attraction in these parts: Punta de Lobos, a left-hand point break that curls gracefully (in gentle […]
This is the most common reaction I get when I tell someone I’m traveling alone. While it is a well-intentioned statement, I am annoyed that people still believe a woman traveling alone could feel intimidated or isolated. In an ideal world, solo female travel would not be a sign of defiance or courage but rather […]
It’s time to start thinking about how you can help women in the world for International Women’s Day 2020. We’ve outlined eight ways you can make your money and travel have an impact. Women around the globe are innovating and leading. From setting up anti-poaching units in South Africa to running culinary tours in Mexico […]
It was 108°F, and I’d been wandering around all day. I was starving and alone. I had no idea where to go. My passport, my phone, my cash, and my credit cards had all been stolen. I had just been robbed in Kumbh Mela, which is ironically an event where pilgrims bathe their sins away in […]
My new friend Donna, who had suffered a hypoglycemic attack, reaches a river that is raging. The once-clear path of stones has been submerged. “I don’t see it. Mariana, our guide, helped her with a hiking pole. She said, “I don’t know.” Donna continues to walk through the rain while praising the beautiful turquoise lake […]
