In the past few years the number of companies targeting the female traveler has increased from a handful to thousands!There are women’s tours out there for every interest from kayaking in the Arctic (burr!) and gastronomical adventures in the outback to high-end culinary tours. When Eurynome Journeys first launched its website www.wanderwoman.com in 1998, there were two or three other companies out there, one was outdoor adventure tours and the other two were more bus type trips visiting crystal and chocolate factories whose groups were as large as 25 women.
I love that women are now more adventurous and traveling! And it is great that here are so many different companies out there catering to us and our interests!
But deciding which tour to take can be a daunting experience.
Below are tips to choosing the right women's tour for you:
- First decide where you want to go and just how adventurous you want to get. If it is your first trip choose your home country or a destination that is not going to be too much of a culture shock.
- Choose a tour suitable to you level of fitness. Don’t sign up for a biking trip that entails 30 miles of biking a day, if you ride you bike 2 twice a year. It’s great to try new things, but be realistic.
- Next figure out your budget and the type of accommodations you are comfortable with.
- Ask about roommate opportunities to alleviate the extra cost of single supplements. Keep in mind sharing accommodations is NOT for everyone. If you have trouble sleeping or like to have down time, the single supplement might be a wise investment.
- Ask about hidden costs not included in the price: meals, transfers, tips for guides, air taxes, etc.
- Look at the website and photos, do the women look like the kind of travelers you would enjoy traveling with? What is the age range and fitness level? If all the photos are models rather than real travelers, the company is most likely a large cooperate operation cashing in on the trend, which doesn’t mean that it is not a good tour, it might be the right tour, but just be aware of what you are purchasing.
- Be sure to ask which professional organizations the company belongs to (i.e., ASTA, USTOA, IATA), an established reputable tour company should belong to at least one. If unsure contact the organization to find out if there are any complaints against the company.
- Request at least two or three references from past travelers. Call or email them with a list of questions: what they liked about the trip, what they didn’t like, would they travel again with the tour company, is there anything you should be aware of before committing, etc?
- Read the fine print! Understand cancelation policies and buy travel insurance-just incase!
- And remember, whatever tour you decide on, to bring your sense of humor and an appetite for adventure!
Add your advise.
2 comments:
I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very interesting. Great ... Keep it up!
What a great resource for women travelers. Wish I could do Egypt! But my husband and I are going to Alaska: fly fishing, kayaking, hiking and visiting family and friends. However, I often travel solo, so I'll check your blog in future.
I offer workshops to teach women how to create adventures, and give much the same advice you do. I appreciate your tip to avoid a long bike tour if you rarely bike. Strange how many people practically kill themselves, just to say "I did it!" It's possible to have an active adventure, without making yourself miserable, or risking life and limb.
I also like your advice about compatible travel partners. I've discovered that mutual interests and/or physical abilities are often less linked to age than to lifestyle and values. I once trekked with a woman who was about 15 years younger than me. Since she was about 50 pounds heavier, I thought it would be a wash. She had so much more trouble keeping up with the demands of the trek, I might as well have been the younger one.
Then again, I toured San Francisco's Chinatown with an uncle about 30 years my senior, and had a great time, because he's active, curious, and speaks Chinese. Similar interests & values = great time!
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