Susan Minnich writes:
I was determined that I could do this, travel solo on my bike, in France, as a 61-year-old, reasonably fit woman, with some ability to speak French. It didn’t really occur to me not to do it, though I can’t say why I was so clearly sure that all would go well. After all, I had only been to France once before, the previous year, and other than that had only been out of the US to Canada (mostly hiking trips that were many, many years ago, in an English speaking country, not solo.) Read more
Veronica McCarthy writes:
As a freelance writer, writing comes naturally to me, while traveling does not. Until a month ago, I had spent the majority of my life living in different sectors of the greater Los Angeles area with the occasional weeklong travel adventure. A trustworthy companion always accompanied me on these weeklong jaunts, as I had never wanted to breach the ‘traveling alone’ world.
After a summer of heartbreak and health scares, I decided to disrupt my travel pattern by shipping myself off to Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the fall months. I stumbled upon an advertisement for an apartment swap so I now wake up to European church bells instead of the crashing waves of Venice Beach. Read more
Julie Paterson, owner of Venus Adventures for women writes
“There Bulgaria Church. There Golden Horn. There Yeni mosque. Mosque, mosque, mosque. Too much mosque!”
The cab driver turned off the meter, insisting on a free guided detour across Istanbul back to my hotel. In broken English.
In Turkey you have to live in the moment…if you do, little adventures are sure to be had. The cabbie only had about 20 words of English, but he’s a Turk, which means he can’t help himself: hospitality is in his blood. Read more
Over a period of 25 years Lyn Baker has taken over 1000 women on small group tours in India with her company Tiger Travel. She has just launched a new business Senoritas in the Sun – small groups of women enjoying the South of Spain. Women Travel caught Lyn between trips and interviewed her about her passion for India and more recently for Andalucia Spain Read more
Wanderlust Women Travel is another new (WordPress powered) website focused on women travellers, specialising in Italy (the author is Italian/American) and in particular has some great city guides – her tag line is Spirited travel for women with wanderlust Read more
Wild camping and hosteling from Stonehaven to Edinburgh
One of Jill Lundmark’s intrepid journeys 650 km (404 miles) over 21 days
My name is Jill Lundmark and I live in Auckland, New Zealand. My dream for years had been to make long-distance cycle tours. I’d read the books by women cycling alone across the Amazon, around the world, into the Himalayas etc. I wanted to do the same. Read more
Cost and character
I was in Europe for a few months and the idea of staying in a monastery guest house had a fascinating spiritual aura about it. And not just because the budget. In fact the cost had little to do with the desire. It was more about authentic character and immersion in history, as well as the wish to be a momentary part of a long tradition, even going into the chapel to experience the music and the silence, and the deep sense of prayer and tradition. Read more
One of our series exploring accommodation for travelling women
Bertingen Womens B&B
Frauenpension – Frauenferienhaus – Frauenlandhaus – called various names in Germany but all offering a warm welcome to women travellers. You can find them on the Women Travel the world website – www.womentravel.info The Google maps let you know where each is located, and there are links to follow for more information or to book directly with your hosts. Read more
Some people are pioneers, others of us are always looking for recommendations – a story from someone else who have “been there – done that”, so we can fine tune a trip, rather than start from scratch. That is what travel blogs are about and it is also what Susan Van Allen’s book offers this for Italy – she must have had a wonderful time researching it, what stories we weave when we travel.
Susan Van Allen’s new travel book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is a celebration of Italy’s sensual and feminine best ~from a historical, cultural and travel perspective. Van Allen offers a treasure hunt of delightful destinations, charming stories and practical information which bring a unique richness to visiting bell’Italia! Amazon link to buy the book
Italian Language Classes
An excerpt from 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go
- Amazon link to buy the book
4th to 18th of September 2010
The village of Skala Eressos on Lesvos Island in Greece will host the 10th anniversary of the International Women’s Festival. Read more
