Guest Post by Gemma:

Since having children, our travel style has changed somewhat. Whereas we used to just book flights and maybe a hire car and then take each day as it came on a trip, trying to do that with young children proved to be more stress than it was worth.

So, although we’ve never been big fans of package holidays, that’s exactly what we decided to book last summer. We chose a destination that neither my partner nor I had ever been to – Marmaris in Turkey. Read more

Guest Blog by Kirsty Fisher

Shopping is my number 1 hobby and I know it is the case for millions of other women too. Any chance to pop out to the shops for just a ‘couple of things’ always escalates into a big shopping spree, returning with many more items than expected and trying to justify your latest purchases to your other half. But it’s what girls do best right?

Here are a few of my favourite shopping malls in Istanbul, USA, Dubai Read more

Anatolian Days and Nights
- a love affair with Turkey, Land of Dervishes, Goddesses and Saints
by Joy E. Stocke and Angie Brenner      Published by Wild River Books 2012

Reviewed by Ceridwyn Parr Read more

Turkey is a wonderful, if a somewhat misunderstood, country. Whilst year after year families head to the popular beach resorts and take advantage of all inclusive cheap Turkey holidays, other parts of the country are just as popular with travellers and holidaymakers in search of something else.

Amongst these travellers are many solo females, along with women part of a group or on a family trip abroad. Being away from hoards of sun-worshipping tourists often means that local customs and traditions have to be respected much more than in other areas – something that can and does put many women off. After all, Turkey is a Muslim country and strict rules relate to women, don’t they?

This is true to an extent. But what actually is the situation in Turkey relating to women? What is there to see, do, enjoy and what should you expect when visiting?

Read more

Knowing everything about a sailboat or navigation, is not necessary to begin to sail, or enjoy sailing.

I started sailing “feet first” – crossing the Atlantic before I knew anything about sailboats. I have learned to teach other women how to enjoy learning to sail by just feel and intuition; using my own experience as an example.

So writes Captain Christy who  runs a sailing charters for 4-8 in the Greek Islands

Join a women only crew 7-15 June 2012

Read about her tours here 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

Through a comment on this blog, I have just been introduced to another great women’s tour company called Women on Tour.

This UK based company is for women and run by women – the have some great trips to Barcelona, Istanbul – meditation workshops, creative writing and drawing, walking in Spain and more. They are also looking always for new travel guides – perhaps that is you?

Our all-female company was set up to offer you the possibility of exploring new avenues in friendly and safe company. It is our experience that when choosing to travel alone – because of incompatible diaries with our friends or the need of independent travel or the simple freedom of not having to fall in with other people’s preferences – we’ve felt at times pulled between the need for adventure and exploration and the need for security and companionship.

As women travelling alone, we found that the prospect of having to wine and dine in the hotel every night of our stay or of feeling at times uncomfortable in unfamiliar circumstances could eventually dampen our plans.

It was these observations that first inspired us to facilitate a safe and relaxed environment for women to enjoy new experiences, to explore, whether it is outwards or inwards, whether they are travelling alone or accompanied.

Today, Women On Tour is an on-going project that follows a simple premise: to provide the opportunity of bringing together women from a wide spectrum to exchange knowledge and expand their horizons.

Just had a great email from Arzuk in Istanbul:

I am so happy to have found you:) One of my future clients recommended the journeywoman website and there I found you! I have a small entrepreneur web site for walks in Istanbul…i’ve done it all on my own so I am quite proud of it! ..I tailor daily walking trips in Istanbul with my 10 years of experience. I think I am the only woman who is doing this in Turkey..

Find out more about Arzuk and her tours..