With the pandemic and the declining world over, many countries are opening up their doors to tourists. Travelling to new climes is a much-needed proposition to most people right now as they clamour to get the vacation of their dreams after the lockdown imposition.
That being said, another thing that has become very popular is women-only travel groups. Women have finally broken the bias of not being able to, cannot or should not travel solo. Finally, over the last decade or so, women are gathering experiences worldwide, travelling with travel groups that focus solely on “Women only trips”.
Travel has always been a form of reconnecting with the self. For most women, travelling in group trips for women or solo has been a way to rediscover themselves and learn new things along the way, which may not have been possible under different circumstances. And that too, in a safer setting and space.
There are many checklists to plan a trip, whether in India or abroad and it can get pretty overwhelming. One can get pretty confused as to what they need to do before and during the trip and the enriching experience of visiting a new place is lost. But if planned in the right manner, travel trips for women can be the most enlightening experiences out there. Though, it requires communication, precise planning and organisation at its best. But before embarking on that daydream, let’s define how a group trip becomes the best ever.
We have selected the 10 best ways to travel for women and without further ado, let’s get to it because we believe that planning a trip is not rocket science and there are several well-managed women’s solo travel groups that can take you on your fun vacay!
- What is the real reason to travel? At times, some of us know where we want to travel and some of us need to get inspired. What could it be? Is it that you haven’t travelled in a long while? Or do you want to experience certain weather (could be winter snow or spring or autumn) in said place? Or have you heard so much about the culture of a place that you want to experience it firsthand? Could it be that you want to get lost in the historic monuments of an old city? Zero in on this first before you embark on your expedition.
- Research the destination. Sketch your itinerary. There are plenty of travel blogs and tourism sites for authentic information. The Lonely Planet is the best way to go, but please use your discretion and go wild with this particular research because, in this matter, more is more & more. Make a list of realistic places to see and also add a few unrealistic ones (which can be out of time, distance or budget) because never say never, it can magically be squeezed in if you find a like-minded fellow traveller who would not hit the snooze button and explore that one market around the corner with you. Make a list of activities you would want to do and be creative. Jot everything down and don’t forget to look up Trip Advisor.
- A must-have is a must-do. Some places and activities are non-negotiable. Imagine going to Paris and not going up to the Eiffel Tower. Duh! But besides that, research will help you find your ideal must-do, which could be like the Lindt factory in Switzerland or kaftan shopping in Morocco and closer home, plucking apples in an orchard in Tirthan, or river-rafting in the mighty Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. One thing to remember and acknowledge is that you don’t have to go to a certain monument if it is of no interest or importance to you, this is your holiday so do what makes you happy and not because all the tourists are headed there.
- Pack appropriately. While this one seems like a no-brainer, believe me, putting some thought into packing can be rewarding. Make sure you have all the essentials in smaller packages, which in turn will make space for things that you may buy on impulse. Roll your clothes and use space appropriately for the things you know you will buy for certain. For example, roll your socks and stuff them into your shoes, little trinkets if absolutely necessary can find a corner in there too. And try to carry no more than two pairs of shoes and one pair of a slip-on. Also, this evidently depends on the destination. What if you need hiking boots? You may reach out for that extra pair of jeans but avoid it. Always remember on group trips for women, less is more. This is a holiday and you don’t have to dress to impress.
- Plan your budget. Although in a “Best solo trips for women” situation, you are paying the company that is managing the holiday, a flat rate which may account for travel tickets, stay and sightseeing according to their itinerary. But to have your own small unique experiences, you may need to spend some more. Let’s say you skip the excursion to the museum for an extra hour of meditation at the monastery in Ladakh, for example. And now that you have some time to kill, maybe a visit to the local Tibetan market?!? Well, are you stopping at window shopping itself? Hmm, so isn’t it better to know how much you are going to spend on shopping during a holiday so as to not overstretch your pocket? Or eating at the local places that may or may not be in your travel company’s plan? Hence, we come back to point number 2, research! This will give you major insights.
Book tickets: I mean…… if you are not travelling with a company that organises the Best solo trips for women with utmost care and experience, you need to do all the bookings. Flight tickets, and to and fro from the hotel and airport. Besides, a lot of tourist attractions internationally are ticketed and the best bet is to book it way in advance due to the influx of tourists. Why take a chance? Also, it is always good to understand the local travel system in a city. For example, it’s good to have a basic knowledge of the tube in London, or else you will end up paying through your nose for the beautiful, vintage black cabs there. - Book your accommodation. As a group of women, it is imperative to look for a safe, clean and tourist-viable place. By that I mean, find a place that is best suited to your travel needs. While one can get to the destination and find a reasonable and convenient place to stay too, it is always better to be prepared than to be sorry. For example, visiting Edinburgh, Scotland in August, any given year, without prior bookings could land you in a big soup as people from all over the planet travel there in this month to prepare for the big literary, arts, theatre, history and music festival there is, “The Fringe Festival ”. Even sleeping in the alleyway was not an option at the time, due to the crowd and weather, and anyway, every inch of the square yardage of land is taken over by artists from all over the world. Whether it’s a hostel, a boutique hotel, a luxury hotel or an Airbnb, you should book first.
Go ahead and book activities as well. Once you have it down pat as to what all touristy places you would like to visit, it is always good to check them out at their website as well as the Tourism board. There are many discounts to be availed of and you may miss the bus on that if you wait right up to the last day (or not). Booking everything in advance saves you money and time. And a great way to save money and get a regulated tour is to get a city pass so that you can hop on and off the city tour bus at your pace and still have not missed a thing! Check this out at the tourism board website. Lastly, also make sure that if you are booking a popular site’s ticket, you definitely have a spot on the stipulated date and time. - A small First-Aid box to the rescue. The farthest thing from our mind, when we plan a trip, is a mishap or unwarranted illness. But more often than not, people do fall ill albeit mildly due to different reasons. Could be the weather change, the time difference if travelling internationally or the cuisine. Or just the plain bug. It is important to carry all the basic medications and a first-aid box due to such emergencies. Can you imagine yourself in a place where you don’t know the local dialect and trying to find the nearest pharmacy when you have a raging headache? Better still, take your vitamins regularly and study a lot about the weather conditions and be prepared.
- Cold, hard cash counts. While there are ATMs across the planet, it is always advisable to carry some amount of cash on your person. There can be small, tucked-away corners that don’t have the facility in a workable condition or some other unforeseen circumstance. Roll up the cash, divide into three to four different wads and hide it in different places because, in case of a pickpocket, you are stranded. This way ensures you have money at any cost. In the case of foreign currency too, it is advisable to convert your money and carry traveller’s cheques as well.
Conclusion
When planning a women’s travel solo group in India or abroad, whether it may be a wellness trip or a touristy one, an experiential getaway or an adventurous sojourn, all the above tips come into play. Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I looking for a cultural experience?
- Does adventure travel float my boat?
- Do I need to get away in time and visit some historical places?
- Will trying out new cuisines be my calling for this vacation?
- Do I just need a break from the routine normalcy this life has become?
The answers to these questions will send you pandering off in the right direction. And if you do not like to do all the planning, leave it up to us. We will ask you the pertinent questions, suggest a destination and create your travel itinerary, while you can just sit back and relax. Visit our website to see all places you can visit now!