female travel

The girl's guide to all things travel; optimal itineraries, recommendations and more for solo female travel and group trips alike.

little black book
A few summers back, I was backpacking through Europe when I ran into a mirror of myself. I was out exploring in Venice early one morning when I came upon a huge glass sculpture bigger than my NYC flat. While struggling to find a good spot to set up my camera for a picture, I saw a girl on the opposite side, doing exactly the same thing. I decided to go ask her to take my photo for me, and I'd do the same for her.
By Rosa Yi5 years ago in Wander
Blessed
Even on her deathbed, Benedita’s grandmother was positive and full of wisdom, how she'd always be remembered. “Ask of the universe and you shall recieve,” she used to say, her dark-as-midnight eyes twinkling with something that Benedita couldn’t quite understand, but wished someday she might.
By Hayley Toye5 years ago in Wander
Adventure Awaits
Plot: Alli is an unmarried 50-year-old English and History professor from Nowhere, Pennsylvania. Shortly after attending her mother's funeral, she finds a mysterious suitcase on the kitchen table containing $20,000 in cash, in multiple currencies, a passport, and a little black book. What follows is what can only be described as an adventure of a lifetime. Her task…scatter her mother's ashes in 4 locations around the world, all before April 21st! Is she up to the task? Will she make it to her final destination by the deadline? I guess you'll have to read and see…
By Overall Good Day Girl5 years ago in Wander
Sickness in Paradise
Whenever I recount this story, I still cannot believe my luck. On my way to the town of San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, I took some time to pause in La Serena; the city of the golden papayas. I had already encountered some disappointment the previous day when attempting to hitch-hike to the Humboldt Penguin Reserve on Isla Damas with two German girls. One of our 'chauffeurs' drove a small van and stopped unannounced at various shops to make his deliveries. As a result of the glacial pace at which life moves outside of the capital of Santiago, we missed the last boat to Isla Damas and had to pretty much turn back as soon as we arrived. However, I was determined that this minor setback would not stop me from enjoying the next part of my adventure which I had planned - a detour to the sleepy village of Pisco Elqui; a place renowned for its pristine skies and potent liquor.
By Cassandra Mathews5 years ago in Wander
The Departures Board
Istanbul. Rome. Rio de Janeiro. Marie stood in front of the departure screen, lightly bouncing on her toes. She pulled out the well-worn black notebook from the bag slung across her back and stared at the mostly blank first page.
By Immanuel Coke5 years ago in Wander
The Train Journey
The train chugged along. She looked out of the window, deep in thought. The scenes scrolled into oblivion as she sipped the mediocre coffee served on trains. Her breath formed temporary stories onto the glass, but they faded from memory almost as soon as they were told. She was alone in the compartment. She was alone in life. It seemed befitting somehow.
By Salma Y5 years ago in Wander
The Stranger
The Stranger The rain pounded incessantly on my windshield. The dark of night surrounded me as I struggled to concentrate on the road before me. I reached for the knob of the stereo, and increased the volume. I did this with hope that the noise would keep my heavy eyelids from closing. As I approached the hazy red light before me, I cautiously came to a stop. At first I thought the sound of the screeching brakes was coming from my blaring speakers. I did not comprehend the actuality of the sound until it was too late.
By Stephanie Hifler5 years ago in Wander
Kindred
I recently heard someone say that having money meant having the luxury to say no. After having spent a good fifteen years disappointing myself with every practical decision I’ve made, I can tell you I haven’t stopped thinking about that. Those who say what-ifs are a waste of time might have fewer missed opportunities. When you’re driven by pragmatism and paralyzed by an inability to trust that you can…anything, well the what-ifs start to pile up. So how did I end up here? Well, it was a trip to Antique Row that did it. Antique Row is full of shops with furniture, clothes, technologies, toys, postcards, and paintings that will transport you into the past. The past long before your troubles were even a possibility. I go there when I’m at my breaking point, and after wandering around for the afternoon leave with something affordable that will inevitably add to the clutter that I need to organize in a late night cleaning frenzy. That trip though, I found a kindred spirit. She was suffocating under a pile of dusty books in the corner of shop that sold less lovingly restored pieces. I found her looking for a first edition something or other. I was hooked. The shop keeper skimmed through the little black, leather-bound journal and shrugged. He let me have it for free. I purchased a red, tin nut grinder. I won’t be grinding any nuts. I like to adopt the obsolete. I’m sure if I could afford it, my therapist would have diagnosis for that too.
By Christine5 years ago in Wander
Leaving Kashgar
3am, and an orange desert moon sits low in the night above the Quinibagh Hotel. Sleeping merchants snore and fart softly behind rows of numbered doors.
By Shapeshifting5 years ago in Wander
Mysterious Journey
Annisa gazed out the plane window at the sun's reflection on the wing, above it the buttercup coloured clouds streamed towards a blue grey sky. She felt relaxed now knowing the long flight was almost over and she would be landing soon. She was excited yet somewhat apprehensive about the country she was visiting, as she had never been to Bali. Even the name of the place conjured up thoughts of a mystical exotic island in her mind. Annisa was such a novice traveller, who had never ventured much further than her own backyard. Annisa was travelling with a purpose, following her late mother's request to reconnect with her Uncle and enjoy a vacation in a place that inspired her mother to paint.
By Monique Carroll5 years ago in Wander
The Girl with no Home(town)
Where are you from? It shouldn't be difficult to answer this question. I think at least once a day or a few times a week someone asks me about that and I should be really used to it. It's such a basic phrase, yet somehow I always struggle with it.
By Martyna Dearing5 years ago in Wander
Fear and the Solo Traveler
I’m a woman who has lived on the road almost two years now in my RV as a solo nomad. It’s taken some time, but I’ve discovered that I love boondocking and being outside at night. I love the cool night air, the black sky full of stars, and most of all the absolute stillness and quiet that comes from being miles away from everyone and everything. I know for some people though, that image would inspire the opposite of calm and tranquility.
By Jennifer Wedgle5 years ago in Wander