Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

Hi All -
It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am an
American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a lone
woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
might be suitable. Thanks!
Judy

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

"hotmail" wrote:

    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am
an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
lone
    > woman traveller?

Here ya go:

http://www.olivia.com/

--
Best
Greg

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

In article , "hotmail"
writes:

    >Can anybody here
    >recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a lone
    >woman traveller?

If you have not done it already, I recommend a Google search for "female" as
your question is not an uncommon one and you might find some good threads, or
at least the e-mail addresses of the people who asked the question who might
share their answers and experience.

Of course, that assumes they are using an e-mail address to which you can write
    :)).

Larry in Berkeley, California

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

"hotmail" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am
an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
lone
    > woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    > anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    > experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    > might be suitable. Thanks!
    > Judy

There are groups and tours designed for single female travelers (so you
don't have to pay the single supplement). Check with your travel agent. If
you don't want a tour but rather go on your own, read a couple of the tour
books such as Lonely Planet. You don't have to backpack to learn a lot from
them.

(And don't bother reading the loonies on this ng.)

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

Here is one:

http://www.wanderwomen.com/


"hotmail" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am
an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
lone
    > woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    > anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    > experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    > might be suitable. Thanks!
    > Judy

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

hotmail wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am
an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
lone
    > woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    > anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    > experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    > might be suitable. Thanks!
    > Judy

I travelled with an American girl for a while in Romania and Slovakia, and
she was only of a slight build. She had no problems from the safety point of
view. There is not really any countries you should avoid, just exercise
commonsense levels of caution as you would do in your own country.

Western Europe is more tourist friendly, but also more expensive. You will
have a good time no matter where you go with luck!

Knowing a bit of German can help in Eastern Europe, but you can always find
someone who speaks a bit of english....
---
DFM

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

On Thu, 6 Mar 2003 16:28:04 -0800, "hotmail"
wrote:

    >Hi All -
    >It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    >excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am an
    >American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    >recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a lone
    >woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    >anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    >experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    >might be suitable. Thanks!
    >Judy
As a single woman who loves to travel and has done much in western
Europe, some in Eastern Europe, and the middle east, I can honestly
say that I've never encountered any problems from travelling alone.
Au contraire, people have gone out of their way to be nice and
helpful. You can travel with a group - O Solo Mio is a good group for
those preferring not to go alone. Or go on your own if you're
comfortable doing it - you'll meet many people and discover parts of
yourself (strengths) you didn't know you had. A good trick is to take
walking tours in places you visit. They're enjoyable and an
opportunity to meet others travelling as you are. Another good tip is
to head for the Tourist Information Office as a first stop in a new
place. Helps you to get acquainted with what there is to see and do,
as well as find out useful information. Meals alone in a restaurant
can be somewhat uncomfortable if you're not used to it; just bring
something to read and you'll be fine. I've found more acceptance of a
woman eating & travelling alone overseas than in the US!

Have a great time!!
Cheers,
Ann

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

Why did you recommend a website specifically meant for lesbians to this
woman? Do you imagine that any woman who is single, and wants to travel
solo, to be lesbian? Pull your head out of your a$$ buddy!

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

Pat Tyrrell informed us:

    > Why did you recommend a website specifically meant for lesbians to this
    > woman? Do you imagine that any woman who is single, and wants to travel
    > solo, to be lesbian? Pull your head out of your a$$ buddy!

You are obviously a homophobe, madam. Why should anyone's "sexuality"
matter whether travelling solo or not?

--
Best
Greg

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

"hotmail" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am
an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
lone
    > woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    > anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    > experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    > might be suitable. Thanks!
    > Judy
    > If you travel in Austria you will not only have the time of your life but
will be ABSOLUTELY safe there, by yourself.
In Vienna, we have seen many single woman walking about without a care. It
is a very safe wonderful and respecting country.

Regards;
Alex

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

amsterdam in the day with tour groups

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

hotmail wrote:
    >
    > Hi All -
    > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I am an
    > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a lone
    > woman traveller? I'm not looking to backback & camp out, hitchhike, or
    > anything like that...I just am interested in the perspective of some more
    > experienced travellers who might be able to remember some place they think
    > might be suitable. Thanks!

You have already got lots of good advice. I'd just like to add that
hostels are particularly suitable for women travelling alone. They're a
wonderful way to meet other travellers, and they're not just for young
people. (Except that, in Bavaria, the HI hostels are limited to those
under 26.)

Barbara

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

www.Journeywoman.com has great tips for women, mostly about non-group
travels. Believe it or not, there are a great many perfectly respectable,
middle-aged-plus women out there who travel alone and MUCH prefer it to any
other way. For a starter, a group tour or project would be a good idea, but
you'll find on your "free" days that it's really lovely not having to take
anyone else's interests into consideration but your own. No "well, HE
wouldn't like this restaurant" or "I'll spend two hours shopping with HER
when what I want to do is go to that museum..."

I'm a 67 year old woman who has travelled over much of Europe, including
Eastern, and to Japan and Thailand, and the way I find most interesting is
to join a special group - for part of the time and then go solo the rest of
the time. And the groups I usually join are Earthwatch expeditions
(www.earthwatch.org) which are inevitably fascinating. Most of the people in
the groups (never over about 15) are travelling alone, and you can learn a
lot from your fellow travellers.

I wouldn't get too involved in trying to learn a language. Learn basic
phrases (yes, no, please, thank-you, beautiful, delicious - and maybe GO
AWAY), and leave it at that. Consider: when I went to the Soviet Union,
there was Russian, yes, but Ukrainian, Georgian (in a different alphabet),
Azerbaijani. When I went to Mallorca and stopped in Barcelona, the Spanish I
knew was fairly useless because in Barcelona there was Catalan and in
Mallorca there was Mallorquean. Yes, Russian (or Spanish) are understood by
most in the country but you're never going to sound like a native, face it.
In Asian countries you are never going to "blend in" unless you're Asian.
BUT: you CAN be accepted as an interested, polite visitor almost everywhere
if you smile, and if you learn enough about local customs and what is
considered "proper" to not make a spectacle of yourself.

As far as safety is concerned: your main concern is theft. Be careful but
not paranoid. Carry only one or two credit cards, not in the same place.
Make a xerox of every document or card you are taking and leave it hidden in
your luggage and a copy at home with a friend, etc. Wear a neck or waist
belt and keep the credit card and the passport and the traveller's checks in
it. Expect that your billfold may get lifted, so try to learn to live with
only a day's worth of currency in it, and no credit card. Day packs or fanny
packs can get raided too, and I once had a hand go into my handbag ALONG
WITH MINE and grab my wallet - this in Spain, in broad daylight stopped at a
crosswalk and surrounded by people.

Other than having your wallet stolen, you are almost certainly safer in
most parts of the world than you are in an American city. And something
people seldom think of: travel light. A woman alone burdened down with heavy
luggage she can barely manage is a target for theft. Most of the people who
help you get a suitcase up the stairs are being helpful - most of the people
you'll encounter everywhere are being helpful - but it doesn't take but one
thief to sour you!

And you'll enjoy it, I can guarantee you!

-C

Re: Single Female Travelling Recommendations?
 

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Quite the opposite, I am not a homophobe, and that was my point =
exactly..why was a website specifically meant for lesbian travellers =
submitted as a starting point for a newbie female traveller, on her =
first solo trip, when there was absolutely no mention of her =
'sexuality'?

"Gregory Morrow" wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
    >=20
    > Pat Tyrrell informed us:
    >=20
    > > Why did you recommend a website specifically meant for lesbians to =
this
    > > woman? Do you imagine that any woman who is single, and wants to =
travel
    > > solo, to be lesbian? Pull your head out of your a$$ buddy!
    > >
    >=20
    > You are obviously a homophobe, madam. Why should anyone's "sexuality"
    > matter whether travelling solo or not?
    >=20
    > --
    > Best
    > Greg
    >=20
    >=20
    >
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Quite the opposite, I am not a homophobe, and =
that was my=20
point exactly..why was a website specifically meant for lesbian =
travellers=20
submitted as a starting point for a newbie female traveller, on her =
first solo=20
trip, when there was absolutely no mention of her=20
'sexuality'?
ÂÂ
"Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote =
in message=20
news:[email protected]=
t...> > Pat =
Tyrrell informed=20
us:> > > Why did you recommend a website specifically =
meant for=20
lesbians to this> > woman? Do you imagine that any woman =
who is=20
single, and wants to travel> > solo, to be lesbian? Pull your =
head out=20
of your a$$ buddy!> >> > You are obviously a =
homophobe,=20
madam. Why should anyone's "sexuality"> matter whether =
travelling=20
solo or not?> > --> Best> Greg> =
    >=20
    >

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Thanks Everybody!
 

Thanks everybody! I really didn't realize that I had so many options!
Judy
    :)



"Gregory Morrow" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "hotmail" wrote:
    > > Hi All -
    > > It's my first time travelling without my husband (we seperated but on
    > > excellent terms) and I would like to go to Europe (perhaps Eastern). I
am
    > an
    > > American and speak only English but am learning German. Can anybody here
    > > recommend a good tour, trip, or visit or maybe some saftey ideas for a
    > lone
    > > woman traveller?
    > Here ya go:
    > http://www.olivia.com/
    > --
    > Best
    > Greg