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A Growth Business:
Women Traveling Together
By Christine Columbus, Inc. Co-founder, Robert G. Brost
It used to be that women would never travel without their family or unescorted. That has changed! Single women, women with husbands that don't travel, mothers and daughters and/or granddaughters, women pursuing their interests and hobbies are no longer hesitant to plan and now are embarking on trips of all types. As a result, helping women travel has become a booming business. Mary Beth Bond, an ex-stewardess and author of 50 Best Girlfriends' Getaways Worldwide who follows this trend, claims that since 2000, the number of women-only travel companies has grown by 230 per cent.
Many women are taking women-only getaways, sometimes with their girlfriends, and leaving their husbands home. In fact many husbands and significant others encourage their mates to take trips to do things that they have no interest in - cooking, shopping, museum hopping, or learning about hobbies such as knitting and gardening.
Predictably, there are several groups to be found on the Internet that facilitate and promote this. According to Gutsy Women Travel (GutsyWomenTravel.com), more time pressed career women in their 30's and 40's are traveling this way, and not always with friends as two-thirds are booking solo trips.
Our research showed that women do the vacation planning in most families, making sure that everyone is happy, safe, and entertained. Meanwhile men went hunting, golfing, or fishing with the guys. Even the teenagers went on spring breaks, and camping and church outings.
Finally women said, "It's my turn" and since many work, they have the money to go.
This women's-only travel takes many forms, be it destination oriented such as France's Loire Valley, Chile, and Costa Rica. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.com), among many hotel chains, have targeted women with special features and amenities and vacation packages.
Other types of trips that women are taking:
- Special Interests - niche trips that focus on wine tasting, running, and even knitting. StitchAwayTours (StitchAwayTours) has been organizing trips to places such as Scotland and London to visit sheep farms, yarn shops, and weaving factories. Combim
- Learning - many of GutsyWomen's organized tours focused on learning - Moroccan cuisine, South American handicrafts, or perfume blending, for example.
- Alumni Travel - College alumni organizations are noted for special trips they offer, now many are catering to women only tours. Like upcoming Stanford's Travel/Study, Women's Seminar 11-day trip to Jordan.
- Pampering - Very popular is spa travel where making friends, sharing experiences, and being pampered at the same time.
- Adventure - AdventureWomen (AdventureWomen) is business for 27 years organizes many trips for women whose ages average between 50 and 55. They go snorkeling, cattle ranching, and diving. Milder itineraries include sightseeing trips to Greece, India, and China.
- Eco-Travel - Go Eco Travel (GoEcoTravel) offers "green" trips to destinations all over avoiding mega hotel chains and opting instead for historic inns, solar-powered farmhouses, and small hotels. Activities include hiking, yoga, and cross-country skiing.
- Major Cities - Big cities such New York, San Francisco, Boston are common girl trip destinations because of the amount and diversity of activities such as restaurants, shopping, museums, etc.
If interested, investigate a few of the companies mentioned. (The Girls GetAways) resource is a wonderful place to start. Also google "womens travel" to find many others that might just have what you are looking for.
Sign up on our E-mail list list to be notified of other new travel tips. Meanwhile, we hope you'll share your travel tales, experiences, likes and dislikes with us at: travel stories and travel tips.
Please let us know how we can assist you with your travel needs.
Cheers,
Annette & Rob,
Co-founders
Specials!
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