You've probably heard all the usual, plain mainstream advice ....
Packing
Essentials to Remember
When packing for your next adventure, don't forget to include versatile clothing that matches the weather and terrain, comfortable shoes, and essential toiletries. Pack light, and remember to leave room for souvenirs!
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Make a packing checklist and have fun ticking it all off
Safety
Prioritize Your Wellbeing
Safety should always come first when traveling. Be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and ensure you have necessary safety measures in place. It's important to stay vigilant and take precautions to protect yourself. Be careful of pickpocketers, of fake taxis, of your bags being stolen. Watch out for all danger.
Exploration
Discovery Awaits
Use online booking sites to plan your trips ahead of time, search for what you can do and make an itinerary. Ask your hotel for local travel advice. Try new things, meet new people and explore cultures from your own perspective!
.... we do not deny that some of this can be helpful...
But LET'S TALK about the things women are NEVER told before they travel.... but should be.
Your Intuition is your bestie
Trusting your gut, senses and body's signals
This is the most advanced tool you have to keep yourself safe as a woman. Unfortunately, social norms -like trying to keep everyone else happy and comfortable- can have us very accustomed to silencing the communication between our gut instincts and our actions.
We must rebel against what is 'expected of us' and get used to turning up the volume of the signs and signals our body is constantly sending us. We must teach ourselves that we can trust ourselves to know. Our body is very wise, and so are we when we listen and honour our perception, gut and voice. ​​
We have written an in-depth blog all about what intuition is and how to listen to it to keep yourself safe and confident in yourself whilst travelling. Dive deeper and check it out.
Boundaries
Prioritize your space. Set your rules.
You always have permission to set your tone, pace and your space. We can't tell you how many times we, just like so many women around the world, are still preoccupied with making other people feel comfortable whilst we ourselves are feeling super uncomfortable. The most important thing we can do as a female traveller is explore what we want our boundaries to be, and learn how to communicate them. This looks like getting comfortable saying things like:​
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"No, thank you."
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"No is a full sentence. I don't owe you more explanation."
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"You are standing a little too close to me for my comfort, could you please respect my space"
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"Me and my friend are trying to have a catch up, and we aren't welcoming strangers in to our time for now. Goodbye"
"No I do not want to join you on this activity. Thank you for the offer but I am going to do something else. Please don't follow me". ​​​
We have written an in-depth blog all about what boundaries are and how to communicate them effectively whilst travelling. Click the button below to learn more.
Balance: Fight the fear-mongering
We don't deserve to live in disempowering fear.
Okay, this can be a tricky one to discuss without nuance. First, we must acknowledge the global rise and prominence of violence against women. Women are often on the look-out for threats to their physical safety. But this is why we want to encourage women to be doing work that helps them feel safer, whilst also balancing the level of fear we are constantly reminded to carry around.
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Real talk: I have had to be just as weary about my safety walking to my flat at night in my home country, as I have had to be in a foreign city across the globe.
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I am a young woman and before heading on my travels, the first and only thing anyone would say to me is "be careful" and "insert a devastating story about violence they heard about on the news last week". It was tiring. I knew it came from a sense of love and care, but also, it was pretty dissuading. I know I couldn't be talked out of my urge to travel, but I hated to think about all my fellow sisters and women who never went travelling, didn't book that trip, never solo-travelled or didn't experience the wonders of the world because of fear.
Fear immobilises us. Fear stops us from overcoming our challenges and living our dreams. Enough women have travelled the world safely for you, and I, will be able to too.
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There is a beautiful song that reads:​
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"loosen, loosen baby. You don't have to carry, the weight of the world in your muscles and bones. Let go, let go, let go."
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​This is what we want to encourage. Let's stay safe, but STAY FEARLESS, together. ​
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to listen to everyone who tells you about all of the terrible things that might happen to you when you travel.
It is about balancing the fact that information is power, but so is your intuition, chasing your dreams and experiencing the world. We need hope, acceptance and courage.
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If you are curious about the mindset of fear, changing perceptions or learning more click on the link below for a deeper exploration of these topics.
When in doubt, sister it out!
Feeling safe with other women.
You would be surprised how many options there are to find sisters around the globe and look for opportunities to stick together.
From female-only dorm rooms in hostels to Facebook groups, online communities, accommodation organisations, couch surfing and work away all with options for helping women stick together while they travel.
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You are never alone. There is always a sister around the corner willing to help you out, you just got to take that first step.
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Check out some great options in the blog bellow, and seek out your global sisters today.
"You're going to have the BEST time"
is something we don't hear enough.
Sweetie, you are going to have the best time. You are going to see things that blow your mind and be open to new experiences that enrich your worldview and self-belief. You have the opportunity to see, feel, touch, and experience in the present moment.
You will discover, seek, sense, explore, play, learn and expand. You will open new pathways for inspiration, creativity, love, connection, kindness, open-heartedness and achievements. You can find delicious, enriching and luxurious sensations that make life so special.
If you want more, click the link below for travel inspiration.
The fun is in the creation, not the validation
you're worthy just as you are
Let's repeat that again together shall we,
​"The Fun is in the creation, not the validation"
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​Women are often raised in a way that tells us how we look matters more than how we feel. We are taught many contradictory messages about what to look like, and often this is centred around the male gaze. When you are travelling, this is an opportunity to live for you in the moment. Drop the need for validation, approval, permission or any of the limiting narratives that keep us small. Expand into the fullest version of you, and indulge in your feelings, senses and pleasure.
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You don't need to be perfect, have the perfect photo, or be the best at this or that. You just need to relax. To have fun. To be yourself. And give yourself the permission to be a naturally messy human being, like us all, learning from life along the way. Trust us, life is way more fun when you care more about how you feel than seeking validation from others. ​
We are breaking out of the mould and in revolt against social norms here! It's a sensitive topic for many of us. We explore it with passion, respect and sensitivity- and encourage you to do the same. Click the link below to learn more about expressing ourselves freely.
Authentic exploration
Embrace the unknown and explore off the beaten path. You don't have to always go to the most visited place, or see the most seen things. Sometimes the most beauty lies around street corners that most people ignore, in beautiful moments of community, joy and love being shared by the people in areas you are visiting. Stop to admire the street art, to smile at the old lady at the bus stop, to help the kid pick up the pebbles he dropped.
Immerse yourself in local culture, try new foods, and engage with the community in authentic ways. Be respectful of customs, traditions and the local people's space. Try learning the language of the place you visit, so you can make locals feel more comfortable with your presence. The best experiences often come from stepping out of your comfort zone. Put in the effort to get to know somewhere for what that place truly represents, not just what you want to see. ​​
Venture to the link below for more authentic travelling tips and explore more.
Getting to know the truth
Be mindful of what you take
& what you give
"In what ways can I be of service to the communities that I travel to?" is a lovely question to ask as we journey around the world.
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It is always good to think about equilibrium in anything we do. Contributing financially to an area with your tourism is one way people consider they are 'giving back'. But we know that doesn't mean everything. Think outside the box: emotionally, physically, spiritually, what am I leaving behind or giving back to a place when I visit? Can you thank the local people in their language? Can you make sure to not litter? Can you be mindful of the energy you carry into the places you travel, are you being patient and respectful with the locals?
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Remember that while you are visiting somewhere, that place is also someone's home. How would you like your home to be treated?
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Try new things that help you learn how to give back while also taking. Maybe this looks like chatting with locals, donating to the local food bank in the village you're passing through, or joining local protests that support causes you are passionate about. ​
Balancing giving and receiving is important across many contexts in life. Click the link bellow and give more by exploring ethical and mindful travel tips.
Being of service
A word on Growth
In what ways would you like to develop?
Travelling can advance our self-development in many ways. Sometimes it feels like you can be a new person every day. When you are constantly meeting new people, you can be reminded that you have the flexibility to show up as new versions of yourself. Since you aren't held down by the weight of any expectations of who people expect you to be, such as back in your home life. This can be a subtle and subconscious shift that we aren't always aware of, but it can bring about beautiful gifts when brought out into the light.
It means you can explore new ways of viewing, behaving, feeling and being in the world without as much fear and self-limitation. Sometimes, it can feel like a mirror is being help up to you each day saying, "Who do you really want to be?" or "How can I be of more service to myself and to others?" and getting a beautiful opportunity to show up. Or be messy and human whilst trying. Take the opportunity while travelling to journey along your self-development goals. Keeping a travelling journal for reflection is one creative way to do this.
We talk more about how travelling and self-development in the blog bellow, click the link if you are curious for more.
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