Women's Travel

CDC: Stop Flying While Sick

November 12th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

Travel-H1N1-passport-airportAfter the peak of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) outbreaks in Spring 2009, the CDC issued several warnings and guidelines for people who were considering traveling domestically and abroad. People who had been diagnosed with the flu were encouraged to stay home for at least 24 to 48 hours to ensure that all potentially infectious H1N1 symptoms would subside before the traveler was in contact with other people. Now, the CDC is encouraging people to consider postponing their holiday travel plans if they detect any symptoms of the regular flu or H1N1/swine flu.

The CDC recommends that travelers who are at increased risk for complications of the flu – such as women who are pregnant, people with compromised immune systems, very young children, and the elderly – should consider postponing their travel plans to avoid contracting an infection or other type of illness. The CDC points out that it can sometimes be difficult to get flu medications or physician care when traveling, so it is safer for high-risk travelers to simply stay home.

Anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms should also consider postponing or canceling their trip.

There are currently no health screenings for inbound and outbound U.S. travelers, but some other countries may be performing their own set of health checks and screenings to reduce the risk of a flu outbreak. Still, the best ways to protect oneself from a potential H1N1/swine flu or flu infection is to wash hands frequently with soap and hot water, use a hand sanitizer throughout the trip, and avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth as this can increase the risk and spread of an infection.

Travelers are also encouraged to review health advisories in their destination country on the day of travel so that they are well aware of any outbreaks. If the traveler becomes too sick to travel before their trip, they may have the ability to cancel and rebook with certain travel insurance programs.

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Female-Friendliest Destinations

November 11th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

More and more female travelers are choosing to hit the road alone. The travel industry has started to take notice. Certain destinations, through word-of-mouth advertising or through carefully planned public relations campaigns, have begun to tout themselves as female-friendly. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article about some of the best destinations for solo female globetrotters:

quebec-travelCanada, somewhat surprisingly, topped the list. America’s northern neighbor is known mainly for its skiing and for French-speaking Quebec’s European flair. However, it is also one of the Western Hemisphere’s safest countries, with violent crime rates in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal much, much lower than major US cities.

Australia earned the next spot on the list. Its laid-back population and general respect for solo travelers of either gender make it a welcoming destination. The combination of safe, cosmopolitan cities and harsh-but-beautiful natural landscapes have been drawing international visitors for decades.

India was another surprise entry on this list of female-friendliest destinations. Despite the high chance of getting unwanted attention from local males (most of which is merely irritating, not dangerous), foreign women have been flocking to South Asia. India’s deep sense of spirituality and many historic places are major reasons to visit. In addition, local women are much more welcoming to foreign women in India than in other Asian destination.

Peru is actually one of the easiest places for women to travel. In cities like Lima, the capitol, women are treated respectfully. There is no unwanted attention from local males like in many other Latin American counties. The people are quite polite to foreigners in general. In addition, Lima is one of the best places to get a reasonable deal on a plush hotel room. Luxury hotels offer rates in the $100-per-night price range.

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Medical Tourism Industry Growth Expected in 2010

November 8th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

Despite the waning demand in overseas travel and the downslide in demand for medical tourism packages in 2009, experts say that demand for medical tourism is expected to surge in 2010. According to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, the economic recession will give way to a period of economic recovery in 2010, with an expected growth of about 35 percent for the medical tourism industry. The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions presented these findings at the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress in Los Angeles, California earlier this month.

According to Paul Keckley, Ph.D. and Executive Director of the organization, “Barring any tempering factors, such as supply constraints, resistance from health plans, increased domestic competition or government policies, we project that outbound medical tourism could reach upwards of 1.6 million patients by 2012.”

More than 750,000 Americans traveled abroad in 2007 for outbound medical care, and this included treatments that improve health, but also cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. The recession has encouraged many avid travelers to put off their plans for elective procedures, and many have postponed their plans to travel overseas, even when they have an opportunity to get discounted services at a medical facility abroad.

However, analysts expect this to change as more insurance companies begin to offer coverage for care abroad, and more attractive packages from medical tourism companies in South America, India, Thailand and other exotic destinations.

According to Deloitte’s 2009 Medical Tourism Report, the Joint Commission International (JCI) has increased the number of approved foreign medical sites from 76 in 2005 to more than 220 in 2008, which will make it easier for travelers to select a legitimate destination that can meet their healthcare needs. The American Medical Association (AMA) has also developed a set of nine guidelines for medical tourism for employers and insurance companies who are creating medical care packages outside of the United States. (Source: TravelIndustryWire.com)

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Woman’s (New) Best Friend: Women Only Trains

November 6th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

women-only-trainsTaking public transportation, especially in a foreign country, can be quite difficult.  For solo female travelers, taking the train in India (and other countries) can also be uncomfortable because of the unwanted attention they may receive. While this is not a common problem, it has been known to happen. However, there is a little known luxury offered to female train travelers in the Subcontinent’s largest cities: women-only trains. This rail service offers travelers a chance to ride without the fear of unwanted attention and also to make social connections with local female commuters.

Thus far, there are only a handful of these trains in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. They are mostly used by local women commuting to and from the workplace, but can be useful for female tourists who want to avoid possible harassment on regular local trains. The New York Times recently ran a piece on this service, which has been dubbed the “Ladies Special” by local users.

India’s all-female trains are not a completely novel idea. Other countries have instituted similar services. While some groups have criticized the gender-exclusive cars as a form of segregation, others consider it a positive because of the increased feeling of comfort and security.

In Japan, female commuters often complain that men grope them on crowded rush-hour trains (2,000 arrests for sexual harassment were made on the subway in 2007). The complaints were bad enough that Tokyo began offering women-only subway cars (Source: Reuters). Provided they are able to locate these cars, female travelers can take advantage of this service as well. It is a little easier to tell women-only train cars in Brazil. They are the ones with the big pink stripes on the side. Dubai, Egypt, and Taiwan also offer separate cars for female passengers.

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What are the Best Travel Destinations for Women Travelers?

October 30th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

womens-travelSolo female travelers have been to just about every corner of the globe. While an adventurous spirit and a wealth of stamina are needed to travel to some of the world’s more far-flung destinations, other places are welcoming, safe, and user-friendly for female travelers.

Here are the best and worst destinations for solo wandering women.

Women find themselves welcome in Amsterdam. While the city is known for its debauchery, women are treated with the utmost equality and are expected to be independent and free-thinking. In addition, the Netherlands is a reasonably safe place to travel and almost every resident has a working knowledge of English.

India is a more challenging destination compared to any place in Europe, but women traveling solo will find themselves more welcome by locals than if they were traveling with male companions. There are plenty of tour operators on the Subcontinent that specialize in tours and itineraries for women who want to travel the country alone.

What are some places that are difficult or, worse, dangerous for solo female travelers? The Middle East and Northern Africa are notorious for their lack of women’s rights. While this is not true of every one of the region’s countries, it is a noticeable fact that may lead to difficulties. At the same time, local females in places like Morocco or Egypt have been known to be very welcoming to female travelers who are traveling alone.

Some destinations are popular, but require extra caution. Instances of rape are higher in Latin America and the Caribbean than in other parts of the world. Solo female travelers in Italy, Spain, and Greece have often complained about overly aggressive – though not often dangerous – local males. These complaints and statistics are not reasons to cross these places off your list of possible destinations, but they are reasons to observe extra caution and possibly employ the services of a tour operator to ensure a good level of security.

The complete list of destinations for solo female travelers can be found on here.

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Everything You Need to Know About India Travel

October 23rd, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | 1 Comment »

taj-mahal-indiaFor many women with wanderlust, India is the ultimate destination. The blend of cultures, colors, religions and history makes for an attractive travel cocktail. But the Subcontinent is also known for being confusing, frustrating, and crowded.

The women’s travel blog Wanderlust and Lipstick has one of the best collections of insider tips for women who want to take the South Asian plunge. Here are some of the highlights:

Attire
Dress conservatively. Places like Mumbai and Delhi are quite cosmopolitan and the people there are likely to accept shorts and sleeveless shirts without blinking. However, India is a rather conservative country. To truly gain access to all the different cultural and religious places of interest and to be able to interact with local people in small villages, it is best to be conservative when it comes to clothing: shirts with sleeves and skirts or pants that go below the knee are generally acceptable.

Shopping
In India, there are plenty of places to buy cheap clothing and other goods. At city markets and specialty shops, where the best deals can be found, bargaining is the norm. There are many fakes, however. Buying clothes and souvenirs is generally a simple matter of bargaining the price down to a reasonable level. Purchasing collectables, jewelry and artwork is another story. Those who want to make purchases have to have enough knowledge about the product to spot well-made fakes.

Health
Health is a major concern for travelers in India, regardless of gender. Up-to-date immunizations, travel insurance, and a full supply of medications are all necessary ingredients for healthy travel. Women should also bring any feminine products, such as tampons, that they might need. These items are readily available in major cities, but are hard to come by elsewhere in the country.

The complete collection on India-realted tips can be found on the Wanderlust and Lipstick web site.

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Get Paid to Travel: Teaching Abroad

October 22nd, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

teach-english-abroadFemale travelers looking to take extended trips abroad or to have a meaningful cultural immersion experience often find it easy to get jobs teaching English. In many countries, local schools – from private language institutes to public universities – prefer to hire female instructors for cultural reasons. This is especially the case in East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Getting Started
Educational requirements vary. Generally, private language schools (that is, schools that specialize in teaching English and/or other non-native languages) often have the most lax requirements. Though many require some sort of college degree, additional certification usually consists of a short (week or month-long) TEFL or CELTA course. These courses teach classroom techniques specifically for teaching English to non-native speakers. They can cost anywhere from $300 to $3,000, but virtually guarantee that a teacher will be able to find work in most places.

Pay Rates
In East Asia, pay can be quite high, considering the cost of living. Though language schools in Vietnam and Thailand only pay $10-$20 per hour, the cost of a month’s worth of rent and food is only about $500. This leaves full time or even part time teachers with a very good quality of life by local standards.

Salaried teachers, who work under contract at private secondary schools or at public and private universities, generally receive more than the typical hourly wage. They are also eligible for some benefits such as an allowance for room and board and health insurance.

Applying and Attaining a Teacher Position
To attain one of these positions, applicants usually have to begin the process while still at home, perhaps only traveling abroad and having an interview at the school in the final stages of the hiring process.

Another option is volunteer teaching. These positions, offered by various non-profit organizations, do not pay. Some include room and board or a small stipend. Usually, however, the volunteers have to pay their own way.

Transitions Abroad is a great resource for people interested in teaching English as a second language abroad.

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Airport Food for the Diet Conscious

October 19th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

airport-food-for-the-diet-consciousWhether eating a snack to pass the time or digging into a full meal before a long flight, people who eat airport food are probably aware that they are not making the best choice for their waistline. But what other options are there? Besides, splurging on a treat can relieve stress, and we all know all the many facets to air travel can be quite stressful.

Most travelers would probably categorize airport food as a necessary evil. Sure, you can pack your own snacks, but who has time to do that in the rush to leave home or hotel. Manage to get something packed and you might be stuck explaining your homemade snack-pack to the guy at the security checkpoint.

MSN recently published an article about the best and worst choices for airport food. Their ideas are somewhat surprising:

  • Airport breakfast staple Dunkin Donuts offers a blueberry muffin that, at first glance, seems like a healthy option. But it is actually a dense, fatty treat with 500 calories. Dunkin’s regular raised sugar donut is lighter and contains only one-fifth of the muffin’s calories.
  • Subway touts their healthy menu in ad campaigns. The right sandwich (one with lean meat and plenty of veggies) and a non-fat dressing is hands-down the best fast-food meal at most airports.
  • No matter where you eat, you can take simple steps to keep the calorie count in check. Soft drinks and coffee drinks like mochas and lattes can contain a staggering amount of fat and/or sugar. Opting for water, unsweetened tea or plain coffee is best for your waistline. In addition, most health experts recommend drinking plenty of water while flying to avoid illness and cope with jet lag.
  • Sit-down restaurants also have low-fat options for those who know what to order. Dishes made with lean meat, preferably not fried, are a good option. Always order dressing on the side with a salad. High-fat dressing can ruin an otherwise lite meal.

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What to Wear on an Airplane

October 15th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

It might be easy to decide what to pack for your next vacation. If you are heading to somewhere tropical, sunscreen, swimsuits and warm weather fashions will make their way into the suitcase. Going to the city? You’ll probably be packing something comfortable to wear during the day and something more fashionable for a night on the town.

But what about your outfit for the airplane ride? Perhaps you are heading for a warm weather destination, but don’t want to break out the sundress until after you arrive. After all, airplanes tend to be cold and the blankets that air hostesses dole out are usually woefully undersized. What are the best wardrobe choices?

Footwear
Stiletto heels are out of the question, as are flip-flops. Shoes can be casual or fashionable, as long as they are easy to slip off (remember the last time you went through the security checkpoint) and comfortable enough to walk to your gate at the end of the concourse . Also, since many airports still require you to remove your shoes at security, socks – of the un-holey variety – are also a good choice.

Pants
Pants are a better option than skirts or dresses. They are better at keeping your legs warm if they get cold on a flight and they are better for security checkpoints as well, especially if you have to endure a sweep with the hand-held metal detector. Of course, you can opt for something more fashionable than a pair of jeans or sweatpants if you choose.

Tops
The layer technique works best for the top half of your body. A lighter blouse or even a t-shirt covered by a heavier shirt, sweater or sweatshirt makes a good combination. The double layer aspect is important, but you can make it as casual or fashionable as you choose. Again, don’t forget the security checkpoint: two layer is good, three or more might prove inconvenient. Wearing a jacket, hoodie or light camisole with a visible undershirt? You will have to take the jacket off; make sure the undershirt is concealing and not revealing.

Other considerations
The secret, especially for fashion-conscious travelers, is to find the balance between good-looks, comfort, and common sense. You only have to give up a little bit in the looks department to gain a lot of comfort.

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Want to Travel Solo? Worldwide Hotel Rates at All-Time Lows

October 13th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Women's Travel | No Comments »

traveling-soloThe travel industry has experienced a major slump over the past two years. How bad has it gotten? On average, hotels around the globe have had to cut their rates by 17% in 2009 compared to 2008. Add that to low season promotions and other types of discounts and it can seem almost ridiculously cheap to book a room at a respectable three or four star hotel. As long as the drab economic climate persists, fewer people are choosing to travel. At the same time, those who are willing to take the plunge will find deals galore.

Some female travelers have been taking advantage of these rates to take spontaneous solo trips to places in Europe and the US that they would not otherwise visit. Recent surveys have shown that well over half of female travelers consider themselves solo travelers.

But not all destinations have seen such significant price cuts. Cities like Las Vegas, which has been hurt the worst by the economic slowdown, have seen the largest price drops, 17% on average. Some hotels have cut midweek rates by more than 20%. New York is suffering even worse. Rates at some of its hotels have dropped nearly 30%.

Europe is fairing marginally better than the US. During the last 6 months of 2009, the price for a room in Barcelona’s dropped 14% on average. Vienna and Florence, two popular tourist destinations, also saw prices drop by double digit percentage points. The median price drop in London is currently 12%.

Do these drops mean that women will be heading to European hot spots? Not necessarily. Traditional tourist destinations like Paris and Rome have seen prices remain constant, though there will be airfare deals available for these destinations during the coming winter low-season. Also, new “it” destinations like Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv have actually seen a double digit increase in hotel room rates.

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