Advice for Women Travelers:
Transportation and Accommodations Choices

Most likely, you will find yourself wanting to combine different traveling styles, and that different styles fit different countries or regions. I once took a trip where I stayed in a youth hostel one night, a luxury cabin with a bathroom, kitchen and cable TV another night, a rented room in a woman's house another night, and a cabin with nothing but two beds and a hot plate another night.

But when all is said and done: do what is right for YOU. Don't let anyone bully you into traveling a way you don't want to, or make you feel self-conscious about your preferences. I have friends who balk at the way I travel, and I've balked at some of their preferences. But, in the end, we did what was right for each of us, and had the trip each of us wanted.

Transportation options (and my thoughts on each)

First off -- getting from point A to point B takes patience. Treat transportation as part of your vacation/adventure. Create ways to enjoy the journey, and anticipate potential problems: make a great mix tape, have a great book to read while waiting for trains, have some munchies always available, etc.). If you don't treat transportation as part of your vacation/adventure, the result will be that delays, getting lost, and other problems will be much harder to deal with. Why let a layover in an airport ruin your whole trip? Take pictures of sleeping people.

Driving
This gives you a lot of freedom, and gives you a very intimate sense of an area. I did many road trips in the USA in the 1990s, and it made it very easy to take whatever I wanted with me (including my dogs) and go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I never felt worried driving alone, although it was rare that I was on the road after dark. Abroad, however, driving is very expensive (fuel is much more expensive in Europe, for instance, than in the USA), and driving in Ireland and the United Kingdom present particularly annoying challenges for a Yank, female or not. Most of Europe has wonderful mass transit, which alleviates the stress of finding parking and paying for fuel, and leaves you more freedom to enjoy the view.

Flying
It's now possible to fly very cheaply within a European country. But with the craziness of how early you have to get to an airport, how much time it takes to get through security, and the risk of your bags being misplaced, I don't recommend it within one country in Europe unless it's going to save you massive amounts of money over a train or bus and saves you more than two hours on train trip. In most places, you are going to be safe if you are a woman traveling alone, but it's always a good idea to stay alert of your surroundings, even after you have gone through security.

Trains
Most of Europe has wonderful mass transit, which alleviates the stress of finding parking and paying for fuel, and leaves you more freedom to enjoy the view. I love trains, and they are always my personal preference for traveling just about anywhere (except the USA, where, outside of the East coast, they are virtually non-existent). I've ridden more trains than not by myself -- though never in a developing country. Please also see my advice about safety on trains and other places.

Buses
In the USA, because of its very poor transportation infrastructure and lack of trains, buses are often the only way to get from one major city to another, unless you have a car or can afford to fly. However, bus availability is decreasing in the USA every year, and I would never advise a woman to ride a long-distance bus alone at night. So in the USA, you often have no alternative for multi-city or multi-state travel other than a car or flying. In other countries, however, buses are often plentiful. Just make sure, when in another country, that you confirm your destination with the driver and/or other passengers, even if you are relatively sure you are on the right bus. I took the mini-bus in Jordan with my partner to Petra from Amman, with the assistance of a taxi driver who drove me and my partner from the hotel, and it was a fascinating experience. Would I do it alone? Yes, but I would have sat with another woman always and put on a token head-covering.

Mass transit
This comes in the form of buses, trains and light rail. It not only offers a much, much cheaper alternative to taxis, it also offers a way to get more in-touch with the flavor of a culture and community. It's always worth learning the options for a region or country you are going to visit. Car addicts tell me frequently, "I just don't have the PATIENCE for mass transit!", meaning they hate waiting at a station or stop for the transportation to arrive. Well, that's exactly how I feel about finding a place to park or getting lost in a car. I'd rather be stuck at a train station, reading my book or grooving on my iPod, than stuck in a car, frantically looking for a place to park. Single women should take care never to be alone in a train car, and to sit near the driver on a mostly-empty bus. And if anyone ever touches you in appropriately, follow the lead of the Italian and Greek women and RAISE A RUCKUS!!! Forget about being polite. Please also see my advice about safety on trains and other places.

Back packing
First, let's be clear: most back packers do NOT hike everywhere -- they do use various means of transportation to get where they need to go, even taxis sometimes. But in remote areas, indeed, back packers must sometimes hike from the train station to their accommodations, and this may be more than a couple of miles. And if you are back packing, your accommodations do not automatically have to be a youth hostel or camping; many back packers stay in bed & breakfasts or hotels. The advantage of the latter is that you can leave the back pack behind while you tour a city. If such is available and looks secure, consider storing your back pack at the storage provided at many European train stations.

Back packing in the USA is very difficult, given our poor train and bus systems, and lack of pedestrian walkways along most inter-city and inter-state roadways. But it can be, and has been, done. You have to be prepared for long periods of waiting and paying for taxis occasionally.

Hitching
I just cannot recommend this, even though I've met all sorts of people, including women, who have done it and had no problems. The thing about hitching is that you could meet 100 nice, supportive people -- it just takes one to ruin your trip and, maybe, your life.

I suffer from motion sickness. It gets worse every year. I can sit in the back of a car only for short distances, and have to ask the driver not to take curves too quickly. I cannot read in a car under any circumstances -- I can't even read messages on my cell phone. I can't sit backwards on a train, and can't read on a train except at night, and then only if it's not going through too many turns. A gently swaying ferry will ruin the day for me. The back of a bus is out of the question for me. I can't even watch movies that shake around too much.

Ofcourse, when I travel, I cannot absolutely control all of my transportation conditions, and can't avoid all of the above situations. So, when I take a trip, I have to take a lot of preventatives so that motion sickness doesn't ruin my trip:

• Sea-bands, or Motion-Sickness Bands: you wear these around your wrists, and you must wear them exactly as the package describes. I wear these on any car trip, no matter how short; I even wear them on airplanes, even though I haven't yet experienced motion sickness on a plane.

• Be careful with food: Some crackers or an apple on an empty stomach seem to help before a trip. Oily foods most certainly do not.

• Ginger: this has been KEY for me. I drink ginger ale before and during a trip, and eat ginger root as well. I'd eat ginger cookies if I could find them in Germany. Note: ginger ale is VERY hard to find in some countries. Look up the word "ginger" in other languages before you visit a country where English isn't the native language.

• Motion sickness pills: I take just a half of one, and then only before ferry rides or long car or bus rides. These pills will make me very sleepy, so I don't plan on driving at all, nor walking much even five hours after taking just half a pill.

Chain hotels or chain motels
I use them only if I'm traveling across the USA, and trying to get across a few states or the entire country as quickly as possible. I like them in the sense that the room is usually always clean, there's cable TV, and there's a big bathroom. But they have little personality and they all look the same. If I'm in a different country, I want to actually feel like I'm in a different country! But maybe such will give you the security and predictability you need to feel comfortable in a new, strange environment -- if so, go for it. I will not stay anywhere that does not have adequate safety, no matter what the price. And I follow my own advice about safety when staying in such.

Luxury Hotels
Unless someone else is paying, I don't stay in these, because I can't afford them, and because I don't see what all the extra funds I'm paying go for, in terms of my actual comfort. And in other countries, you will feel very, very far from the locals if you stay in these. But maybe snazzy carpeting and uniformed staff and valet parking and in-hotel restaurants, bars and other activities so that you rarely have to leave the building are what you expect when you travel -- if so, go for it. But remember -- a luxury hotel is often no more safe than anywhere else. Always take steps to stay safe.

Independent and Budget Hotels and Motels
In the USA, I'm frightened of what we call budget hotels and motels, but abroad, budget hotels (pensions) are usually family-run, and provide a friendliness and warmth, plus a closeness to the local culture, that I want while traveling. I've stayed in budget motels in Jordan, Egypt and Spain, and each has provided me with basic, clean accommodations and a lot of help in getting to where I want to go for the day. Also, budget hotels abroad usually include breakfast. But, as noted in the following description as well, breakfasts can vary widely: some will be generous and some will be just bread and coffee. Look for budget hotels abroad that have excellent access to local attractions, or to transportation for such.

In the USA, and independent hotel does not necessarily mean it's also cheap, but it does often mean you can get a great local experience. For instance, both the Austin Motel and the San Jose Hotel, both in Austin, Texas, are legendary for both their locations (just down the street from each other, in the heart of the South Austin music and food scene), their atmosphere and their attitudes. I think I got a job once because I recommended the San Jose Motel to the company's representative.

Bed & Breakfasts (B & Bs), Pensions, "Zimmer Frei"
In the USA, B & Bs are oh-so-refined, to the point of making me uncomfortable, and they are also very expensive. But abroad, bed and breakfasts, also known as pensions or by the German sign for a room for rent ("Zimmer Frei"), provide the friendliness, warmth, attention and closeness to the local culture that I want while traveling -- and often at a great price. You probably won't get a TV or phone at European B & Bs (although I always did in Eastern Europe!), but who needs them when you are just using your room to sleep after traveling all day? B & Bs also often provide much better parking security if you are traveling by bicycle or motorcycle, since they will often allow you to park in the family garage, or in a fenced, locked area of the property. Breakfasts can vary widely, however -- some will be generous and some will be just bread and coffee. Look for B & Bs abroad that have excellent access to local attractions, or to transportation for such.

Hostels
Usually called "youth" hostels, these can provide a great way to travel on the cheap and to meet other travelers, but they aren't for everyone. I'm not a big fan of youth hostels -- I prefer bed and breakfasts or rented rooms when traveling abroad, and in the USA, hostels are barely existent. If a youth hostel is truly youth-focused, then it will be way too loud at night to be able to sleep (something I do enjoy doing after a long day of site-seeing), and in addition, I have little interest in talking with the others if they are traveling only to party and get laid. That said, some hostels are fantastic -- particularly in Scotland and Scandinavia, where hostels cater much more to walkers and adult travelers, rather than just youth, and staying in them gives you access to not only cheap, comfortable accommodations, but really cool fellow travelers. Many hostels offer private rooms for couples or even for single travelers. Some even have bathrooms in your room, rather than down the hall. If you are traveling in a group of three or more, it will be easy and cheap for you to reserve an entire group dormitory just for yourselves (provided such is available). Would I recommend them for a woman traveling alone? Only if you can get a dormitory with women only, or a private room. Some tips for staying in a hostel:

• If at all possible, research the hostel before you book, to find out what kind of reputation it has (for cleanliness, safety, noise, location, treatment of those of us who aren't youth, etc.). Running the hostel's name through Google, TripAdvisor, and The Thorn Tree are good ways to investigate.
  
• If at all possible, book in advance. Hostels sell out quickly in-season, and popular hostels can be full year-round. You can book online.
  
• Bring at least one sturdy lock with you, and use the hostel's lockers for your valuables. Also lock your suitcases.
  
• Bring earplugs and a sleep blindfold.
  
• Bring a towel, even if the hostel has them for rent (they may run out, or not be big enough), bring all of your toiletries, and bring cheap, plastic flipflops for the shower.
  
• Bring a top sheet or sleeping bag if you don't think the hostel provides bedding (I bring a sleeping bag, as we're usually on the motorcycle, and a "wax", which I can wear as a skirt, wear as a shawl, or use as a top sheet).
  
• Browse the hostel lobby for posted special deals on tours and food.
  
• If the hostel provides a kitchen and you are traveling on the cheap, plan your day with a stop at a grocery to buy food for your meals. The vast majority of other guests at hostels will respect your food in the fridge if it is clearly marked as yours.
  
• You can drink alcohol in most hostels in Europe, but always check to make sure it's okay at any hostel where you stay.

Cabins and Rented Trailers
I looooved traveling this way in Norway and Sweden, particularly when the cabin was in some lovely area and wasn't too close to other campers. You need a sleeping bag, but not an air mattress, and usually, there's no bathroom en suite (rather, there's a communal thing somewhere near by). And a small stove or hot plate, as well as cooking pots and utensils, are usually provided. Some cabins in Norway came with a TV! In addition to cabins, some spots have trailers to rent onsite at campgrounds, with all the amenities of a hotel. You can count on cabins and trailers being clean and ready-to-use in Scandinavia... but elsewhere, you need to research first. Also, these sites tend to be rather isolated. If you are lucky, in Europe at least, there's an onsite bar and maybe even a restaurant as well.

Camping
I love camping in the USA and Europe, next to some lovely scenery, be it a lake, a mountain, the ocean, a huge glen, whatever. Camping doesn't mean you also have to backpack, at least not in Europe -- you can rent a car, take a taxi, or take mass transportation to travel within a country or region, or just across town. And as one of the best parts of traveling is partaking in a region's own cuisine, you can forget your cooking equipment as well, if you like. But in the USA, camping will limit your site-seeing to rural areas, unless you have a car -- camping sites in and near very large US cities are rather dreadful. Look for campsites that have clean showers and bathrooms (and plenty of them), a special area specifically for tent campers (the more it's segregated from the caravans, the better), and a fence all around the camp site, with just one entrance/exit for cars. In England and Scotland, campsites are often near a small village (that means easy access to grocery stores and PUBS!).

Couch surfing
You can hit up friends, and their friends, to let you sleep on their couch or floor or guest bed when you are in their area. There are also web sites where you can register to be hosted by other registrants when you visit. It's an ultra cheap way of traveling, but it also means that you probably don't get to sleep until everyone else does, that you will have little if any privacy, and if you don't like your accommodations, you have no options other than keeping quiet or leaving. I've slept on friends' couches, floors and guest beds, but my limit on such is two nights, both for their sake and mine. And I also make a point of taking the household out to dinner for putting me up.

• The Lonely Planet guidebook for whatever region or country I'm going to visit, as well as the Lonely Planet web site itself
  
• Google.com
  
• TravelAdvisor
  

If you have NEVER traveled outside the USA, then I would suggest your staying in a chain hotel, budget hotel or bed & breakfast on your first trip -- at least for the first two or three days. Then experiment for the rest of the trip. Don't give up on something because of a first-time bad experience.

And remember: if you don't feel safe, go somewhere where you will. If that means spending more money, then spend more money. Never compromise on your safety.

 
Also see:

general information and advice for novice traveling women from the USA

health & safety considerations and packing suggestions especially for women novice travelers.

the importance of complaining & complimenting.

my adventures in Germany.

my adventures in Europe, Africa, as well as road trips in the USA

links to resources to help women travelers

 
Disclaimer
Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use of information contained within this document.

A Broad Abroad | contact me