Women Traveler

Women travel for countless reasons, whether to discover new frontiers, pursue business opportunities, or simply to rest and relax - not unlike men. But when it comes to health and security, and how travelers are affected by the religious and cultural beliefs of the foreign countries they visit, there's a huge difference between women and men. The truth is that women face greater obstacles, especially when travelling alone. With careful planning, common sense, and respect for religious and societal differences, you can minimize your risks and maximize your chances of having a safe and successful trip.
 

Why Women Traveler?

The more you know about where you're going, the safer and happier your travels will be. Before you leave, be sure to complete a risk assessment of any country you're thinking of visiting. It will help you to choose a destination where you'll feel safe and in your comfort zone. If you doubt you can put up with the challenges and hazards of a particular country, strike it off your list. Careful preparation is your key to safe and successful travel. By planning ahead, you'll avoid hassles later. Always travel light, if possible, to protect yourself against loss or theft of money and valuables. You'll be much less vulnerable and more independent if you're not weighed down with a lot of luggage. There's potential for sexual assault anywhere in the world. Taking precautions is your best defence against becoming a victim.

Travelling solo has its benefits. You get to set your own pace, have more direct contact with foreign cultures, and meet new friends more easily. But a lone female traveler may also face unwanted attention or overwhelming obstacles in some parts of the world. For example, in countries that employ a strict interpretation of Sharia law, women may not be allowed to drive cars, travel alone, or even go out in public without a male relative or a group of other women. If you travel alone, you may want to choose countries with a more relaxed attitude towards solo female travellers, where you'll face fewer challenges. Otherwise, you may wish to team up with a travel companion - there's safety in numbers.

Finding safe accommodations is one of a woman traveller's primary goals.

Travel on Net

Travel sites have been the largest contributors to online traffic in June 2012, according to comScore. In its monthly analysis of US web activity, the digital measurement company found that ground and cruise travel sites ranked as the top gaining category, growing by 9 percent to 14 million visitors since the previous comparable month.

Amtrak.com took the leading spot in the category with 2.7 million visitors - an increase of 7 percent. This was followed by bus and train company FirstGroup which grew by 22 percent to 2 million visitors. Carnival Cruise Lines followed with nearly 2 million visitors and a rise of 6 percent.

Hotel and Resort sites also scored among the top-gaining traffic categories in June, growing 8 percent to more than 37 million visitors. Hilton Hotels came in first place with 5.5 million visitors, while Marriott was second with 5.4 million visitors.

"June got off to a strong start with significant traffic gains seen at travel and retail sites as Americans readied their free time for the long-awaited summer months," noted Jeff Hackett, executive vice president of comScore, in a press release.

As June's data is revealed, comScore has also expanded its display ad ecosystem reporting. The move is aimed at providing "additional granularity" in the classification of ad publishers, networks and other platforms that comprise the sector, said the company.

With increased awareness, thorough preparation, and a measure of caution, you can travel almost anywhere bravely and responsibly.

79 million people in the United States used the Internet when making travel plans, according to the Travel Industry Association, based in Washington, D.C. The "big three" of online travel planning-- Orbitz, which was launched in 2001 by a consortium of commercial airlines and later purchased by Cendant, Expedia which was founded within Microsoft (nasdaq: in 1995; and Travelocity--are used by 28% of North Americans who book leisure travel. They have been joined by a number of other options; there are now more ways to plan and book your next vacation or business trip online than ever before. And travelers are taking advantage of all of them.

"Travelers are on the leading edge of technology adoption," says Henry Harteveldt, a vice president at Forrester Research, a technology market-research company in Cambridge, Mass. "They adopt trends before the mainstream, are better educated and have more disposable income. They are picky people. Having control over making travel arrangements is very important, and the Web plays well into that."

According to Harteveldt, online leisure travel is the largest e-commerce category, and in the U.S. it is projected to generate $74.4 million in sales in 2006, an increase of almost 17% over the $63.6 billion spent in 2005. By 2009, Forrester Research predicts, online travel spending in the U.S. will rise to $110.5 billion.

Overseas, online travel planning is picking up steam even faster than it is in the U.S. Spending on online travel in the U.K. and Western Europe will rise about 42% to €30.7 billion in 2006, or about $36.8 billion, Harteveldt says. By the end of the decade that number will approach €50 billion, or about $60 billion.