Three weeks ago I found myself crying in a bathroom stall at Boston Logan airport. In my hand was a passport and a ticket to Tel Aviv. I wasn’t fleeing…
Don’t Let Media Stereotypes Stop You from Traveling; Or, How I Found Love on a Layover in Mexico City
In early 2017, I began to look for flights to Colombia to visit a friend. From Toronto, you can grab a relatively short, direct flight to Bogota. But I noticed…
The Wanderful Woman’s Guide to Visiting India
Wanderful members are always asking us — and each other — about different travel destinations around the world. If you’re a member of our Wanderful Women Who Travel Facebook Group,…
How France (and French Food) Helped Me Work Through My Eating Disorder
When I see the word “France,” I am immediately transported to the Seine, strolling by the Eiffel Tower, biting into a warm, crispy baguette. I know I’m not alone. After…
This Woman is Hitchhiking Her Way Solo Around the Entire Globe
When the waitress crushed the fish’s head open with a spoon, Kristin Addis thought she’d have to politely eat brains. Rather, the Chinese woman dug out a sword-shaped bone, cleaned…
Visiting a Mosque Embarrassed Me, but Not for the Reason You Might Think
I step into Sultan Ahmet Mosque, head covered, shirt sleeves and pant legs the required length for my gender, just one more tourist visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and…
Is Solo Travel to Cuba Safe for Women?
I daydreamed of traveling to Cuba for as long as I could remember. It solidified while studying the Cold War and President Kennedy as a history major in college. I’d…
Is Dubai a Woman Traveler’s Paradise?
When I first accepted an offer to teach in Dubai, I had a million and one questions. Is it safe? Will I have to dress modestly? How are women treated?…
Travel Crushed My Self-Esteem Before It Ever Taught Me Self-Love
“Hola! Hey! Hey! I love you!” I didn’t even bother turning around to acknowledge the comment. Though my friend and I had only walked a short distance from our house,…
House Sitting Is Travel’s Best Known but Least Used Secret
Have you ever tried house sitting? I use house sitting to help avoid smashing through my budget on accommodation and — let me tell you — if you like pets…
Why Every Woman Needs to Travel Solo to Japan
I discovered a beautiful irony while traveling alone through Japan in late 2015. Despite the country’s reputation for innovation, robots, and the latest in everything high-tech, it’s the perfect place…
How (And Why) to Learn Language Basics for Travel
As the airplane descends into Istanbul, I suddenly realize I don’t know a single word of Turkish. Not even the basics. Nope, really. I know nothing. I can’t say “hello,”…
6 Things Every Black Woman Needs to Know Before Going Abroad
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that traveling abroad is a wonderful experience that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy. But for black travelers, going to countries with…
Traveling with Kids Might Be Better Than Traveling Solo
The night I announced that I was moving to a rural village in India to volunteer at an orphanage, emotions ran high in my household. I was 22 years old…
How to Travel Solo Again After Being Sexually Assaulted
By the age of 19, I was well-traveled. A Navy brat, I had lived in many towns along the coastline of the Eastern United States, vacationed in Jamaica, and spent…