Wanderess: The Unearth Women Guide to Traveling Smart, Safe, and Solo

by Nikki Vargas, Elise Fitzsimmons

Overview

Feminism meets travel in this interactive resource for women who love to travel the world, near and far—from the co-founders of Unearth Women, a print and digital women’s travel magazine that’s been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and Good Morning America.

Wanderess features expert tips from leading women in the travel industry. You’ll find everything you need to experience life-changing adventures, both near and far. And because travel is not a one-size-fits-all experience, our experts offer helpful advice for specific travelers, whether you’re a woman of color, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or an expecting or new mom.
 
Open this book to . . .
• Discover your specific travel style
• Build your destinations wish list
• Find volunteer opportunities abroad
• Get expert tips on travel hacking
• Use helpful checklists, from trip planning to packing
• Learn how to travel solo
• Write your own feminist city guide
• And so much more!

Featuring advice and wisdom from experienced and well-respected travel experts and influencers including Annika Ziehen, Oneika Raymond, Brooke Saward, Kelly Lewis, Dani Heinrich, Esme Benjamin, Beth Santos, Jessica Nabongo, and Evita Robinson, Wanderess will inspire you to travel in a way that’s smarter, safer, and smoother, all while supporting local women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593138502
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Nikki Vargas is the founding editor and co-founder of Unearth Women. Originally from Colombia, Nikki is a New York City–based journalist and editor. Previously, she worked as an editor at The Infatuation, Atlas Obscura, and Culture Trip. Nikki has appeared on CNN and Good Morning America and has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue Spain, and Travel + Leisure for her work with Unearth Women. In addition, Nikki has spoken at the Women’s Travel Fest, Women in Travel Summit, and the New York Times Travel Show as an expert on women’s travel. When not traveling, Nikki can be found living in NYC with her partner, Jeff Cerulli, and their tabby cat, Peeps, and dog, Chico.
 
Elise Fitzsimmons is Unearth Women’s co-founder and cares deeply about the representation of women around the world. Elise and her work with Unearth Women have been featured in Travel + Leisure, Washington Post, Good Morning America, Cheddar TV, and more. Elise lives semi-nomadically. When she is not practicing yoga, editing podcasts, or learning about deep space, she can most often be spotted arm-in-arm with new friends discovering hole-in-the-wall eateries.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction

From traveling as a woman of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community to your first time solo traveling abroad or flying while pregnant, there is no one-size-fits-all style when it comes to women’s travel. That’s where we come in! This book is full of expert travel tips pulled from the experiences of Brooke Saward, Oneika Raymond, Kelly Lewis, Annika Ziehen, Dani Heinrich, Esme Benjamin, and us—Nikki Vargas and Elise Fitzsimmons.

Here you’ll find inspiration for your next trip, tips that address the nuances of traveling as a woman today, a quiz to help you choose your next destination, packing checklists, and even a worksheet to help you build your very own Feminist City Guide.

You may be wondering who exactly we are and what the heck a Feminist City Guide is. Well, we are the founders of Unearth Women, a print and digital travel magazine dedicated to lifting women’s voices, sharing travel stories, and pointing travelers in the direction of women- and BIPOC-owned businesses around the world. We like to say that our publication is a place where feminism meets travel. Of course, we have been asked what exactly that means, so here’s how we think of it: While everyone has the ability to support feminism, we believe that travelers are uniquely positioned to both support women and spotlight their stories around the globe.

This is where our Feminist City Guides come in. Our guides encourage travelers to discover a destination through the lens of supporting its female entrepreneurs and honoring the women who have helped shape it. By the time you finish reading this book, you’ll have your very own Feminist City Guide and you’ll be able to navigate the world confidentl

With the help of our expert contributors, we will explore everything from staying safe abroad to navigating periods, pregnancy, and menopause during your adventures. And while this book is largely focused on the female travel experience, anyone with a passion for seeing the world will find invaluable information within these pages. Whether you’re keen to volunteer at a sanctuary in Thailand or have discovered a newfound love for scuba diving, Wanderess has a little something for everyone.

Our hope is that this book becomes a beloved travel companion for you; that its pages will hold sand from far-flung beaches in Bali and pressed flowers from fields in Tuscany; and its margins will be full of scribbled notes and memories. Wherever your journey takes you, we want to help you travel better and smarter, and honor the impact women have on society—for truly, SHEroes can be found anywhere.

Nikki Vargas 
Founding Editor and Cofounder, Unearth Women

&

Elise Fitzsimmons
Publisher and Cofounder, Unearth Women

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

Define Your Travel Style 11

What Is Your Travel Style? 12

Getting Ready for Your Next Trip 34

What to Know Before You Go 36

Travel Hacking 101 40

How to Save on Airfare 40

How to Pack Like a Pro 45

Expert Packing Tips 45

How to Travel with One Bag 48

Ransportation Essentials 51

Before You Board the Plane 55

Safe and Sane 60

Staying Safe While Traveling 62

Managing Anxiety While Traveling 74

Practicing Safe Sex Abroad 82

In Case of an Emergency 84

Traveling as a Modern Woman 90

Travelers of Color 92

LGBTQIA+ Travelers 97

Pregnant and Mommy Travelers 103

Traveling During Your Period 110

Traveling with Menopause 111

Going Solo 114

What to Expect When Solo Traveling 116

Expert Tips for Solo Female Travelers 118

How to Make a Positive Impact Abroad 132

Let's Talk About Sustainable Travel 134

Being a Responsible Traveler 138

How You Can Support Women While Traveling 141

What to Know Before You Volunteer Abroad 144

How to Avoid Volunteer Scams 146

Volunteering with Animals 150

Bringing Home a Fur Baby 154

Building Your Own Feminist City Guide 158

See, Do, Go 160

Itinerary 163

Notes: Quick Reference 169

Feminist Travel Treasure Hunt 172

Essential Travel Resources 174

Women-Only Tour Operators 177

Resources for Connecting with Local Women 178

Resources for Travelers of Color 180

Resources for LGBTQIA+ Travelers 181

Volunteer Resources 182

Acknowledgments 184

About the Contributors 187

Editorial Reviews

This guide, at the intersection of feminism and travel, is a comprehensive resource which also includes advice for specific communities: women of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and expecting or new mums.”—Refinery29

“Whether you’re going it alone for the first time or planning a girls’ trip, the editors from Unearth Women have assembled in this colorful book all the resources, hacks and advice you could ask for, including tips for traveling while pregnant and specific recommendations for women of color and travelers who are trans, lesbian or queer.”—BookPage

From the Publisher