Travel Savvy - Tips for Women

I'm in the midst of planning my next trip. This summer, I'll be in Europe for a wedding, and hope to steal away to spend some time in the South of France, Northern Spain and the UK. I've been to Europe several times before, and have always thought myself to be fortunate to have nothing but great memories and fabulous stories to tell. But on my more adventurous travels, there have certainly been moments when I didn't feel safe, and moments where, thankfully, my instincts kicked in, and I was able to remove myself before anything went awry. Unfortunately some women aren't so lucky. There are plenty of horror stories about women travelling abroad, meeting foul play, and it was all because they didn't take pre-cautions or listen to their gut instincts. It's not like you have to become a cop to feel safe and secure, but you do have to hone your instincts. Here are few helpful tips that helped me avoid uncomfortable situations, and keep safe.

Checking In - Hotel Safety

In light of the latest attack on a female tourist at a luxury resort in Mazatlan, hotel safety is crucial, and there are a number of things that we don't think about when we check into our room. It may be really annoying, but consider checking into a hotel room that is in close proximity to the elevator, so if you do happen to be coming home at a late hour, if there happens to be any unsavoury characters around the hallway that make you nervous, you can take advantage of a quick exit. Another thing to consider, is filling out the least amount of documentation possible while giving the least amount of information possible. When filling out registration forms, use your initials instead of using your whole name. And if you leave your hotel keys with the front desk, ensure the concierge puts the key away in a safe place, don't just leave your key on the counter. 

Cell Phones are Invaluable! 

No girl should leave home without it! You would be amazed at where you can get cell reception these days! Having a phone on you at all times, loaded with essential numbers and contacts that will help you in a pinch is so important. I can't tell you how many times I was caught up in situations like my bus breaking down in the middle of no where, and how useful my phone was. Pick yourself up an international cell before you head out on your next trip. And if for whatever reason you don't have time to pick up a phone, consider carrying something that looks like a cell phone. It can be a significant deterrent for anyone looking to cause trouble. 

Keep in Touch! 

Look, I know that vacations are meant to be an escape from a crazed work schedule, busy home life and unforgivable social schedule, and we all love that feeling of getting on a plane and leaving it all in the dust, but sometimes that can be unsafe. Designate at least two individuals to who will know when you're leaving, where you're going and when you're returning. That way, if you don't return on time, there will be a quick course of action. If you're going away for a long period of time, check in with friends and relatives every now and then via email to let them know you're enjoying yourself, and that you're safe. The planet is a big place, and the last thing you want is your loved ones worrying about you unnecessarily! 

Three of Our Favourite Travel Apps

Technology. You can love or hate it, but it is undeniable that it can make life a little more interesting. If you are a gadget geek like myself, the idea of circumnavigating the globe without a series of apps to manage, organize, and record the inner-workings of my trip would be like trying to board a plane without a ticket, impossible! Okay, I exaggerate slightly, but in all seriousness, there are thousands of travel apps out there, and some of them are so efficient, they practically take the vacation for you!

Tripit - This was the very first app I downloaded onto my Ipod Touch. The days of launching a full blown excavation into your bottomless purse to find anything, are over! It's all about virtual travel these days, save a forest or two, and get the mother of all travel apps. Tripit manages and links itineraries, hotel reservations, car reservations, travel insurance policies directly to your email account, and organizes it into one smooth itinerary. And as an added bonus, gone are the days of spending precious hours waiting on hold to confirm your flight time, any flight delays, changes and updates are all sent directly to your Iphone or Itouch automatically.

Jetsetter. Who doesn't love exclusive, member-only anything! I am in love with this app. There are sites popping up all over the web that cater to the savvy traveler demanding luxury at rock bottom prices. Jetsetter only features the most chic, most unique, and wonderfully exquisite properties all over the world. The properties are hand selected by a team of upmarket travel professionals, and their flash sales are epic! If you need a break from your humble bungalow on the beach, why not spend a night or two in a tree house, or overlooking the Mediterranean in a gorgeous villa! Membership is free! 

Kayak. Expedia is so last decade! Kayak is the new ultimate flight search tool. It searches every airline in the world, and pulls fares up from all of the world's major search engines including sites like priceline, expedia and orbitz. It provides every type of flight option, as well as multi-airline options. It also does a great job of pulling up hotel and car availability, but I'd use it more for reference than to book hotels and cars, there are plenty of other websites out there that are better for that.

Vegas Baby! Fun Under 21

The holidays feel a million years behind you, and you've been in school not two weeks and you're already starting to daydream about a weekend of excitement and fun. Unfortunately, the bank account is looking a little empty. Well, you might just have lady luck on your side, because there is no city destination hotter or more affordable right now than, Las Vegas. Big budget hotels and casinos are practically giving away rooms at rates so low, it will seem more expensive to stay home! So c'mon, would you rather stay home learning about the history of forensic science or would you rather have the CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand for the weekend?

Vegas is famous for everything, a city of extremes, and though life on the strip is geared towards the more adult crowd, it doesn't mean if you're 18-20 you can't have a great time. Here are a few ways you, the under 21 crowd can let loose in the city of sin!

Woo Me! While it is true that for the most part, Vegas nightlife  is geared toward the very adult crowd, there are a couple of hot spots in town that welcome the young and impressionable. The Joint at Hard Rock Cafe regularly welcomes the hottest acts in the biz with several all-age admission shows on offer. The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay is another great venue offering a lounge-like atmosphere to be enjoyed by all ages.

Entertain me!  Vegas life isn't all about the black jack tables! You have your whole life to gamble your savings away, go see a show! There is an ongoing parade of some of the best entertainment on earth stomping through Vegas at all times. Blue Man Group is heart stopping and hilarious, Cirque du Soleil is exquisite and no matter how cool you think you are, you haven't seen cool until you've experienced Cirque!  If you you're looking for some laughs, try out an improv show at Harrahs or Sin City Comedy. If you're after something a little more adult then there are a few options for you. Ladies, let your eyes do the talking at a Chippendale show, and for the young gents, check out gorgeous showgirls at Bally's.


Excite me! For all you adrenaline junkies, ride the coaster around New York New York, try the skyjump at Stratosphere, or try your hand at indoor sky diving. Take a breathtaking helicopter ride over the Vegas strip, or hop a tour to the Grand Canyon, the options are endless, so check out what's hot off the strip!

Dress me! There's no age restriction on shoppin' 'til you drop! And oh baby, welcome to shopping heaven. Pay a visit to the Forum Shops at Ceasar's Place, the Grande Canal Shoppes in the Venetian and if you're a true bargain hunter, try the Las Vegas Outlet Centre where you can find high end designers at clearance prices. No matter how you slice it, Vegas has become an all ages destination, and the perfect getaway for college students on a budget. 

Am I Insured for That?

It's Spring Break, and you and your friends have been looking forward to a sun-kissed week in  the Mayan Riviera all semester. You and the pals have spent countless evenings together sipping sangria, pouring over endless piles of brochures, feeling inundated with glossy pages of warm turquoise waters and cocktail-sipping vacationers.

There have been a million emails back and forth between the pals, and your poor travel agent who's getting paid a pittance to change and re-book you into a million different all-inclusive's because Shannon wants a resort with a swim-up bar, Kate wants to ensure where you all stay has an in-room mini-bar, and Lisa is hell-bent on a spot with a minimum of seven international restaurants in case she gets sick of the local food.

You've made several trips to your local travel shop, purchased a stack of travel guides, and you've thoroughly researched all the local attractions. This may be Spring Break, but you're not interested in spending the entire week blitzed out of your mind, you want to see the sights. You've done all this work, but somethings missing. What happens if when you're in paradise, there's an accident, or you come down with some really strange illness and you're thousands of miles from home? If you're willing to spend thousands on your hard-earned cash to be away, than you owe it to yourself to make sure you make it home in one piece.

If you have done it already, then you need to finish reading this article quickly, and start researching travel insurance. Remember how much time you invested before attending the University of Phoenix? Don't you think your health and well being is at least worth as much, if not more, than your education? Of course! For a few dollars a day, you can protect yourself from a lifetime of financial ruin. So many young students scoff at the idea of travel insurance: "Insurance is for old people, I never get sick!" Oh really? And what will you do when you contract the flu, have to spend three nights in hospital and your medical bills are a staggering $85,000 to be treated in a foreign hospital? Get real! It's unlikely that either you or your family have that kind of dough! For mere dollars a day in some cases, you can purchase a travel insurance policy that will give you piece of mind when disaster strikes. Whether you want to dash across the border for a quick shop or you're about to embark on a year long trip around the globe, don't be a dunce, protect your most valued asset, your life.