By Shiela Swan and Peter Laufer

Published by Travelers’ Tales, this book would actually be of assistance to male and female travelers alike. In addition to the numerous tips and ideas for staying safe from the authors, the title also includes anecdotes and additional advise from other traveling professionals. Some specific suggestions you’ll find in this work:

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  Consider booking a decent hotel in advance, at least for your first night. It might be a bit more expensive, but this will give you a chance to get adjusted and familiar with your surroundings before deciding which of the less expensive establishments still meet your safety and amenity requirements.


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  Observing local women closely to get a sense of expectations and cultural norms.


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  Packing light isn’t just for convenience and saving on baggage fees. It’s also a security issue. For example, having to require assistance with heavy bags can leave you distracted and vulnerable to certain scams. It’s also difficult to exit a cab quickly to avoid sexual harassment or worse if your bags are locked in the trunk.

There are so many advice books on this topic, I was unsure if another one could offer me anything useful. While it’s true that several of the tips were already known to me, there were some fresh tips as well. Besides, it’s always helpful to brush up on the basics. Women looking for an overall security briefing prior to their first trip will find this book useful, as well as those interested in collecting any fresh tips they can.

Photo Credit: Travelers’ Tales

Travelers’ Tales has collected over thirty unique tales from around the world in their 2009 edition of The Best Women’s Travel Writing, edited by Lucy McCauley. Three samples of note?

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  Where the Roads Diverged. Catherine Watson recalls a magical trip to Ecuador when she hears two other tourists reminiscing about Easter Island.


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  Al Ajnabiya. Stephanie Chaban’s trip to Jordan introduces her to the regional womanly arts of sugar and thread based hair removal. Ah, memories . . .


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  A Station on the Way. Bonnie Bruinsslot finds temporary solace for the loss of her son in the arms of a body guard for the pope.

These works are a mere sampling of the titles included. Those enamored with women’s travel writing from around the world will find this title a decent read.

Photo Credit: Travelers’ Tales

Travelers’ Tales – Edited by Jennifer L. Leo

In another Travelers’ Tales compilation of stories for women, Jennifer Leo has put together an absolutely hilarious collection of stories from ladies on the road. Ready for a peek at some of the highlights?

• The Princess and the Pee – As a woman who frequently has her own bathroom related meltdowns on the road (and drags her husband along for the ride), I found this piece by Julie Eisenberg particularly chuckle worthy.


• My Husband Is Lost Without Me – Anastasia Ashman’s characterization of the GPS unit as “the other woman” was too funny for words. Any wife who’s ever gone through the “directions” thing with her husband should find this a true gut buster.


• Mein Gott, I’ve Fried His Underpants  – Anyone who’s ever experienced house guest trauma will appreciate this piece, set in idyllic Switzerland.

Also of note was Jennifer Cox’s Hot Date With a Yogi. All in all, a worthy read for those missing the adventure and daily hilarity of life on the travel circuit.

Photo Credit: Travelers’ Tales