As with many Travelers’ Tales books, this one has an underlying theme: nature. Women in the Wild, edited by Lucy McCauley, is a collection of travel essays celebrating the powerful contribution of Mother Nature to the travel experience. Three stories in particular caught my eye:

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  A Desert Affair. Tehila Lieberman experiences the profound serenity of desert wilderness while camping with friends in the Sinai.


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  Up the Volcano. Lucy McCauley explores the slopes of Guatemala’s Mount Pacaya.


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  Among Chimpanzees. Renowned scientist Jane Goodall recalls her time in Gombe with the primates she loved, including a temperamental preteen named Frodo.

This title will likely appeal to those travelers who plan their journeys around locations in the natural world.

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This collection of family travel essays gives you a broad perspective of the reality of life on the road with the little ones. Edited by Laura Manske, the work includes various highlights:

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  Blessed, by Mary Morris. Details a wonderfully creative trip to China which ultimately resulted in the birth of her daughter.

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  Road Scholars, by James O’Reilly. A family of five tackles an eight thousand mile road trip throughout France with three young children, a VW van and absolutely no hotel reservations. Includes some hilarious anecdotes of bilingual development.

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  Through the Eyes of a Little Girl, by Frank Lidz. A pair of incredibly secure parents sets their travel agenda according to the educational whims of their two daughters.

Those interested in having a peek at family travel from parents of all types should find this title reasonably interesting.

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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.

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