6 Reasons Why Traveling with Women Is a Unique Experience

Kelsey Perri recently returned from a Road Scholar women-only program in Québec City, and she’s full of appreciation for the special atmosphere created by traveling with other women. In a recent interview, she shared her experiences and the lessons she learned.

As a proud graduate of Saint Mary’s College and its study abroad program, Kelsey knows what it’s like to learn and travel among a community of women. She never expected to attend a women’s college, but she found herself there and was grateful for the opportunities that community provided. She’s lucky to have experienced that special magic again in Québec City, exploring the city with a group of women who were just as interesting, including her mom!

So, what makes traveling and learning with a community of women so special? Let’s explore six reasons.

1. Nobody Is Left Out

When you travel on a women-only program, you’re all but guaranteed not to be the only solo traveler. In Kelsey’s group, aside from her mom and herself, one pair of friends and two sisters were the only ones not solo travelers. Many of the women were first-timers, and some were married, divorced, widowed, or never married. A few chose to be matched with roommates and had great experiences. On a free day, everyone made sure everyone else was included in plans to go out for crepes, chocolate, and people-watching. Nobody was left out.

2. Free to Be Ourselves

One of Kelsey’s favorite things about traveling with a community of women is the immediate and natural sense of belonging. There’s a special sense of comfort in opening up, being ourselves, and sharing our unique talents, characteristics, and past experiences.

Kelsey’s Québec City adventure felt like therapy! We could commiserate over common peeves and laugh in a way that was good for our souls. At breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we shared deep conversations and light ones alike. With just women around, we could lean into subjects that might have bored our male partners or made them feel uncomfortable. We talked about motherhood, menopause, and mystery novels. We shared about skincare and gray hair. We gushed about our kids and grandkids, compared the comfort of our footwear, and complimented each other on our rain gear. We consoled each other, we were inspired by each other, and we learned from each other.

3. Ease of Making Friends

Women are social beings. Because we talked so much and opened up so easily, bonds formed fast and strong. Though only two arrived as siblings on Monday, by Saturday, we were all sisters. In the weeks immediately following the trip, two participants met up halfway between their homes in Delaware and Pennsylvania for lunch, and a Michigander and Kelsey had lunch when she passed through Rhode Island on a road trip. They have a Facebook chat group where they share photos and continue to talk and stay in touch. And six of the women enrolled together in a women-only trip to Portugal!

4. Women Look Out for Each Other

The intuition of these women and their care for each other created a special feeling of security in the program. When one of us stumbled on the sidewalk, those around her were quick to help her up and were checking on her throughout the day to make sure she was okay. When one of us felt tired out and decided to take a morning off, the rest of us noticed, inquired about her, and welcomed her back with enthusiasm when she rejoined at lunch.

When any one of us seemed to be struggling on the hilly Québec terrain, the rest of us noticed and adjusted our pace. By the end of the week, we were moving like a school of fish, together as one, and everyone felt well taken care of and looked out for.

5. Empowerment

There’s a special culture of support that happens in a community of women traveling or learning together. The feeling of “Girl Power” was strong within the group. We encouraged each other as we took on the hills of Québec, and we found inspiration in each other’s stories of independence – like the woman who embarked on a new business in her 60s. We felt proud of ourselves because our new friends had complimented us, championed us, and cheered us on. We found inspiration in each other’s power. It became contagious, and we took it home with us like a souvenir.

6. HERstory

Kelsey found that they learned more about women’s history in this program. Or maybe it was just that those stories landed differently than they would have if they hadn’t been a group of all women. When the docents and local experts saw that they were a group of women, they pointed out particular historical details that they thought might be relevant. They asked questions about the female prisoners at the 19th-century prison and the “King’s Daughters” who populated Québec. Hearing that women in Québec couldn’t vote until 1940 hit deeper. They felt a greater kinship with the girls educated at the Ursuline school. Their historical interpreter at Montmorency Falls even showed them her petticoat and corset – something she only felt comfortable teaching them about because they were a group of women.

Throughout the week, not only did they learn from and find inspiration in each other’s stories, but they also learned from and found inspiration in the stories of the generations of Québecois women!

Kelsey has experienced many of these magical elements in other travels – the inclusivity, sense of belonging, and fast and deep friendships formed. But she truly believes those qualities were present on an even deeper level on this trip because they experienced it with a group of women. She hopes every woman has the chance to experience the special magic that occurs when you travel with other women!

Road Scholar offers nearly 30 educational travel adventures just for women. See the collection.