Tips for Traveling Women Over 50
How to Look Good and Travel Smart As a Mature Woman Traveler
Jul 11, 2009
Here are a few tips for adventurous mature traveling women on looking good, making connections, staying safe and making memories to treasure and share after the trip is over.
Choosing a Travel Wardrobe
Unless they are very fit, most mature women look best in longer pants or conservative skirts. Short pants such as capris emphasize figure flaws and look best on the very young or thin. The most polished look for travel is long pants, which make anyone look taller and leaner. This style will also be more welcome in European cities, where dress is more conservative. Pack dark colors, which are more sophisticated and can bridge most seasons. Except for beach vacations, women over 50 should pack business casual clothes, including at least one stylish jacket, and one or two dresses for evening. Most Europeans dress up more than Americans when they go to a restaurant. In France, guard against anything shapeless or dowdy. Subtle sexiness is in. Travelers who fit in wear clothes cut a little closer to the body, and use accessories such as scarves and belts. In Italy, it is critical to present a "bella figura" or beautiful image when out and about, so travelers should check the mirror before stepping out so they will be well-accepted by the locals. In parts of Germany, flowered fabrics are considered dowdy, so it's best to stick to solid colors.
Savoring the Travel Experience and Making Memories On The Road
Taking a notebook can lead to a richer experience. It is good for writing impressions and questions to ask, and will bring back detailed memories after getting home. It is also a good prop if one is dining alone. If sketching is of interest, draw while on the road, it is often a good way to meet people, who will come over to see how the image is going. It hardly matters how good the drawing is. Simply trying to sketch can make a traveler more aware of details. Another clue to having a satisfying trip is to set out with a goal, perhaps learning more of the local language, finding a special recipe, or trying an activity or food totally unfamiliar. Taking a cooking class, learning folk dancing or kayaking for the first time are good options. Write personal responses immediately in the notebook to share later will help jog the memory. In many European cultures mature women can expect to be treated with special dignity and respect. Often locals will look out for their safety.
Connecting with Others and Finding New Friends on a Trip
It's a good idea to plan to hook up with young people for part of a trip. Meeting a young person in a hostel or a park may lead to a day shared together in museums or at the beach. For tips on meeting others in women-friendly lodgings, check out the suggestions at JourneyWoman.
Before leaving home, a woman planning to travel alone might arrange for a homestay for every third or fourth day of the trip to ward off loneliness. The homey atmosphere will add to comfort and provide an easy way to make new friends, with the host couple. Another good way to meet others safely is to stay on the Club Floor or Executive Floor of a 5-star hotel, if the budget allows. The upscale lounge on this private level floor is a comfortable and safe place to meet other travelers. Although the rooms on this floor cost more, the benefits include food available throughout the day, from free breakfast, to tea sweets and sandwiches in the afternoon, and wine, cocktails and canapes later. A club hostess can also advise of places to go that are safe, and suggest how to get there. Find other women to meet or travel with via travel web sites such as Thelma and Louise.
Planning for Safety and Preventing Losses While Traveling
Don't wear obvious jewelry, even costume pieces, as many thieves can't tell the difference and may take it anyway. Take a small S hook, found in any hardware store, and carry it in your purse. When visiting the ladies' room in places where there is no hook for a purse, the S hook will make it possible to keep a purse off the floor. Just hang it on top of the next toilet cubicle divider, not on the front door, where a thief could reach over and take it. Invest in a purse from a travel gear company with a strap that is reinforced with metal so no one can slit the strap and make off with it on the street.
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