Archive for Women’s Tours
Travel Guide to Tuscany 16 Oct 2014
The hills are alive….in Tuscany! The rolling hills, vineyards, and olive orchards are only some of the highlights of our women-only tour to this side of Italy. The Tuscan lifestyle can be experienced with your best girlfriends if you go on this very special tour created just for you.
Discover the heart of Italy and explore the hidden regions of the region. Taste the world-renowned Chianti and Brunello wines and enjoy the regional authentic cuisines as part of the special tour.
If you want a more relaxed travel, then a trip to the Tuscany countryside would be perfent. Life is quiet and tranquil in the forested area of Chianti. See for yourself the endless views and beautiful vineyards.
To complete the experience, you’d be staying in a quaint, lovely farmhouse located at the Podere Ciona Vineyard. It will be your home for three nights. The hosts will be gracious to teach you how to cook the famous regional dishes in a cozy country kitchen.
For several days, you will travel to the nearby villages that are as picturesque as the rest of the country. A visit to the magnificent medieval city of Siena will also be part of this women-only trip.
To experience nature, you’ll venture south of Tuscany where a natural hot spring can be found. It’s situated in a small village of Bagno Vignoni. It will be another adventure you don’t want to miss. Enjoy another luxurious day at the Adler Spa Report where excellent fitness, relaxation, and spa services are offered.
MOVING AROUND TUSCANY
You can rent a car to go around town but it is more convenient to use the train as the stations are strategically placed. It’s quite affordable too so there really is no need to worry about gasoline and rental car rates.
WEATHER IN TUSCANY
Climate in Tuscany is mild. Summers are usually hotter in the valley and the coast compared to the mountains and the hills. The best months to visit Tuscany are April, May, October, and November. It’s sunny most of the time with occasional rainy days. During winter, nights can be cold but sunny during the day.
Here are some more places you can visit in Tuscany:
WINERIES. Visit any tourist-friendly wineries so you can meet the makers and get to taste wine in the region.
TOWNS. The towns of Siena, Lucca, Cortona, and San Gimignano are all enthralling and enchanting.
CHURCHS. The churches in Tuscany are considered iconic. You may start touring the Basilico di San Franceso in Arezzo.
SHOPS. Shopping in Tuscany will be fun. Check out the handmade paper products, gold, and leather goods. Shopaholics will love this town.
Gateway Destinations can customize a women-only tour for you and your girlfriends. Your tour will begin and end in beautiful Florence. If you’re interested to visit Tuscany, contact Gateway Destinations.
Learn more about our Chianti Cooking & Tuscany Spa Retreat Package HERE.
10 Travel Tips to Peru 09 Oct 2014
Peru may not be the most popular destination for travelers but it is highly-recommended for women-only groups. What better way to learn the interesting life and work of the Peruvian women than with your girlfriends?
Gateway Destinations offers a customized tour package that lets you discover the mystical beauty of modern Peru.E xplore the Sacred Valley with Peru’s top historian as your tour guide. By visiting a private visit to the largest private colonial art collection in Latin America, you can learn about colonial history.
You can also learn more about art safari by going to a vibrant mountaintop city of Cuzco. And to learn the modern Peruvian women’s role in the society, visit a weaving project and a community agricultural site.
Our Peru In All Its Splendor women-only tour will be a 9-day journey that lets you discover art, beauty, and food in this South American country. It’s a trip worth taking as it is filled with many adventures. It’s not only fun, it’s also educational.
Traveling to Peru anytime soon? Here are some tips:
1. Take care of your migration card. An Andean Migration Card will be handed to you at the airport. It is imperative that you don’t lose it. Bring it with you everywhere because you’ll need the card especially when you check into hotels.
2. Hold onto your bag. Watch you bag and other belongings very carefully. It’s relatively safe in Peru but it’s best to be careful. You don’t know when pickpockets and thieves will strike.
3. Always bring wet wipes, tissues, and hand sanitizer with you. It’s best to be prepared and hygienic at all times.
4. Haggle. When shopping, it’s okay to haggle. Don’t pay more for stuff you usually find in your country. Check the quality. If you like the product, negotiate the price.
5. Most establishments accept soles or US dollars. It’s okay if you only have dollars with you because people will accept the American currency in Peru.
6. Wear sunscreen. Because the sun is intense in Peru, make sure you wear sunblock or sunscreen all the time. Even if it is cloudy, put on skin protection.
7. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear. It’s warm in Peru so wear light clothes and flip flops if possible. However, there will be a lot of walking so comfortable rubber shoes or sneakers are also recommended.
8. Choose street food vendors that have a lot of crowd. If you get hungry, there are street foods to choose form. Search for a crowd or those dining areas that have a lot of people so you know food is clean.
9. Always carry coins. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Peru but it’s best to have coins to pay for public restroom access or pay food street vendors.
10. Hot water is a luxury in Peru. Sorry, but you may have to shower with cold water while on tour.
More details about our Peru Tour Package HERE.
5 Travel Tips to India 02 Oct 2014
One of the most popular destinations for women who want to travel in Asia is India. It’s one of the best places to visit because of its marvelous sights and very rich history. Our “India Unveiled” is a Women-only Tour that is highly recommended for ladies who want to bond with a friend, sister, daughter, or mother.
This customized India trip will last for 13 days. Almost two weeks of adventure in India to discover hidden treasures in the country. From a woman’s perspective, India will be discovered and explored with peace of mind.
Travel with your girlfriends to India. You will have a blast learning about the history of Delhi by visiting popular sights and participating in a unique culinary experience in a local Indian family home. Discover the beauty of Taj Mahal and take a photo while in front of it as souvenir. To cap off your day, maybe go on a thrilling elephant ride in Amber Fort.
If you’ve decided to go an our India Unveiled Women-only Tour, here are some tips you need to remember:
1. PLAN AHEAD
Just like every trip, you need to plan this trip to India very well. Plan how you want the trip to turn out. Research on the tourist spots, activities, and prepare your itinerary. It is important that you read about India ahead of time. Check online for more tips and recommendations.
2. BE COMFORTABLE
Wear comfortable clothes and bring a good pair of walking shoes and sandals. There will be a lot of walking while in India. If possible, wear cotton underwear and clothes because it will be warm most of the time in the country. To blend in with the crowd, you can also buy the traditional Indian suit (salwar kameez). The outfit is best for the climate in India so you are guaranteed to be comfortable all day.
3. AVOID THE CROWDS
There will be a lot of locals and travelers visiting the top tourist destinations in India. Avoid the crowds and choose to go on quite places if possible. After all, this should be a relaxing and memorable trip for you and your girlfriends.
4. STAY HEALTHY
Never drink tap water while in India or eat food that may have been washed in it. Don’t take ice or eat fruits and veggies you didn’t wash yourself. It is recommended that you eat at restaurants that are packed with locals and tourists.
5. STAY CLEAN
Always bring a pack of tissues and hand sanitizer with you. Keep yourself clean and fresh all the time. If possible, also bring soap with you so you can wash your hands properly wherever and whenever you need.
You can still book at trip to India with your girlfriends. Our upcoming adventure in Delhi is this October 13 to 26, 2015. More details HERE.
Girlfriend Getaway: Yoga Tour in Costa Rica 25 Sep 2014
Yoga is fast becoming a popular fitness activity among women. It’s a combination of mental, physical, and spiritual disciplines and practices that aim to improve the body and mind. Its known origins were the Indians and Buddhists who practiced yoga by combining the body and mind. The word ‘yoga’ means “yoking together”—joining together of the mind and body.
There are many variations of yoga: anusara, ashtanga, hatha, iyengar, jivamukti, kripalu, kundalini, sivananda, viniyoga, yin, bikram, power, prenatal, and restorative. It’s a long list but the most popular is bikram yoga which is a favorite of women because of its weight loss benefits.
Yoga practice is strength building and calorie burning that is why women do it. And what better way to do this fitness activity than with your girlfriends. Check out the yoga studios in your community and you’ll see why women, together with their girlfriends, are crazy about it.
People say yoga has decreased their stress, helped them lose weight, and reduced hip and back pain. There are many good reviews about it so a lot of women regard yoga as life changing.
If you want to try yoga, you can simply go to a yoga studio and sign up for classes. But for the more adventurous ones, why not go on a yoga trip with your girlfriends? Go on a yoga travel with your favorite girls to a different country.
The Ultimate Yoga Bliss in Costa Rica is one of Gateway Destinations’ many custom women-only tours. We’ve partnered with Kim Bowen, founder of Prosper Wellness. Kim is a yoga instructor and a Stress Reduction Specialist, inspirational speaker, and founder of a local yoga based wellness company in Arizona.
Gateway Destinations and Kim Bowen have planned a special Costa Rican getaway designed to reduce the tensions of everyday life. During this trip, aim to rediscover yourself as you release stress, improve mood and the mind, and increase awareness of the body.
During a Costa Rican yoga bliss trip, the women on tour will practice daily yoga, east healthy gourmet food, focus on tapping inner energy, and relax on the sand while meditating to the sound of the ocean or swimming in the infitiy pool. Relax and revitalize by discovering a new you.
Here are a few things you can expect from this Ultimate Yoga Bliss in Costa Rica Trip:
- Get in touch with nature
- Flow into the blissful state of true self connection through mantra
- Learn the proper way of meditation
- Discover different yoga lifestyle practices
After this yoga bliss trip in Costa Rica, you and your girlfriends will feel and look better, your minds lighter, and your lives more fulfilled. This women-only tour will be a life-altering event in the beautiful tropics.
It’s time that you awaken your spirit for pure bliss. Go on a trip with your girlfriends to Costa Rica and feel alive again.
More information about our Ultimate Yoga Bliss in Costa Rica Tour HERE.
8 Travel Tips to Paris 18 Sep 2014
Paris has always been the top travel destination for couples but the City of Lovers is also a favorite of women going on tours with their girlfriends. We even included it in our list of Top 9 Destinations for Girlfriend Getaways.
Paris in August can be fun but going to the city anytime of the year is quite lovely especially when you’re travelling with the people you love.
Almost anyone who has been to Paris would say the city is simply beautiful. Whether you’re on a honeymoon, a specialty tour, or a women-only tour, you will have the best time in Paris. Follow these simple travel tips and you’re guaranteed of a memorable trip:
- Prepare your itinerary.
Research early on what to do and where to stay while in Paris. Map out your itinerary and prepare a schedule. - Have a map handy.
You can get a real map or download a Maps app on your smartphone or tablet to use. A guide map will help you to not get lost in the city. - Visit the Eiffel Tower.
Of course, a trip to Paris won’t be complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. If you want to go up the tower, expect long lines wrapping the structure. The best time to go there is early in the morning and very late at night to avoid the rush. - Make sure you visit the most popular sites in Paris.
The Notre Dame, The Louvre, and the Luxembourg Garden are only some of the must-see tourist spots in the city. Make the most of your Parisian trip by having your photo taken in these places. - Buy a metrocard.
You will be riding the subway a lot so it is advisable you buy a day pass. It’s cheaper, more economical, and more convenient to use. - Buy a museum pass.
You will also be visiting a lot of museums. Get a museum pass and you’ll save money. - Memorize key phrases.
Learn the basic French phrases so you’ll survive in the city. “Merci!” means ‘Thank you’. “Ou est le metro?” means “Where is the subway?”. To ask “Do you speak English?”, say “Parlez-vous Anglais?”. - Get on a boat cruise in the evening.
End the day with a lovely boat cruise along the Seine River. Discover the City of Lights. You’ll see the beauty of Paris all lit up.
Gateway Destinations can plan a luxurious Parisian trip for you. The team knows best how a women-only journey should go. Taste the regional wines at a local vineyard, learn the secrets of cooking rustic French dishes, or just shop in Paris to your heart’s content.
