Hi Reader,
How are you this week?
Are you already on vacation? Have you just returned from a trip? Are you planning your summer holiday?
This time of year is the peak season for travel in the northern hemisphere.
Temperatures have soared, we already had the first heat wave in Europe and everywhere, the summer holiday spirit has taken over.
Planes are full, airports are packed, the streets of popular destinations are crowded and days are loooooong. Sunset is just before 10pm in Spain, making days 16 hours long with sunshine from 6am to almost 10pm.
Everything around me screams summer and what better place to enjoy it than in Croatia, where I am now, soaking it all in and about to start my scouting trip for the 2027 sailing tour.
Don't miss out on the announcement when the trip goes live. Join the waitlist and go follow me on Instagram where I am sharing the behind the scenes as usual.
Last spots left on our 2027 Launch offers
- Two 500 EUR OFF Launch spots left on our two Japan trips for 2027 May and October
- One 500 EUR OFF Launch spot left on our two Bali tours in September and October of 2027
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Did you catch the podcast this week where I speak with Lori, an Antarctica expert, about how Antarctica is kept pristine and well preserved, the rules and regulations that preserve it and how to plan a trip.
Planning a trip to Antarctica can be overwhelming, I know because I spent a lot of time searching for the right expedition for our group, so I hope this podcast episode helps you plan yours!
Have you heard of "ugly privilege"? This week, I dive deep into this phenomenon that took over social media by storm.
"Ugly privilege"
Many studies have proven that being pretty can land you a job faster, find a flat to rent quicker and generally get you better treatment. This has been termed "Pretty privilege".
But what about the benefits of being perceived as ugly?
"Ugly privilege" went viral earlier this year in online forums focusing on the same idea. Can being "ugly" get you a free pass to a safer solo trip devoid of harassment?
We are not discussing beauty standards here, or judging whether dressing down or not putting make up equals being ugly. I am also not saying that women should dress up when traveling, or that dressing down is the way to go.
It is also important to remember that beauty standards vary a lot by country, and what is perceived as beautiful in one can be seen as ugly in another.
For example, my father always used to pester me with being too skinny, as if being thin was bad and a reflection of lack of money to pay for food. This is a prevalent belief in many counties where extra weight is synonymous with beauty and vice versa.
This is also not a justification for harassment or any unacceptable behavior towards women. I am not victim blaming here. We are not the problem, harassment of any kind is the fault of the perpetrator and not the other way around, and education and a legal framework is the way to go, not us dressing down not to "provoke men" but placing accountability on the person harassing, stealing or demeaning women.
But alas, this is a conversation very much linked to the general advice that blending is a great way to see a destination without becoming a target of any unwanted behavior from others or even the victim of a theft.
For solo female travelers, blending in is a great way of going unnoticed and seeing a place as a spectator without being forced to participate or being the victim of a crime for showing up as a vulnerable easy target.
Many women traveling solo may aspire to become invisible because it comes with less harassment, less stares and maybe even better prices when haggling.
"Ugly privilege" started as a Reddit thread that has more than 1,500 comments from women from around the world.
I personally don't try to look particularly pretty or ugly when I travel, but I do try to blend in and wear comfortable clothing and this may mean looser outfits, older clothes that just fit right and are great, few accessories and no make up. I dress practically and with the same clothes that I would wear at home.
If a destination is more conservative and women wear long tunics and long sleeved tops, I do the same.
I am not a fashionista, nor do I follow fashion trends. Some of my dresses I have had for years, some skirts and tops too. I have a rooster of maybe 15 dresses, 5 skirts and 30 tops that I rotate on my summer trips.
I do pay more attention when I join our tours, because we typically have photographers joining and I love to take advantage of the opportunity to get amazing photos, so I may bring accessories and put on very minimal make up (thanks to our amazing team of photographers Anastasia, Beth, Emily, Bea and Kim for having gifted me incredible memories through the years ❤️).
Many solo female travelers agreed that dressing down, not wearing make up, and generally being less well put together made them feel more invisible and therefore less likely to be harassed or singled out for being a woman traveling alone.
There are also other ways to go unnoticed.
Older women and those with extra weight commented on feeling the same effect, as if age and weight also added a layer of invisibility. Shorter hair, sunglasses and a general RBF were added deterrents.
What are your thoughts? Have you experienced "ugly privilege"? Have you noticed if your appearance changes how others perceive or treat you when you travel solo? Hit reply and let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts. |
2026 / 2027 Full calendar of tours
See the full list of our future trips below.
✅ = Trip is confirmed ☑️ = SOLD OUT 💃 = I or Meg will co-host these trips
2026 trips
- 🚗 Cuba: 29 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan, 2027 (New Year's Eve) >> Book here
- 🧘♀️ Bali: ✅ 3 to 11 Oct [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here
- 🌮 Oaxaca: 11 to 17 Oct || ✅ 29 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027 >> Book here
- ⛩️ Japan: ☑️ 13 to 23 Oct >> Book here
- 🐑 Iceland: ☑️ 11 to 18 Oct || ☑️ 25 Oct to 1 Nov >> Book here
- 🍷 Georgia: ☑️ 5 to 13 Sep >> Book here
- 🇦🇲 Armenia: 💃 ✅ 13 to 19 Sep [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here (200 EUR off if you book Georgia + Armenia)
- 🏰 Scotland: ☑️ 10 to 18 Oct >> Book here
- 🦘 Australia: 💃 ✅ 11 to 22 Oct [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here [Meg will host this trip]
- 🎄 Christmas markets: ✅ 21 to 29 Nov || ✅ 5 to 13 Dec >> Book here
- 🐪 Morocco: ✅ 2 to 12 Oct [Photographer onboard, 2 SPOTS LEFT] || ☑️ 6 to 16 Nov >> Book here
- 🍝 Tuscany: ☑️ 5 to 12 Sep >> Book here
- 🦁 Tanzania Value safari + Zanzibar: ☑️ 11 to 21 Sep (Great Migration) || 23 Dec to 2 Jan, 2027 (Xmas + NYE) >> Book here
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: ☑️ 30 Oct to 8 Nov >> Book here
- 🇹🇿 Tanzania Luxe safari + Zanzibar: ☑️ 25 Sep to 5 Oct (Great Migration) || ✅ 1 to 10 Nov [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here
- 🦭 Galapagos sailing: ☑️ 5 to 12 Dec [Photographer onboard] >> Email us to be added to the waitlist
- 🇦🇶 Antarctica: 💃 ☑️ 13 to 27 Dec >> Email us to be added to the waitlist
New 2027 trips are being announced every week
- 🌴 Caribbean island hopping: 💃 💃 ✅ 13 to 20 Feb, 2027 [Photographers onboard, both Meg and I will host this trip] >> Book here
- 🏔️ Kilimanjaro: ✅ 12 to 22 June 2027 >> Book here
- 🧘♀️ Bali: 4 to 12 Sep [Photographer onboard] || 2 to 10 Oct >> Book here
- ❄️ Swedish Arctic: ✅ 20 to 26 Mar [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here
- 🐬 Ecuador & The Galapagos: ✅ 13 to 25 May [3 SPOTS LEFT] >> Book here
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: ✅ 2 to 11 Apr [2 SPOTS LEFT] || 5 to 14 Nov >> Book here
- 🍝 Tuscany: 13 to 20 Jun || 5 to 12 Sep >> Book here
- 🦁 Tanzania Value safari + Zanzibar: 27 Aug to 6 Sep (Great Migration) || ✅ 24 Sep to 4 Oct (Great Migration) [2 SPOTS LEFT] >> Book here
- 🇹🇿 Tanzania Luxe safari + Zanzibar: ✅ 10 to 20 Sep (Great Migration) [2 SPOTS LEFT] || 1 to 10 Nov >> Book here
- 🐪 Morocco: 1 to 11 Oct || 12 to 22 Nov >> Book here
- 🦘 Australia: 💃 11 to 21 Oct >> Book here [Meg will host this trip]
- ⛩️ Japan: 8 to 17 May || ✅ 4 to 13 Nov >> Book here
- 🦭 Galapagos sailing: ✅ 25 Nov to 2 Dec [3 SPOTS LEFT] || ☑️ 9 to 16 Dec >> Book here
- 🐒 Madagascar: ☑️ 💃 20 Sep to 3 Oct, 2027 >> Email us to be added to the waitlist
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Have a wonderful rest of the week.
CO-FOUNDERS, SOLO FEMALE TRAVELERS
