WanderList: The Best Travel Guide Books for Women

May 6th, 2013 • BY Kate Siber

More women are traveling solo and in all-female groups than ever before, which is a large part of the reason why Kelly Lewis, an editor and writer, founded Go! Girl Guides, a travel guidebook series designed specifically for women travelers. One simple question guides the series’ writers as they sleuth their destinations: What would I tell my girlfriend about traveling here?

The result is a series of guides that speak to adventurous women everywhere, from where to find a tampon in Argentina to where not to walk on the beach in Mexico.

WomensMovement.com caught up Lewis as she hopscotched around the country on a book tour celebrating her current titles: London, Mexico, Thailand, and Argentina. 

WM: A dream inspired you to found Go! Girl Guides. It sounds too good to be true. What was the dream?

Kelly Lewis: Yes! In my dream, I was looking at a guidebook, called Go Girl Guides, and I was kicking myself for not thinking of the idea. I remember saying to myself “Ahh, you should’ve done this! This is totally for you! Now it’s too late!” and feeling really sad that I missed the boat. I woke up the next day and didn’t actually remember it until midday when I was in my office. (I was working as an editor in a small cubicle at the time.) It hit me like a lightening bolt and I immediately started Googling to see if it existed. When I saw it didn’t, I formed the LLC that day. Two months later, I was in Thailand writing our first guidebook. 

WM: What are some of the discoveries that surprised you about traveling solo as a woman?

Kelly Lewis: In South America, I was continually surprised by the lack of available feminine hygiene products—it’s almost impossible to find tampons—and by just how forward the men were. I knew I would get catcalled, and I did, but I was surprised to be asked so often if I was single. I had a boyfriend at the time and I kept saying that, but I felt like I was saying “I have a cat.” In South America, if you’re not married, you’re single. And even if you are married… 

But more than anything, I was surprised by how traveling transforms you. It changes you. It makes you aware of yourself and your strength and the kindness in human beings. Every time I go somewhere, I come back with an appreciation for the kindness of strangers. I truly believe the world is mostly good. 

WM: How is the travel landscape changing for women? Are there more opportunities for women travelers now than there were, say, 20 years ago?

Kelly Lewis: Women are traveling now more than ever. And because of that, more resources are available to us. Many hostels are now offering women-only dorms, for example, and there are several companies offering women-only surf retreats and the like.

Surprisingly enough, we’re the only ones doing women’s specific guides. Our guides focus mainly on women’s health and safety—we interview local OB-GYNs, list women’s clinics, talk openly about pregnancies and tampons—and so much more. We focus on finding the best hotels and hostels, at affordable rates, in safe parts of town. Too often I’ve arrived to a guidebook-recommended hostel that was great, but in a terrible area, and I didn’t feel safe going out at night. I’m really trying to take the “scary” out of traveling solo, because it can be such an empowering, wonderful experience. 

WM: Do you think there’s a limit to how much we should view ourselves as “women travelers” and not just “travelers?”

Kelly Lewis: I think we should all view ourselves as travelers, but I think we, as women, need to be especially cautious of our surroundings and of the energy we’re putting out in the world. It’s just about being aware, taking everything into account, and enjoying your travels. 

WM: What’s next for Go! Girl guides?

Kelly Lewis: One of our guidebook writers is in Costa Rica right now! Our guidebook to Costa Rica will be out by November of this year. 

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