Top 10 Travel Destinations for Backpacking Women

Welcome to my top 10 travel destinations - and I say mine because there isn't a travel site or magazine that doesn't have its own - so why not this site?

First, though, I had to come up with criteria. That wasn't easy...

Why does a place stick?
What makes it special?
I'm not even sure I can answer that...

But I've tried, so here are my criteria for selecting these various destinations: if a place gets at least 6 out 8 of the points below, I've considered it. Of course coming up with the top 10 travel destinations for you is completely arbitrary - I could just as easily have come up with 100. 

Here goes:

1. I've been there.
2. It's safe.
3. I felt welcomed as a solo woman.
4. I'd be happy to stay for a week or more.
5. The food is good.
6. It's beautiful.
7. It won't ruin my budget.
8. It has a certain je-ne-sais-quoi, a feeling...

So, in the most abjectly subjective manner possible, here are my top 10 travel destinations for backpacking women!

What is your favorite travel destination? Please take a moment to share it with us!

The map below also shows you where I've been - and how much of the world I still have left to see...

 

My Top 10 Travel Destinations

Vilanculos, Mozambique

It's not so much the town of Vilanculos but the Bazaruto Islands off its coast. I was first turned on to this region by James Michener's The Drifters some years ago and the islands are everything I could dream of: miles of untouched sand, limpid warm waters, fluorescent fish, dhows, extraordinary sunsets...

Ubud, Indonesia

Ubud is a lovely town in the heart of Bali, a little touristy but a pure delight once you get off the beaten path and certainly worth a nomination to my top 10 travel destinations for women. Three things beckon to me in Ubud: its outstanding artists, the Balinese architecture, and the rice paddies that surround the town. Of course I'm also partial to Indonesian food...

Annecy, France

I'm biased on this one because it's in my backyard. France is filled with picture postcard villages but even so, this one, at the foot of the Alps, stands out. The pluses: local cheese specialties, old town arcades, winding canals, spectacular lakefront, plenty of outdoor excitement, and a monthly antiques market (too expensive to buy but great for gazing).

Barcelona, Spain

Has this become everyone's favorite city? It seems to top every list and I can understand why: glorious location on the Costa Brava, sublime seafood, and art - Gaudi, Dali and Miro are just a few of the famous names linked to the autonomous province of Catalonia. And did I mention the shopping? Just hang on to your wallets though - it's pickpocket haven but otherwise safe.

Havana, Cuba

Possibly the fastest-changing city in the world but Havana still remains mysterious for the millions of Americans who can't travel there. As a Canadian, I stayed for a couple of months and lost myself in the style and friendliness of the people, the energizing music and the living, breathing history that permeates every street corner.

Istanbul, Turkey

There's a timeless feel about Istanbul, a clear sense of millennia gone by, sometimes at odds with the modern. In the souks life goes on as it always has yet the city is at ease in the 21st century. Turkish food, of course, but the art of haggling and the flashbacks of the Ottaman Empire when this city ruled a large part of the world. Hard to believe perhaps but I felt perfectly safe: the only time I was accosted was by people wanting to practice their English. Incredibly hospitable!

Bocas del Toro, Panama

Scratch my head but I can't find anything wrong with Bocas, on Panama's coast. It's inexpensive, friendly, by the sea, laid back, great food and internet - the Caribbean without the mass tourism. It's still backpacker haven and if you like lolling in a hammock by the water with a cool drink in one hand and a great book in the other, come on over! This one is definitely one of my top 10 travel destinations... maybe the top.

Luang Prabang, Laos

There's something both mystical and charming about this town and UNESCO thinks so too since it's named it a World Heritage Site - a place worthy of protection. Its popularity is also a threat - this sleepy laid-back town is becoming understandably popular and quiet days watching the Mekong flow by may end. But for now, monks still walk the streets begging for alms and the city, at times shrouded in mist, still beckons.

Stresa, Italy

This isn't a typical backpacker stop because it's not cheap. But if you love history, Italy, old stones, manicured gardens and villages where time stands still, it's worth at least a day visit if you're ever in Milan (it's only a half-hour train ride away). Jump on a boat and take a tour of the Borromean Islands. A bit kitchy, but...

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Not just the town but the entire island is a jewel. Pristine beaches and wafting spices but also a crossroads of culture where Arabia, India and Africa meet. A piece of advice: if you leave your hostel or hotel in Stone Town, take a card with you. The serpentine streets will get the better of even those of you with the best sense of direction.

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