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Traveling Essentials for Women on
International Travel
Tracey Wilen
Hotels
Hotels vary from country to country and from hotel chain to hotel chain,
so investigate and then select a hotel that best meets your personal and
business needs. First make sure the hotel is within a reasonable
distance of your business meetings. If you are far away you may have to
deal with traffic, congested public transportation, and unexpected
delays that can add stress to your day. If you are staying over a
weekend, you can move then to a hotel in the downtown area for a change
of location and to be closer to the cultural centers. If you are
traveling with a portable computer, make sure the hotel has a data line
in addition to the phone line in the room. If you like to exercise,
check for a hotel that has a health club or facility near by. If you
like to have room service late at night or very early in the morning,
check for late-night or 24-hour room service. Most businesswomen report
that they prefer to use a U.S. hotel chain because of the consistency of
services that they offer worldwide. However, you will find that most
major cities offer exceptional hotel options that may provide the basic
services you desire and even more.
Keep in mind:
• Dry-cleaning services are generally very efficient in most four- and
five-star hotels. Consider using them if you are on a long trip and you
need to pack efficiently. Check with the hotel on the pick up and return
times. In some modern hotels there are now 24-hour dry cleaning services
with a turn around within hours. In others it may take up to two days.
• Many hotels offer massages and other personal services that are
welcomed by the business traveler.
• When in foreign countries, be cognizant of cultural customs and
religious differences. For example, many hotels disapprove of shorts or
uncovered shoulders in the lobbies and restaurants.
• It is usually best to wear a one-piece bathing suit if you’re
using the hotel facilities for a swim. In many cultures women are
expected to be more modest than in the U.S. For example, in some hotels
that have pools and health clubs, bathing cap and pool slippers are
required. These items are often provided in the pool area.
• Wear a robe and slippers when walking from your room to the spa or
pool.
Dining Alone
The reality for many businesswomen is that you are on the road
frequently, for long periods of time, and alone. If you are traveling
for an extended period of time, it can get tedious to eat alone. Many
women express some degree of discomfort about dining out alone, and
report that they may resort to ordering room service every night. Also,
many women report that some restaurants are not prepared for women to
eat alone because there are few local businesswomen in the country. Here
are some tips that may help make dining alone easier while on the road.
Most hotels are accustomed to business travelers so you can certainly
dine in the hotel restaurant with ease. Many American businesswomen tend
to stay in American business hotel chains (Hyatt, Marriott, Westin,
etc.), so if you stay there you will see more women like yourself in the
lobby and the hotel restaurants. However, don’t always limit yourself to
your hotel. Venture out to restaurants in other hotels in the area. If
you want to try some of the restaurants around the city, ask your hotel
concierge where you can eat as a solo diner without creating attention.
Usually there are popular business restaurants. Some women suggest that
if you want to try a new trendy restaurant, and you are alone, request
early or very late seating. This way the restaurant won’t feel that you
are taking up valuable table space. Also, many trendy restaurants offer
dining in the bar so you can sit at a counter with other solo diners or
you can sit at a small table out of the limelight.
Some women suggest that you ask the restaurant staff if they can seat
you in a corner or more private area so that people don’t stare at you
or, worse, approach you. Others suggest that you ask the restaurant to
face you looking out the window to ensure privacy (but then some have
had outsiders staring in at them). Some women recommend that you bring
something to read so that you are not distracted by your surroundings
and others say that in the finer restaurants this activity might be
considered rude. Women have been reporting that more and more
restaurants offer to seat business travelers’ together if they so
request. Some businesswomen have found this a good alternative and a way
to meet other businesswomen.
Here are some recommendations for solo dining:
• Dine in other business hotel restaurants in the area. Usually they
have many types of restaurants and are accustomed to individual diners.
Large, five-star hotels tend to have more restaurant options.
• Many upscale hotels have dining/lounge areas, some with a piano
player, that offer seating for one and a menu of light snacks at all
hours.
• Many hotels offer night dining tours so you can take a city tour and
dine with other people while enjoying some culture. These tours usually
go to a restaurant that features local cuisine.
• Some cities have dinner theater shows so you can dine while watching
the theater.
• Many cities have flagship department stores that have late hours (for
example, Harrods in London) that offer everything from clothes to
hardware to food galleries and multiple dining facilities. Many of these
restaurants will have solo seating for shoppers making a dining stop.
Toilets and Personal Amenities
When you are traveling in other countries, you will find that most
hotels and the better restaurants usually have basic flush toilets. Once
you are out in the suburbs, however, you may find only “squat toilets.”
This is especially true in Asia and even in the more rural parts of
Italy. These are basically a trough in the floor, with or without a
ceramic fitting, over which you must squat. Carry pocket-sized tissue
packages with you since paper is usually not offered. Handiwipes are
good to carry too.
In addition, bring personal sanitary items with you from home. You may
not find the kind you need or will be unable to ask for them in the
local language, especially in more rural areas. Also, don’t assume that
you can buy your favorite brand of shampoo, conditioner or hair products
while you are on the road. Many cosmetic companies offer travels kits
and sample sizes of hair products for when you travel. Some perfume
brands sell very small travel size bottles. Many of these items can be
purchased in the duty free area of the airport. Health it is important
to check in advance to see if any shots are required for travel to your
particular destination.
You can find out by calling the International
Traveler’s Hot Line at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at
(404) 332-4559 or you can locate information from the Centers for
Disease Control on the World Wide Web at: www.cdc.gov/travel/ Make sure
that you get information about all the countries you plan to visit,
including the stopovers. Check with your company to see what medical
coverage you have for overseas travel. Some companies may have an
overseas medical hot line, while others may have specific hospitals or
travel doctors with which they network.
In addition:
• Bring any prescribed medication for allergies, urinary tract
infections, diarrhea, respiratory and skin infections, etc. in clearly
labeled prescription bottles.
• Bring enough prescription to last you for the duration of your trip.
It may be difficult get prescriptions renewed while you are traveling.
• If you become ill while overseas, ask your hotel to recommend a doctor
who speaks English. If you are alone with a male doctor, insist that a
female nurse be present during any check-up.
• If you become ill while in another country, be aware that many cities
have all-night pharmacies. However it may be difficult to get a
prescription filled or anything other than an over-the-counter symptom
remedy.
About the Author: Tracey
Wilen is Author at
www.globalwomen.biz/ |
