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Ladies, 8 things to know before travelling solo in Canada

International Traveller
With female solo travel at an all-time high, here’s what you need to know about exploring Canada on your own, from someone who did it herself, Alissa Jenkins.

Perhaps it’s the effects of social media making travel feel more accessible than ever, perhaps it’s the 11-year anniversary of Eat, Pray, Love (the novel, that is), or perhaps it’s the fact that, well, it’s 2018 and women can travel alone if they damn well please.

Either way, 2018 is quickly shaping up to be the year for solo female travel, with widespread trends showing plane loads of women are seeking adventure… and they’re wanting to do it alone.

A quick squiz on Google Trends shows the number of hits on the search term “solo female travel" has more than doubled in just the past two years. As a result of this growing market, the number of women-only travel companies across the world is also skyrocketing, while established tour operators are seeing a dramatic rise in their female participants.

Among them is Intrepid Travel, who in just the first few months of 2017 reported a 35 percent increase in women booking trips, while REI Adventures also saw 60 percent more women since 2010.

Suffice to say, solo female travel is hot, it’s here, and few places are as primed for it as Canada. Safe, easy to get around and blessed by Mother Nature with more beautiful vistas and adventure activities than there are wild moose, Canada consistently earns rave reviews, not least by solo female travellers. But before you go, some words to the wise to spur your own solo mission…

 

1. Apps, apps, baby

Use that smartphone for more than just Facebook updates and download some nifty travel apps that will make your solo adventure a bazillion times easier. Check out PackPoint for a little digital suitcase-packing assistant, Tourlina to connect with like-minded solo female travellers in your area.

 

2. Get connected on tour

Starting out on a solo mission can be daunting, especially if you’re venturing into a remote area. Happily, Canada is home to several great tour operators that cater to those going it alone, with various age groups in mind. For those at the younger end of the spectrum, check out Moose Travel Network, while personalised, small-group experiences can also be arranged with Momento Travel, Adventure World or Intrepid Travel.

 

3. Befriend your Airbnb host

While many of us opt for the “entire house" when booking on Airbnb, selecting a room in a shared space is a fantastic way to make connections. Befriend your host, chat to them, and lean on them for advice. After all, they are the local and will be loaded with fantastic insights. My first hosts in Vancouver were incredible, gave countless clever tips, let me tag along on their social outings and we’re still great friends to this day.

 

4. Sit at the bar

Whether it’s lunchtime or you’re having yourself a cheeky après cocktail, sitting at the bar is one of the best ways to meet locals (on both sides of the bar). It’s also a savvy way to pocket some insider advice on local do’s and don’ts.

 

5. When it doubt, ask!

Like most destinations around the world, Canadians always appreciate when a traveller is at least trying to learn their local lingo. But if something isn’t clear, from pronouncing street names to asking your bartender “what’s a mickey?" ask! You learn so much more and it saves time. There’s good reason why they say Canadians are so friendly…

 

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6. Trust your intuition

More a general life hack than a tip specific to solo travel, but always trust those gut instincts. Whether the house you’re in doesn’t feel right, or that salesperson doesn’t seem to have your best interests at heart, chances are you’re probably right. Know when you’re being had and how to politely walk away.

 

7. Write it all down

I know, it’s cliché and listed in every ‘travel 101’ story, but do yourself a favour and write down your adventures in a journal. Take note of it all; the sights, the smells, the battles of going it alone. There’s something totally freeing about travelling alone, spurring thoughts and memories that you won’t want to forget.

 

8. Book the damn ticket

It sounds obvious enough but the best way to kickstart that solo adventure is to just book it now, plan it later. Book the ticket, submit your leave, and jump on a plane. Go for it, everything else will fall into place.

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.