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Posted by Samia Qaiyum

Every Woman Should Do This for Herself

Get planning, get packing.

Few life experiences are as daunting yet adventurous and downright liberating as travelling alone, especially if you’re a woman. Research shows that more and more women are now setting their nerves aside and seeking out their passport stamps solo — no friend, family member, partner in tow. And why wouldn’t they? The freedom of tailoring an itinerary to your own liking is undeniable, as is the boost of confidence that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.

Also part and parcel of this must-do? Connecting with fellow female solo travellers, many of whom you’ll instantly bond with, along the way. What you will, however, have to do is plan your destination wisely, pack lightly, and err to the side of caution — but that’s sensible in just about any travel scenario. Today, in honour of Plan A Solo Vacation Day, we’re sharing our picks of the seven best travel destinations for your first (or umpteenth) solo adventure.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is very safe, and therefore another ideal spot to discover on a solo trip. Wander around De Pijp, Amsterdam’s colourful Latin quarter, visit the Rijksmuseum with its world-class art collection, get lost along the canals, and spend an afternoon at the Waterlooplein Flea Market. The Netherlands has a great public transport system, so it’s easy to venture out of the city to the seaside on the West coast by train or rent a bike to cycle along the coast and stop for brunch at one of the many beachside cafés in the little town of Zandvoort.

Stay: The Dylan
See: Grachtenfestival, a classical music festival along the city’s canals of Amsterdam
Do: Go for dinner at Bridges restaurant for some of Amsterdam’s best seafood

Queenstown, New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most visited countries by solo travellers, and one of the best ways to get around is to hire a car. The roads are safe, with many scenic views along the spectacular Southern Lakes route. Queenstown has a lovely little botanic garden that is worth a visit, and you can stop along the way for coffee at The Bathhouse café on the lake shore. Warm up next to the open log fire at Barmuda in the evening, and take a trip out to the far corners of the lake on the iconic TSS Earnslaw steamship. In winter, there are several great ski fields reachable from Queenstown.

Stay: The Dairy
See: Fly over to Milford Sound
Do: Take a day trip to Arrowtown, an old gold-mining town by a beautiful river

Reykjavik, Iceland

With its natural beauty, far from the crowds, Iceland is a great destination for some “me time”. The Icelandic people are very friendly and will happily give you recommendations on how to spend your time – all you need to do is ask. The scenery here is really unique, so make sure you visit its black-sand beaches, icy fjords, geysers, incredible land formations, and countless waterfalls. If you fancy stepping back in time, head to the Árbær Open Air Museum, where you can visit over 30 houses that visualise the former Icelandic way of life.

Stay: 101 Hotel
See: The Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights
Do: Look for puffins in Iceland!

Rome, Italy

Italy is always a good idea, and Rome is a truly fabulous destination that will captivate you and indulge all your senses. Rome, the “Eternal City”, is famed for its rich culture and history, palazzi, museums, galleries filled with stunning art, fashion around every corner, delicious food and gelato, awe-inspiring ancient sites, famous piazzas, and cobbled laneways. The city is and has always been one of the world’s greatest cities – you’ll understand why when you’re there.

Stay: Crossing Condotti
See: Everything! Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona, the Colosseum, and Vatican City
Do: Indulge! Dine at Aroma Restaurant, which boasts stunning views of the Colosseum

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Located in the north, Chiang Mai is one of the best and most picturesque places to travel alone in Asia. Surrounded by lush countryside and mountains, the city is much safer, quieter, and greener than Bangkok. It also has a significant expatriate population as well as a cosmopolitan feel. This is a great destination in which to explore national parks and temples. No matter where you are in Thailand, you’ll have an exquisite time with food, from street stands to cooking classes – all thanks to those incredibly rich flavours. Thai food experiences in Chiang Mai are often the highlight of a trip, with its rich cultural heritage and influences from both Burma and China.

Stay: 137 Pillars House
See: Take a day trip to Elephant Nature Park
Do: Go for dinner at The River Market; you’ll find it by the Ping River overlooking the Iron Bridge

California, USA

The famous Golden Door experience has been designed to empower people to reposition themselves at the centre of their own lives by tending to their bodies, minds, and spirits. Going for a hike is as much a rigorous morning exercise as it is a chance to reflect on the day ahead. A meal is the means by which to learn to satisfy, rather than simply feed hunger. This is a serene and calming destination in which to experience the luxury of indulging yourself through fitness training and refined nourishment programs complemented by spa treatments. If you’re looking to take some time out for yourself, this is the perfect place to do it.

Stay: Golden Door
See: A whole new side of yourself
Do: Take care of yourself – mindfulness and relaxation are the common denominators here

Arenal, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is said to be the safest place in South America. It is a beautiful spot to escape the daily grind and enjoy those famous candy-coloured sunsets. The Arenal area is full of unspoilt tropical rainforests, and its Arenal Volcano National Park has an actual active volcano. Don’t miss Proyecto Asis, a wildlife rescue centre where injured animals are nursed back to health before being released back into the wild. You can spend half a day there, volunteering, before heading to the scenic La Fortuna Waterfall, which is also in the La Fortuna de San Carlos area. For something a little different, visit scenic nature preserve Mistico, where the Hanging Bridges (a maze of bridges high up in the trees) await.

Stay: Tabacon
See: The stunning Costa Rican sunset
Do: Volunteer at the wildlife rescue centre

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Posted by Deborah Henning

Your Essential Travel Wardrobe Is Here

All the essentials for a stylish trip, with or without the kids.

Travelling can be a stressful time, so why not make it as enjoyable as possible? As we enter the travel season, I’m here to help you make your airplane rides chic and comfortable. With some of my favourite pieces from local and international brands, you’ll be ready for any destination in style.

When dressing to fly there is such a range of styles, from just out of bed to fully suited and booted — I like to go somewhere in between, rocking a super comfortable yet stylish vibe. A look I love for flights is wearing a silky slip dress with chunky boots and knitwear layered over the top; this look is fashionable and comfortable, perfect for long hauls.

Cool and Comfortable Chic

Another look I love for travelling are ankle grazer trousers and a comfortable top. My absolute go-to is my draped back sweater; this is one of all-time favourite pieces. With organic cotton and uber-soft jersey, it ticks all the boxes for stylish travel with ultimate comfort.

The third favourite combo is the tone-on-tone sweatpant outfit — you can chose a cropped sweater or an oversized and roll up the sleeves to give it some shape. Additionally, to style it into true-cool chic lounge style, layer it with a biker jacket or oversized blazer. The on-trend black cap of the moment will also compliment any colour combo.

I love that casual wear has had a huge influx over Covid as so many brands have now stepped up a gear in their style offering while simultaneously making oversized jersey a completely acceptable day-time look.

Black knit and Cream Silk skirt Pinterest — Black knit and cream silk skirt @pinterest

Deborah Henning Draped back Sweater — Deborah Henning Draped Back Sweater

Sweatpant combo with leather biker jacket @pinterest

When shopping recently, I can across this three-piece set from Massimo Dutti and I was absolutely sold! This look comprised of three pieces of knitwear, which can be worn separately with other looks too and I have never felt so comfortable! It was like wearing pyjamas but looking flight chic. This is how it looks on the left online and how it was on me.

Then I decided to take it up a gear; you could style it with a bold white blazer and a leather bag for all your flight essentials. This will definitely be my next airport lounge look!

Casual Knitwear 3 piece, Massimo Dutti — Casual,Knitwear three piece, Massimo Dutti

Deborah wears Massimo Dutti Knitwear — Deborah wears Massimo Dutti knitwear

Styled with white blazer & leather bag — Sweatpant combo with leather biker jacket

Bags To Go

Bags can be the bane of your life when travelling unless you get ones that really suit your needs. Pre-kid, I would love checking in all my bags and only carry a small bag with my passport and documents in; this way there’s less opportunity for me to lose things or leave them behind.

A great all rounder is this travel sleeve from Olivia & Co — big enough to hold your phone, documents, tickets and passport and discreet enough to feel stress-free in the airport. Now that I have a two-year-old in tow, I need places for snacks, books, toys, wipes, and just about anything else I can think of to stop him banging on the pilot’s door at 32,000 feet (this actually happened). So, I use the Suveno Diaper Bag which is a backpack shape and holds everything you need, including three bottles.

There are so many travel bag options out there for parents. I definitely researched too much when trying to find a good one; this has done the job and fared quite well considering how much it’s been used.

For the adult backpack, I use the CamSafe backpack from PacSafe — these are high quality anti-theft bags that use anti-slash fabric, have tons of lockable pockets, key and wallet attachment areas, as well as block your cards from being skimmed. You can also lock it to the table at a bar or restaurant, which may sound excessive but you can never be too sure in a new city.

These are not the most fashion savvy looking bags but they are quite minimal and understated, so I let it pass considering the benefits they offer. In addition, I have put an Apple Air Tag into the bottom of the bag, so in case it does get stolen, we can track where it is.

Practical Essentials

If, for some reason, the backpack isn’t enough for our in-flight packing needs, I absolutely cannot take a hold-all and trudge it around the airport; my back aches, my shoulder aches, they have one big space and no compartments. Trying to find my laptop at security in between eye masks, shades, neck pillows, and healthy snacks is literally the worst! So instead, I opt for a four-wheeler roll-along hand luggage-size case.

This way, I save my back and shoulders and can easily locate things when opened at security. I really like the latest Clifton collection from Antler. They come in a cute colour palette and have a hard case which is a must for me.

When it comes to accessories, I keep a few essential items to make my trip more enjoyable; The basics I take are flight socks for good circulation, a hydrating face mask to stay nourished, some nutritious snacks and a water bottle.

WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

There’s a good reason why those headphones come free on your flight: they’re annoying, noisy, and terrible quality. Noise-cancelling headphones can help you drown out any background noise on the plane and have been one of my best purchases over the years. I use Sony ones but I hear good things about Bose too.

Travel packs are something that have been mentioned to me, but I haven’t tried yet. For my next trip, I’ll be purchasing some to help the packing organisation and separating kids things from mamas to help with sanity when we’re moving around a lot.

Lastly, my must have for the plane a giant lovely cosy knit — I’ve got about 10 styles as I actually LOVE knitwear, even in Dubai! I have bought from COS and All Saints mostly, but recently I found this gem from Mikutas which I adore. I am always cold on the plane and usually we’re landing somewhere colder than Dubai, so these are also fab for the airport and ride to the hotel.

Whether you’re going on a business trip or a pleasure cruise, looking and feeling your best while traveling can help you make random connections with strangers — which I love doing on planes. Also, being organised with the above items helps reduces the stress, especially when travelling with little ones.

May your next trip be stylish and stress-free!

Deborah Henning launched her own namesake label in 2014 after working with up and coming brands in the Middle East as well as Alexander McQueen in London, much loved Australian brand Sass & Bide, and British brand Ghost. Follow her on Instagram and check out her website.