International Women’s Day at Ventana Azul Hostel

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (March 8th), it’s the perfect time to remember, at least once a year, the true power behind all the fearless women, but also challenges that women all around the world are still facing. Whether it is in their daily lives, work, or travels, as women they always need to include that little extra courage in all their steps. 

As travelers and people who constantly receive travelers, we would like to use this day to recognize all the amazing female solo travelers out there, who are redefining travel, challenging stereotypes, embracing independence, and proving that the world is theirs to explore. 

WHY DO WOMEN TRAVEL SOLO? 

But why do women travel solo? Someone could ask themselves. The answer is not that difficult to assimilate! There are a variety of reasons why women would choose to set off on their own. Freedom & independence is one of them – as solo travel allows them to set their own pace, explore without compromise and embrace spontaneity. 

You can make your own schedule, your own itinerary, choose who you spend time with, or when you prefer to be with your own thoughts. Through solo travels women embrace personal growth, as navigating through foreign lands alone builds incredible confidence and resilience, such that would be difficult to obtain in other ways. There is no greater feeling than having conquered, over and over again, a completely new and unknown area, and have made it into something familiar, sweet and homie.

Traveling solo often leads to deeper interactions with locals and a more authentic experience. In many places people will embrace you even more if you are a woman, in a caring and protective way, offering advice, tips, even meals, friends and family.

There is also a great opportunity, which all women need from time to time, to get into self-care and healing, reset their minds and reconnect with themselves, because which better company than our own? The one we spend 24 hours with.

The list could continue endlessly, from meeting similar-thinking female travelers, making life-long connections and offering a better version of yourself to your environment after being enriched by all your travel experiences. Traveling solo not only offers an opportunity to discover the world around you, but also the immense world within you.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FEMALE SOLO TRAVELERS

We are sure we already stated our case, and to spice it up let’s add some fascinating facts about female solo travelers:

• Over the past decade, the number of women traveling alone has skyrocketed. A 2023 survey revealed that more than 70% of solo travelers worldwide are women.
• The most popular solo travel destinations for women – Japan, Iceland, Portugal, and New Zealand are among the top choices due to their safety and vibrant culture.
• A study found that women make 80% of all travel decisions – from booking flights to choosing destinations, in other words women are driving the travel economy.
• Even though safety remains a top concern, technology (like GPS tracking apps and women-only accommodations) has made solo travel safer than ever.
• While many imagine solo travelers as young backpackers, more women over 50 are embarking on solo adventures than ever before. How great to know that age is just a number!

FEMALE GUESTS FEEL LIKE AT HOME AT VENTANA AZUL

For La Ventana Azul Community one of the biggest priorities is to make women feel safe and at home at our place. In addition, we are not a party hostel (hard alcohol is forbidden) and our professional and experienced team is working hard every day on ensuring a sporty and respectful vibe, which makes it easy to feel the house as a comfort bubble while exploring a new and exciting place.

Travelling from hostel to hostel can sometimes make it hard for single traveling women in many ways, so besides our carefully chosen house rules, we also decided to offer an only female dorm in order to create total privacy and the option to enjoy the “sisterhood” to the maximum.

We have also designed our common spaces the way that both social and extroverted people, as well as people who like more privacy, find their space and acceptance at Ventana Azul. There is a rooftop kitchen which is the pulsing heart of Ventana Azul, but for those who prefer more quiet, there is a second modern and fully equipped kitchen downstairs.

We are also thrilled to see more and more experienced female surfers and we love their classy and non-competitive style! And all in all, we are really happy with the way we manage to support the female solo travelers, and we know we are succeeding when we receive their feedback, which makes us happy and at the same time motivates us to keep on improving! 

They challenge society norms that suggest women shouldn’t travel alone, they inspire other women to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new experiences, they support local economies, female-owned businesses, and sustainable travel initiatives, they empower women to explore, and for women hesitant about traveling alone, there’s an ever-growing community of solo female travelers offering advice, support, and encouragement. From travel bloggers to Facebook groups and dedicated solo female travel agencies, the movement is stronger than ever.

So this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women who roam the world fearlessly or do it anyway despite their fears! Whether it’s hiking in Patagonia, backpacking through Southeast Asia, or simply taking a solo weekend getaway, every journey is a step toward empowerment and sending a great message to all the women around the world that, as Virgina Wolf says: “There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”

Happy International Women’s Day!