When I met Phyllis Stoller several years ago after I had been a speaker for The Association of Real Estate Women, I knew she was someone who clearly makes things happen.
She is the founder of The Women's Travel Club and a true pioneer in travel for women. As a respected expert in travel and travel safety, she is also a frequent speaker to women's groups and is widely quoted. She was honored as the Top in Women's Travel by Travel & Leisure Magazine and so far has been to over 60 countries!
Contact her and learn more: PStoller@womenstravelclub.com www.womenstravelclub.com
212-472-3361
Here are some tips that Phyllis offers on finding out if your hotel is in a safe neighborhood-
"Networking for Your Vacation: Unusual Tips From The Women’s Travel Club Founder, Phyllis Stoller"
—Use google earth to see the hotel from the street view
—Call the hotel, ask for the concierge; request to know what is on the block. If banks and commercial buildings, this area is dark at night.
—If not satisfactorily answered by the concierge or if there is no concierge, ask for the coffee shop and ask whomever answers, if that employee walks in the area at night.
—Choose a hotel with an outdoor café; that amenity means street traffic and pedestrians plus lights on cafe awnings.
—Ask for nearest public transportation, then look up that subway/bus/train stop on a map of the city for ideas of distances from tourist spots you will visit.
—Hotels near embassies, and government buildings usually are in protected areas but check that there is life at night also.
—Check the hotel site to see if they do weddings/conventions/ etc. If so, they are positively viewed by the locals and by the business community.
—Ask if a tour bus can park in front of the hotel to deliver baggage; if not, the hotel is on a narrow street, which might be dark at night or have little pedestrian traffic.
—Use your existing network: Rotary, Alumni Association, Church , to locate local people for more advice. For women, look for a local Overseas American Women’s Club.
The Women’s Travel Club is idea for women’s safety during travel.
Those are smart questions which I’d like to use when the right time comes. It’s also best to directly ask questions to test the local knowledge of the concierge. If they do not seem to know their locality, maybe it would be better to book elsewhere.
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