Travel advertising is a turn off to us senior women. Brochure photos show clothing often associated with hiking, and the outdoors. Jackets by Patagonia? Shirts by Columbia? Parachute pants by LL Bean? Women travelers often analyze clothing especially shoes to assess the group. Women travelers do not relate to groups wearing fly fishing outfits. In sum, travel clothing in industry brochures is a turn off to senior women. We are retired or still working professionals; we need to be a teeny bit of a slob on the road.
Much more subtle than brochure photos are other discriminatory situations. Getting a single room on tour can be tricky. Some tour companies ration singles, based on their hotel contracts. Sometimes it is the fault of the hotel, which wants two bodies in each room. Other times, it is the tour company, which wants two people in each double bus seat. More bodies means more $$.
Some discrimination is very subtle. Group meals can leave a single woman isolated. I had this unfortunate situation at golf school in North Carolina. Lunch was lonely and dinner more so. At no time did the instructors ‘see’ me or even include me at large lunch tables. I finally complained to the Front Desk Manager about lack of service eating dinner alone in the dining room. She was a woman, who oddly was very sympathetic and took notes.
Dining on tours also creates the “who pays for the wine” question, which translates in couples’ language to not wanting to eat with single women. Clearly, men like to talk to other men. However on a tour, the entire group is into the same experiences. The conversations revolve around travel, travel books and travel experiences. Everyone has a chatty contribution; it is a group tour not a men’s corporate retreat.
There is also a ‘who tips the most to the guide case’. Studies show men tip more than women do. On a tour, the difference means a man or a couple, with a man, might get preferential treatment by the guide over single women. Is this true always? No, but it is often the case. Additionally as women, we tend not to ask for assistance as forcefully as a man does. Sadly even when talking to concierges, who are often women, we hold back when spoken down to or given confusing information.
Finally and to wrap this post up, senior women are now the highest spending travelers in the United States. In real numbers: there are 77+ million women over 65 in the United States. The over 50’s hold most of the discretionary money (AARP). Conde Nast tells us women are 56% of the leisure travel market and make 80+% of the travel decisions.
So this post is also shout out to the industry, we are here with open wallets and half packed suitcases. I would love to hear from women who have experienced any of the above. Travel Tips from The Women’s Travel Group, award winning tour operator for small groups.
