“Seize the day, seize the moment”: Why a Women’s Italy Tour Could Be Just The Ticket
"Seize the day, seize the moment. If traveling is a dream of yours or anyone else's, then do it."
From finding new friendships, discovering fascinating people to have everything taken care of so you can just enjoy, recent guests on our Country Roads of Italy, a Women Only Tour, Marie and Judy share thoughts on their experience. If you’re looking for a stylish vacation to sample la dolce vita, with female friends or as a solo traveler, read on to find out why an Insight Vacations women’s Italy tour could be just what you are looking for. A thoughtfully crafted itinerary for the discerning female traveler, this trip combines cultural experiences, stylish hotels and delicious cuisine, all within an empowering women-focused travel experience.
“We have a lot of shared history,” Canadian Judy says of her relationship with Marie. “We taught together for 20 years in the same school and went through the trauma of separation when the school had to be split up. Over the nearly 20 years since then, we have stayed in touch, but we live an hour’s drive apart, and with our busy schedules during the week, it’s not often that we make the trip to get together. So, this was a chance to spend time with a very good friend without having to travel that hour each day.”
Italy – a timeless classic
A 16-day intimate small group journey through the stunning Italian peninsula, Country Roads of Italy, a Women Only Tour takes you from the shimmering waters of the Amalfi Coast to the tranquil canals of Venice. Visit a female-led winery, where matriarchs craft exceptional wine and olive oil. Set sail for the iconic island of Capri and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In Perugia, discover the traditional craft of loom-weaving with a women-owned cooperative, and in Florence, enjoy a hands-on cocktail-making class. The adventure concludes in Venice, where you’ll glide through the scenic canals to reach Burano, a charming, colorful island in the Venetian Lagoon.
“Italy has always been a draw,” explains Marie. “I have a very close friend who is Italian, and we had always dreamed of doing a little adventure like this. Unfortunately, it didn’t become a reality for me as soon as I hoped, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my dream happen. I started exploring different options – how I could get to Italy, and how I could do so in the company of others? It’s been a long-standing dream to experience the lifestyle, language, culture, and beauty of Italy. I’m so happy to finally be here on this women’s Italy tour.
There are many motivations for a Women Only trip
“Tragically, I lost my husband two years ago,” Marie shares. “We had planned to do quite a bit of traveling in our retirement, and now, at this point in my life, I’m trying to figure out how to do that on my own or with others. I’ve decided I don’t want to travel alone; I want to be in the company of like-minded people and have the opportunity to meet others and socialize. And so, I started looking into opportunities for travel with others, and that’s the reason I decided to travel with other women.”
“ I was told about this opportunity to travel with other women by my friend Marie here,” Judy explains, and it came at just the right time. My husband and son weren’t able to get away for a trip like this so for me, it was the perfect moment. I had the chance to travel with a friend, while also meeting other women. I really enjoy meeting new people, and there’s no better time than when everyone is free to connect and share experiences doing something they all enjoy. It was simply ideal.”
There’s something so special about traveling with other women
“I believe the benefits of traveling with other women are primarily the sense of ease it brings,” says Judy. “It’s just purely an interest in the other person and learning about shared experiences. You realize that what you thought was unique to your experience is often shared by others, and it opens your mind to new possibilities you might not have thought of. When you find out what other people have ventured into or experienced, it just broadens your view of the possibilities.
“For me, the most important and enjoyable part on this women’s Italy tour has been the connection,” says Marie. “Each day, I discover something new about another person, delving deeper into their lives, stories and history. I love learning about people, and so to me that’s been a real highlight.”
“The fact that they’re from such different places in the world is also very interesting,” adds Judy. “New Zealand and Australia are half a world away from us – even the United States is very different from Canada. So that’s another interesting aspect, it’s not just different women, but women in a totally different environment.”
Save up to $3,000* per couple on your first Premium Tour
Plus receive latest offers, travel inspiration, and discover how your travels will make a positive impact. Together, WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. Subscribe NowA guided tour is just so easy
“I’ve enjoyed the ease of travel,” says Marie. “Everything is organized for you, and it allows you then to relax and to focus on developing connections and relationships with more people than I think would ordinarily happen if you were traveling just with a few people, or certainly if you were traveling solo.
“I’ve always been the travel planner in many ways and, as much as I enjoyed that, there was also a lot of pressure on me. What I liked about this experience is that all I had to do was talk to a local travel agent, who then made all the connections, discussed opportunities with me, and afterward, everything fell into place nicely. I didn’t have to do much research or planning, which made me feel far more relaxed going into this trip, it was a wonderful feeling. Being pampered and taken care of without constantly thinking about the next move, the next day, or even the next hour, it was all beautifully laid out for us. This made a significant difference for me in this adventure.”
“When my husband and I travel, we sometimes take turns doing the majority of the planning,” says Judy. “But with this trip, I wasn’t the one doing the planning, and I also had a choice in selecting the itinerary that was laid out. I not only didn’t have the pressure of planning it myself, but I also had the option to choose that particular itinerary. I didn’t have to convince myself to do it, I knew I wanted to do all those things, and yet I still didn’t have to handle the planning.”
Advice for anyone considering a Women-Only tour
“Throughout this trip, we often heard some of the other women, as well as our tour director, say, “Seize the day. Seize the moment.” says Marie. “Life is short, and I have come to realize that over the past few years, that it’s important to make the most of every day. If traveling is a dream of yours or anyone else’s, then do it. Don’t wait, time is of the essence.”
“As someone who has never traveled alone unless I was going somewhere for a course, I would say that if you’re uneasy about signing up for a trip, you can put those worries aside,” says Judy. “Based on this experience, other women are so open to meeting other women that even if you were traveling solo, you wouldn’t feel alone on the trip.”
With 11 fabulous destinations to choose from, take a look at our portfolio of Women Only Tours.
About Leanne Williams
I'm a writer, editor and interview specialist with a lifetime's love of travel. There’s nothing more inspiring to me than meeting, and writing about, the world's leading destination experts and travel industry insiders. The thing I love most about writing for Insightful is that I'm always learning something new.
LIKED THIS POST? SHARE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
Keep exploring
