Women-Only Tours, Hotel Deals Take Off

Janice Pearson sits with her dog at her home in Dexter, Michigan Monday, Aug. 14, 2006. Pearson went on her third women's only adventure vacation with an outfit group from Arizona this June.Women are increasingly taking vacations that exclude those carrying the Y chromosome and tour companies, hotels, and lodges are lining up to cater to their desires. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) (Tony Ding - AP)

NEW YORK -- Christine McIver found a surefire way to ensure some of her less-than-fond memories gathered as a trail guide wouldn't be repeated on a horseback riding vacation she was planning: She booked a women's only trip.

McIver formerly escorted horseback riders on short trips and remembers men showing off and doling out nonsensical advice to their girlfriends. So when she decided to treat herself to a 40th birthday gift of a riding trip in Wyoming last month, she eliminated the possibility of male egos spoiling her fun.

"I just didn't want to have to deal with men who thought they were better than me," said McIver, a teacher from Allenhurst, N. J. who has been riding since she was in third grade.

Reasons vary, but increasingly women are choosing to take vacations that exclude those carrying the Y chromosome and tour companies, hotels, and lodges are lining up to cater to their desires.

Travel experts are hard-pressed to deliver statistics on the women-only portion of their industry, but say it is becoming increasingly important. Marybeth Bond, an author of seven books on women and travel estimated the number of companies that run only tours for women is now about 30, up from 21 five years ago. And hotels and lodges offer all kinds of women's-only packages ranging from celebrating wedding to learning or improving skills like skiing or painting.

Lalia Rach, dean of the Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University, said women have more money and freedom than they've ever had before, so failing to address their cravings is simply bad business.

Women's only tours fill a niche for females who lack traveling partners and don't enjoy solo vacations yet don't want to risk booking a package that could be loaded with couples or lecherous singles. And since women tend to plan the family vacations, creating specialized opportunities for them is a great way to reach the decisionmaker, tourism experts said.

Le Merigot, a JW Marriott beach hotel and spa in Santa Monica, Calif., now offers a women and wine package that includes a bottle of wine, a dinner with wine pairing, massages and guides to nearby wineries.

Debra Rosenberg Matsumoto, director of sales and marketing at the property, said she hopes the package will encourage women traveling for business to stay an extra night or those who purchased the package to come back with their significant others or more girlfriends for even longer stays.

Rosenberg Matsumoto said that women have traditionally been associated with spa vacations but this package provides them with other fun activities _ a combination she hopes give the property an edge.

"We see a trend of women wanting to do all kinds of things," said Rosenberg Matsumoto.

Women traveling with Adventurous Wench, which caters exclusively to females, will often find their vacation itineraries include recommendations on where to get a massage, shopping tips, a trip to a garden or a cooking class _ activities that may be lacking in packages that cater to mixed groups.