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)

That's part of her trips' allure, said Deanna Keahey who founded Adventurous Wench in 2003 when she was parting ways with her partner and realized she was losing her primary traveling companion.

"I went on an (organized) trip and was the only single. I was the odd person out," Keahey said.

So Keahey started a company that organized the kinds of vacations she would like to take _ trips that offer some physical activity such as white water rafting but also include cultural excursions and stays in comfortable hotels. The first year Keahey organized three trips. This year, the company offered 13 excursions and plans to promote 15 to 17 packages in 2007.

Keahey and others in the tourism industry say that women and men often have different travel approaches. For example, they both may want to hike to the top of the mountain, but men tend to want to reach the peak efficiently while many women don't really care how long it takes, preferring to meander through villages and markets on the way.

"I think women pay more attention and appreciate more of the local character, local feeling of a place," said Keahey. She also adds, "We don't really rough it."

Bobbi Wade, an owner of High Wild & Lonesome Horseback Adventures, said she sees tremendous differences in how women and men behave on the outings. The company began offering one women-only weekend trip five years ago. This year, it offered two weeklong vacations for women to improve their riding skills and will offer at least that many next year.

"Men are more goal-oriented," Wade said. "Women appreciate every little thing about the experience. They are more relaxed."

Janice Pearson has taken three trips with Adventurous Wench, including one two months ago to Tuscany. Pearson, a 45-year old personnel executive, said she is a passionate traveler and has no qualms about vacationing solo, but there are some trips that are hard to plan for a single person.

Pearson's first two trips with the company were sailing jaunts, excursions that she wasn't about to attempt alone

Pearson is married but said her husband doesn't like travel unless it involves golf. Since she isn't interested in meeting a potential mate, Pearson dismissed the idea of a singles' trip and didn't want to worry about joining a group that resembled Noah's Ark.

"I like the idea of women traveling together," said Pearson, who lives in Dexter, Mich. "I think it is more comfortable with just women, more fun."

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On the Net:

Le Merigot: http://www.LeMerigotHotel.com

Adventurous Wench: http://www.adventurouswench.com

High, Wild & Lonesome: http://www.hwl.net