Written by women on the road

Dear NomadHers ❤️,
Welcome to Oumaima’s thoughts.

It’s been a while since I talked to you girls, things have been hectic lately, “so many things to do” as Hyo always says! 😂

If you’ve been following us lately and checked my previous journal entry, you’d know that I’m on my 3rd month interning at NomadHer.
I’m pretty amazed by my growth, it’s only been 3 months but I’ve seen and acknowledged some major changes in my way of thinking and seeing myself.
And I’m so happy that I chose to do this internship. My team is supportive and I’m in an environment where I keep pushing myself to accomplish new things every day.

So, What’s Up?

• Some of you might know me closely, others will know me as Camera Girl.
  Well, this Camera Girl had the opportunity to talk live to over 60 students and jumped on it.
  Who would’ve thought? Certainly not me.
  But I did it, and wasn’t nervous in the slightest. It was a one hour discussion about my move  to France, why I chose to study in France, how I got my internship and how I coped with being in a different country far away from my family,
  I was happy when it was done, because that experience represented something I never thought I would have one day the nerve to do.

• I found out I really liked product design. I had the chance to join our UX meetings for NomadHer App, and let me tell you, it is not easy!
  We have all these ideas that we need to implement to guarantee a better user experience journey for you NomadHers.
  These sessions take long hours of work, at least 3h per day.
  On a funnier note, Hyo and I come up with these crazy fun ideas, we pitch them to Jason and he always tells us “I can try”, even when he knows that it won’t work or look look pretty, and it’s fine, we move on, but when it sticks, OMG we get so excited, you would’ve thought we won the lottery from our squeals. 😂

• Writing emails to journalists is sooo time consuming, we had to send emails in French & English and of course we had to personalize them so they won’t look like spam.
  I was afraid half the time to mess up and swap names, I kept checking and double checking every time.

• I got surprisingly better at content creation & design, I was so bad at it but Canva had my back.

• I had the chance to participate in several webinars through Station F, so that was helpful, I learned a lot.

• We’re now making guidebooks for solo female travelers, so far we’ve published Paris & Morocco, next ones will be Seoul and New York.
  It’s been fun working on them and finding general information and tips that will help our NomadHers in their future travels.

• Finally, I met some amazing women through our NomadHer events. Reading their stories and talking to them inspires me everyday.

Personally, I think working at a startup is fun and it is certainly a learning experience, you get to wear many hats and work and learn several things, your days are not repetitive and every day is a New Adventure!

That’s all for this journal entry. Until next month!

Xoxo.
Oumaima

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The guide to New York City for solo female travelers

Made by Alicia with love💚

How much does NomadHer recommend New York City for solo female travelers?

(😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)

Our score is : 😊 Fine

New York City, the city that never sleeps might be a little overwhelming for a newbie solo traveller however with proper planning can be an experience you’ll never forget!

In terms of being safe in NYC it is important to always be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking around unpopulated areas at night, and if possible during the night try to go out in groups. You can do this by connecting with other women from the NomadHer app or gathering with others from the hostel you’re staying at. There are even some facebook groups that are for solo travellers in NYC.
Something I enjoyed doing during solo travel trips was finding pub crawls. Normally on outings like this I have found, there are other solo travellers from all over the world!
New York City consists of the 5 boroughs. They are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. NYC is located where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the world's major commercial, financial, and cultural centers

This travel guide is written by a female Upstate New Yorker - Alicia Persaud, a NomadHer Ambassador

Words to remember

Taxi
MTA - the metropolitan transport authority (subway)
Bodega - tiny grocery that sells everything
Bacon egg and cheese - best breakfast sandwich, a classic!
BK - Brooklyn
Uptown/Down - north of the city / south of the city
Knicks - Basketball team representing NY in the NBA
Yankees - Baseball team representing NY in the MLB

Do’s

• Keep an open mind!
• Don’t expect the glamorous New York City you see in the movies. There is a lot of pollution, rats etc. People aren’t always dressed up. People aren’t very friendly. Taking the subway isn’t the easiest thing to do. It is likely you will get lost.
• Hit up the tourist destinations
• They’re tourist destinations for a reason, experience as much as you can with the time you have. There is a ton of history and culture embedded in this city.
• Expect severe weather
• New York summers are HOT and New York winters are FREEZING! Honestly I would say the best time to visit is in the fall when things are a bit milder and you can see the leaves in central park change color!
• Eat as much as possible
• It’s no secret America has an obesity epidemic. However…. While you are here, short term. Enjoy all the food NYC has to offer. Indulge in sweet treats, pizza, fried pickles, whatever your heart desires, it is likely you can find it here.
• Take day trips to Upstate New York
• I might be a little biased on this but…. There are beautiful landscapes up north. If you like to hike / be outdoors you have to check out Sam’s Point, Lake Minnewaska etc. There are also lovely wineries and art exhibits such as Storm King Art Center.
• Dont’s
• Expect to accomplish everything on your list in a day
• NYC is densely populated, on top of this is home to a ton of tourists. It is likely you will have to wait on long lines at various tourist attractions which in turn may prohibit you from accomplishing as much as you would like.
• Rent a car
• I feel like this one might be self explanatory but…. NYC traffic truly is one of a kind and I would not recommend anyone drive in it unless they were familiar with the area. On top of that parking is extremely expensive.
• Leave home without a phone or charger
• This one might also be self explanatory but feeling lost in NYC without a phone could be a nightmare. Don’t put yourself in this situation!
• Walk around random parts of the city at night
• I think if you are in Midtown or heavily populated areas this can be okay, however it is important to remain cautious of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings. I wouldn’t take the subway by myself at off hours, I wouldn’t take walks in Central Park by myself during the night. It is important to be aware of your surroundings at ALL times.

Things to see

• Empire State Building
  The Empire State Building is a 102-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. It is home to a few museums and incredible views! Get a cute IG pic here ;)

• Central Park
  Central Park is the largest urban park in NYC and one of the largest in the world consisting of 843 acres2!
  There are tons of things to do within Central Park. The Conservancy hosts activities daily. One of my favorite things to do is to row around the pond!

• Statue of Liberty
  Visiting the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island is a wonderful experience and to get the most out of it, realize that visiting can take most of a day.

• Times Square
  At the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in New York City's Midtown Manhattan, stands Times Square. Time Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment center, and neighborhood.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the United States.
  The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.

The Brooklyn Bridge
For the best views of the bridge head to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or Pier 15 in the Seaport district5. You can also walk or bike on the bridge!

Broadway
There are 41 professional theaters in the Theater District and the Lincoln Center along Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Each with 500 or more seats, present world-renowned theatrical performances6. My favorite was the Lion King :).

Museum of Sex
The Museum of Sex gathers and preserves art and objects that support its goal of presenting humans sexuality's origin, evolution, and cultural significance. My friends and I went for my birthday one year. It was very funny. There is a bouncy house with inflatable boobs.

The Cloisters
Tucked away in scenic Fort Tryon Park, the Cloisters—an annex of the Met—showcase art and architecture from medieval Europe.
Numerous artifacts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera fill the halls. Even the building itself—constructed from European monasteries transferred to the U.S.—looks like something out of Game of Thrones.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Once a retirement home for aging sailors, Snug Harbor reinvented itself as an arts center and botanical garden in the 1970s. Explore the property's nine distinctive gardens, including the bamboo forest and koi ponds of the Chinese Scholar’s Garden and the intricate maze of boxwoods at the Connie Gretz Secret Garden.

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NYC staple foods

• Hotdogs
  An American classic! Can be found just about anywhere, whether you’re walking the streets of Manhattan or at a sporting event. Beef and pork are the traditional meats used in hotdogs. There are tons of toppings you can put on your hotdogs, most common are relish, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard.

• Pretzels
  A doughy and salty snack easily obtainable on the streets of NYC.

• Pizza
  New York-style pizza has big, thick slices with a crisp crust that can be folded. Pizza that has no additional toppings is referred to as "plain," "regular," or "cheese."
  Pizza is normally sold by the slice or as a whole pie, which is typically 18 inches in diameter and divided into eight slices.
  It is common to see a $1 slice stands across NYC! (Who say’s you can’t eat cheap in NYC.. hahaha)
• Bagels
  Come in a variety of flavors such as sesame or onion and is paired with an assortment of toppings such as the classic cream cheese, or bacon egg and cheese.
  This American delicacy is easily eaten on the go for breakfast or lunch.
  A new bagel combination that I have tried and am obsessed with is a spinach bagel with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, and bacon, I know it might sound gross but hear me out…. Don’t knock it until you try it.
• Roasted nuts
  One of my favorites snacks that I can only find in NYC! These roasted nuts are warm, sweet and simply delicious, you can get all kinds such as almonds, cashews, or my favorite coconut.
• Hamburgers
  Very similar to hot dogs except in a patty form and might be more widely found! There are many variations ranging from $1 burgers at fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s or burgers with gold flecks and truffles.

Disclaimer

Our guide was made with care & love, but that doesn't mean that we always get everything right. Please know that the information above can be outdated and measures in countries may change overnight because of Covid-19. Don't hesitate to correct us with better recommendations or latest knowledge!

Ramadan falls this year on April 13!

For muslims, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, prayer and introspection, when muslims reflect on their past deeds and think of ways to improve themselves, refrain from nefarious thoughts and behavior and devote themselves to prayer and Quran (the holy book of Islam) recitations. It is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Following the Adan (call for prayer) muslims do not drink or eat from the Fajr Adan (at dawn) to Al-Maghreb Adan (at sunset). The pre-dawn meal is called Sohour, and Iftar is when all friends and all the family get together around the table to break their fast.

Ramadan is linked to one of the 5 pillars of Islam (fasting) and is divine obligation to all muslims except children who haven’t reached puberty, people with chronic illness, the elderly whose bodies can’t handle fasting and those who can’t fast due to health or physical reasons (chronic illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruating...), long distance travelers are also exempt from it. It’s interesting to note that for people who fall under the 4rth category have to fast the exact amount of days they ate after Ramadan is done.

Muslims celebrate two celebrations in Ramadan:

- Laylat al Qadr (the night of destiny) it’s considered the holiest night of the year, it is believed it falls on an odd-numbered night in the last 10 days of Ramadan, but its exact date is unknown. It corresponds with the night of the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad (the last prophet) by the angel Gabriel.
On this occasion, many muslims spend the night praying and it is believed that on this sacred night, one’s prayers are answered.

- Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan when family and friends get together to celebrate the end of the holy month.

The guide to Morocco for solo female travelers

Made by NomadHers with love💚

How much does NomadHer recommend Morocco for solo female travelers? (😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)
Our score is : 😊 Fine

Morocco is a beautiful northern African country less than 2 hours flight from Europe. The country is known for its hospitality towards tourists, and for the diversity of its landscapes, but many women are still apprehensive about visiting alone. As it is a muslim country with its distinct culture and traditions.

This travel guide was created to help women navigate their stay in Morocco. It is written by both a female moroccan local - Oumaima, NomadHer intern and a solo female traveler - Hyo, NomadHer founder, giving you two different perspectives.

Words to remember

Djellaba: the traditional wear for women
Hijab: head scarf
Adan: Call to prayer, it occurs 5times/day
Medina (the old city): it’s the historic part of the city
Souk: traditional market, usually in Medinas.
Bazaar: usually found in the medina, they are shops where you can buy traditional trinkets and souvenirs
Ramadan : the month of fasting for muslims

Emergency Numbers

Allo SAMU 141: to call in case of covid symptoms
Ambulance: 150
If you’re in the city
- Police 19
- Fire brigade 15
If you’re outside the city
Gendarmerie 177

Do’s

• Do keep an open mind
  Morocco is a modern but still a muslim country, some things may seem archaic to you. But its people are among the most welcoming people in the world, and the country itself is a gem.
  Don’t base your opinion on that of others, do you research, go with an open mind, and draw your own conclusions!

• Do dress appropriately
  In Morocco, women are free to wear the Hijab or not and you will see women wearing different styles going from dresses to skirts, to jellabas.
  The trick is to know where to wear to dress accordingly.
  We advise you to wear respectable clothes in the Medina, as it is filled with mostly male shop owners and some elderly, so wearing something revealing would attract attention to you and would be disrespectful towards elderly men.
  Open your eyes and observe, see what women near you are wearing. In touristic and modern parts of the cities , you can get away with wearing, mostly what you want.

• Do Know when Ramadan is!
  Ramadan is the 9th month of the islamic calendar where muslims fast the whole day. Restaurants and cafes are closed for business and open after sunset (when moroccans break their fast and do their prayer.)
  It is surprisingly the only time where you can walk around alone at night, as everyone is out, and the streets are filled with people.
  So if your trip coincides with Ramadan, you know what to expect.

• Do carry cash with you
  Cabs and some restaurants, shops and cafes, especially in the Medina, don’t take credit cards, so if you want to go on a shopping spree, take cash with you, and always have some stowed away in your purse. You never know when you might need it.

• Do eat delicious moroccan food
  Welcome to Food Heaven.
  Moroccan cuisine is renowned for its deliciousness, gorge yourself on it, it is worth the few pounds.

Here are some of our recommended dishes

Couscous: typically served with meat and vegetables, couscous is traditionally prepared every friday (muslim holy day) and special occasions.
Harira: A moroccan soup served on the side with eggs and Chebbakia (moroccan cookie).
It is usually served in Ramdan to break the fast.
Tajine: Tajine is actually the name of the traditional cooking pot as well as the name of the dish cooked inside.
There are different types of Tajines (Vegetarian, Fish, Meat) and they come with different flavors (sweet, spicy…)
Bastila:  meat or seafood pie made with warqa dough
Maakouda: deep-fried potato ball with spices
Zaalouk: Side dish eaten with bread made with eggplant, tomatoes, garlic and other spices
Kaab el Ghzal (Gazelle horns) : are crescent-shaped sweets with
almond paste.

• Do expect sampling free food.
  As mentioned above, Moroccans are very hospitable, when buying from food stalls in the Souk, they would give you a taste to sample the goods before selling it to you.

• Do enter a Mint Tea Pouring Contest
  You can never leave Morocco without drinking mint tea, moroccans drink it the whole day!
  And it is poured from height, the higher you go without spilling it all over, the more experienced you are at making tea.
  So do your own pouring.

• Do expect to melt under the Summer
  Sun In some regions, temperatures can go up to 50°c in Summer, and you won’t find air conditioning everywhere.  So if you do not want to turn into a melting ice cream, best to visit in Spring
• Do sleep under the stars in the Sahara
  Going to the Saraha is a must do in Morocco, you can enjoy some of the most beautiful sunrises there.
  Merzouga is a small village at the foot of the dunes, it is one of the 10 must see places in Morocco that we can recommend.
• Do say “La, shoukrane”
  Moroccans will try to sell you everything, don’t fall for it.
  La, shoukrane (No thank you) will be your best friend.
• Do haggle for anything you buy.
  In most shops in the medina, items prices aren’t labeled so you could easily get scammed.
  So before buying anything, always negotiate the price, even if it takes you ages, moroccans are so used to this dance it’s become their way of life, so don’t be discouraged. It can be fun and you could even get a gift at the end of the haggling ;)
• Do expect crazy driving!
  Driving in Morocco is not for the fainthearted. Left, right, sometimes even the sidewalk, everything is a road, moroccans drive like crazy.
  They say if you drive in Casablanca, you can drive anywhere in the world.
• Do expect to get scammed by taxi drivers in Marrakech!
  Nowhere in Morocco you will find this, taxi drivers impose their own prices and sometimes double  even triple the car fair, even for a short drive.
  Be wary of them, and if you take one, always negotiate the price before getting in!
• Do expect beggars asking for pennies!
  Poverty is everywhere, and sadly, it shows in the streets of Morocco.
  You will see women and men begging with their children on their laps or shoulders, old men, children. The sight is heartbreaking so be ready for it!

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DON’TS

• Don’t expect only desert in Morocco!
  Morocco is a wonderland of landscapes, a destination full of gems and hidden spots.
• Don’t expect to find toilets in some buses:
  Before embarking on your journey, do tend to your needs in the restroom before going on the bus, otherwise, it will be a long and uncomfortable bus ride!
• Don't be alarmed by people greeting you warmly
  Moroccans are hospitable and welcoming people with sometimes no sense of personal space, you would get hugged and kissed on the cheeks as a way of greeting, it just shows that they are happy to welcome you.
• Don’t be alarmed by the Adan!
  Adan is the call to prayer for muslims, you will hear it 5 times a day from the Mosque’s speaker.
• Don’t be sad for not being allowed to enter some Mosques
  Entry to Mosques is allowed only to muslims, so don’t take it personally if they don’t permit you to go in.
  Some Mosques allow it, although you have to cover your head, arms and legs.
• Don’t engage with cat callers.
  Cat calling and harassment are a big problem in Morocco. Moroccan women aren’t spared and sadly, you wouldn’t be as well.
  We found out that the best thing to do is to not engage, wearing a fake wedding ring would help and sometimes, blending in with the crowd.
  The sad truth is, the harassment would come to a full stop if you were accompanied by a man
• Don’t walk alone in the dark
  Deserted alleys and the night are not your friends, do not venture alone at night.
• Don’t go camping alone
  You won’t be a happy camper in Morocco, camping sites are not secure, and camping in the wilderness alone is not safe.

Where to stay

Finding lodgings is easy in Morocco, you have many hotels, hostels… but to live the full moroccan experience, we recommend you book at least a night in a Riad.

Disclaimer

Our guide was made with care & love, but that doesn't mean that we always get everything right. Please know that the information above can be outdated and measures in countries may change overnight because of Covid-19. Don't hesitate to correct us with better recommendations or latest knowledge!

Morocco is a beautiful northern African country less than a 2 hours flight from Europe. The country is known for its hospitality towards tourists, and for the diversity of its landscapes, but many women are still apprehensive about visiting alone.
You have to know that Morocco is a modern but still a muslim country, some things may be jarring and traditional to you.

What to expect as a solo female traveler?

👩When going into the Medina (the historic city center) we advise you to wear respectable clothes, as it is filled with mostly male shop owners and some elderly, so wearing something revealing would attract attention to you and would be disrespectful towards elderly men.

🏕Camping for example is not something you should do alone as most camping sites are not safe for solo female travelers.

🚌🚉🚖In Morocco, different Public transportations are available.
We recommend using CTM or Supratours (bus companies)  and ONCF (the national railway operator)
Taxis in Morocco don’t use apps to book a ride you either go to the street and wave to a taxi, or go to a specific place. They also don’t use credits cards, so always have cash on you.

There are 2 types of Taxis:

• Grands taxis (shared cabs) come in the Grey colour, they don’t use the meter so the fee is always set ( they vary from one city to another) take up to 6 passengers but with covid, it’s down to 3.
  Note that some Grands Taxis can travel between cities.
• Petits taxis are recognizable by their color (colours differ between cities), they can take up to 3 passengers and the cab fare is calculated by the meter.
  Note that petit taxis don’t go outside the city.

Morocco is widely known for its hospitality, its people are among the most welcoming people in the world.

The places we recommend are safe but we still urge you to keep your wits about you as always.
Most of these spots are enjoyable and have easy access, but we think that Dades and Ouzoud are better experienced with other people as you can’t have your pick in public transportation, going with a travel agency would be advised.

And without further ado, let’s get to it!

1- Chefchaouen- the blue diamond

Chefchaouen is located in the Rif mountains in the north of Morocco.
Its blue building and peaceful alleys are what makes Chefchaouen a magical place to be in, it is for that reason that it’s called the most “instagrammable place” in Morocco.
Other than strolling in the center, you can also hike around the mountain paths.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus (CTM) or Grand taxi.

2- Ouarzazat

Ouarzazate aka, The city of Yunkai, if you are a Game of Thrones fan, you will definitely remember this site Ait Benhaddou . Other movies have been filmed there, the site Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site set to transport you centuries back in time.
Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus (Supratours and CTM)

3- Merzouga
The village at the foot of the dune is located at the gate of the Sahara Desert, where you can spend the night in the desert contemplating the stars and bask in the spectacularity of the sunsets.
A few miles away from Mezrouga, nestled in the Sahara, you will find a seasonal lake Dayet Srij, where you can watch hundreds of desert birds, especially the flamingos.
Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go by (Supratours)

4-Fez
Fez is considered Morocco’s cultural and spiritual city. Home to the oldest university in the world-University of al-Qarawinyyin built in 859, Its Medina was founded in the 8th century and is considered to day one of the best historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world.
The tanneries in the Medina are still operating as they did centuries ago, it’s one of the “must sees” for visitors.
Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus, train or taxi.

5- Meknès The imperial city
Meknès was the capital of Morocco under Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672–1727) where he created a massive imperial palace complex encircled with massive walls and monumental gates.
Under his reign, he built a grand subterranean prison - Qara’s Prison named after a portuguese prisoner who is rumoured to have designed it in order to gain his freedom.
Its unusualness comes from the fact that it lacked doors and bars, prisoners were thrown in from holes in the ceiling and were left to die.
The prison was inescapable due to the fact that it was designed as a labyrinth and is rumoured to extend miles beyond the city.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus, train or taxi.

6- Marrakech the red city
Marrakech, needs no introduction, when you ask if someone went to Morocco, they will tell you “ yes I’ve been to Marrakech”.
Marrakech is a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, the tourist hub distinguishes itself with the orange-red colour of its buildings and is home to the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco.The districts of Gueliz and Hivernage are the most modern where you’ll find international brands, restaurants, hotels and many nightclubs and bars.
Palm trees are scattered around the city, and cutting them down is illegal under the penalty of a 500EUR fine each.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus, train or taxi.

7- Dades Gorges
Located in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region, Driving there will earn you a medal, the road is most definitely not made for the fainthearted but is perfectly safe. And if you’re a fan of hiking, the red-coloured canyons will be to your satisfaction.
You can pass by the Monkey fingers, a beautiful rock formation in the shape of monkey fingers and see the ancient Ksour and Kasbahs (old forteresses).
A 40km drive will take you to Kalaat M'Gouna, a city famous for its Roses Festival which takes place in May. The festival lasts 7days in celebration of the season of the roses. Visitors have their pick from various rose derived products- rose water, perfumes, oils…

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👎No because you can go only go by a shared grand taxi.

8- Ifrane
Nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco and distinguished for its Alpine climate, Ifrane was built as a hill station during the French protectorate.
It is known for its cool climate during summer, Ifrane is quite a relief from its surrounding cities (Fès-Meknès) that tend to swelter in heat.
It is also surrounded by the largest cedar forest in the world.
If you go there, don’t miss out on the Barbary Macaques show the little monkeys put for the tourists. Beware, they will steal your food right off your fingers.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go either by bus or taxi.

9- Ouzoud falls
Nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountain 150km from Marrakech, Ouzoud is a natural preserved site where you can bathe, hike, camp or just sit and relax, and most importantly, eat Berber cuisine from the many restaurants scattered around.
The waterfalls are considered one of the most beautiful in Morocco.

The site is also famous for its prime entertainers, the Barbary Macaques, who roam freely in the site.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👎No because you can go only go by a shared grand taxi.

10- Dakhla

Dakhla is just one more example of Morocco’s landscape diversity.
Located in the south of Morocco and nestled between the waters of the Atlantic and the sands of the Sahara.
Dakhla is known for its magnificent beaches and tempered climat, it is also paradise for sliding sports fans.
The internationally renowned spot “Pointe de l’Or” is the IT place for surfers 🌊.

Is it easy to travel to as a female solo traveler ?
👍Yes because you can go by (Supratours or CTM)

Happy International Women’s Day!

In celebration for International Women’s Day 2021, we introduce to you a very inspiring woman, Ida Pfeiffer, who is the first female solo travel writer.

In early 19C Europe, a woman traveling solo was nearly impossible. Traveling itself was a privileged opportunity. Even if you had a chance to do so, you had to be accompanied by your husband. But Ida was brave enough to pursue her lifelong dream alone.

“When I was a little child, I had already a strong desire to see the world. Whenever I met a traveling-carriage, I would stop involuntarily, and gaze after it until it had disappeared. ”

— Ida Pfeiffer

When her son stood on his own feet, she finally took courage. She went on her first adventure in 1842, when she was 45 years old. For nine months she sailed in the Black Sea, passed through Istanbul and Jerusalem, rode on a horse to cross the Egyptian desert, went back to Italy and returned to her home in Vienna.

After returning home, she again challenged herself and decided to publish the story of her adventure. Her book, Journey of a Viennese Lady to the Holy Land, was an instant success. She could even gain sponsors who wished to fund for the next trip.

She wasn’t satisfied there. A year after publishing her first book, she went on a next trip to Northern Europe. And another year later, she started her journey around the world. It took 2 years for her to tour South America and Asia. Her footsteps went though Brazil, Chile, Tahiti then led to India and China. Her second trip around the world covering Northern America and Africa again began a few years later. After each trip, she always published a travel journal.

She traveled about 32,000 kilometers by land and 240,000 kilometers by sea through all continents except Oceania. John van Wyhe, a historian who wrote a biography of Ida Pfeiffer in 2019, commented on her as follows:

“She’s not wealthy, she’s not beautiful, she’s not educated - and yet she does all of these amazing things.”

— John van Wyhe

Her adventurous life is still inspiring lots of women after many years. Now she lies in the Vienna Central Cemetery, as the first woman to be enshrined in the rows of honored dead.

An empowered woman like Ida Pfeiffer empowers other women. Share her story to your social media and make the most of your 8th of March!

NomadHer is holding an event celebrating International Women’s Day 2021! Let’s talk about “Why every woman should travel solo once in her life.”

We will organize 3 workshops in 3 different languages (English, French and Korean) covering these 3 themes.

• #FEAR that’s stopping women from taking that first step to solo travel

• #ADVICE that we could give them

• #LESSON we learned from our solo travels

For those of you who wish to participate, the floor is yours ladies! This is a quick how-to to participate as a panelist,

1. Choose a topic among these hashtags: #fear, #advice, #lesson

1. Write your story on NomadHer app

1. We will contact you and invite you as a panelist
   

Dear NomadHers ❤️,

My name is Oumaima and I am Happy ✨!

As you may know, I got accepted for a 6 months internship at NomadHer. Being passionate about Travel and majoring in Tourism, I jumped on the chance to apply for the internship position after our professor told us about it.

At NomadHer, it’s all about creating a community where women can inspire, encourage and support each other, and last week marked my one-month “anniversary” of being part of the team.

And let me tell you, it’s going WONDERFULLY!

I'm not saying this because my team members are gonna read this 😂. It’s genuinely how I feel.

At first, I was a little apprehensive about meeting the team, I did not know anyone except Hyo, who I’ve talked to twice and now I can happily say that they welcomed me with open arms.

As a somewhat introverted person, I usually don’t make that first step to talk to people, but with you NomadHers, I do it gladly.

I love talking to you, organizing new events to make you smile and improve your day and what I love most of all is being a part of building NomadHer Community, where women gather to talk about not only their travel stories but their LIFE in general. Their hopes and dreams and the difficulties they faced; All for one GOAL: Support and encourage other NomadHers : #ifICanDoitYouCan

With NomadHer, I'm not afraid or ashamed of saying “I DON’T KNOW” how to do this or that.

Every day is a new adventure, new things to do and learn.

Being a marketing intern, I asked Hyo if I could also shadow her in order to learn about the business side of things, and she was happy to do so. So far, this is a list of what I learned this past month:

• I’ve learned to work efficiently within a team. Our brainstorming sessions (both for marketing and product development) are the highlight of my week. I seriously never thought about how much energy and work goes into creating just one simple function within an app. For example, just to add the “Reply” function within a comment takes took a brainstorming session first to decide the format, then Jason, our designer had to sketch a few designs for it, and then we had to take it up to Vinay, our developer to see if we could do it and how to implement it.

• I had the chance to prepare a pitch and see how startups present their ideas to investors. This month, Hyo had to pitch NomadHer to Welcome City Lab, an incubator in the tourism industry, so she had to talk about our business model, our DAU/MAU, our retention rate, how do we differentiate ourselves from competitors…

• I’ve learned how to use a number of digital tools such as Slack for communicating with the whole team as some work remotely. We use Miro in our brainstorming sessions and Notion for content creation. iMovie to edit videos, Mailchimp to write and send Newsletters...

• I’ve learned how marketing strategies are implemented.

• I’ve had the chance to create digital content and organize events.

But what I’m most proud of this month, is getting out of my comfort zone and trying out new things that I’m not comfortable with.

And what I was most miserable about this month was Paris’s cold weather, I literally froze, I could’ve turned into an icicle!

That’s all for this journal entry. Until next month!

Xoxo.

Oumaima

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The guide to Paris for solo female travelers

Made by NomadHers with love💚

How much does NomadHer recommend Paris for solo female travelers? (😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)

Our score is : 😊 Fine

The city can be quite tough for newbie solo female travellers, yet walking around in the beautiful Parisian night and finding unexpected jazz music is not to miss! Bon Voyage!

Paris is everyone’s dream destination. Especially for women. But is it safe to travel alone as a woman? For sure there are things you need to know before planning your travel. This is a guide for those brave women who want to explore Paris all by themselves.

Is Paris easy to travel solo for a woman? Yes🙆‍♀️ and No🙅‍♀️

🙆‍♀️ Yes, because you will see many people taking a seat in cafes and restaurants alone. (Currently they are closed for Covid restrictions.) Drinking coffee or having a chill lunch or dinner alone is somewhat common in Paris. You can try having a cup of espresso or a glass of wine on a Parisian terrace. Doing a little picnic in a park like ‘Jardin de Luxembourg’ or ‘Butte Chaumont’ is also safe and okay.

🙆‍♀️ Yes, because public Transportation is everywhere. You do not need a private car or taxi to move around. Not only metro, bus, tram and public bicycles, but also rentable electric scooters such as Lime, Bolts are everywhere.

🙅‍♀️ No, because pickpocketing and cat-calling might be something that you should be aware of. Cat-calling is quite common in Paris. Especially some men might try to just talk to you or see your eyes. Calling you “Bonjour (Hi)”, “Mademoiselle (Lady)”, “Ah t’es belle (Ah you are pretty)” is a typical cat-calling.  

🙅‍♀️ No, because some districts might be quite dangerous, full of drunk people and pickpockets depending on where you go at what time.

Paris can be your love and hate relationship city yet it is definitely worth to visit as the city itself is full of cultural heritage and museums. So, Here is a Travel Guide for Solo Female Travelers 101!

Accommodation

You’ll have every option for your accommodation in Paris; hotel, airbnb, couchsurfing and more. Even if you’re choosing a fancy hotel, keep this in mind: Some districts of Paris can be quite dangerous especially during the night!

Paris has 20 arrondissements. Here are short descriptions of them.

• 1st & 2nd arrondissements: Very historic. Full of must-see areas like the Louvre or Palais Royal. But accommodation can be highly expensive.

• 3rd & 4th arrondissements: Le Marais area has cool restaurants and bars. Different communities: Jewish, LGBTQ, Chinese, etc. Feel the vibe of diversity!
• 5th & 6th arrondissements: Lively neighborhood. The famous university La Sorbonne and Quartier Latin is located here.
• 7th & 8th arrondissements: The Eiffel Tower in the 7th, the Arc of Triomphe and the avenue of Champs-Elysees in the 8th! They are both highly touristic areas so beware of pickpockets.
• 9th & 10th arrondissements: the 9th district alone had 19 metro stations. If you ever find yourself in the 10th, Canal Saint-Martin is where to go, it is less touristy and offers a more intimate atmosphere than Quais de Seine. It is also also home to two big train stations: Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord where you can take a train to London.
• 11th & 12th arrondissements: The district of the youth & hipsters! You will see so many endless bars and the young people talking to each other especially near the metro station Line 3 "Parmentier".
• 13th & 14th arrondissements: The district of Chinese and Vietnamese communities! Well, you might feel like you are literally in Asia if you ever get a chance to visit this district. Feel the vibe of Asian street food, bubble tea and more to come!
• 15th & 16th arrondissements: They are residential districts. If you fancy calm strolls in parks, you can go to Parc André-Citroën. Tour de Montparnasse is located here, which is the highest skyscraper in Paris. The 16th is one of the most prestigious districts in Paris, home to a number of museums but also embassies.
• 17th & 18th arrondissements: 18th arrondissement is a home to the Montmartre. This highland provides a wonderful panorama of Paris. But be very careful when it’s dark!
• 19th & 20th arrondissements: the 19th is home to Paris’s artificial park, Parc des Buttes Chaumont. It was designed to imitate mountain landscapes it has: rocks, lake, waterfalls and cave. The 20th is known for its cemetery Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, where many international celebrities rest: Raymonde Delaroche, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde.

✅ Hazardous areas that you should avoid during nighttime. If you have any more opinions, feel free to contribute as well!

• Les Halles - Châtelet: live commercial center but can get wilder at night.
• Gare du Nord: one of the 4 major stations in Paris but try not to visit when dark.
• Stalingrad and Jaurès: beware of pickpockets!
• Porte de la Chapelle: popular neighborhood but you might feel insecure
• Barbès Rochechouart and the Goutte d’Or: walking those colorful streets at night might be too risky

✅ Wanna know how to avoid PickPocket in Paris? Find out more on our previous blog article here:

https://nomadher.com/blog/how-to-avoid-a-pickpocket-in-paris-for-a-solo-traveller

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Things to do in Paris

Museum

• Louvre Museum
• Centre Georges-Pompidou
• Musée d’Orsay
• Rodin Museum
• Musée de l’Orangerie
• Musée Picasso Paris
• Grand Palais
• Petit Palais

Shopping

• Louvre and Tuileries District: The center of Parisian design and fashion.
• Galeries Lafayette and Printemps in Boulevard Haussman: You can enjoy the typical Belle Epoque mood.
• The Marais: Vintage, artisan, handcrafted, and antique!
• The Champs-Elysées: What more do I have to explain?
• Les Halles - Châtelet: Huge underground shopping center with a cinema.
• Flea markets: Those in Montreuil, St-Ouen, Porte de Vanves are the most popular.

✅ In France they usually have 2 big sale seasons called “Les Soldes”. One in winter and the other in Summer. Winter sale will begin shortly after Christmas. Summer sale begins just before the vacances season. You can have big opportunities finding fantastic deals on expensive clothes and other items.

Eat

Must-Eat foods in Paris! These can be clichés but they exist to be proven, right?

• Baguette, croissant, pain au chocolat and pâtisserie

Try to wake up around 7am in the early morning, and go to the nearest boulangerie of your accommodation. You can go and order the freshly baked, warm and crispy baguette, which will definitely blow your mind.

• Wine

The more expensive the better? Not really! Go visit the nearest local supermarkets like Carrefour, Monoprix, Auchan and dive into the different types of wine ranging from red, rose, white and champagne! You will be surprised to know that starting from 3 euros you can get quite decent wine in France!

• French Cheese

Local Markets are always the best place to try different types of cheese! For example, you can go to the local market in Bastille which is held every Sunday starting from 9am and find out over a hundred kinds of cheese! Blue cheese (Roquefort) is a must-try! It is always bringing lots of controversies.

• Macarons

‘La Duree’ and ‘Pierre Hermes’ are the two most famous and loved Macaron brands by Parisiens! You might say that this small macaron costs like 3 euros? But when you try one bite you will understand the complex sabor of it!

• Onion soup and Croque Monsieur (or Croque Madame)

If there are street foods in other countries, Onion soup and Croque Monsieur might be the finger snack food in Paris Brasserie! Enjoy these light meals for less than 10 euros.

Activities

• Baking class
• Diverse options are available from baguettes to macarons. The classes usually last about 3 hours and the price starts from 100 euros. Do not miss this chance of learning how to bake French macarons from a French chef!

• Bike tour
• There are many options for guided bike tours in Paris. For 3-4 hours, you’ll be exploring small allies of Paris with a local guide. If you’re new to Paris, a city highlights bike tour can be a good way to understand the city and get the sense of it. Not only the explanation, but the tips and recommendations from the local guide are also really helpful.

Close cities

If you’re in Paris for more than a week, why don’t you visit nearby cities? You’ll be able to discover more about France.

• Mont Saint-Michel
• A small island in Normandy. Famous for the medieval village and the monastery. The island and its bay are on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage. It will take about 4 hours by train. People usually stay in a hotel along the bay and enjoy the beautiful sunset. Day tour programs by travel agencies can be an option too!
• Giverny
• Giverny is a village located on the right bank of the river Seine. It’s known for the home and garden of Claude Monet. It will take only 2 hours by train and bus from Paris. If you’re really impressed by Monet’s paintings during your museum tour, visiting Giverny can perfect your trip to Paris.
• Château de Versailles
• Home to the Sun King- Louis XIV and a symbol of the absolute Monarchy systemback then,Château de Versailles is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is around one hour from Paris by train.

Good things about Paris

• Paris is a huge open museum itself. If you’re from a big modern city, every little Parisian ally will catch your eyes.  

• Boulangerie and pâtisserie! Do I need any further clarification? Enjoy your feast!
• The public transport network is well designed. You’ll be able to reach anywhere you want pretty easily.
• As Paris is an international city, you can find any food you want. It is also home to different cultures and languages, you can go around the streets guessing which language you just heard.

Bad things about Paris

• Paris is dirty and it’s true. Dog droppings are everywhere. Some metro lines smell horrible. Well, you’ll just have to deal with it.

• Homeless people everywhere. It’s a rather complicated issue resulting from expensive housing and lack of social safety net. Many organizations and people are working on it multilaterally.
• Lots of Parisians don’t speak English. It’d be better if you can understand and speak basic French. Or at least install a translator app in your phone!

Disclaimer

Our guide was made with care & love, but that doesn't mean that we always get everything right. Please know that the information above can be outdated and measures in countries may change overnight because of Covid-19. Don't hesitate to correct us with better recommendations or latest knowledge!

Aloha NomadHers,

Do you know What happened on our first online picnic of the year?

If you have been following us lately, you know that we organized an event where we shared our first experiences Out of Our #comfortzone.

And guess what?

February 3rd 2021 is a date worth saving and commemorating in our calendars.

Do you know why?

It’s because strong brave beautiful women shared their heartwarming stories, coming from all over the world, South Korea, Morocco, USA, Sweden, Ukraine and France.

We all had one thing in common: We made that first step out of their comfort zone and they want to inspire others to do so.

We talked about the struggles we faced and the hurdles we overcame. Like traveling solo for the first time to another country where we do not speak the language, overcoming public transportation fears, talking in front of the camera, or expressing ourselves through our bodies.

These brave women showed us that although the first step may be the hardest, what follows is discovering a world full of possibilities.

What really got to all of us and warmed our hearts was the kindness of support we all had for each other, you could see the love and support pouring out of everyone present.

We Talked, we Laughed, we Cried, we BONDED.

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That’s how you know that you found your people. That’s when you realize that you are part of a community where you can be heard and have women backing you up and cheering you on every step of the way.

Stepping out of our comfort zone isn’t always easy, but with enough willingness, courage and support.

YOU CAN DO IT!

We applaud you, we congratulate you and we thank you for your courage.

Your stories inspired us and will continue inspiring others.

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