Advice for Women Travelers:
Shoes

What shoes do you take when you travel?

Which shoes to take for a trip depends on a lot of things:

• Why you are traveling (for work? does that mean you have to wear business clothes?)
  
• What you will be doing while traveling (how much walking will you do? and what will the terrain be like?)
  
• What will the weather be like where you are going?
  
• How conscious are you of your shoes, in terms of what other people see in you/think of you?
  
• How much luggage are you taking?
  
• Are you flying or taking a train - and therefore very limited in terms of luggage - or are you in a car, where you aren't so limited on what you can take?
  

I really don't care what people think about the shoes I'm wearing. But some women really do, and would be miserable wearing comfortable shoes that don't also look fabulous, but happy in shoes that hurt oh-so-much but make them feel pretty.

When I travel without my motorcycle and will be doing a lot of walking - which is MOST of the time - I take these shoes:

• Vasque trail running shoes. These are perfect for both doing a lot of urban site-seeing (on pavement) or hiking through gorgeous, natural scenery. They are, IMO, the perfect blend of sneaker and hiking shoe. They're rugged, they are durable, and they feel great on my feet. Something with ankle support would be nice - but I've never found anything that is as light as these, feels as good and will last as long - but your luck may be different.

• Teva sandles - but only if it will be warm enough at my destination. I can hike in these as well, as long as the terrain isn't too crazy. They are also great for wearing down to breakfast in a hotel, or for an airplane (easy to take on and off at security, as well as on the plane as well). They also look fine with the kind of comfortable clothes I like to wear for a night on the town on a warm evening.

• Cheap plastic flip flops, for the shower or for running around a hotel room.

Seems like a lot to men - and to women, I often get the response, "That's it?!"

For me, this has been the perfect combination of shoes. I'm big on being practical and trying to travel as light as possible. I just don't get taking painful shoes, no matter how great they might look - even if you are going to have a private car taking you everywhere you need to go, you are going to be walking a lot in airports. Plus, I hate dealing with stuff while traveling, even when I'm going to be in the same hotel room or guest room the entire time.

Backpacking

When I backpacked (I no longer do), I took just my hiking boots and my Tevas - and was always wearing one of them: the boots when I had my pack on, and the Tevas around the camp, or short hikes without my pack. For flying, I suggest you wear your hiking boots on the plane - they just take up WAY too much space for packing. It will be rotten during security, because you will have to take them off then put them back on - and it will also be horrible on a long plain ride if you are not flexible enough to take them off in your cramped airplane seat, but that's a temporary discomfort and inconvenience.

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 Quick Links 

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Index of resources for women travelers (how to get started, health & safety considerations, packing suggestions, transportation options, etc.
 
Advice for camping with your dogs in the USA
 
Saving Money with Park Passes in the USA
 
Advice for women motorcycle riders and travelers
 
transire benefaciendo: "to travel along while doing good." advice for those wanting to make their travel more than sight-seeing and shopping.
 
Suggestions for Women Aid Workers where the culture is more conservative/restrictive regarding women than most other countries.


Where I've been
A list of all of the states in the USA and all of the countries I have lived in or traveled in, the farthest North I've been by land, the nearest I've been to the equator, various other stats.
This includes all of the places I have traveled to and through via motorcycle.

Some of my favorite photos from my travels. Very hard to pick favorites.

Advice for Hotels, Hostels & Campgrounds in Transitional & Developing Countries: the Qualities of Great, Cheap Accommodations

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