Whether you’re embarking on a solo trip around the world or you’re looking for something on-theme for your next girls’ trip, this round-up of exclusively female accommodations and experiences has you covered, from an island that’s put a ban on male visitors to retreat weeks with a purpose.
Bay Hotel
All-Female Hostel in Tokyo, Japan
The Bay Hotel in Tokyo has been coined a “capsule hotel” (a nice way of saying a hotel with very small rooms) but feels more like a luxury hostel.
It’s compact space and busy atmosphere reflects the fast pace of the city. Conceptual, contemporary, and unlike any traditional Western living space, Bay Hotel includes a communal lounge area with simple kitchen facilities and a laundry service that’s available at an additional charge.
It’s well-suited to those hopping from city to city but also welcomes travelers looking for something more long term.
Solo guests will feel at home as the number of single-bed rooms matches the doubles.
SuperShe Island Retreats
Women-Only Retreats on SuperShe Island, Finland
SuperShe is a privately-owned island just off the coast of Finland, and it’s home to a women’s only retreat and networking space built to house just eight people at a time.
“Female-only travel opportunities are important because it’s so rare to be in an environment where women can truly just be together,” says Kristina Roth, the founder of SuperShe. “Travel is a fantastic way to learn and grow and to be able to do so with other women—from different backgrounds and with different life experiences—is an invaluable way to make new connections.”
SuperShe is as much a networking opportunity as it is an escape, but an escape it certainly is. This small 8.4 acre island is not only isolated but absolutely beautiful. Those lucky enough to have made it through the application process (yes, application process) can expect the usual wellness retreat activities like yoga and spa treatments as well as discussions, instructions, and dedicated bonding time.
“Getting away from your usual space and crowd can help you to look inward,” says Roth. “That’s what we hope to offer: a chance for women to connect with people they might not otherwise have met, and to learn more about their own selves, too.”
Women’s Week at Golden Door
Wellness Retreat in San Marcos, California
Golden Door in California is one of the world’s leading wellness retreats, offering restorative, all-inclusive retreat weeks, treatment programs, a luxury spa, and over 600 acres of landscaped private grounds—that’s a whole lot of zen.
“Women’s weeks” feature on the schedule frequently throughout the year. During their stay, female-identifying guests are encouraged to embrace their natural being, pack light, and focus on their health.
But it’s not just a chance to relax. Golden Door offers an insight into California’s progressive approach to wellness, promising to deliver transformative results for the mind and body. Its price tag reflects its celebrity clientele, but if you’re looking to reset and recharge in the company of like-minded females, there’s no better trip to book.
Hotel Som Dona
Women’s Only Hotel in Mallorca, Spain
Though Mallorca is already a popular destination for female-focused yoga and wellness, it’s only now that the island’s first all-female hotel has opened its doors exclusively to women over the age of 14.
Hotel Som Dona offers all the benefits of traditional holiday acc{{pin:undefined}}ommodation—unstructured flexibility and the usual amenities—but with an all-female twist. Cuisine is locally sourced, healthy, and designed to suit a flexitarian lifestyle. There’s also a wellness area, a pool, and a rooftop bar—perfect ingredients for a relaxing stay on the Spanish coast.
Interiors are said to have been “designed with a feminine audience in mind” and (read: a lot of millennial pink) but that doesn’t necessarily sacrifice sophistication in the décor.
If cabin fever hits, the Caves of Drach, Porto Cristo, and Cala Murta beaches are within easy distance.
Media One Hotel
Female-Only Hotel Floor in Dubai, UAE
Media One’s female only floor opened in 2018 and is designed with the “girl’s trip” in mind—that much is clear when you’re handed a list of the week’s best Ladies Night’s at check-in (the restaurants that offer discounts and free drinks for women in Dubai).
Perks include welcome beauty kits, high-powered hairdryers, and a selection of books written by inspirational female authors.
It’s a playful riff on the concept adopted by other prestigious Dubai hotels, including Grosvenor House and Four Seasons, who offer female-only floors for cultural and religious reasons. Take Media One at face value and embrace the concept’s fun side—even if it may feel a bit like they’re stereotyping women’s holiday needs.
London Girls Surf Club
Sport and Culture Retreat in Taghazout, Morocco, and Hiriketiya Bay, Sri Lanka
London Girls Surf Club welcomes solo travelers as well as groups to its active getaways. Its concept is simple: Take women out of the city and into the sea to experience the joy of surfing, all while exploring a new destination and its culture.
In addition to their Camp Wipeout retreat in Devon, UK, destinations include Sri Lanka and Morocco and each trip offers unique experiences, a chance to sample local cuisine, as well as yoga and surf school. The organization’s main goal is to encourage guests to meet active, culturally-curious women with a shared interest in what their surf destination has to offer.