New product
I just received an e-mail about Tauck's new product: women-only travel groups. They're starting with 3 one-week trips in 2026 -- to Ireland, Portugal and Piedmont. I think that it's interesting that they're branching out to this market, as well as to the "Roam" market.
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Seems odd to me. Will you have to sell Girl Scout cookies during free time?
There is a niche market for women who travel alone, and Tauck is now entering that market. And please make mine Thin Mints. 🤣
Sounds like hell to me.
I am a woman who travels alone and this concept is not appealing at all.
It'll be interesting to see if they're successful with that - if they can fill the tours.
Does this mean only women Tour Directors, local guides, bus drivers, etc. Or is it guess male fellow travelers that are so repugnant that they need to be excluded.
Perhaps they can hand out sunglasses that make all men look invisible and whisperers that filter out all male voices.
Seems odd to focus your marketing dollars in such a niche area.
I haven’t received the e-mail but it could be that they are only sending it to their known solo female travelers. Given the number of females traveling alone, I think it is a brilliant marketing strategy. I remember on one of our river cruises there were about twenty (20) women traveling alone.
Culinary experiences in Paris and Lyon. Maybe a fashion tour in Milan (not appealing to me) or museum tours in Basel.
Thanks, MCD, for sharing this.
I find it quite telling how the men seem so offended by the empowerment of women.
Just about every other tour company from the highest end to everything in between cater to women only tours. It’s not anything new and not a surprise that Tauck would enter this category. If I were to travel alone or among women, I wouldn’t have to shave my legs or wait my husband to get ready. Advantages and disadvantages.
BKMD, I find your comment offensive.
I think this is a great idea. MCD, did the information say anything about single rooms? I'd love to try this, especially if the itinerary is a place in which my husband has no interest. But we've already had the discussion about sharing rooms with strangers and I'd prefer my own room. A one week trip seems very short, though. Perhaps their initial target demographic is working/younger people, like ROAM?
I got the email.
Yes, several other companies offer all women tours so it’s not strange that Tauck should try it out. I wonder how big the groups are, it will certainly make bathroom stops interesting.
It’s unclear whether they are offering a deal where it’s for a single occupant room or they are expecting women to go with a friend.
If it’s for a single room price, that would certainly be attractive to the many more single women who travel compared to men.
I always think a few men changes the dynamic mostly for the good,
Kfnknfsk - I find it humorous that you consider having an exclusive women’s only tour as empowering. Your thinking was popular during the Civil War time for a different exclusionary reason.
Once you start down the path of exclusion it rarely has good results.
Agree, Smiling Sam; makes me wonder about insecurities
mfrancis - why?
It's just business. Most of the single travelers are women, either because they always were single, they outlived their husbands (or divorced), or their husbands didn't want to travel.
Single travelers face a single supplement and may feel that dining alone is lonely. Perhaps with an all women tour they don't charge a single supplement and arrange for shared tables and more ways of mixing the people. Just ways to encourage women who might hesitate to travel alone to book a tour.
If they thought they could sell it, I'm sure they would offer men only tours, also. But I don't see those selling.
A friend shared the email announcing this, and I noticed it was sent to those in the "1925 Circle." The women-only trips are not viewable to those of us who haven't reached that status with Tauck. A mistake Tauck may correct if their loyal frequent travelers don't fill the trips. My daughter and I went on Uniworld's inaugural women-only river cruise this year, and it was so much fun, we immediately booked the next one when they added it to 2027. The women on our ship ranged from 20's to 90's, and my guess would be the majority were in their 50's. Grandmom/Mom/Daughters, sisters, neighbors, bridge partners, lots of working women, and solo travelers who hoped they wouldn't feel like a "fifth wheel." The standard itinerary was augmented with some women-focused options and special events on board.
Several years ago I attended an all female surfing school in Sayulita, Mexico for a week with a group of 20 US women. Not only did we learn how to surf, we walked away being friends forever.....it was one of my favorite trips!
www.lasolas.surf
Yes, how terribly exclusionary of women to fight for suffrage, for an education, for civil rights, for equal pay, to name just a few examples out of many.
I’m hopingTauck will survey us for some suggestions on tours. Perhaps in time.
Gafly - What prevents the Grandmas/Moms/daughters, sisters, … you describe from traveling together on any tour?
There's something for everyone. While some women might not want that sort of tour others will. I watched a Rick Steves video years ago of how he got started in the travel industry. (hint it was all because of pianos). In the early days he rented a minivan and took a group of travelers. The video showed picture after picture of Rick surrounded by a group of women. They wanted to travel but felt more comfortable in a group.
The real question will be whether Tauck can price this attractively to solo travelers.
Which of those are women fighting for when extolling the virtues of Women Only tours?
Again, I find it humorous that you equate fighting for equal rights, suffrage, etc. to having Women ONLY tours!!
Perhaps they're fighting for the Women Only tours to be equal to all of the Tauck Men Only tours. Oh wait, there aren't any of those. 😂😂
Smiling Sam: They do travel on any tour, but there can be a different vibe to a sisterhood, and almost instant camaraderie. Think sports team. My first thought to answer was a glib "grumpy men." The overall noise level and raucous laughter at meals was unlike any river cruise I've taken with couples. Not much different than offering tours with specific focus like Bridges for extended family or a focus on wine or the arts or adventure. It's one offering out of many, and it's not a statement of women's rights. If done right, it can be a smart business decision for today's market.
Gafly - Women’s only tours are similar to Bridges tours if Bridges tours excluded Fathers and sons.
A tour that focuses on a specific area like you mention wine or the arts or adventure don’t exclude anyone, they try to attract ANYONE interested in that topic. That’s the same thing that all tours do. They try to attract ANYONE interested in the region the tour visits, the sights that the tour sees, the activities that the tour includes, etc. They try to attract ANYONE - not just Women, not just men, not just any specific group - by the features of the tour that are offered.
I think Mike nailed this one, as he often does. I have done my share of fighting for women's rights, but in this case I see it simply as a question of accommodating a large and growing group of women who might feel awkward traveling by themselves in a group of mostly couples. I guess they could have made it for mixed singles but that would imply a totally different vibe, which could also be awkward. I like that they are trying out this idea and look forward to seeing how it works out.
BKMD -- Not only did I sell my share of Girl Scout cookies, but I was a "cookie mom" several times for my daughter's troop! (Samoas all the way...with maybe some Do-Si-Dos -- though my husband could down a whole sleeve of Thin Mints at a sitting.). And by the way, I've been very happy traveling in mixed company, even as a solo.