As a frequent solo traveler, I’ve grown accustomed to taking certain precautions when venturing out alone. A heightened sense of situational awareness, avoiding isolated areas after dark, and even subtly modifying my wardrobe or appearance can become just another uncomfortable aspect of seeing the world.
While the adventurous spirit in me yearns to explore uninhibited, the pragmatic side can’t completely dismiss the realities and risks women face—even in relatively safe destinations. Constant vigilance eventually becomes an exhausting burden.
That’s why the emergence of women-only hotels and resorts has been such a welcome oasis for travel lovers like myself. From India and Indonesia to Estonia and Peru, pioneering hospitality brands are reimagining what it means to create inclusive, empowering spaces designed exclusively for the female experience.
After experiencing one such property firsthand in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, I’ve become an ardent evangelist for a concept I believe is shifting long-overdue cultural tides.
An Elevated Sense of Solace
Despite its beachfront Caribbean splendor and sun-drenched opulence, Grand Hera Resort cultivates an intimate, almost spiritual sense of serenity from the moment you arrive. From the all-female staff and security team to the discreet absence of signage advertising its purpose, there’s an unspoken acknowledgment that you’ve entered a realm guided by women’s nurturing energy.
After checking in—a process as warm and unhurried as being welcomed into someone’s home—I surrendered my phone, laptop, and belongings to my accommodating “Personal Valet.” For the entire week, anything I could possibly desire would be delivered with practiced poise and a few taps on their stylish custom-designed wristbands.
My suite struck the perfect balance of elegant sophistication and inviting comfort. Vast windows overlooked a private beach while the spacious living area seamlessly flowed into a terrace with a private soaking tub. The attention to curating a restorative respite became evident at every turn.
Freedom That Transcends Borders
As I claimed my reserved lounger along the peaceful beachfront pool, exactly zero conversations or disruptions revolved around gender politics, safety, or misconduct. How marvelously novel to experience that level of normality in a place of uncompromising beauty.
Instead, cold drinks and artfully crafted cuisine arrived throughout the day as I lazed under brilliant sunshine. Yoga classes, cooking workshops, kayaking adventures, and open-air massages grounded by vital female energy filled my schedule—or lack thereof. For the first time in ages, I was unconcerned with constructing even the subtlestdefenses.
To my delighted surprise, Grand Hera attracted guests of all ages, backgrounds, and relationships. While solo travelers like myself deeply savored the facility’s spirit of freedom, I befriended several multi-generational families and couples celebrating renewals and rebirths. Some came seeking transformation and transition. Others hoped to simply decompress and recharge.
The common thread became evident—whether on our own or with loved ones, we all craved the simple liberty that comes from being insulated in an understanding environment where we never had to justify or explain ourselves.
Manifesting Long-Needed Change
For all of Grand Hera’s luxury and indulgence, its greatest value may be the profound notion it represents for half the world’s population. While not every woman can or necessarily wants to experience holidays in gender-segregated spaces, normalizing the ability to feel comfortable and unrestricted in existing without apology or fear is a transformative step for female travel.
“It’s about providing a blank canvas for our guests to redefine what travel means to them,” Cristina Salas, the resort’s general manager, explained. “For so many, that sojourn is often burdened with subliminal anxieties of potentially being made to feel unsafe or unwelcomed. We hope guests leave here not even realizing how singularly liberated that mindset allowed them to feel.”
In an age where wanderlust-fueled social media runs rampant with influencers and celebrities curating perpetual travel fantasies, Grand Hera manages to strip away those artificial veneers. Without inhibition or judgment, the brand encourages authentic personal journeys to unfold whichever way moves you.
The Empowerment of Choice
Of course, operating a women-only hotel in 2023 isn’t without its critics and skeptics. Some view the concept as archaic, promoting the antithesis of societal integration. Others issue bad-faith accusations that it somehow invites illicit exclusion and discrimination.
Yet by alleviating ambient suspicion simply through the empowerment of choice, those specious concerns fade in relevance. Every guest who reserves a haven within Grand Hera’s lush haven does so of her own considerations, identity, and personal sovereignty.
Rather than energizing division, it’s fostering replenishment in a shared community. As condo-owners and boutique investors champion additional developments worldwide, demand will dictate expansion and refinement of hospitality’s fastest-evolving niche.
One Day Soon
As I reluctantly prepared to depart my seaside sanctuary, I found myself daydreaming about where a resort like Grand Hera might appear next. Perhaps nestled in Tuscany’s rolling hills or overlooking an arctic fjord? Imagine the possibilities.
For an invigorating moment, I relished the idea of exploring more of the world’s natural wonders without even unintentionally minimizing my own needs or self-expression. Circumnavigating archaic double standards and arbitrary rules just isn’t part of the equation.
I’ll return someday soon, craving that immaculate level of solace, liberation, and personal empowerment only this holistic style of travel can provide. A safe haven awaits, no matter where the journey leads next.