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Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I've been to 50 countries solo as a female. Here's what I've learnt
Spontaneous decisions have shaped some of my most memorable travel adventures, but I never leave home without a bit of careful planning. In a new city, I scour the internet for information about different neighbourhoods and work out which places to avoid. The comment sections on platforms like are also helpful. When were the most recent comments posted? Does the hotelier respond quickly? Have many people left positive feedback? These are all good indications of a safe and reliable space. Share your itinerary Sharing my whereabouts not only allows my mum to live vicariously through my travels – it also keeps me safe. Apps like TripIt can amalgamate confirmation emails into a detailed plan to be shared with friends and family, while TrackMyTour creates an interactive map of waypoints. If mobile roaming isn't an issue, switch on location services and share details with a select circle through the Life360 app or Find My on the iPhone. Where possible (and affordable), I always take an Uber rather than a taxi or local bus – largely because journeys are tracked and the trip status can easily be shared. But don't overshare Tempting as it might be to shout about adventures, avoid posting any geo-located material on social media in real time. Unless shared within a private group, never make public any information about travel plans and places where you intend to sleep. Either be vague about specific locations or post material a few days later. Making new friends is one of the great joys of travel, but I'm always hesitant to reveal too much personal information with strangers. If ever in doubt, it's fine to tell a few white lies and pretend you are travelling with somebody else or have plans to catch up with friends. When arranging to meet up with new acquaintances, always choose a busy place and share your plans with others at home. Carefully timetable Arriving anywhere after dark can be daunting – especially if you've never been there before. I always try to travel during daylight hours and avoid arriving at a hotel too late. If there's no other option – especially in the case of international flights – I pre-book transport through a reputable company or arrange to stay somewhere close to the airport. Connect with other women Sharing experiences with other female solo travellers can be both reassuring and helpful. Similar to a dating app, platforms like Tourlina, Bumble BFF and NomadHer can be used to find like-minded matches in different destinations. Users can create profiles, share ideas and even arrange meet-ups. On several occasions, I've also requested a female guide – partly to support greater gender equality but also to get a female perspective and inside knowledge. Another option is to join a specialist escorted tour. Companies like Intrepid, Trafalgar and The Adventure People arrange women-only tours – often providing access to activities that wouldn't be possible in a mixed gender group. Come prepared A lot of my travels are in developing countries so I'm always cognisant of the yawning inequality between (relatively) wealthy foreigners and local workers on a low wage. Unfortunately, I've occasionally had cash go missing – even in five-star hotels. To avoid any issues, I carry a padlock to put on my suitcase and keep any valuables inside – although I tend to leave any jewellery at home and prefer to travel light. I use a door latch, if there's one available, and stuff any visible peepholes with a piece of tissue. When entering a room, I check windows are lockable along with any interconnecting doors. Pack appropriate clothing I'm a big believer in clothes as a form of self-expression, but sometimes it's better not to shout about your presence too loudly. Preferring to blend into the background, I avoid wearing anything showy and opt for conservative clothing where culturally appropriate. In Muslim countries like Oman, for example, I would never bathe in a wadi wearing a skimpy bikini and would always opt for long skirts, trousers and T-shirts rather than hot pants and crop tops. Use your intuition Loading If a situation feels uncomfortable, there's no shame in walking away. Whether it's a guide, fellow traveller, bus driver or waiter – nobody has the right to invade your personal space. Either politely deflect any unwanted attention, or – in more serious cases – alert others to what is going on. Even if you are travelling solo, having a network of friends nearby or connected online means you will never be alone.
The Age
16 hours ago
- The Age
I've been to 50 countries solo as a female. Here's what I've learnt
Spontaneous decisions have shaped some of my most memorable travel adventures, but I never leave home without a bit of careful planning. In a new city, I scour the internet for information about different neighbourhoods and work out which places to avoid. The comment sections on platforms like are also helpful. When were the most recent comments posted? Does the hotelier respond quickly? Have many people left positive feedback? These are all good indications of a safe and reliable space. Share your itinerary Sharing my whereabouts not only allows my mum to live vicariously through my travels – it also keeps me safe. Apps like TripIt can amalgamate confirmation emails into a detailed plan to be shared with friends and family, while TrackMyTour creates an interactive map of waypoints. If mobile roaming isn't an issue, switch on location services and share details with a select circle through the Life360 app or Find My on the iPhone. Where possible (and affordable), I always take an Uber rather than a taxi or local bus – largely because journeys are tracked and the trip status can easily be shared. But don't overshare Tempting as it might be to shout about adventures, avoid posting any geo-located material on social media in real time. Unless shared within a private group, never make public any information about travel plans and places where you intend to sleep. Either be vague about specific locations or post material a few days later. Making new friends is one of the great joys of travel, but I'm always hesitant to reveal too much personal information with strangers. If ever in doubt, it's fine to tell a few white lies and pretend you are travelling with somebody else or have plans to catch up with friends. When arranging to meet up with new acquaintances, always choose a busy place and share your plans with others at home. Carefully timetable Arriving anywhere after dark can be daunting – especially if you've never been there before. I always try to travel during daylight hours and avoid arriving at a hotel too late. If there's no other option – especially in the case of international flights – I pre-book transport through a reputable company or arrange to stay somewhere close to the airport. Connect with other women Sharing experiences with other female solo travellers can be both reassuring and helpful. Similar to a dating app, platforms like Tourlina, Bumble BFF and NomadHer can be used to find like-minded matches in different destinations. Users can create profiles, share ideas and even arrange meet-ups. On several occasions, I've also requested a female guide – partly to support greater gender equality but also to get a female perspective and inside knowledge. Another option is to join a specialist escorted tour. Companies like Intrepid, Trafalgar and The Adventure People arrange women-only tours – often providing access to activities that wouldn't be possible in a mixed gender group. Come prepared A lot of my travels are in developing countries so I'm always cognisant of the yawning inequality between (relatively) wealthy foreigners and local workers on a low wage. Unfortunately, I've occasionally had cash go missing – even in five-star hotels. To avoid any issues, I carry a padlock to put on my suitcase and keep any valuables inside – although I tend to leave any jewellery at home and prefer to travel light. I use a door latch, if there's one available, and stuff any visible peepholes with a piece of tissue. When entering a room, I check windows are lockable along with any interconnecting doors. Pack appropriate clothing I'm a big believer in clothes as a form of self-expression, but sometimes it's better not to shout about your presence too loudly. Preferring to blend into the background, I avoid wearing anything showy and opt for conservative clothing where culturally appropriate. In Muslim countries like Oman, for example, I would never bathe in a wadi wearing a skimpy bikini and would always opt for long skirts, trousers and T-shirts rather than hot pants and crop tops. Use your intuition Loading If a situation feels uncomfortable, there's no shame in walking away. Whether it's a guide, fellow traveller, bus driver or waiter – nobody has the right to invade your personal space. Either politely deflect any unwanted attention, or – in more serious cases – alert others to what is going on. Even if you are travelling solo, having a network of friends nearby or connected online means you will never be alone.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Fed-up Edinburgh residents have had enough of 'party' Airbnb
One neighbour said: "People are going at all hours of the night and there is no real soundproofing despite the owner making modifications. It is ridiculous. He cannot get away with this." Fed-up residents who live near an Airbnb that was suspended from the site because of problem parties, are furious that it's up for rent again. The flat in the Faulburn area of Edinburgh is the only known short term let (STL) in the block. After complaints from neighbours about loud guests wreaking havoc, the property was suspended from Airbnb site for 30 days. They claimed youths were falling around the street, acting aggressively with one another and consuming alcohol at the property. But they've been left livid after discovering the flat had been listed on for several months before it reappeared on Airbnb in May 2025 when its suspension ended. Resident and business owner, Fraser Ramsay, said he had to go down to the flat last Tuesday because he couldn't sleep with the noise. He told Edinburgh Live: 'I told the man to keep the noise down or I would phone the police and he agreed to do so but then I heard him through the night again. 'It ruins your next day, I'm a business owner, and going out to working not having a good sleep isn't great. The owner of this Airbnb needs to sell up to someone who will live here long term or rent out the flat to a proper resident. 'At least if it is a permanent neighbour in the block we will be able to build relationships and have common courtesy. At the moment there is a security issue as well because these are strangers. 'People are going at all hours of the night and there is no real soundproofing despite the owner making modifications. It is ridiculous. He cannot get away with this. 'End of the day it is important this comes to an end. When it all kicks off it is horrible.' Fraser has been in regular contact with Edinburgh Council to try to get answers as to how the owner was able to re-list the property for short term rentals on Airbnb. Correspondence between the home owner and the council stated a notice had been given to the STL landlord ordering them to cease operating the Airbnb unless they are able to lodge an appeal by late June 2025. It is understood Airbnb suspended the property originally due to a party taking place at the property which is a breach of the platforms rules. However the property owner is understood to have carried out 'sound proofing' alterations to the property, which led to the ban being lifted. Airbnb protocol states the company will potentially deactivate a property if they are contacted by a relevant local authority which believes the listing is operating illegally. It is understood the council have not made contact with Airbnb regarding the above property. In a message seen by Edinburgh Live, council officials told Fraser: 'Just a quick e-mail to advise that enforcement notices were served on the property on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The property owner has until 25 June 2025 to appeal the notice. 'If he fails to do so by this date, then he would require to comply with its requirements i.e. cease the use of the property as a short term let by 25 July 2025.' Councillor Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: 'We have issued an enforcement notice requesting that the owner of this property ceases to use it as a short term let. They have until 24 July 2025 to comply with this notice unless they appeal.' An Airbnb spokesperson said: 'We take feedback from local residents seriously, and this listing was temporarily suspended in line with our policies and the host has since taken steps to address this issue. Parties are banned on Airbnb and we may remove this listing if further policy violations occur. 'While issues on Airbnb are exceptionally rare, residents can contact us 24/7 via our neighbourhood support line and we investigate all reports received through this channel.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
European hotels sue Booking.com over pricing rules
Hotel associations from more than 25 European countries have initiated a large-scale legal case against online travel platform challenging its use of rate parity clauses that allegedly restricted competition and inflated commission fees. The coordinated lawsuit follows a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that deemed such clauses unlawful under EU competition law. Since the early 2000s, enforced contractual terms known as rate parity clauses. These provisions prevented hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or other distribution channels, effectively forcing them to maintain uniform pricing on the platform. Hotels argue this practice limited their autonomy, raised operational costs through higher commissions, and suppressed price competition. The ECJ ruling on 19 September 2024 confirmed that these clauses breached European competition regulations by restricting fair competition and disadvantaging smaller independent hotels. The court found that policies hindered pricing transparency and consumer choice, setting the stage for collective legal action. The lawsuit involves national hotel associations from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. This broad coalition reflects the extensive impact of the platform's pricing practices across the continent. A dedicated legal body has been established to coordinate the claims, with the Netherlands chosen as the jurisdiction for the centralised proceedings. Eligible hotels that paid commissions to between 2004 and 2024 can join the collective action by registering through a streamlined legal platform. The process aims to reduce litigation costs and facilitate compensation claims for overpaid commission fees plus accrued interest. This legal action highlights growing concerns over the market power of online travel agencies and digital platforms in the hospitality sector. By challenging restrictive pricing clauses, hotels seek to regain control over their pricing strategies and improve competitiveness. Industry representatives emphasise that fair competition among booking channels benefits both consumers and service providers by promoting transparency and innovation. The ECJ decision and subsequent lawsuit may influence other digital marketplaces employing similar pricing restrictions. Regulators across Europe are increasingly scrutinising platform practices to ensure compliance with competition laws and to foster a more balanced digital economy. As the European hospitality industry recovers from recent disruptions, the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent. It underscores the importance of protecting independent businesses against anti-competitive agreements and ensuring fair conditions in online hotel booking markets. "European hotels sue over pricing rules" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Bank of Ireland warns of rise in holiday scams ahead of summer season
Bank of Ireland is urging consumers ahead of the peak holiday season to take extra care when making bookings to avoid accommodation scams that typically increase over the summer months. Rental and holiday accommodation scams trick people into paying rent for a property that doesn't exist or is not actually available to rent. These scams can happen throughout the year, but tend to be aimed at people booking holiday rentals abroad or in Ireland, students looking for college accommodation and people looking to rent properties to live, the lender warned. To date this year, Bank of Ireland says it has seen an increase in the number cases of accommodation when compared to the same period in 2024, along with an increase in the amount of money customers are losing in the scams. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: 'Fraudsters don't take time off and are always looking at ways to take your money. "Holiday scams can be devastating and costly, as you may arrive at your destination before becoming aware that it's a scam, so it's really important that consumers stay vigilant.' 'Bank of Ireland customers who think they may have fallen for a scam should call our 24/7 freephone line immediately." The bank is warning customers not to let anyone make them feel rushed or pressured into making a payment, and to not click on links from social media, emails or text messages. "Don't be tempted to move the booking off official sites," Bank of Ireland said. "When contacting property owners on sites such as Airbnb or we have seen several cases where owners have offered discounted prices for customers to move off the site and book with them directly, which later transpires to be fraudulent."
