Give the Gift of Travel to a Woman you Love

This month is Women's Equality month, which means that - no matter what race, creed, or color you are - if you’re a woman, you’re up against some barrier to progress. This month is a keen reminder that every single woman in your life is going through a struggle at this moment, and she could use nurturing and a nap before she has to go back out there and break new barriers. 

One of the best ways to show love is through a gift. Acknowledge and appreciate the ones you otherwise take for granted. Of course, that's not everyone's love language, but the gesture matters, especially if some serious thought went into the selection. Be reminded that the gift of travel always lands well. Whether it’s a day trip by the lake or a month-long retreat into the mountains, there’s a perfect trip out there for every personality. To give you a running start, here are our recommendations for 5 common personality types.

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The Workaholic: Picture in your mind that auntie who is always working, and when she’s not working she’s werking! The workaholic is so driven that even her down time is spent on a committee or a Board of Directors. You may have to take her kicking and screaming, and she may even hurl insults your way when you pack her bags. But for the woman in your life who is all-ways working, the best option is somewhere off the grid. We all know that her lack of self-control will have her answering emails in the middle of the night, so send her to Alaska and take that option off the table. We suggest the Sheldon Chalet in Denali. A mountain stands between her and a good phone signal, so may the force be with her.  

The Giver: Bless her heart, no matter how hard she tries to do something nice for herself her gestures always turn into good deeds toward others. Call her at 3am to tell her that your ex is getting married and sister-friend is listening attentively and quieting your cries with one eye open. She is packing lunches for the kids, while volunteering her time to charity. If it weren’t for zoning laws, she would probably have more fostered pets in her home than she has rooms, because the Giver always believes that her well will never run dry. That’s why you have to gift her a trip where she’s the center of attention. Everything must be customized so that every event pours energy and love into her. For that, Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen Mexico is an oasis of pampering that she won’t soon forget. 

The Crier: This woman is sensitive and she can’t help it. She watches rom-coms for fun. She tears up without provocation. She is an intuitive person who feels and senses emotions that the rest of us are too distracted to register. She might be a thespian or a creative, who thrives from her mind body connection. Or maybe she’s just a humanitarian with a big heart. Either way, she’s used to critique and disappointment. For this lady in your life, you’ll have to get her out doing something where there is no way to win or lose, just the adventure of being. Get this girl to Yellowstone National Park, and let the waterworks flow. She’ll recognize that there’s so much strength in her vulnerability. She’ll have an awful lot to smile about. 

The Hermit: It is Friday night, and you’ve got your freak’em dress on. This friend is in bunny footed jammies reading Toni Morrison by candlelight, waiting for the sheeps to arrive to be counted. She doesn’t do clubs and she doesn’t like bars. She barely likes bookstores. This one is tough, because she could be part workaholic (meaning, a vacay on the side of a cliff is exactly what the Dr. ordered) or she could need a push beyond her comfort zone. You’ll need to give this one a raincheck, because she will have to wait until Blue Cliff Monastery in the Catskills opens next month. But, don’t worry, your hermit isn’t in any rush. She’ll appreciate the opportunity to be together, but alone in a gorgeous monastery and meditation space that can hold up to 800 people and is just 2 hours away from New York City. 

The Seeker: This grand dame is always on a quest to learn more, to do more, and to be more. She is her own competition. She wakes up everyday on a quest to chase her purpose. She values her time and her energy, but she can be whimsical and open to serendipity. This one can seem a little aloof at times, as she reaches for the stars and digs around for deeper meanings. For her, whatever you do, you’ll be doing it for the culture. She wants to be enlightened and entertained, so a gift card just won’t do. She needs Jelani Women Travel more than she knows, and she needs an itinerary that she couldn’t make on her own nor want to for that matter. She craves Zanzibar for exploring and Kenya for service. For sure, she will appreciate a voyage that gets her third eye poked and teaches her something new about the world around her. After all, this is what she lives for.