FAQs – Your questions answered

On this page you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to ask anything. Once you have booked and we have the minimum 6 women confirmed you will receive your holiday travel information and this will help you prepare for your trip and we hope answer any questions.

Pricing and Booking Conditions

Q. Is the price per person for a single room or sharing?
For most holidays we have one price per person for the package of guided walks, accommodation and other local costs specified in each individual holiday. We do not charge a single supplement although will sometimes offer a discount for sharing a room if friends/couples are booking together. This will be clear when booking and we receive information on what types of rooms are required. If you are not clear please do contact us.

Q. What happens if you cancel my holiday or if I have to cancel my trip?

Please see booking conditions for details on our cancellation policy.

Our holidays

Q. How many will there be in the group?
The number of women in each walking group is usually 8-10 plus the guide. If the holiday offers more than one grade of walk, there will be more groups and guides.

Q. Will I be the only solo traveller?
Overwhelmingly the majority of women come on their own and many have never done this type of holiday before so you would be in very good company. Groups gel well and quickly bond over the shared experience of walking together. As an example, to quote some past feedback, which is typical of the comments we get:-

“Thoroughly enjoyed it. It was my first WW holiday so I was unsure of what to expect – I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. Fantastic bunch who all gelled and had a great laugh with each other!

“It really surpassed my expectations, as I really wasn’t sure what to expect with it being my first one. I would recommend these holidays since they offer friendship and fun plus a wonderful walking experience!”

Q. Can dogs come on your holidays?
We have holidays specifically for dogs – our ‘doggy holidays’ . These are designed for dogs so they are the priority and walks will give them lots of exercise and a chance for you to mix with other dog lovers. Accommodation is picked for it’s suitability for dogs. We do allow guide dogs but we always need to double check with our accommodation so let us know.

Q. How much money should I take with me? Is it best to have Cash or Credit Cards?
You only need to take sufficient funds to buy yourself snacks or coffees that are not included, or to buy souvenirs or to donate to local causes.  We suggest you always have a little local currency with you, but credit, debit or currency cards are generally widely accepted at most of our locations. Tips are not generally expected in most of Europe – it is sufficient to round up the bill if you receive good service.

Q. What happens if my outward journey is disrupted and I’m not able to join the group at the planned time?
We ask you to keep us informed of any delays to your arrival either via the WhatsApp group or by ringing WalkingWomen. We will then advise you of your options and assist you in joining your group.

Q. I am prescribed medication which is not readily available in other countries
Make sure that you keep all prescribed medications in their original packaging and bring the original prescription with you. It is wise to plan for a few extra days, just in case you are delayed.

Q. I’m worried my phone won’t work while I’m abroad
Check with your internet provider beforehand about roaming charges for your destination country. If you want an alternative, consider purchasing an e-sim online before you travel. You download the app rather than install a new SIM card in your phone.

Our Walks

Q.What do the Goats mean?
When providing walking holidays we need to give information to help you choose the right holiday for your level of fitness. There are so many ways to explain this and our choice is to use the image of mountain goats – 1 goat is the least strenuous to 4 goats being the most. Our grading information is a general guide. Each individual itinerary will give more detail and do contact us if you are not sure. Some countries we visit are very specific about what fitness is needed for each trail. We take advice and give as much information as we can to help you.

Q. Will I be fit enough ?
Our grading information is designed to provide a guide. You know your level of fitness and we expect you to be fit enough for the holiday you choose. We will try and provide fitness tips to help people prepare for trips as often booking a holiday can encourage more walking in preparation!

Q. What happens if I’m not able or don’t feel well enough to walk one day?
Sometimes individuals to feel they need to take an additional rest day. Your Guide  will advise you of your options on that day which will usually include staying in the accommodation, exploring the local town or being driven to the next location. Nobody is ever forced to walk if they don’t feel up to it.

Q. What happens if I’m not as good as the other people in my group? I don’t want to hold everyone up.
We ask that you do read information carefully and select the right level holiday for you. We are also available to chat with you and sometimes we run Zooms with Guides so you can find out more (check out our newsletter)  We also give fitness tips to get you ready.

Your first holiday hike is always an opportunity for our Guides to assess the abilities of the group and they can advise you on which walks have rest stops or a chance to return early. We always walk at a steady pace with a chance to stop and stare!

Q. What if the weather turns bad?
Our Experienced Guides know their regions well. If bad weather is predicted, they may change the selected trails. If weather conditions deteriorate during a hike, your Guide will ensure that you remain safe and return to base as soon as possible. For those preferring not to walk in inclement weather, your Guide will advise of alternative activities which may be available in the locality.

Kit – what to wear!

Our general KIT LIST should answer most of your questions. We also send a comprehensive list for each holiday in your Travel Information Pack which you will receive soon after booking.

Walking Poles – most airlines only allow walking poles in Checked Baggage so check with your airline on booking.  We aim to have poles available to borrow or hire at most destinations, for those people travelling only with Cabin Baggage.

Hiking clothes – modern fabrics which are self-wicking and quick drying are best, especially if you expect to wash & dry clothes overnight.

Packed Lunches – many of our trips include packed lunches so you may wish to bring wax wraps or a container to protect your food from getting crushed in your backpack.

Electrical adapters – we will confirm the type of Electrical sockets for each holiday, so you can bring the correct adapter for your devices.

Our Accommodation

Q. I have Special Dietary Requirements. How can I be sure my needs are met?
Providing you fill in your details and inform us of your dietary and any special needs we will ensure that all meals we provide conform to your requirements. This includes any Packed Lunches or Snacks.  Your Guides will also be able to advise you of suitable eateries in the locality for any free days.

Q. Will I always be able to have a cuppa in my room ?
Not all of our accommodations provide a kettle or coffee maker in rooms (especially in Europe) We will generally state this but consider bringing a Travel Kettle if you can’t do without your morning cuppa before getting down to breakfast

Other questions

Q. Could I book one of your holidays for a group of my own friends – a private holiday just for us?
Yes. this is possible on some of our holidays so speak to us. Typically you would need to be a group of 6. If that holiday is already booked up we could try to repeat it just for your group.

Q. How do I become a Guide for WalkingWomen?
If you are keen to guide for WW, please contact us to let us know more about you and details of any guiding qualifications you have. We will set up zoom calls to discuss opportunities we have with you.