What’s a chicken have to do with traveling?

Welcome to Hen Travels and Tours

I’ve lived in a house of predominately women most of my life - my poor dad was outnumbered with my mom, sister, female dog, cats and myself then I went and had twin daughters. Once I bought my own house, I affectionately called it Big Mamas hen house. Thanks to my girls for calling me Big Mama;). So that’s where the name comes from. And this Hen is ready to travel again!

After taking my third trip to Europe this summer (2022) with my daughters and a friend of the family, I realized how much I really love to travel. I truly appreciate the different cultures, similarities, sights, foods, scents, customs and vibes of the places we visited. I decided - why not share my enthusiasm with the world! And how better to do that than start a travel blog.

Getting ready to land in Barcelona

Fresh tomato salad at a restaurant across the plaza from St. Stephan’s Basilica, Budapest, Hungary.

I was sharing my latest trip with friends and family and could feel the passion and excitement bubbling up in myself that has been lacking in my life. I’m fortunate to enjoy my job and will always be a nurse at heart but at the end of the day I’ve given everything I had and I go home exhausted nearly every day. Travel, on the other hand, has been rejuvenating.

The more women I spoke with the more I realized the need for women only small group (4-12 women) travel. For some, solo travel is intimidating, for others they simply don’t have the time to plan, whatever the case may be, I want to share my sense of adventure and enthusiasm with others. Groups can be a combination of solo, friends, family - pretty much whatever combo you can think up.

Pub in Budapest

Requirements:

• have a passport

• be 18 years of age or older

• sign the no drama pledge (this is vacation after all - leave the drama behind)

• bring your sense of adventure and open mind

• wear a good pair of walking shoes

• be ready to meet new amazing women - because aren’t we all!

• all women are welcome -including but not limited to introverts and extroverts. All religions, sexualities, abilities, ethnicities, and ages 18 and above. If you aren’t on the list and a woman please let me know and I will add you. My lack of knowledge does not mean you aren’t welcome - it means I have more to learn!

My goals are simple:

• to create accessible itineraries that include known and off the beaten path places to visit and explore

• give each traveler the option to join an organized activity, a tour, dinner, show or do your own thing with a list of suggestions if you want one

• create a global community of women travelers

• cater accommodations to the group and support local businesses as much as possible

Balcony in Girona, Spain

If any of this sounds like something you are interested in, then reach out at susan@hentravelsandtours.com and let’s start traveling together. I’m still figuring all the technical parts of this out, so please be patient. Part of the figuring things out are the cost - I promise to work diligently to find affordable airfare and lodging and for my time will add a small fee. It’s not about the money for me but building community.

I will never know everything about where we are traveling, but will promise to be as prepared as I can and I’m not afraid to ask questions. I believe we can all learn from one another and the wealth of experience found in a group will make for an even more enriching adventure.

Many European destinations will be on the docket as there is still much I want to see and experience. I’m constantly reading and doing research to find quality and affordable airfare and lodging .

Part of the affordability piece of this is traveling during the shoulder and off seasons. Spring trips will be March, April and/or May and the fall will be September, October sand/or November. Each trip will be a minimum of 10 days up to 17 with the option for you to stay longer if you want.

Tentatively, the spring trip will be to Madrid Spain and then north to the Basque Country. Be ready to see amazing art at the Prado and eat amazing food along the north coast. The fall trip will be a more traditional but nonetheless exciting trip to Scotland, Ireland and possibly Wales.

Seeing all that each place has to offer is impossible, but my hope is that the introduction gives you the desire to go back for more with me or on your own. Life is short and the world is amazing. We are more alike than different and can find that thread of humanity that ties us together if we just keep trying. I’m eternally optimistic!

Looking at Salzburg from the Untersburg Mountains, which

straddles Austria and Germany

Bio

Name: Susan

Profession: Registered Nurse

Hobbies: Woodworking and DIY projects

Passion: Travel, Music and Social Justice

States traveled to: Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and Alaska

Waiting for my flight at Terminal 1 in Barcelona

Countries travelled: Canada, Great Britain(England), Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, and Germany. Caribbean Islands: Turks and Caicos, Grand Bahama, and Grand Cayman.

Countries I want to visit: any not listed

What I will share with you will include past and upcoming trips. Many thoughts, reflections, opinions and pictures will be included. The purpose of Hen Travels and Tours is to provide opportunities to explore the best of what a region has to offer either as part of a group or on your own. You get to take ownership of how you want your experience to be. It's a vacation- time for fun, reflection, getting out of your comfort zone with the security of a group knowing where you are at the end of the day. Whether you're part of a group already or a solo traveler this is for you. The only requirements is a desire to build a worldwide community of women, empower one another and do so in a drama free environment.

Since I'm new to this business I haven't figured all the details out yet. If you can be patient, flexible and provide feedback I will do my best to provide an unforgettable and affordable experience. Details will follow but in the meantime, look for upcoming posts. Please share with others who may be interested. Social media content will grow as well.

I can be reached at susan@hentravelsandtours.com.

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