Nikki Vargas - Wanderess: The Unearth Women Guide to Traveling Smart, Safe, and Solo

Acknowledgments

We want to take a moment to offer our complete gratitude to the many friends, family, and readers who have supported Unearth Women on its journey. What began as nothing more than a wild idea back in 2018 has blossomed into an international print and digital magazine, a community of supportive women, and a book that speaks to the nuanced experience of womens travel. Launching a new publication comes with its fair share of trials, yet Unearth Women continues to blossom because of the countless people who have shared their voices, stories, and talents with our platform and continue to support our work. It is the greatest privilege to both celebrate the accomplishments of women and to inspire readers to see the world in a new, more mindful way.

There are many people who were instrumental in the process of writing this book. First, we want to thank our editor, Gabrielle Van Tassel, and the entire Clarkson Potter team for bringing this book to life. We were originally approached by Gabrielle with the idea for this book and cannot thank her enough for taking a chance on Unearth Women. Her guidance and editing were instrumental in bringing this book to life. We also want to thank Lucy Engelman, whose beautiful illustrations pepper the pages of this text.

Of course, this book would not exist without the help of our talented contributors who shared their expertise and experiences. Each chapter combines the voices of Oneika Raymond, Brooke Saward, Dani Heinrich, Annika Ziehen, Kelly Lewis, and Esme Benjamin. Thank you to Oneika, whose packing expertise and advice for travelers of color proved instrumental to this book. Thank you to Brooke, whose experiences as a solo traveler helped single-handedly shape chapter 5. Thank you to Dani, who speaks candidly about her experiences traveling as a lesbian today and offers resources for other LGBTQIA+ travelers. Thank you to Annika, whose insatiable appetite for adventure and useful travel tips are key to trip planning. Thank you to Kelly, who tackles such crucial topics as responsible travel and dealing with your period abroad. And, finally, thanks to Esme who offers her expertise in all things wellness.

To our investor, Stacey Empson, we want to say thank you for your unyielding belief in Unearth Women. We are forever grateful for your support in helping to turn the idea of a womens travel magazine into an internationally sold reality. And to our loved ones who have supported us in more ways than one, there are not enough words to express our gratitude.

From Nikki: Thank you to Jeff Cerulli, who infuses my life with an endless supply of love, happiness, laughter, and joy. You are my best friend and champion. I love you more than words can say. Thank you to the Cerulli family for their love, kindness, and generosity. Thank you to my own parents, Axel Vargas, Yana Nedvetsky, Karen Hull, and Chris Bertelsen, who have brought me up with the unwavering ambition to chase my dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. Thank you for your love, your support, and the boundless opportunities in life you have granted me. Thank you to my sister and brother, Natalie Vargas-Nedvetsky and Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, who continue to inspire me every day as they blossom in their own creative endeavors. Thank you to my dearly departed grandmother, Amparo Abad, whose laugh I can still hear and smile I can still see clearly. Thank you to my other grandmother, Clarita Herrera, whose passion for life and unquenchable thirst for experiences always inspire me. Thank you to my dear friends Esme Benjamin, Amber Snider, and Rachel Gould, who have been there for me through thick and thin. You three are my rock and I am grateful to have you in my life. Last but not least, thank you to my friend and business partner, Elise Fitzsimmons. I am endlessly thankful to be on this adventure with you, to survive the lows and celebrate the highs together, and to grow stronger as friends because of it. Thank you for believing in me and this publication.

From Elise: Thank you to my parents, Pat and Shelley Fitzsimmons, my anchors in the most turbulent of storms and advocates for every half- (and full-) brained idea I have had thus far. To my brothers, Charles and Will, and their partners, thank you for the constant supply of laughter and wisdom. Your intellect asks me to think harder about my why. Thank you to my familyfrom New York to Sacramento and countless cities in betweenthe dozens of you who are a soft place to land in questionable terrain and standard-bearers for full, connected lives. Special thanks to the women in my familyeach a pioneer in her own right, demonstrating what is possible and attainable for women. Not only living examples of what can be accomplished on their own terms, these women showed me how to act in service, strength, and love. To the tribes of friends spanning time zones and beliefs, thank you for inspiring me to hike the extra mile, laugh harder, love deeper, fully commit, and send it. Last, but always first in my heart, thank you, Nikki Vargas. My oldest friend and partner in manifesting goals, your tenacity helped me believe in the power of possibilitythat the spark of an idea is all you need to have a movement catch fire.

Nikki Vargas

Nikki Vargas is a travel editor, journalist, producer, public speaker, and an author based in New York City. She is originally from Bogot, Colombia. Nikki is the founding editor and co-founder of Unearth Women. In addition to her work with Unearth Women, Nikki is an editor for Fodors Travel and previously was a travel editor for The Infatuation, Atlas Obscura, and Culture Trip. As a journalist, she has had her bylines appear in Zagat, VICE, Food & Wine, Roads & Kingdoms, Cosmopolitan, and more.

As a public speaker, Nikki has spoken at various conferences, including the Womens Travel Fest, Women in Travel Summit, Latino Travel Fest, and the New York Times Travel Show. In addition, she has produced various video seriesfrom Culture Trips Hungerlust to Unearth Womens #WomenOwned. Currently, Nikki is a producer for an upcoming documentary made in partnership with Unrealistic Ideas and One Foot Forward.

Elise Fitzsimmons

As Unearth Womens co-founder, Elise Fitzsimmons cares deeply about the representation of women around the world. Elise and her work with Unearth Women have been featured in Travel + Leisure, the Washington Post, Good Morning America, Cheddar TV, and more. Elise lives semi-nomadically. When she is not practicing yoga, editing podcasts, or learning about deep space, she can most often be spotted arm-in-arm with new friends discovering hole-in-the-wall eateries.

Essential Travel Resources

Airbnb Experiences

Beyond using Airbnb to book accommodations, you can book anything from cooking classes to walking tours to private concerts via their Experiences portal. This is a great way to connect with locals and learn about the culture.

Airfordable

Airfordable is a service that allows you to book a flight and pay for it over monthly installments leading up to your departure. Once paid off, youll receive your boarding pass.