For centuries, abbeys and monasteries provided weary travellers and pilgrims with succour and refuge on often dangerous and fraught journeys. Now, based on a latest survey from Monastaries.com, a specialist accommodation provider, travelling women are rediscovering these ancient refuges in a still dangerous modern world.
Their recent research found that 88% of ladies feel somewhat unsafe when travelling solo across the UK and Europe. Despite this, the variety of solo female travellers outnumbers male travellers 67% to 37%.
“Women are increasingly setting off on their very own adventures, with 27% of British women saying they’re considering a vacation alone. Eighty-one per cent of solo female travellers are over 45 years old,” Lily Smith, a travel expert from Monasteries.com, said.
“There are many aspects that will have influenced this statistic – a newfound confidence as you become older, children leaving home, divorce, or simply a desire to experience latest things.”
However, for many ladies, their safety is a crucial consideration, despite traditional accommodation falling in need of their expectations. Only a minority of those surveyed felt secure staying alone in a vacation property rental or a big hotel, at 37% and 35% respectively.
“For that reason, many ladies are surprised but delighted to find they can stay in monasteries and convents each here within the UK and in lots of countries across Europe,” Ms Smith said.
“That is likely to be a surprise to some people but, remember, monasteries have offered sanctuary to pilgrims and travellers for hundreds of years, with a vow of ‘hospitality’ a feature for many non secular orders.”
Ms Smith said that despite what people might expect, accommodation at sites equivalent to abbeys or monasteries comes with only a number of more restrictions than standard providers, yet can offer a much more welcoming and unique experience—nor are they limited to people from a spiritual background.
“Often, the one major restriction is likely to be a curfew, which is usually between 10pm and midnight. For many solo female travellers, nevertheless, the protection this offers may very well prove an attraction,” Ms Smith said.
“Perhaps contrary to expectation, there isn’t a requirement for visitors to be of a spiritual background. Properties can be found to any guest, female or male, who’s respectful of the environment, the approach to life and the monks or nuns.”
Even higher, a lot of them are situated in breathtaking locations and are pleasingly reasonably priced.
“The excellent news is that abbeys and convents are more likely to be centrally situated, often near historical churches or religious landmarks and in cities equivalent to Rome with a transparent religious connection,” she said.
“Furthermore, the abbeys, convents and monasteries at Monasteries.com, for instance, start from as little as €40 an evening and supply low-cost city centre stays in a few of Europe’s most-visited cities…for an increasing number of ladies travellers, explaining the safety and ease of monasteries, convents and abbeys is like preaching to the choir.”
