We are always asked the same questions about where we are planning to travel next. So we approached some of the most adventurous female travellers from across the world and asked them a new question; Where is one place in the world you will always travel back to, and why? We wanted to know not only what incredible locations were at the top of their list for a repeat visit, but also understand why these locations held a special place in their hearts. Read on to see why these were their favourite places to revisit. Table of contents Tanzania South Africa Los Angeles, USA The USA Ireland Medellin, Colombia Japan Sri Lanka India Mexico Sylt, Germany Philippines Zimbabwe Texas, USA South Africa (#2) Nepal Japan (#2) Ireland (#2) Exmouth, Western Australia Tahiti Paris, France Tanzania Erica Landerson from Adventure Women Erica has been travelling since she was a child and has visited 1/4 of the countries in the world. She has a passion for independent exploration and has even climbed Kilimanjaro twice. She’s the Owner and Director of Communications at Adventure Women, a highly respected women-owned and women-run adventure travel company promoting travel as a way to understand ourselves and other cultures. I love Tanzania. I will always feel very connected to this country, I grew up traveling there with my parents every summer (they run a safari company in TZ) and I have still managed to get back in my adult life. I have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 3 times and have invited my friends to come along on countless occasions. I love the smell as you step off the 747 onto the tarmac at night and see the bugs buzzing around the lights, learning about the wildlife and their habits, spending time walking in nature reserves, but most of all I love the people. Out of all the countries I have visited, they are the most genuinely kind and inviting group of people that I have met. I will always go back to Tanzania because of the people. Follow Adventure Women on Facebook South Africa Chelsea Kauai from Adventurers Collective Chelsea is a triple threat; athlete, model and travel writer. Based in Hawaii, Chelsea could be forgiven for choosing her home as a return destination but her 549k Instagram followers know her better than that. I think I will always travel back to South Africa – inconvenient as it’s on the other side of the world – but it left such an imprint on me. Big mountains, tons of water sports, safaris, gorgeous nature, good food and outdoor adventure-minded people all in an affordable and in my opinion, still underrated country! Keep up with Chelsea Kauai on Instagram Los Angeles, USA Deborah Hutton from Balance by Deborah Hutton Deborah is easily recognisable from one of the most widely publicised Women’s Weekly covers after a skin cancer scare close to her 50th birthday. In this difficult time Deborah transformed her life and changed the way she viewed the world and herself, giving rise to Balance. Her focus is on personal well being, which closely ties into her favourite travel destination. Funnily enough my favorite go-to destination would be Los Angeles. I’ve a great collection of close friends who have all ended up living there for different reasons so I try to get over there and catch up with them all at least once a year. LA is a very cool town if you know where to go, great restaurants, fabulous homeware stores, and Aussies making their mark across hospitality venues. From a morning hike through the canyons to hanging around West Hollywood, I love LA and feel very much at home. Find Balance by Deborah Hutton on Facebook The USA Jessica O’Reilly from Comfort is for Wimps Jessica believes travel is the ultimate tool for education and has a knack for pushing herself to experience new cultures and ideas. With a personal philosophy of travelling far, near, nice and weird she’s got some serious travel stories to share. Of course, my home among the gum trees is a place I’ll always return to. Not least to hear the C-bomb used as a casual term of endearment more often. But to be slightly more adventurous with my answer, I think I’ll also keep going to the USA. I know that might not sound that venturesome, but that country is huge and the diversity of people amazes me. It’s full of sub cultures and unexplored areas. I like to get outside my comfort zone and can guarantee there’s plenty of people and places that would make me feel far from home. The Deep South is my next goal in the US. Catch Comfort is for Wimps on Facebook Ireland Indi-Hannah Jones from Eat Sleep Breathe Travel Self described as clumsy, Hannah came to love travel by accident after graduating university. She’s now travelled to over 45 countries and experienced most of them solo with no signs of stopping soon. I’d happily return to many places around the world, but I have to say that Ireland is my favourite. It was the first country I travelled to and the hospitality of the locals, beautiful scenery, and abundance of things to see and do has made me return several times since. As a solo female traveller, I find Ireland easy and comfortable to travel in. I love the fact that I can have a pint at a pub alone without feeling threatened, or hop on a local bus and have a friendly stranger help me figure out where to get off. Ireland has charmed me with its magic and has come to feel like a second home. Follow Eat Sleep Breathe Travel on Instagram Medellin, Colombia Lisa Eldridge from Girl About the Globe Lisa is the founder and powerhouse behind Girl About the Globe which promotes and empowers women to get out and travel the world, travel solo and undertake conscious travel to reduce impacts on our planet. I will always travel back to Medellin in Colombia. As soon as I had my first glimpse of this South American city I was hooked. A Colombian city in a mountain valley, known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring,’ this piece of paradise is just amazing. Surrounded by mountains with plenty of nature, the weather is always warm, the people just as welcoming and warm, and the whole city is just colourful and vibrant. Although it may be known for its drug cartels in the eighties, the city is now an upcoming, innovative hub, and is the capital for fashion in Colombia. I love it! Check out the Girls About The Globe Facebook group Japan Jayne Gorman from Girl Tweets World Jayne has travelled to 61 countries and likes to prioritise her stays in boutique hotels and near great food. She explores and shares her experiences from the streets and usually sets out once a month to somewhere new, but there’s only one favourite place that sticks in the back of her mind. The place that keeps pulling me back is Japan. I’ve been 4 times already and each time I’ve come away with a new love for the culture, food and charming craziness. Even with my limited (read: zero) language skills, Japan is easy to navigate as a solo female traveller as everything is so organised and if you can’t work something out a friendly stranger tends to offer a helping hand. My favourite places include Akihabara (Electric Town) in Tokyo and Dotonbori (foodie central) in Osaka. Next on my wish list is Kyoto and Okinawa. Follow Girl Tweets World on Twitter Sri Lanka Anje Rautenbach from Going Somewhere Slowly Anje is a full time travel writer, self proclaimed weirdo and coffee junkie from South Africa. Her travels started in the back of her parent’s VW Kombi and expanded to travelling all over the world in a few short years which she says has changed her outlook on life and is now a life long passion. Sri Lanka is a country I’ll return to time and again; it is one of the most pleasant travel experiences I’ve had to date and I have the friendly locals to thank for that. Besides the constant warmth, hospitality and genuine kindness the country is diverse with its plethora sights for visitors; from jungles to highlands, UNESCO sites, to magnificent beaches, incredible wildlife to delicious food. As a traveler who also often travels solo, I never felt unsafe while travelling through Sri Lanka, staying at homestays, walking around and using public transport. Catch Going Somewhere Slowly on Facebook India Christine Ka’aloa from GRRRL Traveler Christine is a solo female travel blogger and YouTuber with a previous life in the world of reality TV production. Christine had a bad experience with some friends when she was caught up in a scam tour and decided she wanted out, so was thrown into a new world of solo travel, didn’t give up and now has the bug. I’d return to India in a heartbeat! As a female solo adventurer I feel alive travelling India. Locals are often warm, friendly and the cultural differences make me feel like I’m on a different planet. From the wonderful aromas of curry and chai, the beautiful and silken colours of saris, ornate and incensed temple rituals, India is a heavenly cultural feast for any foodie or photographer. Whether staying in a yoga ashram to take my practice to a deeper level or watching the Ganga aarti performed on the Ganges River in Varanasi, or witnessing surreal beauty of dessert and ice landscapes in Ladakh, you will never see/do all there is to in that country. Many women and solo travellers see India as a scary but I have always felt safe. It can feel adventurous and chaotic for travellers, so I may not recommend it to a first time solo traveller who needs to feel grounded. The other two countries I’ve returned to several times would certainly recommend for new solo travellers looking for a more comfortable experience are Korea and Thailand. Find GRRRL Traveler on Instagram Mexico Dr Sheri Rosenthal from Journey of the Spirit Dr Sheri left behind a very successful medical practice, her home and her life to undertake a profound spiritual journey through travel. She now helps other women undertake their own life changing journeys all over the world. One of the places I will always retreat to is Mexico. Because I am a USA citizen – it is just a quick hop, skip, and a jump away – taking me into a totally different culture and vibe. The people are simply delightful, family orientated, and so eager to help show off their culture and country. The food is stunningly delicious, and is extremely varied depending on whether you are east, west, north or south. But most importantly, I always feel comfortable there even though I am a woman. Be inspired by Journey of the Spirit on Facebook Sylt, Germany Sarah Fabian from Journey to Design Sarah has a unique perspective on the world and on travel – through her experience as a designer she’s taking on the world as a solo traveller and sharing her influences through culture, architecture and interior design. As a kid, my Dad took me to Sylt, an island at the northern coast of Germany every summer. We went camping, ate pancakes from a little shack on the beach and spent our days building sandcastles and collecting sea shells. I remember standing on the dunes, watching the waves and smelling nothing but pancakes. Twenty years later, we don’t stay there for weeks any more, but still try to meet up on the island every now and then. The pancake shack has been long gone, and by now I realized that the smell probably came from the flowers on the dunes, not from the pancakes. But for me, this will always be the scent of my childhood and Sylt we be a place I keep coming back to. Follow Journey2Design on Instagram Philippines Sabrina from Just One Way Ticket Sabrina is the photographer and travel blogger behind Just One Way Ticket, a visual experience of cultures and locations across the world through her blog, photographs, and YouTube vlogs. Sab quit her job in 2008 and travelled the world for 433 days just to get started. The Philippines, because it feels like home to me. People always smiling and locals are very friendly and most of the times up for a conversation with foreign travelers. The beaches in the Philippines are beyond amazing, expect picture perfect white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. My favorite island is Siargao… an island that offers excellent surfing, yoga and fantastic food… But sssshh, don’t tell anyone, it’s becoming more and more popular these days… Catch Just One Way Ticket on Instagram Zimbabwe Lauren Bath from Lauren Bath Lauren is well known as Australia’s first professional Instagrammer, having amassed 460k followers working with tourism agencies, brands and companies worldwide – she’s no stranger to travel. But where does a world class travel influencer and travel photographer settle down for a return trip? Most of the places that I visit are places that I know I would love to travel back to one day, I fall in love fast and hard when I travel. But the one destination that I know will always be in my life is Zimbabwe, the country of my partners birth. Since we’ve started traveling to Zim together I have felt such a connection over there. With the people, the animals and the big African skies. I even see myself living over there one day. For this reason Zimbabwe is the first country that I am offering photography tours to and I couldn’t be more excited. You must follow Lauren Bath on Instagram Texas, USA Leah Walker from Leah Travels As a luxury food and travel writer, Leah has travelled through five continents and moved to live in Paris for three years. With a portfolio boasting collaborations with over 20 French tourism boards, Forbes Travel Guide, Four Seasons Magazine and many more, Leah is the luxury travel queen. Before I moved to Paris, the City of Light would have been my answer. In fact, I love Paris so much that I have made it my home. Now, my answer is Texas. I’m a fifth-generation Texan, and my family and friends are in the Lone Star State. I’ll return for the ones I love, not to mention the BBQ, Tex-Mex and the feeling of comfort only Texas gives me. Find Leah Travels on Instagram South Africa (#2) Li-Chi Pan from Lichipan Li-Chi shares her world of travel through minimalist, beautifully composed and inspiring photographs that have captured the hearts of over 554k Instagram followers and leading brands like Audi, Nespresso and Tiffany & Co. She’s an influential blogger in her own right and brings a new perspective to the world of travel. South Africa will always be the one place in the world where I will always travel back to as it’s my hometown and where I spent majority of my childhood growing up. Having moved to Sydney almost 9 years ago for University and work I always try to visit Johannesburg and Cape Town. There’s nowhere else quite like it in the world. I love the crisp, scent of the air, the majestic Table mountain, the abundant wildlife and diverse native flora. The people are so down to earth and the culture is so rich. Follow Li-Chi Pan on Instagram Nepal Melissa Findley from Melissa Findley Photography Australian based travel photographer Melissa has worked with tourism boards worldwide and has a passion for charity and raising awareness through her work. Melissa tells intimate stories of the world through her travel and her work, and believes it is the people who make a place unique. Nepal is a dream, where life is more intense and vivid. Venture deep into the Himalayas, as the Scared Nepalese culture permeates every inch of the most warm-hearted and beautiful land, touching everything in it’s path. Check out Melissa Findley on Instagram Japan (#2) Amanda Kendle from Not a Ballerina What started as travelling with her parents as a child is now a lifelong pursuit for Amanda. A traveller, thinker and travel writer, she’s on a mission to share the benefits and lessons of world travel and she won’t stop until you start. Japan is my special place, the country I keep wanting to go back to and know I’ll revisit many more times in the future. I was lucky enough to live there for two years in my twenties, teaching English, and I fell in love with the polite and welcoming culture, the perfect food, the quirkiness and sense of fun and so much more. Each corner of Japan has its own special traditions, cultural quirks and unique foods, so although I’ve seen a lot of the country already, I know there will be more to discover every time I return. Listen to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast with Amanda Ireland (#2) Alice Teacake from Teacake Travels Alice is a solo female traveller with one big lesson for her followers; be brave because you can do it too. She’s been stranded on Taiwanese islands, learnt martial arts in China, driven from the UK to Mongolia, and is always up for the next big adventure. But where is her calling? The one place I will always keep travelling back to is Ireland. This magical country has everything a solo female traveller could need. Ireland has some of the nicest people in the world, endless lush green landscapes, the chance for a free facial on the coast as the wind buffs up your face, and…(my personal favourite)…plenty of pints of Guinness. My first ever trip there was a whirlwind tour of street art, coastal hiking, Game of Thrones geek outs, unforgettable nights at the pub with arguably the best live music in the world and some lovely whisky tasting. I love you Ireland! I’ll be back this year in August to cycle from Dublin to Galway and back! Be inspired with Teacake Travels on Instagram Exmouth, Western Australia Brittany Kulick from The Sweet Wanderlust Brittany left a successful marketing career to explore the world in 2015. She’s travelled to 54 countries to date and loves experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and finding what makes each place unique. To earn my second year visa in Australia, I had to work in tourism, hospitality or agriculture north of the Tropic of Capricorn. I chose Exmouth, Western Australia, and after spending 5 months there working, I truly believe it should be on everyone’s bucket list! Some of the amazing things to do in Exmouth include swimming with whalesharks, manta rays and humpback whales. And the beaches there are second to none. Relax on the white sands of Turquoise Bay or go snorkeling or scuba diving on one of the world’s largest fringing reef systems. And the Cape Range National Park is a great destination for a day hike. I loved cuddling with orphaned joeys and learned to share the road with a family of emus. Five months wasn’t enough, and I’m headed back to Exmouth next month! See the world with The Sweet Wanderlust on Instagram Tahiti Aggie Lal from Travel In Her Shoes An obsessive learner, explorer and story teller, Aggie is a travel writer, photographer and YouTube vlogger with 53 countries under her belt and counting. Aggie has sailed the pacific, lived in a Zulu African village and has even studied on three continents, but none of those places were her return visit favourites. Tahiti, because I spent a few months there during my sailing voyage and no other place that makes me feel at home and it’s a perfect combination of beautiful (empty) beauties, crystal clear waters, delicious food and friendly locals! Follow Travel In Her Shoes on Instagram Paris Brooke Saward from World of Wanderlust Brooke has a goal to see the entire world, one country at a time. She spent 6 months on a solo overseas trip before turning her experience and passion for travel into a full time job as a travel writer and blogger. Brooke is active on both her YouTube channel and has more than 627k followers on Instagram in love with her beautiful photos and stories of travel destinations around the world. My favourite place to return to is my annual trip to Paris in the Spring. There’s something so magical about cherry blossoms and crisp Spring air, with the sounds and smells of Paris in the background. Find World of Wanderlust on Instagram Where’s yours? Thank you so much to the generous and very busy women who made the time to respond to us and share their personal stories of the places they love most. If you’d like some inspiration or ideas for your next trip make sure to look through some of the incredible accommodation, tour and food providers in the TripaSista directory. Was yours on this list? Share with us at on our website blog post in the comments section where you would love to revisit and why  ...read more