OYO Celebrates Independent Malaysian Women Travellers
It
is true what is said, “To travel is to live”, and more so now where more and
more people find a way to lose themselves in their travels. A surge in people
globetrotting has been seen owing to awareness and accessibility of newer
destinations. You’ll discover places beyond your imagination, experience new
cultures and find an inner nomad that you never knew existed. People travel
with their own distinct purposes - to discover new frontiers, pursue business
opportunities, or simply to unwind and relax. Travelling solo allows you to set
your own pace, have an intimate contact with foreign cultures, and meet new
people and broaden your horizon. On the other hand, travelling with a companion
could allow you bond over shared experiences, excitement and newer things to
explore in addition to safety.
In
the spirit of International Women’s Day, OYO
Hotels Malaysia spoke to some female travellers on their take on travel.
What she likes: Planning the holiday,
location and budget
Sarsha Rani, 35, Wildlife Advocate at WWF-Malaysia
“For
me, it is important to know the purpose of each trip I am planning - a rough
and tough adventure with friends, a lavish getaway to pamper myself or even a
solo trip to clear my mind and reconnect. Once that is decided, it's easier to
determine a destination and accommodation according to my budget. As a female
traveller safety is a top priority, but sometimes it's hard to fully be in the
moment and enjoy your experience when you are subconsciously worried about
everything around you. So I spend a lot of time researching the cultural do's
and don'ts of each destination, the surroundings of my accommodation, and I try
to pick a place to stay strategically located around what I want to explore to
reduce travel time. I love immersing myself in the local experience as it
allows me to broaden my perspective and I believe that the more of the world
you see, the more similar you'll realise we all are.”
What she likes: Stretching the travel
budget for new adventures
Tania Wee, 31, Writer and Lecturer
“For
me, each place that I travel to offers me different experiences. I love the
outdoors and local cuisines. I have ran in the Kyoto and Nagoya marathons in
Japan followed by an immersive experience in those cities after that. When it
comes to budgeting, I tend to allocate more budget to explore the natural
landscape and the local cuisine while I try stretching my budget when it comes
to accommodation. To me, since I am out most of the time exploring, I will try
to look for a room that costs me less than RM50 per night. I will also ensure
that it is safe for me as a female traveller. Travelling does not need to be
expensive and it is all about bringing home a new memory of adventure from my
travels.”
What she likes: Clean room, comfortable
bed, basic amenities
Nur Syahirah Khalid, 24, International Relations
Student
“Since
the time I have been bit by the travel bug the travel fever hasn’t ceased. I
even chose to do my internship in Turkey so that I would get to experience the
country from a different point of view. Travelling is also relevant to my
studies as I understand a bit more about the different countries I travel to,
from a leisure and also from a business perspective. I am not too finicky, but
going back to a clean and comfortable room after the day’s adventure is a must.
It is important for me to get a good rest before I continue exploring the next
day.”
What she likes: Convenience while on the
go
Isabel Lee, 28, Digital Marketer
“I
don’t think I have my holiday booked via a physical travel agent in a long
time. For me, I practice what I preach. Booking online or via an app is
extremely convenient as it keeps my bookings organised. Security and privacy
are obviously important to me which is why I only book with reputable companies
or booking sites, like OYO, Booking.com and Traveloka, plus some of these sites
also give me extra discounts, so it is really good value for money. This way, I
don’t need to fret about my booking details as it’s all at my fingertips.”
Tan
Ming Luk, Country Head, OYO Hotels Malaysia shared, “At OYO, we cater to different types of travellers daily. Today, solo
women travellers are on the rise, with a 45% growth in solo bookings by women
from 2015 to 2017[1]. As they make up a
significant portion of our customer base, it is crucial for us to deliver
positive customer experiences to maintain their trust in our brand. For us, we
always ensure that all OYO-branded properties are comfortable, affordable and
offer topnotch hospitality experiences for the guests. Cost, location, safety
and comfort are always part of the considerations for the properties in our
network.”
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