A community for female travelers finding their way..
Discover tips and best practices for working remotely while traveling.
About the founder
She is Not Lost is created and curated by Carina Otero- a firm believer that traveling is not just seeing the world, but rather experiencing it. Inspired by the quote "not all those who wander are lost", which has a beautiful significance for those finding themselves by traveling and exploring the world, Carina hopes this community will inspire your next journey.
Carina’s definition of a '‘Solo Female Traveler” may surprise you– Any woman who makes her own decisions about when, how, and why she travels. She isn’t alone, but rather belongs to a community of other women cheering her on. Click here to read more about Carina.
Living abroad or traveling extensively is not always easy, and it’s normal to miss loved ones and some of the comforts of home. And while a sense of home may mean something different to everyone, I’ve compiled a few tips that have helped me personally.
A few years ago when I really began traveling more slowly and for longer periods of time, I started a tradition with myself to choose a scent for each destination where I would make my home for at least a month. Scent association has always been a powerful way to draw connections to my surroundings and my memories, and assigning a candle to my travels is a way for me to revisit those places that have shaped who I am today.
Having navigated pet-in-cabin policies and government requirements for importing pets for various airlines, states, and countries, I’ve noticed a few general similarities from all of my travel experiences, and have compiled a list of my best tips to hopefully make your experience a little easier.
If you’re looking for my list of “must-see, must-do, & must-eat” in Paris— this isn’t it. Instead, this is my personal guide on how to approach a visit to the city, and tips for how to enjoy Paris.
Whether you’re traveling for work or for fun, arriving to your destination well-adjusted and rested is always a priority. In this article, I’ll list a few tips that many would agree are helpful for avoiding or combatting jet lag, as well as a few that you may haven’t considered yet.
While there are definitely many benefits to booking on Airbnb (which I’ve written about in this article here), you may find that it’s not always the best option for your travels. As a full-time traveler who has lived and worked remotely over the last few years, I’ve had plenty of great experiences with Airbnb but have found that sometimes its more advantageous to seek an alternative. This article describes some of the disadvantages of booking your stay on Airbnb.
Without stepping foot there yourself, it’s impossible to truly understand the magic of Chateau St. Victor La Coste. Until then, this article includes photos and offers information on the layout of the property, descriptions of the accommodations, recommendations on how to enjoy your stay, and details on how to book your reservation and arrive to the property.
Within the short-to-long term furnished rental market, there are many advantages to booking your stay on Airbnb as opposed to booking with a local agency, broker, or directly with a host. If you know what to look for in a listing and consider the service fee as the price to pay for the cost of convenience, Airbnb is a great option many reasons which I detail in this article.
Living in monthly Airbnbs is certainly a rewarding and exciting experience, and by following these practical tips, you will be able to better manage your expectations, avoid potential hiccups, and make the most of your stay in a new destination.
Jordan had been on my bucket list for a long time, and a few years into the pandemic, I was especially motivated to travel to a destination that could be visited safely, and would offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see its famous archaeological sites before the crowds returned to their pre-pandemic levels. This article details my experience as a solo traveler joining Intrepid Travel’s Jordan Discovery group tour, and will help you decide if this type of trip is right for you.
Is Airbnb safe for solo female travelers? I say Yes. As someone who’s stayed in dozens of Airbnbs by myself in a handful of countries over the years, I’ve had plenty of great experiences and can definitely recommend it. If you are a woman planning to travel alone, the following tips are topics to keep in mind when choosing an Airbnb, as well as some some practical suggestions to make sure you have a positive experience that meets or exceeds your expectations.
After 2.5 years of wearing them almost exclusively through everyday life and while traveling through 25 countries, I can highly recommend the Cole Haan Zerogrand Stitchlite Oxford as the best shoe for traveling. This article is a review of what I love about them, and shares my tips for how I wash them and where to buy them.
Hotel Excelsior is the closest you can stay to Old Town Dubrovnik and still have a stunning view, all the luxury amenities, and direct access to the waterfront- and for these reasons and more- it is the absolute best option for accommodation in Dubrovnik.
Finding a work-life balance may be a tricky ideal to maintain- but when your work is done remotely and your lifestyle leads you all over the world, that balance can be even more challenging to achieve. Having lived as a full-time traveler and freelancer for the last seven years, I’ve found these nine tips have helped me find and maintain a balance between enjoying my time while traveling abroad and still producing great work for my clients.
Working remotely means having freedom: freedom to work when you want and from wherever you want. But depending on your personal style or preference for structure, working remotely can sometimes mean too much freedom will affect your productivity. These five tips will help you structure your work habits and focus on driving results, no matter which industry you work in.
Traveling by car is one of the best ways to get to know a place, and I had the opportunity to short-term lease a Peugeot from AutoFrance and drive from Madrid, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal. This post outlines each stop on my 3-week road trip itinerary. Read on to learn where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in each stop along the way.
As a beginner hiker and avid skier, I am grateful that Halfdays has created their range of spring and summer outdoor hiking clothing. While outfitted in key pieces from their core activewear collection, I felt well-equipped and prepared for my summer trip to ski and hike in the French Alps. Read more to discover everything I loved about their technical and performance fabrics, and how I mixed and matched styles for ultimate versatility.
Visiting Tignes in the summer has been an unforgettable experience, and my only regret is not planning a longer trip to be able to spend more time doing all the fun outdoor activities. Summer skiing on a glacier is definitely a feat I’ll be checking off my bucket-list, but beyond the thrill and excitement of it all, the experience was profound and left a lasting impression on me.
I first visited Château Saint Victor La Coste in 2022– and this summer I had the opportunity to return, this time to experience “A Taste of Provence”, a heart-warming retreat hosted by Alison and Costas (the Château owners) to discover the best of the castle’s surroundings. In this article, I describe the highlights from my experience on the “Taste of Provence” tour, including details about the itinerary, the accommodation options, and how to reserve your spot on the next one.
My third trip to Zermatt proved to be a transformative experience. Discover everything I loved about my stay at the legendary Mont Cervin Palace, and how the customized programs at their Spa Nescens helped me reconnect with myself in one of my favorite winter destinations in the world.
A ski and spa combination may be the best itinerary for a winter getaway, and the Crans Ambassador in Switzerland is a wonderful place to experience it. If you are planning a ski trip to Crans Montana, this article describes what I loved most about my stay at this hotel, along with my recommendations to make the most of your visit.
I’m a solo traveler who loves visiting ski destinations with her dog, and this stay was perfect in every way. Discover everything I loved about staying at Schweizerhof Zermatt with my dog, and learn more about their unique room types, superior amenities, and the thoughtful details that made my experience unforgettable.
If you are considering getting heated ski gloves for yourself or as a gift for someone else, continue reading to learn what I love about my pair from Savior Heat, and about my experience testing them for the first time during a recent trip to Tignes and Val d’Isère in the French Alps.
I’ve been so happy with the Perfect Moment ski jacket I purchased 4+ years ago, that I just bought the updated version of my same jacket in a fun pattern. In this article, I describe all the features that I love most about my Oversized Parka from Perfect Moment, and why I decided to get the Maya Jacket too.
For a stay in Paris as unique as your pet’s personality, Hôtel Château des Fleurs near the Champs-Élysées is a playful and vibrant 5-star property that happily welcomes dogs. Discover what we loved about our experience staying here, and learn about the amenities and design features I found to be most memorable.
For travelers visiting Paris with their small dog, Hôtel Balzac is perfectly appointed to feel like your home away from home. Learn more about my experience staying in this 5-star boutique hotel with my dog, along with details about my favorite amenities and design features.
If you are weighing your transportation options for an upcoming ski trip to the Alps, this article describes my experience choosing Auto France for the second time, the benefits of having your own car to have the freedom to access multiple ski destinations, and how the Car-2-Europe program’s roadside assistance came to my rescue when I needed them.
My stay at The Capra was the perfect blend of relaxation and rejuvenation. The five-star property provides a luxurious experience without any of the fuss, and their impressive and impeccable caliber of hospitality mirrored the authenticity that Saas-Fee is known for. Learn more about my experience staying at The Capra with my dog and skiing in Saas-Fee, as well as more detailed comparisons that describe what sets the village apart from other destinations in the Swiss Alps.

There is no place like Versailles, and there is no experience like staying in an Airelles property. For a hospitality experience as luxurious Le Grand Controle, to be located at and offer exclusive access to the Chateau de Versailles, makes it the absolute best hotel stay that exists. The dog-friendly property pays homage to the palace's rich history as a place where pets are cherished and treated like royalty, and is the ultimate experience to share with your most beloved companion.