1. The Luthan Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Life for women in the kingdom, recognized as the most conservative country on earth, is far from easy. For example, in a city with perfect sunny weather, a woman cannot check into a hotel and use the pool or spa at her own discretion.
But thanks to the Luthan Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi women no longer have to fight for equal rights. The Luthan is the first hotel in the kingdom with no men.
Everyone under the roof of the «Luthan» (which translates as «refuge») is a woman, and men are not welcome here. By the way, this hotel is owned by 20 Saudi princesses.
2. SuperShe Island in Raseborg, Finland
In 2017, entrepreneur Kristina Roth bought an entire island and founded a women-only space there. Here you can relax, unwind and enjoy life without men. A stay at SuperShe includes yoga, saunas, massages, swimming and walks in nature.
Photo: Freepik
3. The Village of Umoja in Samburu, Kenya
The village of Umoja is a haven of peace for many Samburu women who, sadly, are burdened by a dark past.
In Kenya's patriarchal culture, Umoja is the only village of its kind in the region where men are not allowed. It is a safe haven for rejected and stigmatized women escaping the horrors of domestic violence.
The village of Umoja is led by Rebecca Lolosoli. She founded it in 1991 together with 15 women who had been traumatized by rape committed by British soldiers, who have training bases in the area.
The Samburu women in the village are united by the unique bonds of Sisterhood. The village is run entirely by women; the women here conduct business, build houses and protect them. Men are forbidden to enter the village of Umoja. They are allowed into other nearby villages, but they must follow certain rules.
4. The Village of Noiva do Cordeiro in Belo Vale, Brazil
Noiva do Cordeiro translates from Portuguese as «Bride of the Lamb». Everything in this little village speaks of femininity. The houses here are painted pink, orange and lilac, and cute ribbons hang from the well-tended trees.
More than 600 women live and work here, mostly between the ages of 20 and 35. If a woman has a son, he is sent away from the village when he turns 18. Men are not allowed to live here. Recently, however, there has been talk that «Bride of the Lamb» is ready to take in single men who will live by the women's rules.
5. The Le Mall Car Showroom in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, lifting the ban on women driving caused a colossal sensation. Riding that wave, the Le Mall Car Showroom opened a women-only car showroom in Jeddah. And just recently, the showroom's owners even held Saudi Arabia's first car exhibition exclusively for the fairer sex.
6. The Gandhi Nagar Women's Railway Station in Delhi, India
In India, harassment on public transport is commonplace. To protect women from it, the Indian government put into service women-only trains painted in cute pastel colors. The trains run in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Madras.
On top of all that, the Gandhi Nagar railway station is run by an all-female crew – 28 staff members, including operations personnel, ticket inspectors and reservation inspectors.
7. Women-Only Parking in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Finding a parking spot in busy cities often turns into a nightmare. Sometimes it can even end in fistfights or foul language. In Abu Dhabi they solved this problem by setting aside 182 parking spaces for women only. The slots are marked with pink signs and white markings.
The parking instructions in these areas ensure that men will not approach the spots reserved for the fairer sex. And if they dare to park here, their cars will be towed away, and the owners will be fined for illegal parking.
8. The Duchess Floor at the Dukes Hotel, Dubai
The entire third floor of the Dukes hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is known as the Duchess floor, where only women may stay. It has 20 exclusive women's rooms with picturesque ocean views.
The Duchess floor is decorated with fabrics from the legendary Liberty brand, full-length panoramic windows and private elevator access. Female guests are served in champagne and tea salons.
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9. The Grace Belgravia Club, London
Grace Belgravia is a private women-only club. It opened its doors in 2012. After paying their fees, members are assigned a personal “Angel” – a concierge – and gain access to all services. There are plenty of specialists here – most of the club's services are dedicated to relaxation, proper nutrition, health and beauty.
It accommodates all women with specialists who cover everything related to women, including nutrition, beauty and much more.
The annual membership fee, however, is hefty – 5,500 pounds sterling (about 420 thousand rubles), and the joining fee is 2,000 pounds sterling (about 150,000 rubles). But men are not allowed into this luxurious retreat.
10. The Wing Space in the Flatiron District, New York
The Wing is the only women's social club and workspace, and it is a huge success. The opening ceremony was so «girly» that it turned into a real pajama party.
Everything here is done in shades of pink. The club has a strict rule banning men from entering. Even the library here features works only by female authors.
