...Penny’s tours provide many experiences solo travellers may never have the opportunity to experience by themselves.  Penny has gathered a group of local guides in the major cities that prove to be the perfect ambassadors, providing interesting commentary on all the obvious things you must do when visiting places like Rome, Venice, Florence or Paris... you get to eat at those little out of the way places the locals call their own, visit beautiful shops and businesses that have been operating for generations, and have plenty of time to explore and discover your own secret places and memories.

I have recently returned from my fourth trip with Penny and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

They are extremely well organised and it is obvious that a lot of research has gone into each one. Penny employs local guides who are very passionate about the area in which they live and are very knowledgeable about the area and we have been to many unique places that probably wouldn’t be included in a ‘standard tour’.

The small size of the groups and the fact that I can enjoy the privacy of my own room are very important to me.

I would definitely recommend these tours to others.

I had previously travelled fairly extensively in Europe, but on this tour Penny showed me many new and exciting places. She researches her tours carefully ...uncovers the hidden treasures. She uses local guides with an intimate knowledge of their own areas... hotels were all excellent and I felt thoroughly pampered and cared for. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in travel.

We all had our own special moments in the trip - riding in our own private water taxi down the Grand Canal in Venice on the way to our hotel, mastering the art of ordering a coffee like a true Roman, making our own pasta in a historic Tuscan villa or tasting the first pressing of olive oil so fresh it was still warm, walking down a long corridor with eyes downcast only to look up and see the magnificent statue of David.

But more importantly for me, Penny truly brings together like minded people and as a result I have been lucky enough to form life long friendships with a number of the “gals” I met on Penny’s 2008 Italy trip.  Three of us returned to Italy together in 2010 and went on to join Penny in Paris for her French tour.  Thanks Penny!

I traveled with Penny  in 2015 France the Sequel. It was truly a fabulous trip that ticked all boxes.

We travel to numerous small villages which would be hard to do solo. The local knowledgeable quides just added so much to the experience - bringing each village to life with their passion. Definitely NOT boring disinterested guides!! Penny was also a wealth of knowledge and she didn't know something she would find out and report back to you.

Everything was well organized. Great variety of accommodation, transport and restaurants.

A small group is the way to go.

I would recommend Penny's tours and would be happy to answer any queries.

Don't hesitate just go for it -  life is to ENJOY embrace it.

As a single widowed person there are a number of fabulous reasons to travel with, Penny King's Tours for Independent Women.

Well organised, small group number, own bedroom & bathroom, brilliant guides plus stays of 3-5 days in one place so you feel part of the area you are in. Great food experiences & of course wonderful wine. All this makes for a trouble free and very relaxing holiday.

I have been on 3 of the most wonderful trips with Penny King on her Tours for Independent Women’s Tours, two to Italy and one to France. I am a lover of art, beautiful old architecture and gardens and on Penny’s tours you get to enjoy bucket loads of each on nearly every day. I have also visited so many World UNESCO sites I have lost count. Her tours are very personalised with expert female guides which when you are in a small group feels like you are just enjoying the day out wandering with a group of friends. All the meals are delicious whether it is breakfast in a grand hotel or a sweet little rustic villa.

The dinners are all very special because they are chosen by Penny for their reputation, charm and location. Highlights for me have been of course Paris and then staying in the beautiful Chateau De Reignac in the Loire Valley and in Italy exploring the Italian Lakes and the stunning gardens on the Borromeo Islands in Lake Maggiore. I love Florence for its history, art galleries and wonderful markets, and then of course who hasn’t had their heart stolen by Venice which I have visited twice with Penny.

I have been on four of Penny’s Tours for Women since 2007.  They have all been excellent.  Penny has thought of everything, she is there to greet us on day one and wave us goodbye on our final day as we head off in various directions.  My first trip to France was in 2010 and it was the beginning of my love of France, and the first time that I had stayed in a chateau in the Loire.  It is great to have double room accommodation (with single occupancy), which was a haven to retreat to after a busy day.  It is also good travelling with a small group.  The galleries and museums are there to be explored as per Penny’s itinerary or to wander at will if not with the group.

They say variety is the spice of life! “France the Sequel” is just that if you’re after something different away from the well-trodden tourist tracks and well known attractions. It was a very comprehensive tour with very knowledgeable guides, with diverse food and wine flavours and lots of historical and cultural elements. From Bayeux and its amazing tapestry in Normandy to the north to the picturesque seascapes, beaches and delicious and bountiful seafood of the Emerald Coast, to the medieval villages, walled townships, ancient cave paintings, ballooning and truffles in the Dordogne to the perfectly manicured vineyards and “bubbles” of Champagne and its magnificent cathedral, to the fairy tale town of Riquewihr in Alsace with it markets and mélange of French and German cultures and cuisines to end in Paris with the sparkle of The Avenue des Champs-Élysées ablaze with its Christmas lights! A tour and journey to remember!

Touring with Penny King was a really great introduction to travelling as an individual, safely and with the confidence of being in a group. You don’t miss out on “must see” things (unless you want to) and also have the opportunity to incorporate your personal interests into the tour. Penny stays in locations that have an  ambiance to enhance your experience and she  also knows a lot of magic restaurants that are not touristy. I particularly found that using public transport (trains, taxi’s, even a local bus) in foreign countries with different languages in small groups not only gave me insight into the real nature of the local people but also provided me with the confidence to be able to come back another time totally independently - I have done that recently with 2 really lovely ladies I met touring with Penny.