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caryl dolinko

Caryl Dolinko

Women's Travel + Cultural Diversity

President, Smart Cookie Consulting
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Topics Include:

Caryl Dolinko has been an emcee, presenter, host, and moderator for over 20 years, with experience teaching travel classes with twenty people to events and gatherings of 50 to massive audiences of over 100,000 people. She has presented workshops, delivered keynote speeches, moderated panels, and appeared on both television and radio. With over 25 years of public speaking experience, Caryl brings a dynamic presence and a passion for sharing wisdom, knowledge, and real-world insight with every audience she meets.

More on her website

Last updated on May 12th, 2025

Caryl Dolinko has travelled to 93 countries ​and spent 40 years travelling the world. Caryl taught travel courses through the Vancouver school board for over a decade and has led workshops and seminars about global travel and cultural diversity throughout North America. She is an accomplished travel photographer, having exhibited in over twenty shows and published in articles, and was also a regular guest on television and radio shows, and has been interviewed for a variety of magazines in Canada & abroad.

Caryl’s journey into the world of travel began at 18 with a four-month trip to Europe that transformed into an epic eight-year odyssey. As an intrepid traveler, she has trekked through the Himalayas, sailed the Nile, fished for piranhas in the Amazon, and ridden camels across the Sahara. These daring adventures set the stage for a lifelong quest for discovery.

Over the past 40 years, Caryl has explored ninety-three countries across six continents, always chasing the thrill of unique experiences. Caryl has co-authored two travel books, including “A Woman’s Guide to Independent Travel” and the Canadian bestseller, “The Globetrotter’s Guide – Essential Skills for Budget Travel.” Her remarkable travel expertise has been featured on television, radio, and in over 400 media interviews, as well as countless presentations and lectures across North America. She taught travel courses for over a decade and has led electrifying workshops and seminars on global travel and cultural diversity, inspiring youth groups, colleges, associations, and organizations with her tales of adventure and cultural insights. As an avid travel photographer, Caryl’s work has been exhibited in numerous shows.

Caryl’s academic background in Peace and Conflict Negotiation, Anthropology, and Sociology, combined with a master’s degree in Global Leadership and Intercultural Communications, provides a solid foundation for her travels. This unique blend of education and real-world experience fuels her ongoing mission to understand the world’s diverse cultures and peoples.

In 2023, Carolyn was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse for her efforts to advocate for women over 50 in travel. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Conde Nast as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. In 2025, she received her second SATW travel writing award and published her first book "Never Too Late: How Women 50+ Travellers Are Making the Rules" with co-author Lola Akinmade. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council, JourneyWoman Awards for Women 50+ and the Women's Speaker's Bureau. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member of Women Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

Recent Speaking Engagements

I have a multitude of experiences speaking, from emcee of local, national and international events, to keynote messages, workshops, television and radio appearances, and a regular on morning television for travel. I do voiceover work and help others in toastmasters to find their confidence and voice. I have been speaking in public for over 25 years and love the opportunity to share my wisdom, knowledge and know-how with others.

Books, Podcasts, Articles, and More

The Globetrotter's Guide: Essential Skills for Budget Travel
A Woman's Guide to World Travel

In The Media