‘You realise there's nothing you can't do': Why solo travel is the ultimate act of self-care
ADVERTISEMENT
Ioana had never travelled alone before the age of 31 because she was too afraid of what people would think.
But a solo trip to Paris for her 31st birthday was transformative.
'The important people in my life were all very supportive, and the Parisians couldn't care less that I was eating in restaurants alone or walking along the Seine by myself,' she says.
'This experience helped reduce my anxiety and taught me that I should not let other people's opinions interfere with how I live my life.'
While solo travel is often perceived as daunting, it can be an unexpectedly powerful form of stress relief, according to
Dr Ravi Gill,
a chartered psychologist with over 15 years in mental healthcare.
Related
'The paperwork is a nightmare': The romance and red tape of dating as a digital nomad
'People are not props': The Sámi reindeer herders fighting stereotypes to build ethical tourism
'Solo travel offers profound psychological benefits, helping individuals overcome anxiety, build self-trust, and experience true autonomy,' he says.
'You realise there's nothing you can't do'
Data analysis by
Emerald Cruises
predicts that solo travel is set to skyrocket, with Google Trends data showing a staggering 5,000 per cent increase in searches for 'best places to travel solo' and 'solo travel tours' in March alone.
The cruise company, whose itineraries include trips dedicated to single passengers, surveyed 500 Brits about their experiences of travelling alone.
Nearly half of the respondents said that solo trips boosted their confidence and decision-making skills - something Romanian-born Ioana also emphasises on her
solo travel blog
.
'I think solo travel is very empowering because you need to do everything yourself,' she says.
'Once you navigate a new city, problem solve how to deal with flight delays, or order food in a foreign language successfully, you realise there is nothing you can't do.'
Maddie Quammen is a travelling content creator from the US.
Maddie Quammen
Maddie Quammen is a travelling content creator from the US. She describes
solo travel
as 'like a mirror and a reset button all at once'.
'It pulls you out of your comfort zone, and in doing so, helps you get really clear on who you are and what you actually want,' she says.
'I think we're living in a time where comfort is the default, and too much of it can lead to anxiety, numbness, and disconnection. When you're solo on the road, you're constantly being tested. But in those moments, you realise just how strong, adaptable, and resourceful you really are.'
'Solo trips showed me I can change my reality'
For many travellers, embarking on a solo trip becomes a journey of self-discovery, or as Gill puts it, 'replacing a fixed mindset with a growth mindset.'
ADVERTISEMENT
In the survey by Emerald Cruises, 32 per cent of respondents said they see travelling alone as a way to learn more about themselves.
For Ioana, solo travel was a wake-up call about her work-life balance.
'I used to work in corporate, and I was miserable because my job was not fulfilling, and I didn't have the time freedom I was craving,' she says.
'After I took a few
solo trips
, I became more confident and I realised that I am in control of my own life and I can change my reality.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Ioana in Barcelona.
Ioana (thesolotravelinstyleblog)
Ioana began writing a solo travel blog and left the corporate world last year to dedicate her time to travelling and sharing her experiences.
'Solo travel is not just about seeing the world; it's about discovering who you are when no one else is shaping your choices," says Gill.
'Healing often sneaks up on you in motion'
Maddie's experience has also been an odyssey of self-growth. She and her ex broke up during a trip abroad, and she found herself '
completely alone
on the other side of the world'.
'I felt like I lost my favourite person, and had no idea who I was without them. But solo travel didn't let me stay stuck. I had to keep going. I had to rely on myself - and strangers,' she says.
ADVERTISEMENT
'There are kind, beautiful humans everywhere, and if you stay open, you'll find them. That was one of the most healing parts for me - learning I wasn't as alone as I thought.'
Related
'We were tired of living within four walls': Why I left the city to run a mountain hotel in Italy
'You learn to live with much less': Why this family decided to set sail and see the world
Maddie has continued to travel full-time and uses her
Instagram
account to share frank realities about getting over a break-up while on the road alone.
'I was once crying in a bunk bed over my ex, thinking I made the biggest mistake of my life. Two days later, I was riding through rice fields in
Vietnam
, full of peace and joy,' she says.
'That contrast reminded me that pain isn't permanent, and healing often sneaks up on you in motion.'
ADVERTISEMENT
For Maddie, solo travel hasn't just shown her she can handle whatever is thrown at her, but that she can thrive.
'It's hard to spiral when you're watching the sunrise over a mountain you just climbed,' she says.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
5 days ago
- Euronews
Severe flooding cripples Romania's historic Praid salt mine
Heavy flooding in Romania's Harghita County — the worst in the past three decades — has led to critical conditions at the historical Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a major tourist attraction in the country, authorities said. According to County Prefect Petres Sandor, the inflow of water is uncontrollable. "We lost the fight with nature. The water has started to enter the salt mine again, with a flow that cannot be controlled at the moment," Sandor told local press. "Authorities will carry out an expertise as soon as possible to establish the condition of the walls, the pillars inside the mine, and to decide what to do next," he added. The Praid salt mine dates back to Roman times. In recent times, the attraction on the Via Transilvanica long-distance trail also served as a medical centre and a tourist destination, including an adventure park, a cinema, a small museum and other facilities, all located some 120 metres underground. The authorities are yet to determine the extent of the salt mine emergency and the impact of the flooding. "The situation is complicated. When water comes into contact with the salt, it immediately melts it and makes a hole," Sorin Rindasu, head of the Emergency Situations department in the Romanian Waters Administration, said. The flow of the Corund stream increased, resulting in the water further pouring into the mine, he added. Authorities say that although the situation is critical, the flooding will not destabilise the entire mine. "it would take quite a while for the water to dissolve so much salt inside to pose a problem of stability, we are talking about months, years, not days, weeks, in any case," Sandor said. In recent years, water leaks have already posed a problem to the mine, and authorities have carried out works to prevent infiltration. The Romanian government offered assistance to the region to deal with the emergency situation, and the ministry of economy assured the residents that it would make further investments to reduce the impact of the salt mine's flooding on Romanian tourism and reopen the mine for visitors.
Euronews
21-05-2025
- Euronews
It could soon be easier for UK travellers to bring pets into the EU
For British travellers, taking a pet abroad to an EU country is now fraught with formalities, from rabies vaccinations to tapeworm treatments. These complicated procedures are a result of Brexit, which introduced several bureaucratic hurdles that previously did not exist. However, the recent negotiations for a 'Brexit reset' deal between the UK and the EU look set to simplify pet travel rules again. Here are the current regulations for bringing a pet into the EU and what is expected to change. Before Brexit, UK residents enjoyed straightforward travel with their pets involving minimal paperwork. Dogs, cats, and other furry companions were stamped in and out using a simple pet passport system. Pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland was completely unrestricted in both directions. But Brexit brought in a host of new bureaucratic requirements for Brits travelling with their animals. The current requirements state that pets must be microchipped. Animals over 12 weeks old must receive a rabies vaccination, and more than three weeks must pass between the jab and travel. Each journey requires a new EU animal health certificate (AHC) confirming both microchipping and vaccination. Dogs need tapeworm treatment one to five days before entering the EU or Northern Ireland, with a health certificate issued within 10 days of entry. Vets charge approximately £200 (€236) per certificate. When entering the EU, travellers must use dedicated entry points where officials will validate and stamp the pet's documentation. When returning to the UK, the same certifications used for departure remain valid. Pet owners report that the paperwork is challenging and prone to errors that can prevent travel altogether. While the certificates remain valid for up to four months for re-entry to Britain, this exceeds the 90-day limit that applies to British citizens in the EU, so it is irrelevant for most travellers. While there are still no restrictions on taking a pet from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, the above rules apply in the opposite direction because of the 'border in the Irish Sea' that Boris Johnson's government negotiated. For direct travel to Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway, dogs require veterinarian-administered tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival, documented in either the health certificate or a valid pet passport. The UK government is seeking to negotiate with the EU to restore something closer to pre-Brexit ease of pet travel. This would likely involve UK pet passports regaining a similar status to EU documents. While there's a small health risk in facilitating more animal movement between countries, officials believe this is outweighed by both social benefits (allowing more people to travel with their pets) and economic advantages for the tourism industry. If you are looking for a city break on a budget this summer, consider some of Eastern Europe's culture-rich capitals. A new report by the UK's Post Office has ranked the top 10 cities in Europe where you could save money on a holiday. The City Costs Barometer found that prices have fallen in half the cities surveyed. Seven out of 10 destinations are in Eastern Europe, including the top spot. The analysis calculated the costs of 12 common tourist items in 38 cities in Europe. These included consumables like a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a can of Coca-Cola or Pepsi, a glass of wine, and a three-course evening meal for two with house wine. Transport costs were also incorporated, such as a return airport bus or train transfer, and a 48-hour travel card. It included the price of a sightseeing city bus tour, a top tourist heritage attraction, a top museum, and a top art gallery. Finally, it added the cost of two nights' accommodation in a three-star hotel for two people. The Latvian capital, Riga, has regained its position as Europe's best value city for a short break for the first time in over a decade. The UNESCO-designated old town is a flourish of carved medieval buildings and pastel townhouses, but you don't have to battle crowds to visit the famous sites. At €300 for 12 tourist items, the city has risen from sixth place last year to top the chart for the first time since 2012. This is because prices in Riga are down 15 per cent year-on-year compared with those in runner-up city, Vilnius, where the total cost of an average break rose 7.5 per cent to €302. The rising cost of accommodation in the Lithuanian capital is the key factor. Prices in the two Baltic states are around 60 per cent lower than in Oslo (€755) and Copenhagen (€747), the most expensive cities surveyed. Poland boasts three cities in this year's city breaks top 10. Warsaw (€329) has moved up from 10th to third place with a price fall of 13.2 per cent, mainly as a result of a €46 fall in accommodation costs (€155 for two nights compared with €201 a year ago). Kraków (€356) again makes the top 10 but has dropped from fourth to eighth place because of a 7.7 per cent price increase. One place higher in seventh position Gdansk, surveyed for the first time this year, costs a total of €352 for the barometer items. From the enormous brick St Mark's Church, whose spires seem to pierce the clouds, to the slender gabled houses lining Long Market, many of the Polish city's attractions don't cost a penny to admire. Also new for 2025, Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, has shot into the top 10 in fourth place. Its overall cost of €335 is 29 per cent lower than Dubrovnik in neighbouring Croatia. Podgorica has an ultra-trendy cafè scene, a historic village-in-the-city neighbourhood and vestiges of its ancient Ottoman past to discover. Rising from 11th last year to 10th position in the new survey, Zagreb (€369) is the fourth new entrant to the best value top 10, gaining its place because of a 4.4 per cent fall in barometer prices. Portugal's two major cities both feature in the ranking. Although prices are up 10.8 per cent in Lisbon (5th, €347), the Portuguese capital remains the highest placed Western European city. Porto (9th, €362) has moved back into the leading 10 cities from 13th place last year after registering an overall price fall of 15.5 per cent, thanks to better hotel availability. Lille, a delight of handsome buildings and heavyweight museums in northern France, comes in 6th place at €348 to complete the top 10 line-up. Post Office researchers found that costs for tourist items have fallen in half of the surveyed cities compared to a year ago. The biggest drop has been in Helsinki, the lowest-priced Scandinavian city in this year's barometer. At €556, prices have plummeted by over 20 per cent to take the Finnish capital to 21st place from 34th last year. Conversely, barometer prices have risen significantly in Berlin, where a 20 per cent increase in tourist costs has seen the city fall from 21st to 34th place with a barometer total of €698. All prices have been converted from Sterling to Euro at the current conversion rate of £1 = €1.19.
Local France
21-05-2025
- Local France
French property: What to know about buying a second home in the south-west
Long popular with Brits, the French south-west - ranging from the coast near La Rochelle to Basque country along the Spanish border and further inland with Dordogne and the Périgord - has a lot to offer. The area is prized for its warm weather and adorable villages, as well as the rolling hills, wine country and forest that offers an authentic, French countryside ambience. Nevertheless, there are some downsides to purchasing a second home in this part of France, particularly for those opting for rural life, where public transport and health services might be limited. What readers had to say "Stunning scenery, excellent for outdoor activities, like mountain biking, road biking, climbing, hill walking, skiing, and canyoning", said reader Irene Hope, when asked about the positive aspects of owning a second home in the south-west. She purchased a second home in the border département of Pyrénées-Orientales and her explanation was largely in line with many respondents, particularly those who prioritised the warmer climate and scenery. Reader Christine Dao said she would recommend Hautes-Pyrénées for people who "like nature, nice people, good products and wines, cycling, hiking and skiing in the mountains." She added that the département is "underrated" and offers "value for money and proximity to Basque Country and Toulouse with easy access with TGV." Although, on the topic of weather, Mike Shepherd warns that in Ariège, "winters are cold and pipes have to be preserved if you are not there." While some readers did opt for cities like Bordeaux and Toulouse, many chose the south-west for the countryside and the quiet life. Fiona Cownie said she picked the south-west because of "the pace of life (slower, more relaxed). The food - excellent fresh local produce and great cafés and restaurants. She added: "Also a lot of historic villages and beautiful countryside to explore. Very friendly neighbours and friendly people in our little town." Jennifer Woodside, who bought in the Tarn-et-Garonne département, said she had looked at 52 homes before landing on the right option. Advertisement "We spent time looking around the Charente, Dordogne, Gers and near Albi before settling on our preferred location near the Lot Valley. We love the rolling hills and proximity to nice villages, rivers, lakes - while more expensive than the Charente, it's cheaper than the Dordogne," she said. Along with the natural environment, several readers mentioned the affordable prices, particularly in rural areas. In the Tarn-et-Garonne département, for example, the average price per metre squared as of May 2025, according to Meilleurs Agents , was €1,764 for apartments, and €1,811 for detached (single family) homes, though this can decrease if you move further away from Montauban. In Dordogne, it was €1,571 for apartments, and €1,767 for detached homes, while the prices in Charente were €1,599 and €1,534, respectively. In comparison, the average price per square metre in Paris, for apartments, was €9,468, while the price for detached homes was €10,098. Whereas, in the overall PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur) region had average prices at €4,047 for apartments and €4,059 for detached homes. That said, readers had some warnings too. Several British respondents mentioned frustrations about Brexit, which means they now need to have a visa to spend more than 90 out of 180 days at their second home. Advertisement British readers also noted that the south-west can be quite the distance to drive from the UK. Jennifer Woodside said: "It is quite far from the UK, so when we visit our home, we need to go for more than a week to make it worth our while. EasyJet closing off routes to Toulouse hasn't helped!" READ MORE: The alternative travel options to get to south-west France Other readers warned that some airlines do not fly the same routes in the winter, meaning options can be limited in the off-season for those who don't want to drive. Rural parts of France, particularly the south-west, can also be quite far from the necessities, like healthcare. As such, you might need a car. Several readers mentioned the issue of 'medical deserts' (areas with a shortage of healthcare professionals, like GPs). Helen Bambrough warned that the part of the south-west she bought in - located between Gourdon and Cahors - is "very rural. There's no commerce and you need your own transport. It is definitely not suitable for older people who are not fit and mobile." Advertisement What experts had to say Joanna Leggett, the marketing director for Leggett International real estate, told The Local that the prices are one of the benefits of the south-west. "Property in the south-west is exceptional value and you can still pick up a lovely family home with pool for under €300,000 in many départements." "There is a large expat community in the south-west, which some buyers might see as a downside. Towns like Eymet, Civray and Confolens have many Brits/Americans living full-time, or with holiday homes," she said. Overall, Leggett described the south-west as "still authentic". "In a 24-hour world of global brands like McDonald's and Starbucks, the shops here still close on Sundays, you can still get the " plat du jour " for under €15, people buy local produce from the market stalls and the kids still greet each other with kisses on both cheeks. Advertisement Another property expert, Jennifer Parrette, of Renestance real estate, told The Local "the south-west is some of the most varied terrain in France". "Owning a second home here plants you right in the centre of interesting historic sites, and the transportation network is excellent with TGV. The Bordeaux line reaches Paris in 2.5 hours, and prices are much less than in the south-east or Paris. "The downside is that unless you are in one of the larger cities, it is more likely that you will want a car for your daily life to take advantage of all that this part of France has to offer. "In addition, just like in the Var or Vaucluse, villages can become almost dormant in the winter months." However Adrian Leeds, of Adrian Leeds Group, whose clientele is largely American, said she does not typically recommend the rural south-west to her clients. Advertisement "It is mainly because of access. For older people, especially those over 50 or 60, you won't be happy if you are far away from healthcare services. You don't want to find yourself in a 'medical desert'. READ MORE: MAP: Where in France has the best access to healthcare? "What if your spouse or partner has an emergency and the hospital is an hour away? That would make it hard to visit them, not to mention the fact that doctors may not be nearby," she said. She said: "Try to get closer to Montpellier and Marseille. These cities are closer to the water, and they are a faster train ride to Paris. Toulouse can be decent too, but it is a long train ride if you need to get to the capital." For those intent on buying a second home in the south-west, Joanna Leggett recommended taking your time, as there are many places to choose from. "The south-west is big! If you are coming on a viewing trip don't book appointments in Poitiers and Perigueux on the same day. "Country lanes can be slow, and maps can be misleading - take your time, the whole point of buying here is to de-stress and sniff the flowers along the way," she said. As for readers, Jeanne Fry-Thomas, warned that: "Brits should not expect the cost of building work to be the same as the UK. It isn't, it's more. Don't rely on budget airlines to always fly to your local airport. "Make sure you visit your local Marie when you first arrive and make a big effort to join in with your local community, I've always found washing up at the Salle des Fête an excellent way to make friends. "Try to speak French, regardless of how bad you think it is. Also remember, in the countryside, neighbours are very important, far more than you may have been used to." Reader Gina Jolliffe, said she was pleased with the village she had chosen, but she tempered her recommendation, saying: "We struck lucky (...) Some houses are very dilapidated. Artisans can be hard to get, and Brit artisans may not be properly qualified." And finally, American reader Earnest Chambers, who bought a second home in Dordogne, advised that "it is not easy to find renters and rental prices tend to be low. The [home] values do not go up much." Still, he said he would recommend it: "You get a lot for your money and the French residents are very welcoming." Each day this week we will publish an article on the challenges of buying a second home in certain parts of France including Paris, the Riviera and Brittany as well as an article on key tips for buying a French second home. Find the full series HERE .
