Why Solo Travel Is the Best Self-Care You Haven’t Tried Yet

There’s something oddly liberating about sitting alone in a café in a foreign country, sipping what may or may not be a lukewarm espresso, while pretending to understand the menu with the confidence of someone who definitely does not speak the language.

That, in essence, is solo travel. Glorious, awkward, wonderful solo travel.

We often think of self-care in terms of bath bombs, scented candles, or shouting “boundaries!” while avoiding family WhatsApp groups. But may I propose something even more restorative? Buy a ticket. Pack a bag. Get on a plane. Alone.

Travelling solo is like turning the volume down on everyone else’s opinion and finally listening to your own thoughts — even if they are mostly about snacks and the next loo stop.

Now, let’s be clear: the first day is usually terrifying. You arrive, jet-lagged, blinking in a new timezone, and all the signs are in squiggly characters. You try to find your hotel, which you definitely booked with a suspiciously cheap rate, and it turns out to be behind a noodle shop and up five flights of stairs. But then… something magical happens. You figure it out. You survive. You learn the joy of eating alone and not caring that no one’s there to Instagram it.

You wake up when you like. You walk aimlessly. You have gelato for lunch and no one tells you off. You marvel at museums or skip them entirely. The day belongs to you and only you — no compromises, no debates over dinner plans, and no one judging how long you stare at that one painting that makes you feel oddly emotional.

And somewhere between the overpacked suitcase and the underwhelming hostel breakfast, you realise: you’re actually quite good company.

Solo travel isn’t just about discovering new places — it’s about rediscovering yourself. The version of you that isn’t squashed between work emails and the endless scroll of social media. It’s self-care in its purest form. No agenda, no performance. Just you, a map (probably upside down), and a world that feels suddenly more open.

Of course, it’s not all sunsets and personal growth. Sometimes you get lost, sometimes you cry in a train station (just me?), and sometimes you spend an hour trying to ask for plasters using interpretive dance. But even those moments — especially those moments — become part of the adventure. They’re proof that you did something brave. Something wonderfully daft and brave.

So next time life feels a bit too much, forget the spa day. Book a solo trip. Anywhere. Everywhere. Just go. Eat alone. Laugh alone. Get lost. Find yourself. And know that the best kind of self-care might just be out there, waiting, with your name on a boarding pass.

And to make things even easier, we’ve partnered with Solos Holidays to give our members £75 off their next solo adventure.
Simply log in to your members hub to unlock the offer — the world is waiting, and you don’t need a plus one to enjoy it.