ADVERTISEMENTIoana 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.
“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. 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.”
ADVERTISEMENTIn 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.”
ADVERTISEMENTIoana 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.”
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.”
ADVERTISEMENTFor 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.