Solo Travel as Self Care: How to add it to Your Wellness Budget (and where to go!)
Solo Travel is the Ultimate Act of Self-Care
When we think about wellness, we tend to focus on physical things: a good workout, a healthy diet, meditation. But true wellness is so much bigger than that. It's also about doing things that make you feel good on the inside. It’s so easy to get caught up in our everyday lives, that we often forget our emotional and mental health is just as important.
‘Wellness’ was once a word I only associated with traditional health and fitness, until I realised, there’s so much more I do which benefits my wellness.
Personally, there’s one way I like to spend my wellness budget, the clues in the title… solo travel.
From booking my first solo trip February 2024, to have now travelled to over 15 countries alone, it’s safe to say I’m hooked.
We all know the phrase, "growth happens outside your comfort zone," but it’s 100% true.
Solo travel forced me outside of my comfort zone, and in the best way possible, I can hand on heart say I’ve blossomed from the inside out in confidence. The best part, 0 compromise, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, meaning you can focus on the things that truly matter to you.
Wellness isn’t just about avoiding burnout or staying healthy—it’s about actively doing things that make you happy.
“‘Wellness’ was once a word I only associated with traditional health and fitness, until I realised, there’s so much more I do which benefits my wellness.”
How to Make Solo Travel Part of Your Wellness Budget
Now, I know what you’re thinking—“travel is expensive!” Yes, it can be, but that’s exactly why you should budget for it. People are often surprised how cheap travel has been for me. Just like you’d set aside money for a gym membership or dinners out, carve out a portion of your salary each month experiences that will help you grow, explore, or just for pure enjoyment.
Start small, put aside a little amount each which could go towards a day trip or weekend away, perhaps there’s been somewhere on your list for a while. There’s no need to plan an extravagant trip to Bali right away (though, hey, if that’s your thing, go for it). What matters most is that you’re prioritising something you’d like to do, and something that will make you happy.
With each month that follows, you can build up a travel fund and use this to plan your future trips. If you’re purely looking to indulge in new cultures and explore new places like me – aka no plan! Then SkyScanner is your best friend, either keep your dates open or search ‘everywhere’ to find the cheapest flights each month.
Top Solo Travel Destinations for Women
If you’re just starting out like I’ve been, I’ve strongly recommend Europe. English is spoken more times than not, and it’s not too far away from home if you’re feeling anxious about starting this journey.
Here’s a few of my recommendations based on experiences:
Budapest, Hungary – Night life
Prague, Czechia – City vibes with lots to explore
Dubrovnik, Croatia – Swimming in the sea (and you can hop the border to Montenegro)
Scotland – Hiking
Innsbruck, Austria – Mountains
Tips for a Safe and Mindful Solo Journey
If you’ve got a few locations in mind, do some research as to where’s safest, things to keep an eye out for, or any restrictions. If you want to find out more about what a location has to offer, utilise social media in finding recent posts from visitors and tourism boards to put together an authentic plan.
Despite being a planner, I always make sure there’s wiggle room for spontaneity as you never know if plans will change, or who you’ll meet. Perhaps have a plan of key places you’d like to visit, and have a ‘maybe’ list as a backup. Depending on your reason for visiting (if you have one at all), learning about local culture is a great way to deepen your purpose whilst travelling and show some appreciation to those who live there.
Staying safe is most people’s concerns whilst travelling so trust your gut, if you feel uncomfortable, remove yourself from the environment you’re in whether you’re not feeling the vibe of a neighbourhood, a person, or an activity. Don’t forget to do your research to avoid risky/unsafe areas.
Final Thoughts
If you’re taking anything away from this, I hope you realise wellness is so much more than your physical health, it’s a mentality of doing things that make you happy.
I never thought I’d have the balls to solo travel, despite it being something I had always wanted to do. I now can’t imagine not having explored these countries or not meeting the people I have along the way.
If you’re looking for a sign to start, this is it, although this is your warning, you may never look back!
If you want to see more places to travel, or want to ask for suggestions, feel free to reach out.
Written by Tamara Lawrence
This article is part of our Wellness Budget campaign, sharing different ways that the City Girl Network audience can spend their money, time and energy on improving their health and wellbeing.