I open the blue-shuttered windows to the sound of church bells pealing out from Cathedrale Sainte-Reparate.

I've arrived. I have navigated the French train system, metro line and cobbled streets of Old Town Nice, with my two heavy suitcases; climbed the three flights of stairs to my AirBnb in 30-degree heat; mistaken the fourth floor as the third and unwittingly almost broken into the wrong apartment; wrestled with the ancient key lockbox; and finally entered, heart pounding.

There’s a sudden stillness. I am 24 years old, 3,000 miles from home, totally alone – and I’ve made it.

SOF AirBnB

Bankok Exploring

The beauty of the South of France (L) and street murals of Bangkok (R): Alex Richards

Taking the Leap into Solo Travel

For my first ever solo trip, I decided to extend a work trip to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and revisit the site of my childhood summer holidays, just along the coast in Nice. It felt comfortable, less daunting and, well, nice to be exploring a city I knew so well. I could wander familiar streets at my own pace, discovering a whole new side to them.

Since then, I have solo travelled across Amsterdam, London, Sri Lanka, Thailand, even the Maldives (which is not for the faint-hearted when you’re as single as I am).

Each time, I come home with a huge sense of gratitude as well as a more resounding confidence in myself. There’s a stereotype that all solo travellers are fiercely independent, free-spirited risk-takers with unlimited funds à la Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love. I can’t say that I tick any of these boxes. But I can say, without a doubt, that the experiences I have had whilst outside of my comfort zone have shaped who I am today. There’s a strange sort of silence that settles over you when you’re solo travelling.

Luzerne

London

Luzerne (L) and London (R): Alex Richards

Maldives

Maldivian bliss at OZEN Reserve Bolifushi: Alex Richards

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Stillness & Independence: Solo But Not Alone

Time is suspended and the world quietens; it sees you seeing it.

It’s in these moments when you’re totally alone that you reconnect with what you truly want, how you truly feel. Freed from the stress of the everyday, with nobody to talk to and no set plans to keep, your mind has nowhere else to be. You’re literally flying solo. It is an inherently lonely hobby. You’ll be sitting in a café, looking at the tables around you, and for a split second, you will be hit by an inevitable longing. You’ll see your mom’s favourite painting in a museum, text her a photo, and wish she was there in person to share that memory.

But, there’s an art to loneliness – a joy in independence. Besides which, I’m not really alone.

Women of all ages are prioritising solo adventures, and the keyword search for ‘solo female travel’ has risen by upwards of 1000% in the past decade. Popular destinations include Japan (next on my list!), Cambodia, Portugal and New Zealand. Start small. Rather than booking a month-long adventure throughout Asia as your first experience, start smaller; extend a work trip for a couple of nights, or visit a new city that is closer to home for a long-weekend trip.

OZEN LIFE MADHOO

Solo fine dining beneath the waves at OZEN Life Maadhoo in the Maldives: Alex Richards

Bangkok

Sri Lanka Green

The busy streets of Bangkok (L) and rich greenery of Sri Lanka (R): Alex Richards

No Compromise

Under the caption ‘the trip made it out of the group chat, but the group chat didn’t make it out of the trip’, a recent social trend has pointedly highlighted the number of friendships that don't make it past the holiday. I myself have seen more than one friendship crumble after a group vacation, I'm sure we all have.

With solo travelling, there’s no negotiating with a squeamish or unenthusiastic travel companion, or arguing over how to split the bill. There’s zero compromise. You don’t even have to coordinate everyone’s annual leave, simply book the earliest flight for one.

So, Why Wait?

If you're reading this and you're like me, in your twenties, hopeful to explore the world and contemplating if solo travel is for you... My question to you is, why wait?

We so often live life on auto-pilot. Solo travel feels like the exact reverse of auto-pilot and predictability; for me, it is a quiet form of rebellion and a radical reset. The ultimate path to self-discovery lies in a one-way ticket booked with the best company - myself.

My Top Solo Travel Tip

When it comes to eating alone, it's equally as daunting as stepping off the plane in a new place alone; stark and solitary. If the prospect of dining alone at a restaurant is too stark, opt for a counter seat at the bar, take a picnic to the beach, or indulge in room service.

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