
YOLO, so I’m travelling SOLO. After reading our awesome Group Editor Benita’s inspiring feature on solo travel, I decided to follow in her footsteps and leave my family behind for three nights of adventure and exploration. And here’s why you should too.
Being a mum with young kids, it can feel so hard to leave them, even for a short while. Mum guilt can set in even when heading to pick up groceries or visit the hairdresser (we wish it didn’t, but we know it happens). Despite this, taking time out for yourself is important. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
So when the opportunity to visit Vietnam and review the lovely Danang Marriott Resort & Spa presented itself, I jumped at the chance to take my first solo trip in what felt like forever. Just me, a beach, and a flexible itinerary involving dinner-for-one at restaurants, exploring Hoi An, and enjoying complete and utter alone time. Here’s what I loved about travelling solo, and my tips on preparing before you leave to make your time away as blissful as possible.
1. Ditch the mental load

For me, it was very important for the full enjoyment of a solo trip that the mental load at home be managed in advance. Yes, many of us have capable partners and help at home. But being a mum is a full time gig, and so this tip comes from my own experience. It was for my own peace of mind, and would help me to relax, knowing that my people would be taken care of.
So, if it’s part of your regular routine to be the family organiser, then I say go ahead and have the schedules written down, meals planned, and let everyone know what’s what. It also helps to have this on hand with you when you’re away. Not only can you ‘check in’ on who is where without actually having to phone home, but if you do get a call asking “Do you know where this is? What am I doing this afternoon? How is little miss getting home from ballet?” you have all the answers at your fingertips. You can also feel free to say “I’m sure you’ll work it out,” with confidence!
2. Save and spend!
My next preparation tip is to save up some spending money. If, like me, you have been waiting a long time for this moment, then you’ll agree that this is not the time to scrimp. You want to make sure you have the hotel and airfares covered, pre-booked must-do experiences, and a healthy amount of spending money so that you can enjoy the trip guilt-free.
3. Prepare yourself with research, the right apps and equipment

It’s amazing how being prepared with the right apps already downloaded on your phone can ease the stress of solo travelling. First up, check the entry requirements – get your visa sorted early, and if it’s a Visa-on-arrival, have the correct currency and dollar amount on hand. For example, some Visas need to be paid in US dollars. Many countries also require landing cards to be completed in advance. Know what you need, and prepare early.
Think about how you are going to get around. In Vietnam, the Grab app works! So I made sure I had the Grab app loaded up. When in wifi areas at the hotel, I mapped out my routes and had a look at how much the taxis would cost to my destinations and hotel. That way, if I had to hail a cab, I would be able to estimate the price and I would know if the driver was being cheeky with the price estimates. It also feels a lot safer to have your travel recorded within an app.
Next, have all the equipment ready. Usually when we travel as a family, I unashamedly steal my husbands adaptor and charging cords. This is the perfect time to buy your own if you haven’t already! Make sure you have currency of the country you are travelling to, including smaller notes for tips, and know the exchange rate to avoid embarrassing scrolling on your phone when you go to tip or make a purchase.
Lastly, load up your Kindle! Solo travelling is one time in your life you can read a whole book cover-to-cover undisturbed! For this bookworm, that is heaven, and reason enough to escape alone for a few days.
4. Be adventurous and streetwise

You don’t want to look like a tourist when you’re travelling alone, so do your map studying and plan your journeys before you leave the hotel. Know where you want to go, what you want to see, and the costs. This helps to keep you safe, so you can keep your wits about you when you are out exploring. It also means less time with your head down at a screen, and more with your eyes open, seeing the sights around you.
I highly recommend trying something new and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Eat a new food, try a new sport or take a class. I tried cooking Vietnamese rolls, even though I’m not a Masterchef, and I had a lot of fun! Remember, solo travelling is all about you. Pamper. Yourself. Take care of yourself, and find moments of peace. Meditate. Book the facial. Hit the gym. Walk the beach, climb the mountain, visit the caves. Don’t shy away and hang out at the hotel all day. Or do, if that’s what you want! No one cares that you’re alone in a restaurant, they are all involved in their own conversations.
5. Sit in the loneliness and embrace all the feels

If you’re more used to being ‘touched out’ from having a little person attached to you for a lot of the day, then being completely alone can feel… strange. I haven’t had the chance to feel properly lonely in about 14 years, since I was pregnant with my first baby and took him literally everywhere with me. At first, being alone was exciting. But there were definitely moments where I wanted to turn to my husband. I desperately missed my family at different times. Eating alone was uncomfortable, until it wasn’t.
I also really tried to embrace the quiet. For this brief period of time, I didn’t have to think about anyone else. I could wake up when I wanted to (within reason, I didn’t want to waste the day!) I could see the sunrise, walk the beach, and just be.
I absolutely loved heading out with Phuong, my tour guide, to take in more of Hoi An. This tour was when I really got excited about exploring, with a safety net of someone who knew what they were doing. Heading to a new country is thrilling! In learning about the culture and only having your own ideas in your own head to manage, you start to feel that you know yourself better. You gain a deeper understanding of your own views of the world, and ponder why you are the way you are. In learning about another culture, you learn about yourself.
6. Record the journey and bring home a keepsake to share the memories

This is so important! It’s easy to feel that when you return home from a solo trip, it was all a blur. The come-down from the travel adrenalin rush can be brutal. Take all the photos, and selfies. Don’t be shy! Video the quiet moments, so you can return to them later. These memories are precious, and you can re-live your adventures with your family at home and have so many new stories to tell them, which is refreshing!
I picked up so many great keepsakes, including really beautiful treasures for each of the kids and my husband. Shopping solo! Highly recommend it. I also found a statue of a traditionally dressed Vietnamese lady, painted in my favourite colours. I have proudly placed her on my nightstand, where I can see her every day. She’s a reminder that I can travel alone, and I loved it!
So where are you going on your next adventure?