2O1he mainstream travel industry is
slowly waking up to the need to
look after this growing number of
women, too. Designer hostel brand
Generator now has women-only dorms in its
properties (across Europe and in Miami), while
higher-up-the-price-scale Naumi Singapore,
has a women-only floor; Dukes Londonoffers
Duchess Room Ser vice, attended by female
staff; and Dunia Camp in Tanzania is the only
safari camp in Africa run entirely by women.
So, how do you take the leap if you’re
finding it all a bit daunting? ‘Don’t overthink it,’
advises Vyas. ‘If you sit pondering your trip for
too long, you will talk yourself out of it. Travel
is all about impulse, so book that plane ticket
before any self-doubt kicks in.’ColumbiaGenerator VeniceGenerator MadridELLE.COM/UK Nove mbe r 2O19I
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“ S O L O T R AV E L
ALLOWS YOUto
DISCOVER
new THINGS
ABOUT
YOURSE L F ”ELLEExploreTHE DESTINATION
From Europe to
South America, you
have the luxury
of going wherever
you wantwas alone when I had the most
romantic dinner of my life. It was
in the Belmond Hotel Splendido
in Portofino, a wonderful grande
dame of a hotel, set in a 16th-century
monastery that overlooks the bay on Italy’s
north-west coast. I had spent the afternoon
wandering around the fishing town’s cobbled
streets and painted houses, hoping to blend in
with the elegant locals, all looking expensively
casual with their slim tanned legs and designer
loafers. I found a little café on the waterfront
and ordered a glass of Franciacorta, Italy’s
very best sparkling wine. As I sat and sipped,
feeling a little self-conscious, I imagined who
they might think I was: a novelist, perhaps,
researching her next book; or a wealthy heiress
waiting to be whisked back to one of the many
superyachts bobbing offshore. I told myself I
was exuding an air of enigmatic glamour and,
because I had no one with
me to prick that particular
bubble, I could be anyone
I wanted to be.
That evening, I had
dinner in my room. But this
was no ordinary room
ser vice: the head waiter
came to take my order,
setting the table – crisp
linen, ornate cutlery and
a single rose in a delicate vase – out on my
terrace, positioning the chair for the best
view of the inky sea. He ser ved each course
paired with a different style of wine, as I sat
in the moonlight looking out over the water.
Every now and then, everything aligns to
elevate an experience to unforgettable status- a Perfect Moment – and this was mine.
Solo travel may not always be this glamorous,
but it is increasingly appealing to women, who
are packing their bags and setting off alone
in growing numbers.
‘The portrayal of so many women on social
media travelling alone encourages others to
follow suit,’ explains Anna- Liisa Tampuu, who
launched SheTravel this summer in response
to the trend. Tampuu set it up ‘as a confidential
space’ where women could swap tips, ask
for travel advice and get inspiration from
travellers’ tales and learn safety strategies.
‘Women today have more freedom than
at any point in history,’ says Radha Vyas,
who launched Flash Pack five years ago,
specialising in upmarket group adventure
trips for solo travellers in their 3Os and 4Os.
‘But most of us are juggling multiple
responsibilities,’ she continues. ‘Solo travel
is a chance to escape these obligations
and do exactly what you
want, without answering to
anyone. You discover new
things about yourself, as
you have the space to
explore who you are, away
from people who know you.’
Over the past few years,
companies specialising in
solo travel have sprung up
like wildflowers, offering
their own versions of the Elizabeth Gilbert Eat,
Pray, Love self-discovery tour. There are those,
such as Healing Holidays, that specialise in
spa getaways, and others, such as Wellbeing
Escapes and Helios Retreats, that focus on
adventure and fitness. There’s also Mad to Live,
which can take you everywhere from surfing in
Bali to horse riding on Costa Rican beaches.THE MOMENT
Susan Ward Davies
had the perfect solo stay
at the Belmond Hotel
Splendido, Portofino
(above and below)