Summary Most women did not travel solo to feel brave. They travelled to feel steady again. The first solo trip mattered emotionally more than any destination choice. Familiar places, light structure, and optional connection reduced anxiety. Preparation mattered more than confidence. The biggest change happened quietly, after they came home. Who this article is really about This article is based on patterns we see again and again among divorced women who choose to travel alone

For most women over 50, solo travel doesn’t begin with a dramatic declaration or a fearless leap, as many self-help gurus or healing social media influencers will have you believe. It begins quietly. With a thought that keeps returning. With a trip they didn’t take because no one else could. With the realisation that waiting has become heavier than going. This guide brings together what women over 50 actually tell us about travelling solo - the fears, the relief, the practica