For many, the ideal holiday involves sharing experiences with loved ones. However, for some, particularly married mothers in their 50s, traveling alone can offer a profound sense of liberation and self-discovery. One woman recounts how a solo trip to Southeast Asia, initially undertaken during a personal crisis, became a transformative experience.
Ursula Hirschkorn, a happily married mother of four, decided to embark on a month-long solo journey through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand at the age of 52. This trip followed a difficult period in her life, described as an "annus horribilis in 2024," which included her husband’s struggles with depression, the need to place her father in a care home, and the loss of her high-paying job as an insurance company director. Feeling her own mental health and confidence wane, she booked a business-class flight to Hanoi, seeking an escape.
The decision to travel alone was met with surprise and concern from friends and family. Hirschkorn noted that many perceived her plan as a rejection of her husband or family, and questioned her husband's permission, an inquiry she felt would not have been directed at a man proposing a similar trip. Her husband, however, was supportive, understanding that she needed time for herself and a chance to rebuild her self-confidence after job loss.
Initially, Hirschkorn experienced anxiety, even contemplating turning back at the airport. The first few days were challenging, particularly the unfamiliarity of eating alone in restaurants. However, she gradually embraced the solitude, finding joy in simple pleasures like reading and people-watching. The key benefit, she discovered, was the freedom to cater solely to her own desires—waking up when she pleased, pursuing activities of her choice, and eating at her convenience.
Solo travel also opened doors to new connections. Hirschkorn met a diverse range of people during her travels, including a physiotherapist from Los Angeles for a volcano hike, septuagenarian career women in Mexico City, and the wife of a prominent U.S. scriptwriter. These interactions, she noted, were less likely to occur when traveling with family.
Upon returning home, Hirschkorn found the transition back to family life jarring. She missed the autonomy of solo travel but also realized the family had managed well in her absence, a realization that boosted her confidence in booking future solo trips. While she continues to take family vacations, she advocates strongly for solo travel, likening its benefits to therapy for mid-life married mothers, enhancing confidence and self-reliance.
Her subsequent travels include visits to Krakow and Auschwitz, as well as a month-long trip through Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia. She believes that the sacrifices women make in family life warrant opportunities for personal adventures, which are often more rewarding when experienced alone.
Hirschkorn even shares a dream with her son Zach to compete on the reality television show "Race Across The World," highlighting that solo travel has inspired new shared ambitions.
