I think it is fair to say that travel ignites something inside all of us, no matter what age. Exploring a new city with friends and family, meeting new people, new tastes, new smells, new experiences. Travel truly is an experience that money can’t buy.

Travel is an integral part of young people’s lives today. There is a divide being created with our younger generations. Some believe it is better to be well travelled by 30, than to be married with kids. This divide has meant that many of us are no longer on the same path as our best friends, and can’t always find a girlfriend who is as ready as we are, to jump on the next travel adventure that presents itself. Do you let the opportunity pass you by, or do you continue on with your dreams by yourself?

In 2018, Alison joined a group of women embarking on the Girls Getaways India trip. Girls Getaways promotes holidays to take with your best girlfriends, enjoying shared experiences, collecting moments, not things. Incidentally, Alison didn’t actually realise that she was joining a group of women who knew each other. She saw the Facebook ad promoting the upcoming trip to India, and was instantly drawn to the idea of travelling to India.

“It was an impulsive decision, I saw the Facebook post and decided I wanted to go to India. I actually didn’t think about joining a group as such just the desire to go.”

— Alison

Incidentally, it wasn’t until Alison turned up at the airport, that she realised that she was to be the only solo traveller on this meetup. It is fair to say that many of us would be intimidated, a little precarious about the whole situation. After all, no matter how old we are, the idea of being on the outside of a clique can fill us with many emotions. However, Alison decided that this was something she didn’t want to waste her time worrying about.

“From our first meeting, I felt comfortable within the group. They were open and embracing, and this continued through the trip. They were a great group of girls.”

— Alison

The India trip was such a special experience for this group of women. They stayed at the famous ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, explored Delhi, delighted in the colours of the Diwali Festival. Most spectacularly, an unforgettable moment was visiting one of the seven wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal, for the sunrise. Alison describes the trip as a ‘great cultural and sensory overload’, that there was something special about each and every place the group visited. These are all moments Alison would have missed out on had she had any reservations about travelling on her own. Of course, she wasn’t a solo traveller in the greater sense of the trip, but her decision to join was one that she made on her own. Her trip to India with Girls Getaways has inspired her to one day return to India, to experience even more of this beautifully chaotic country. Thanks to this trip with GG, she found that joining a group of women she didn’t know, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She made friendships she values to this day, and most importantly, she has shown herself that she can confidently and pleasurably travel solo, and would choose to travel in a group setting again.

We hope that by sharing Alison’s experience will encourage more women out there, to book a Girls Getaway meetup, even if you do so alone. We can promise you that though you make the decision alone, you will never feel alone again. We promote inclusion, friendship and experiences. Don’t let an opportunity pass you by because your circle of friends aren’t on the same page as you.

As well as India, Girls Getaways offers meetups to other places such as New York, Bali, Tuscany. You can follow us on socials, @girlsgetaways, for travel inspo, adventures and exciting things happening with GG.