Can Travel Cure a Broken Heart?
It’s winter, and I’m in the only queue that doesn’t make my blood boil: the line for the Eurostar en route to Paris. Behind me, a couple begins having a heated tiff about who should be carrying a particularly bulky suitcase. In a moment of post-breakup schadenfreude, I can’t help but feel a little smug about the fact that I’m making this journey alone, with a relatively tiny bag and the person who would never have offered to carry it left firmly behind in London. To be honest, I need the reassurance. I’m newly single and heading for the most romantic city in the world. Will this be an uplifting journey of self-discovery, or am I just running away from my problems? Or, worst of all, am I plunging headfirst into a lonely holiday with only unwanted memories for company?
Embarrassingly, the idea for this trip has come from the teen drama series Gossip Girl, in which Blair Waldorf advises: “If you’re going to be sad, you might as well be sad in Paris”. However, the urge to travel post-breakup predates that much-memed wisdom and is well-documented in popular culture. Its poster girl might be Julia Roberts on a life-affirming voyage around Italy, India, and Bali in the film version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel Eat, Pray, Love, or Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in The Holiday, memorably swapping homes in the grip of heartbreak. Soul-searching, unexpected friendships, impossibly picturesque scenery, and – yes – new romance are on offer for these romantic heroines.
But if you do jet off in the wake of a breakup, there’s no guaranteeing you’ll end up in a cosy cottage with Jude Law knocking on your door late one night. Then again, that might not be what you’re searching for. You might just want a change of scenery, a moment of perspective, or a meal out without the risk of bumping into your ex’s friends.
The Benefits of Heartbreak Travel
One of the great strengths of heartbreak travel is that it presents us with an opportunity to travel alone, an idea that has surged in popularity in recent years. At the time of writing, the hashtag “solotravel” has 6.3 billion views on TikTok, and the number of people Googling the same phrase has almost doubled compared to five years ago. Moreover, post-breakup travel offers the chance to reconnect with friends or family members, whom we often see less of when our de facto plus one is a partner.
Travelling with friends or going it alone, there’s certainly plenty of romantic heartbreak around to inspire an escape. A string of high-profile separations have dominated headlines, and the latest divorce rates from the Office for National Statistics show an increase of almost 10% in England and Wales. Consequently, there’s a surge in helpful travel apps for recent singletons – there’s an app called Breakup Tours, which suggests itineraries customised by your breakup experience, and various companies have launched “divorce holidays” that include personal styling sessions and shopping sprees to help divorcees embrace the next chapter.
Emotional and Psychological Benefits of Travel
As well as a mood lift, sometimes the mere act of physically going somewhere can feel like progress, providing the opportunity to remove yourself from the physical reminders of a former partner. According to Dr. Theresa Schwaiger, a clinical psychologist, travel doesn’t necessarily mean we’re running away from our problems. “Broadly speaking, travel can be a very helpful way of processing heartbreak,” she explains.
On the contrary, if you’re travelling – especially alone – you might have time to fully lean into the melancholic pain of it all. You can wander moodily around museums gazing at masterpieces or nurse a glass of wine outside a café and watch the world go by. And when you eventually get bored of that, you might retreat to the welcoming embrace of a hotel, which can do no end of good.
Destinations for Healing
Below, find hotels providing the ultimate escape for heartbroken travellers – from retreats dedicated to healing aching hearts to breathtakingly beautiful escapes to distract you long enough to begin mending.
The ‘You are the Love Story’ Retreat at Chablé Yucatan, Mexico
This retreat in Mexico’s Maya Jungle is specifically designed to ease heartbreak and increase self-worth, featuring daily yoga, treatments including a full-body exfoliation, and a traditional Temazcal ceremony.
Price: From £822 per night
Website: yucatan.chablehotels.com
The Solo Sojourn at Amankora, Bhutan
Escaping to one of the most remote environments on earth guarantees time for self-reflection. This journey through Bhutan’s spectacular valleys is designed for self-discovery for solo guests going through periods of grief or heartbreak.
Price: From £11,190 for 10 nights
Website: aman.com
Harmony & Renewal Retreat at Borgo Santo Pietro, Italy
This sprawling estate in the rolling hills of Tuscany offers guests Italian hospitality and farm-to-table delights, along with rejuvenating treatments.
Price: From £2,550 for two nights
Website: borgosantopietro.com
Royal Sleep Experience at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, France
This sleep-enhancing stay is designed to give you the most restful night possible, featuring candle massages and soundproofed suites with sleep kits.
Price: From £887 per night
Website: royalchampagne.com
Spiritual Blessings at Nirjhara, Bali
This sustainable hideaway offers off-property blessings and cleansing rituals for a spiritual escape from everyday life.
Price: From £260 per night
Website: nirjhara.com
As you consider these destinations, remember that while travel cannot erase heartbreak, it can help facilitate healing and provide the space needed for reflection and recovery. If nothing else, it allows you to process emotions in a context that differs from the everyday life, ultimately leading you toward renewal and self-discovery.
