I’m a married mum-of-three and I went on eight holidays by myself last year

Mum-of-three Huda Alvi enjoyed eight incredible holidays last year – and she has no regrets about leaving her family at home for all of them.

Huda, 39, loves to travel and says her solo getaways ‘make her a better wife and mother’.

She’s spent her 30s prioritising ‘me time’, and says her trips are ‘an act of self-love’ which ‘fill her up back up’.

And Huda isn’t alone. UK travel companies say more and more solo travellers are booking trips – particularly older women, who are keen to finally ‘take time for themselves’.

Intrepid Travel, a small-group adventure tour operator, reported that 62% of its solo bookings were women, most of whom were between the ages of 45 and 60.

Joanna Reeve, the company’s UK director, said: ‘These customers tell us they’ve spent years focusing on their career or raising a family and now want to take time for themselves.’

They’re also more likely to opt for destinations that aren’t particularly family friendly. ‘They tend to opt for destinations where they can soak up different cultures like Morocco, India and Peru, but they also enjoy active walking or cycling trips in Europe,’ Joanna told the Guardian.

And for Huda, travelling alone after raising her kids has been an invaluable experience.

She said: ‘Travelling in my 30s is the best thing I’ve ever done.

‘It makes life more fulfilling and I’m more sure of myself now than ever.’

After going through a divorce aged 22, Huda moved back in with her parents in Toronto, Canada.

She worked as realtor, while navigating life as a newly single mum-of-two.

‘Being from a Muslim background, divorce was and still is considered a taboo subject,’ Huda, now a lifestyle entrepreneur, said.

‘I felt a sense of failure and it took a toll on my confidence.

‘But I focused on myself and my children and built it up brick by brick.’

Huda met her husband, Yehhia Bub, 42, a firefighter, in October 2007. The pair got married five years later. Now, they live together with Huda’s children, now 17 and 19, and her stepson, 18.

Huda’s solo trips began in November 2018, with a USA road trip, travelling around Malibu, Los Angeles, and Monterey.

Since then, she’s explored far-flung destinations like Morocco, Italy, Colombia, Costa Rica, Vietnam and Paris – and her husband has always supported her.

‘Travel is a part of my DNA. I don’t need my husband’s permission to book a solo trip as he knows that I need to do it as part of my wellbeing,’ she says.

‘Everyone around me sees the effects travelling has on me – it makes me a better mum and wife. I’m more refreshed and emotionally available.

‘To me, it’s an act of self-love because you can’t pour from an empty cup.’

In particular, Huda enjoys the chance to explore by herself.

‘There is something freeing about travelling alone because you can tailor a trip to you and explore at your own pace,’ she says.

‘And besides, when travelling solo, you’re not truly alone, I love to talk to people and make friends as I go.’

And, she isn’t concerned by what anyone else might think.

‘Some people may find it strange that I leave my kids and husband to on holiday alone but it doesn’t bother me,’ she says.

‘I refuse to listen to society telling me you can’t do that because you’re a mum.

‘I don’t care what others think and I’d recommend any mums who are curious to do the same, to just book that trip.

‘And I want to show my kids the importance of independence and to take trips for yourself too.’

From paragliding in Guatemala to jaunts in Paris and dreamy cruises exploring Vietnam, Huda goes away for up to five nights at a time. She also has a very healthy budget, spending around £4,000 on each trip.

‘Backpacking around Colombia and Costa Rica was one of the most incredible experiences because I had to keep my wits about me,’ she recalls.

‘To stick to my budget when I’m travelling, I keep money in envelopes labelled “food”, “activities” and “emergency”.’

Huda and Yehhia still make sure that they take at least two trips a year alone without the kids to ‘keep the spark alive’. They also enjoy one big trip a year with their kids as a blended family.

‘I love solo travelling, it’s something I’ll never story doing, but taking trips with Yehhia is just as important.

‘We’re going to a festival in Tulum, Mexico, in January next year to feel young again.

‘Me and my daughter have started taking trips together too. We went to Portugal last year and Italy this year.

‘It’s great for us to spend one-on-one time together and is building her confidence with travelling.

‘It even inspired Yehhia and his son to take a road trip from California to Las Vegas this year.’

Huda documents her travels on social media and has over 97k followers on TikTok, where she shares her tips for solo travelling as well as her activity recommendations.

She also runs a travel company with her sister, Sana Alvi, 35, The Girls Trip, which helps women in their late 20s, 30s and mid-40s solo travel.

‘We want to show women how empowering it is,’ she says.

‘It doesn’t have to be far, you can always build up distance with time.

‘Solo travelling might not be for everyone but it makes me feel alive.

‘I’ve got four trips planned for 2025 and I can’t wait.’

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