Next, I head to Istanbul for a few days. I check into the Ritz Carlton, which perches above the Bosphorus, boasting some of the best views in the city & capturing the full sweep of this famous strait. Cities require a different approach when you’re travelling alone. Istanbul evergreen classics such as the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sofia I decide to save for a return visit with family and while I’m tempted by an Agatha Christie-style martini amongst the palms and velvet drapes at the Pera Palace—after all, she wrote Murder on the Orient Express here in the 30s- that one calls for girlfriends in tow.
Instead, I carve out genuine time for myself, indulging in all the things I never have time for. A light-filled hotel room, preferably with a view, becomes my sanctuary. I dive into The Bastard of Istanbul by the brilliant Elif Shafak, watch Orhan Pamuk’s Innocence of Memories, and, yes, let’s be honest, I also mindlessly scroll through TikTok and catch up on Love Is Blind. Nobu is the hot ticket for dining at the Ritz Carlton, where signature classics such as black cod and creamy spicy shrimp are served against a backdrop of shimmering evening lights on the water. Their spa centres around an authentic Hamam, modelled on the 16th century bath houses this city is famous for, where I am exfoliated and massaged on a traditional warm marble slab.
Mono Production / Murat Tatlidil
Final stop is the Shangri-La Bosphorus, another gem along the water.
Converted from a historical building built in the 1930’s, the hotel sits in the Beşiktaş district and blends contemporary luxury with traditional Turkish design. My room is so close to the sea that I can count the jellyfish bobbing beneath the surface and watch the iconic Kadikoy ferry crossing the strait from Asia to Europe. Dining here centres around the terrace restaurant, arguably the best dining spot in Istanbul. Wrapped in a Shangri-La blanket, I watch seagulls swoop and dive while street hawkers roast chestnuts for hungry ferry commuters. I try the black truffle risotto paired with a glass of Selendi Cabernet Sauvignon—the Ondor family imported vines from France into their vineyards above the port of Cesme 20 years ago and have been winning awards ever since. It’s the best wine I taste on this trip.
There’s an undeniable safety element to women travelling alone, and our instincts about red flags can sometimes be confused—heightening concern where we should feel calm, or telling ourselves it’s fine when it isn’t. Maxx Royal Kemer, the Ritz Carlton, and Shangri-La Bosphorus offer not just luxury and comfort, but also a sense of safety and community. Women can sometimes feel out of place dining alone but staff throughout were charming and non judgemental, these were the perfect spaces for solo travel.
We’re all on different paths in life, but one thing likely unites us as women- the guilt and expectations we carry with us. Holidays are only one small part of this but if you can, take the plunge and try travelling alone. You deserve it OR it will do you the world of good.
