NADINE PAOLO, THE SOLO TRAVEL COLLECTIVE, FOLIOYVR, PARTNERSHIP, LUXURY TRAVEL, VANCOUVER, BC

The World Is Ready When You Are: Nadine Paulo on Travelling Solo and Choosing Yourself

For Nadine Paulo, travel has never simply been about the destination. It has always been about the woman who arrives at it — changed, expanded, and more fully herself. After more than 15 years designing journeys for global operators, she saw something the industry kept missing: women were present in travel, but they were rarely the starting point. So she made them exactly that.

“I created The Solo Travel Collection because I wanted women to feel brave enough to book the trip,” says Nadine Paulo, Founder and CEO of The Solo Travel Collection. “Travel changed my life in my twenties. It pushed me, healed me, and opened doors I did not even know existed. I wanted to build something that makes that first step easier — a space where women can explore boldly, feel completely supported, and come home with new friendships and a stronger sense of who they are. These journeys are adventurous, intentional, and full of heart.”

What she built is far more than a travel company. The Solo Travel Collection is a carefully considered space where women — whether stepping onto a plane alone for the first time or seeking something deeper in their well-worn adventures — are met with purpose at every turn. From the destinations selected after years of on-the-ground relationship building, to the warmth woven into each group dynamic, every detail is designed with one woman in mind: the one who has been putting herself last, and is finally ready not to.

We sat down with Nadine to learn more about the vision behind The Solo Travel Collection, the women who are joining, and why she believes every woman is worth the trip.

What was the defining moment that led you to create The Solo Travel Collection, and what gap did you see in the travel landscape for women?

It unfolded gradually, at the intersection of my career and my own life as a solo traveler. After 15+ years of designing journeys for global operators, I began to notice a pattern. Women were certainly present, but rarely the starting point. At the same time, in my own travels, I kept hearing a familiar sentiment: “You’re so brave,” or “I wish I could do that.”

What became clear was that the desire was already there. Women weren’t lacking curiosity, they were simply waiting. Waiting for a partner, a friend, or a moment that felt easier to justify. I understood that feeling, but I also knew how transformative it could be to step beyond it.

The idea came from a simple but powerful shift in perspective. What if she didn’t have to wait? What if she could choose herself now, supported in a way that felt seamless and considered? At its core, it’s about creating space for that decision to feel natural, not exceptional. Because she’s worth the trip.

Who is the woman you had in mind when you first envisioned The Solo Travel Collection, and how has that audience evolved?

I imagined a woman who is deeply curious about the world, but who also carries a full and often demanding life. She may be balancing a career, a family, or both. She’s used to showing up for others, and what she’s craving is a moment to return to herself. She doesn’t necessarily want to navigate every detail alone, nor does she want to feel out of place in traditional group travel settings. She’s looking for something more thoughtful, more aligned. At the heart of it, she’s beginning to recognize that she doesn’t have to keep putting herself last.

What’s been so special is seeing how that vision has expanded. Today, we welcome women across all stages of life. Some are traveling solo for the first time, others are incredibly well-traveled but seeking something deeper, more intentional. What connects them isn’t demographic, it’s a shared shift in mindset. A willingness to prioritize something that feels personal and meaningful.

How would you describe The Solo Travel Collection beyond “group travel”?

It’s much closer to a shared journey than traditional group travel. Every experience is designed with intention, allowing women to move through a destination in a way that feels unhurried. We focus on connection in every sense, to the place, to the people within it, and to oneself.

There’s a natural shift that happens when women step into a new environment like this. Removed from the roles and responsibilities of daily life, they begin to reconnect with a different part of themselves. Within our journeys, that experience is amplified. There’s a sense of ease, of openness, of being able to simply be.

What stays with them isn’t just where they’ve been, but how they felt while they were there, and the clarity that comes from having chosen the experience for themselves.

When did you realize this could become something bigger than a personal passion?

It was after the first few journeys, watching how women left. The destinations were beautiful, of course, but what stood out was the shift in how they carried themselves. There was a lightness, a confidence, a sense of having reconnected with something within. Hearing women say they hadn’t taken time for themselves in years, or that they felt more like themselves again, that’s when it became clear this was something more.

It wasn’t just about travel. It was about creating space in women’s lives, and gently challenging the idea that they need a reason to take it.

Where do your journeys take women, and how do you select destinations?

Our journeys span destinations around the world, from Finland, Portugal, Ireland, Costa Rica, Egypt, to the Azores, each offering its own distinct sense of beauty, culture, and depth. The way we select destinations is an incredibly intentional and, at times, lengthy process. It’s not driven by trends or what’s popular in a given moment. It starts much earlier than that, with a simple question I always come back to: how would I experience this as a woman, and what would she need to feel fully at ease here?

From there, we spend months, and often years, developing relationships on the ground. We work only with trusted global suppliers and local partners who understand the level of care and detail required. Nothing is ever chosen at surface level. Every hotel, every experience, every transfer is personally vetted, revisited, and refined. There’s a real emphasis on building something that is both beautiful and deeply considered. We look for destinations that offer space to breathe, places that feel slightly removed from over-tourism, where women can move through the experience at a slower, more natural rhythm.

Ultimately, it’s about creating journeys that feel as good as they look, where every detail supports a sense of ease, presence, and genuine enjoyment.

Why is creating a safe and supportive space so central?

Because it allows everything else to unfold. When women feel truly at ease, they move through a destination differently. There’s more openness, more presence, more willingness to step into something new. We place great care in curating every detail, but what matters just as much is the atmosphere within the group. It’s a space where women can arrive exactly as they are, without expectation or pressure. And in that kind of environment, something shifts quite naturally. There’s a quiet confidence that begins to emerge.

Who are the women joining today, and what transformations do you see?

The women who join us are incredibly varied, but they share a common thread. They’re ready to prioritize themselves, often in a way they haven’t before. Some are moving through significant life transitions. Others simply feel a pull toward something more. What I see, time and time again, is a subtle but powerful transformation. Women arrive with a certain hesitation, and over time, that softens into confidence and clarity.

They leave with a stronger sense of self, and often with meaningful connections that continue well beyond the journey itself, along with a different relationship to what they allow themselves to experience.

What is your vision for the future?

To continue building a global community of women who approach travel as something deeper and more intentional.

There’s a growing desire to experience the world in a way that feels connected, thoughtful, and enriching. That’s something we’re very committed to nurturing as we expand. At its heart, the vision remains simple. To create experiences for women that feel beautifully considered, deeply supportive, and genuinely meaningful, while continuing to shift how women see their place within those experiences.

A moment of awe that exceeded expectations?

Awe often reveals itself in ways that are far more personal than expected. Of course, there are extraordinary settings, watching the northern lights in the Arctic or standing among the pyramids in Egypt. But what makes those moments unforgettable is what’s happening within. It’s the woman boarding a flight on her own for the first time, navigating each step and quietly realizing she’s done it.

It’s finding her way through an unfamiliar airport, stepping onto a boat, or arriving somewhere entirely new with a growing sense of confidence. There are also the more emotional firsts. Leaving her children for the first time and allowing herself to be present. Finally taking a trip she’s imagined for years, even if no one else wanted to go.

The awe isn’t just in the destination, it’s in the realization that she’s capable of more than she thought and that she allowed herself to experience it.

A surreal moment of connection within a group?

There’s a quiet kind of magic in the way connection forms within these groups. It often begins very simply. Someone shares that they were nervous, or unsure, or that this is their first time traveling this way. And almost immediately, there’s recognition.

From there, the dynamic shifts. Women begin to support one another in small but meaningful ways, and that sense of encouragement builds naturally. I remember an Arctic experience where we stood together before a cold plunge. There was hesitation, that inner voice that says, this isn’t something I could do. And then one woman stepped forward. Then another. The energy softened and opened. Soon, it wasn’t about the cold at all, but the collective encouragement and sense of support.

And then the woman who was most certain she wouldn’t do it stepped forward anyway. What followed was immediate, cheering, laughter, a shared sense of pride. It’s never just about the experience itself. It’s about that shift from “I can’t” to “I did,” held within a space where that step feels possible.

NADINE PAOLO, THE SOLO TRAVEL COLLECTIVE, FOLIOYVR, PARTNERSHIP, LUXURY TRAVEL, VANCOUVER, BC

Whether this is your first solo adventure or you are a seasoned traveler seeking something more meaningful, The Solo Travel Collection has a journey waiting for you. From the misty coastlines of Ireland to the ancient wonders of Egypt, every itinerary is crafted with the same unwavering promise: that you will come home changed in the best possible way. To explore upcoming journeys, learn more about the experience, and take that first brave step, visit thesolotravelcollection.com.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at [email protected].