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Traveling as an Eldest Daughter: It's Not Selfish—It’s Self-Care.
Putting yourself first—even for a little while—can be transformative.
If you’re the eldest daughter in your family, you know the feeling—you keep everything (and everyone) together. And if you’re done any kind of traveling, you know that eldest daughters absolutely thrive on a solo trip. Just headphones on, coffee in hand, pretending you’re someone’s airport crush, several fashion mags lined up, and a whole trip ahead of you.
In a recent TikTok, Ultimate Break traveler and content creator Mohuya (@mohuyaakhan) captured the feeling of traveling as the eldest daughter perfectly on a solo trip to dream vacation destination, Thailand.
When you hit “book” on your first solo trip, you might feel that nagging feeling of guilt. Will people even survive without you? Are you leaving responsibilities behind? But in reality, travel isn’t selfish, it’s self-care, PERIOD. It’s the best way to explore what you want.
Landing in a new place, you suddenly realize how strange (and freeing!) it feels to answer only to yourself. Instead of keeping tabs on everyone and managing the stress of your (admittedly self-created) schedule, you can finally ask, “Who do I want to be today?” But that freedom almost always comes with questions, so here are some pointers for making the leap into solo travel.
Plan, but don’t overplan
Ultimate Break handles the essentials like accommodations and guided tours, but there’s also free time for wandering and side quests. Leave yourself room for spontaneity.
Set boundaries
Decide ahead of time how much you’ll check in with family, school, or work. A quick text or email is enough—your trip is about you, not everyone else.
Enjoy your own company
Try journaling, cafe hopping, or solo sightseeing. Going out to lunch alone or wandering new streets with no destination in mind is so freeing.
Connect on your terms
Chat with your roommates, your fellow travelers, even locals at your own pace. If you need more time to yourself, you’ll have only one other roommate on an Ultimate Break Plus trip (or you can upgrade to a single room).
Use your noodle
Keep your stuff secure, share your itinerary, and trust your instincts. Your Tour Director is also your go-to for any questions or concerns on your trip. Safety means freedom to explore confidently.
Reflect and celebrate
Take all the pics, stay present, and give yourself a ton of credit. This trip is your gift to you!
Being an eldest daughter comes with a ton of emotional baggage, guilt, pressure—both external and internal—and the responsibility to set an example. But when you’re traveling, you can focus on you. Being dependable doesn’t mean staying in one place, constantly accessible to others. It means protecting your peace, even when that looks like escaping to another time zone.
If you’re an eldest daughter, take inspo from Mohuya and start checking off your travel bucket list. Book that trip, even if it’s just a short adventure (it also helps that Ultimate Break plans everything for you, for all you type A travelers who want to try relinquishing some control for a change). Let yourself explore, rest, and dream—being the eldest daughter is even more powerful when you have a passport.
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