'Life is too short to stay at home!'... One woman reveals how she has embraced solo travel, and unlocked the world, thanks to help from the experts

When it comes to travel, more people than ever are realising the freedom that comes with solo travel.

There are so many reasons travellers choose a solo adventure, whether it's because they have different interests to their partner or simply because friends and family have other commitments. And as people shake off the stigma of booking a trip just for them, a whole world of opportunity is opening up.

In fact, ABTA found that 16 per cent of travellers took a solo trip last year, a five per cent increase on the previous year.

When it comes to travel, more people than ever are realising the freedom that comes with solo travel

Sheila Heppell is one of those travellers who is exploring the world on her terms, having already taken two solo holidays with Just You

Sheila Heppell is one of those travellers who is exploring the world on her terms, having booked her first solo holidays with specialist travel company Just You. By opting for a solo travel specialist, she knew she would meet like-minded travellers, with all the details taken care of so she could simply soak up the experience.

'Travel means so much to me,' she explains. 'It's about exploring lots of places of course, but also experiencing other cultures and being around like-minded people.

'At the end of the day, life's too short to stay at home – I've spent too many years working, so now it's all about travelling for me!'

Sheila has enjoyed two Just You holidays with another two already booked for this year. For her first, she chose Tuscany.

Sheila (far right) headed to Tuscany and loved the sense of community travelling with a group of fellow solo travelers

Shelia said that booking through Just You meant that she could see more places than if she had booked independently

'I'd been to Italy before, visiting Florence on a school trip in the 1970s, which is obviously a different experience, but I've wanted to revisit Italy ever since,' says Sheila.

'I've travelled solo quite a few times, but this was my first time on an organised tour. I chose Tuscany as it's not too far away and I could see more places than if I'd booked independently.'

For her, the experience was enriched by a sense of community.

'Our Holiday Director, Christina, was so bubbly which was great, and on the first night she booked dinner for us and the whole group went, which was a great way to bond with each other. The camaraderie of the group in Tuscany was fantastic! I felt like I had known a lot of the group my whole life, we felt like family.'

For her second tour, Sheila embarked on a journey to Canada because the trip included all the places she was really interested in exploring.

'Just You was the only solo travel company offering the itinerary I wanted so I had to book!' she explains. 'Some of my friends thought it was expensive but once I broke it all down, they could see what great value it is and the quality of the hotels is fantastic. Plus you don't miss out on the scenery versus if you had hired a car to drive it yourself; you can just leave it to the Holiday Director and the coach driver to sort it all out.'

For her second tour, Sheila embarked on a journey to Canada because the itinerary included all the places she was really interested in exploring

Just You takes care of everything, from the best flights and hotels to breakfasts included in every tour, along with highly trained Holiday Directors to ensure you'll get the most out of your trip and ABTA and ATOL protection for extra peace of mind.

With a Just You guided holiday, everything is covered. There's no single supplement payable, meaning the price you see is the price you get. You'll enjoy a twin or double room of your own, guaranteed, with breakfast every day and many other meals included. And you can book with confidence, as your money is held in an independent trust you return, meaning it's completely protected.

Just You also promotes sustainable travel, working in partnership with the Planeterra Foundation to support local projects and social initiatives by helping them earn an income through tourism.

A real stand-out on the Canada tour for Sheila was Niagara Falls

For Sheila, each tour had its own distinct qualities.

'Tuscany felt more personal and intimate in comparison to Canada which was a faster pace of key Canadian cities,' she says. 'Which ticked off an unbelievable amount of attractions including Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal and Parliament Hill in Ottawa.'

So, what's next?

'I have two more holidays booked,' says Sheila. 'The Croatian Island Explorer which I had been looking at for a while. I'm also booked on the Canada and the Rocky Mountaineer tour in September… I'm thinking about Saint Lucia next as despite being well-travelled, I've never visited the Caribbean so it would be a good one to do next.'

With a whole world of destinations and experiences available, Sheila has plenty of options to choose from and has become an advocate for solo travel.

'My advice to you is bite the bullet and just go - you won't regret it,' she says. 'You'll meet lots of people, make new friends, see new places you wouldn't ordinarily go to, so just go for it!'

As solo travel grows, Just You are the experts unlocking a world of adventure so you can explore with complete peace of mind.

Find out more and book your next trip at justyou.co.uk