Use this Venice travel guide to plan your own 3-day escape
“How 72 hours in Venice helped her unplug, heal, and finally put herself first — plus how you can plan the same reset.”
Intro: Sound Familiar?
Spoiler: later never came. Until one day, her body forced her to stop.
Ever feel like you’re constantly working but never really living?
My best friend a brilliant, high-powered Head of Finance hadn’t taken a vacation in over five years. She was always “too busy,” glued to her laptop, and convinced she’d rest later.
This post isn’t about my trip. It’s about hers a solo getaway to Venice that helped her finally reset, reconnect with herself, and realize just how much she’d been missing.
Her story is a perfect example of self-care travel and women’s solo travel in Europe done right.
If you’re a busy professional or parent who’s always “on,” I hope her story inspires you to hit pause and shows you how to do it without the stress.
Why She Never Took Time Off
She comes from a family where hard work was everything.
Growing up, holidays weren’t a thing. Her dad worked seven days a week. Her mum worked late nights. Achievement was praised; rest wasn’t even part of the vocabulary.
So, when she became an adult, it made sense that she measured her worth by how productive she was. She didn’t even realize she was running on fumes until her doctor told her she had high blood pressure. At 42.
Still, she resisted. “How can I take time off?” she asked.
But eventually, through tears and frustration, she said something that changed everything:
“Can you just help me book something? I don’t know where to start.”
So, I did.
Solo trip to Venice
I knew she needed:
- Beauty
- Simplicity
- Something she couldn’t overthink
We chose Venice a city where you have to slow down, because the only way to get around is by foot or by boat.
Even better? She went completely alone. No distractions, no one to take care of, no one to impress.
💡 Want a stress-free way to book your own reset?
👉 Click here to browse On Lastminute.com
We used On the Beach to book the trip in one place flights and hotel with interest-free payment plans and full ATOL protection for peace of mind.
(affiliate link supports this blog at no extra cost to you)
Her 3-Day Venice Itinerary: Total Reset Mode
🌅 Day 1 – Arrive, Unplug, Breathe
- Checked into a quiet, canal-side hotel
- Took a 30-minute gondola ride at sunset
- Had pasta by herself for the first time in years, phone on airplane mode
🏛️ Day 2 – Exploring at Her Own Pace
- Combo ticket to Doge’s Palace + St. Mark’s Basilica
- Got lost on purpose wandering the cobbled streets
- Ate gelato. Twice.
🏝️ Day 3 – Island Escape
- Boat tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello
- Bought herself a handmade glass necklace
- Took the Vaporetto back with wind in her hair and a smile on her face
She told me later:
“I felt like a different version of myself. One I haven’t seen in years.”
The Biggest Transformation? Her Mindset.
When she got back, something had shifted.
She looked softer. Happier. Calmer.
She said things like:
“I forgot I liked reading.”
“I blocked out time for another trip.”
“I delegated tasks before I left and the world didn’t collapse.”
It wasn’t just a vacation. It was permission to exist outside of work.
Want to Plan Your Own Escape? Start Here.
Here’s exactly what we booked all highly rated, affordable, and easy to reserve for online excellent for a solo trip to Venice.
| 🧭 Experience | 💷 Price | ✅ Book on the below links |
| 🏨 Flight + Hotel (flex payment) | Varies | On the Beach |
| 🚣 Gondola Ride (30 min) | £28 | Trip.com & Tiqets |
| 🏛️ Doge’s Palace + Basilica | £40.86 | Trip.com & Tiqets |
| 🚤 Vaporetto 3-Day Pass | £45 | Trip.com & Tiqets |
| 🏝️ Murano/Burano Tour | £25.50 | Trip.com & Tiqets |
“For stress-free Venice airport transfers, she used Welcome Pickups.”
✈️ Don’t forget travel insurance for Italy it’s essential for peace of mind when traveling solo. She used VisitorsCoverage to get fast, affordable coverage in minutes. Highly recommended!
📝 Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep this blog going thank you!
🎁 Bonus: Free Travel Reset Planner
If you want to plan your own 3-day escape but don’t know where to start…
👉 Download my FREE “Travel Reset Planner”
Includes:
- ✅ Pre-holiday delegation checklist
- ✅ Packing list
- ✅ Printable 3-day itinerary
- ✅ Out-of-office email templates
💬 Your Turn
Have you ever taken a solo trip? Or been so caught up in work you forgot how to rest?
Leave a comment — I’d love to hear your story.
