A solo trip felt like a very grown-up, independent thing to do, but I was initially nervous. Not only because the thought of cancellations, delays, and missed flights on a trip with multiple legs stressed me out, but I had no idea what to expect when it came to spending all my time alone.

When it came down to deciding where to go, Switzerland has always been at the top of my travel list since I’m an avid Bollywood movie fan and Switzerland’s aesthetics have been heavily featured in the films coming out of India.

I decided on a wellness resort in Bad Ragaz, a Swiss town close to the border of Liechtenstein, to ease myself into the world of solo travel.

I first flew from my hometown in Glasgow, Scotland, to London and then onwards to Zurich, Switzerland. I’ve had a lot of experience flying alone since I was young, so this didn’t phase me.

I hadn’t ever traveled on trains in Europe before and was surprised at how well-organized and easy-to-understand the trains were in Switzerland.

Once I reached Zurich Airport, I took a short connecting train to the main station in the city center and then changed trains to Bad Ragaz, around an hour away. The cost of the journey was around £30 each way, or roughly $38.

The train system in the UK doesn’t run as smoothly in my experience. There are regular delays and strikes, and on more than one occasion, a four-hour journey from Glasgow to London has taken me over 10 hours.

Once I was settled on the train to Bad Ragaz, I sat next to the window to take in the views.

As soon as we pulled out of the city, the scenery was immaculate and I wasn’t the only passenger taking pictures out of the window.

I don’t think the term “pictures don’t do it justice” made sense to me until then.

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is a five-star resort. My chosen room was around £700, or around $880, per night, though rooms start from around $600 per night. Where it trumps similar luxury retreats is that you can stay for as little or as long as you’d like with no minimum stay.

Being a wellness retreat, you can participate in wellness programs for detoxing or weight loss, though these require you to stay for a set number of days, or you can stay as a regular hotel guest as I did.

It’s the grandest hotel I’ve ever stayed in and reflects the caliber of its guests. When I asked the hotel staff, they said it’s a favorite destination of royalty and celebrities but declined to give out any names.

There are other hotels in the area if it’s out of budget, albeit not as grand, and with fewer dining options.

The resort has more than 10 restaurant and bar venues and holds six Michelin stars, so even if you’re not staying, a meal or drink would be well worth the visit.

After checking into the resort, I faced a dilemma: What do I do now?

I’m up for going with the flow and in usual circumstances, I’d be discussing what to do with my travel companion.

Not having someone else with me helped me to better understand what I like to do with my time, and I found myself not using my phone as a distraction as much as I thought I would.

I carried my headphones in my pocket the whole time in case I felt awkward having a drink in the lobby alone, but I ended up not needing them.

I’m naturally very conscious of other people’s time so I’m always ready before everyone else, even if it means rushing.

Traveling solo meant I could take a breath and enjoy the process of getting ready without the pressure of having someone waiting for me.

Luckily, the hotel had a TV in the bathroom mirror which kept me entertained.

I didn’t actually leave the resort until my second day. Because my focus was on looking for a resort that suited my needs, I hadn’t researched the local area around it before I arrived.

I went down to the hotel concierge who guided me through what famous sights I should see in the local area.

Since the town is small and quaint, I wasn’t overwhelmed with options — they recommended walking around and taking in the natural beauty of Switzerland.

It might sound boring, but it was a refreshing change from my usual weekend city breaks which are usually more about making sure I hit every tourist attraction than taking my time to enjoy a new destination.

One of the most beautiful things I saw was the Tamina River — I couldn’t help but stop and take videos to send to my friends.

Locals smiled and said hello as they walked by, and did the same when I browsed the few local boutiques in the area.

When speaking to hotel staff, they told me there’s a gorge in Bad Ragaz that’s only open during the summer months. The thermal water in the gorge has a natural temperature of 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and according to the Grand Resort website, has healing properties.

I loved my solo trip for many reasons. Not only was it great to understand and get comfortable with being alone, it gave me time and space to relax.

Switzerland was a very safe, serene setting to do so in my experience, and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve booked another trip there, this time to Geneva.

I’d recommend the country to any solo female traveler, and would advise booking accommodation with links to the local community or staff with knowledge of the local area as this could make or break your trip.