THE warm glow of daylight had only just peeped through the curtains when I rolled over and glanced at the clock: 7am — a glorious 10 hours since I’d switched off the light at 9pm. That’s my kind of sleep.

Had my husband been with me in Byron Bay, we probably would have stumbled in at 2am after a few too many wines and woken parched and dishevelled. And even if we hadn’t tied one on, he would still be dead to the world and I’d either stare at the ceiling until he groaned his eyes open or have to tiptoe around the room, lest I wake the sleeping giant who is the antithesis of a good morning person.

We’ve been together since we were teenagers and while our values, life goals and sense of adventure are wonderfully aligned, the way we wind down couldn’t be more different.

For me, a yoga and meditation retreat is the ultimate time out from a hectic lifestyle, but ask him for his bucket list and you’ll find him front and centre at Glastonbury. While he’s always prioritised music festivals with his mates, I’ve gone backpacking around Europe and Asia without him, eating, drinking and sleeping exactly the way I like.

So when I could feel a burnout sizzling recently, I booked four days solo in Byron Bay for afternoon naps, luxurious spa sessions, creative writing and healthy eating. I returned more Zen than I’ve felt in ages and he reaped the benefits — happy wife, happy life, right?

That said, here’s why I think solo travelling is quite possibly the best holiday you’ll ever have:

1. Your body clock rules

While my party animal husband never sleeps ‘til stumps, I’d happily get an early night to put me in good stead for an energetic morning. In all the years we’ve been together I don’t think he’s ever once suggested we call it a night, which means I’m forever feeling like the whining baby begging to be taken home to be tucked in. But when I’m on my own holiday I can honour my inner nana. And did I mention sleeping diagonally across the bed? Heaven.

2. You can eat where and what you want

While my husband’s tastebuds steer him firmly towards burgers and parmigianas, I’m all about exploring gourmet vegetarian. Instead of having to compromise or take turns choosing eateries, when you’re holidaying solo you can treat your tastebuds exactly as you want. And if that means two ice-creams a day, hey, there’s nobody there to judge.

3. You call all the shots

My husband and I have travelled all over the world together — and had a blast — but often our entertainment preferences are at loggerheads. I can wile away hours laying on a beach but he’ll get itchy feet and want to go exploring. I love the guy, but to spend an entire day without hearing the words, “So, what do you want to do next?” is quite possibly the definition of a good holiday. God help me when I have kids.

4. You don’t have to fork out for a silent retreat

Silent yoga retreats have been getting their fair share of press over the past few years, promising to help you slow down and switch off. While I haven’t taken a vow of silence, a solo holiday does tend to limit your speaking to food ordering and asking for travel directions — and I can vouch for its effectiveness. When you’re not distracted by conversation, everything slows down — including your racing mind.

5. Absence makes the heart grow fonder

When you do come back together, you have so much to talk about and you’re excited to see each other. Not to mention the fact that when you’ve cleared a bit of the mental clutter, you become a lot nicer to be around. (Feel free to use this argument when convincing your husband or wife to let you drain the bank account on a solo sojourn.)