When Hettie lands in Ibiza with a group of women she’s only just met, there’s no hotel check-in, no time for jet lag, and no plan to sleep.
Instead, there’s dancing, sea swims, and sunset cocktails – all packed into one whirlwind day.
The 26-year-old Essex-based entrepreneur is the founder of Hettie’s Holidays & Hospitality, a female-led travel company on a mission to empower women to explore the world, even if they’ve got no travel buddy and only 24 hours to spare.
Since leaving her job as an NHS pharmacist in June 2022, Hettie has built a thriving business that connects women of all ages, backgrounds, and confidence levels through group trips to global destinations – no partner or friend required.
Having jumped into the corporate world straight from school, Hettie often found herself travelling alone or with colleagues, while many of her friends went off to university.
She quickly learned how to stretch annual leave and squeeze entire trips into weekends.
And It wasn’t long before she realised there were countless other women out there just like her. Since then, she’s visited 35 countries and counting – and she’s not going solo anymore.
With two and a half years in the travel industry and over a year curating group experiences, Hetty has already led 10 trips of up to 21 women abroad – from Paris and Barcelona, to Bali, Copenhagen, and Monac
Hettie, 26, from Essex went to Ibiza with no hotel booked for a night out. She’s pictured onboard the plane
Hettie with her fellow travellers boarding a Ryanair plane for their trip to Ibiza , having just met
Hettie and her fellow partygoer enjoying an alcoholic beverage on the plane before taking off for Ibiza
She tells MailOnline Travel: ‘I have a real passion for bringing girls together from all walks of life. I know how important girl time is, and I love seeing friendships grow and watching everyone feel safe, confident, and comfortable travelling together on our group trips.’
But perhaps Hettie’s most daring idea yet is a 24-hour, no-hotel group trip to Ibiza.
The concept is as adrenaline-boosting as it is budget-savvy – essentially a jam-packed, night-long holiday with maximum experience and minimal cost.
Hettie explains: ‘I like to do things that are really wow factor and spontaneous and sought after that people dream of doing but would never actually do.
‘Because people are paying to come with me and I’m the tour guide, I like to do things that are a bit of a challenge for me, and also that girls look at and think: Wow.’
She added: ‘There’s so many destinations that people want to see now. If you had to pay for a hotel, stay three, four nights everywhere, you’d never see everywhere.
‘But with me, I always say it feels like it’s like a little glimpse. If you like it, then you can book to go back with your partner or your friend or whatever. At least people are ticking things off without having to use annual leave or spend loads of money on it.’
The five women who joined her for the debut no-hotel Ibiza trip met for the first time at the airport after exchanging messages on WhatsApp.
Hettie and her fellow partygoer at a nightclub during their 24-hour trip to Ibiza
Hettie says it ‘was a no-hotel trip because Ibiza is expensive. Accommodation is expensive. You don’t really need to sleep in Ibiza, it’s very party and, again, money.’
Instagram footage from her business account, @hetties_holidays_, shows the group clutching their passports as they strut through the gate in their sparkly party outfits, some with their hair still in rollers.
A follow-up scene shows Hettie and her fellow travellers toasting prosecco mid-flight.
By the time the sun was setting and the group prepared to dance the night away at a house music event, they were sharing cocktails, selfies, and life stories like lifelong friends.
Hettie also mentions the high cost of accommodations in Ibiza and the decision to avoid hotels to keep costs down.
She says: ‘That was a no-hotel trip because Ibiza is expensive. Accommodation is expensive.
‘You don’t really need to sleep in Ibiza, it’s very party and, again, money. So I just thought, why not take a flight that you can go and come back? Why not?’
The trip, which included beach club stops, dinner at a buzzing Ibiza hotspot, and an early morning dip in the sea, all without the need for a hotel, is at the core of Hettie’s mission: to give women the confidence and community to travel without barriers.
Though Hettie often travels to party destinations with girls of a similar age, she insists age, background, and life experience do not matter.
Pictured: Hettie at a wellness retreat in Bali, as part of Hettie’s Holidays
Pictured: Hettie with her fellow travellers at a wellness retreat in Bali
On her trips, she’s seen 19-year-olds bond with 55-year-olds over cocktails, life stories, and a shared love for exploring the world.
She said: ‘As long as you can chat and everyone’s got their own life stories and problems to talk about and want advice on, we can all just mix and match and match and get on it.
‘You don’t need to be a certain type of person, as long as you’re friendly, positive as well.’
Hettie also personally vets each participant to foster a safe, inclusive space, and she’s proud to say she hasn’t had a single fallout or ‘negative vibe’ yet – some girls have even gone on to become friends and book their own holidays together.
Despite often managing large groups, she remains hands-on by guiding, supporting, and ensuring no one ever feels like a third wheel on every trip.
Even Hettie admits she still gets nervous before every trip, explaining: ‘I’m doing the same thing. I’m turning up to a group that I don’t know.
‘Confidence is something that you have to teach yourself – and, in this case, it’s one of those things where once you’re here, you will feel like it’s the best thing you’ve ever done.’
Her upcoming calendar is packed.
Pictured: Hettie and a group of solo travellers during their skiing trip to Bulgaria
Hettie created Hettie’s Holidays and Hospitality in June 2022 based on her passion for solo travelling. She’s pictured at The Shard, London
She’s got an Ibiza party weekend in August, a Mallorca wellness retreat in October, and a ski trip to Bulgaria planned for January 2026.
Her message to those still hesitant? Don’t wait for the perfect time – or the perfect travel partner.
She adds: ‘Within 10 minutes you will feel like you’re right at home with girls that you’ve known forever.’
For more information, visit hettiesholidays.co.uk.
