You don't have to be heartbroken to get it.

If you tune into this blog on a regular basis, you know that I’m a firm believer in the transformational power of travel. Many years ago, travel helped me heal my broken heart. Since that life-altering trip to Buenos Aires, I have encouraged every woman I know to get out there and see the world.

Turns out, I’m not the only faithful follower preaching travel to the ladies. In the past year alone, four dedicated journey women have published five different travel guides specifically designed for gals. None of these books are organized like a traditional travel guide. The pages don’t lay out countries and cities by chronology or geography, but by theme. This makes it easy to find a mountain spa to sooth your heavy heart. Perhaps it’s a shopping spree in a cosmopolitan city that will help you forget your EX. On the other hand, maybe a sacred pilgrimage to a holy woman-centered shrine will uplift your spirit and help you find the strength to carry on in your newly single state. Or maybe none of these options will do. Maybe what you really need to overcome your relationship blues is to go to Brazil and get a real Brazilian bikini wax!

It doesn’t really matter what sort of trip will help your shattered dreams heal. The point is that a big trip can help you transform your heartache into something empowering and good, and this new breed of travel guide can help you get there. If you’ve been thinking about planning your own global get away to break out of your break up funk, spend your next Friday night at your local bookstore hanging out in the travel section.

Here are the authors you need to scout and the books you need to consult:

The 50 Best Girlfriend Getaways in North America by Marybeth Bond

Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone by Teresa Rodriguez Williamson

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo by Beth Whitman

100 Places Every Woman Should Go by Stephanie Elizondo Griest

And if you’re looking for more travel guidance from any one of these travel gals, check out my interview with all of them.