I Almost Canceled My India Trip, Until Planout Changed Everything

My name is Mei, I’m a solo traveler from China, and this is the story of the trip I almost canceled.

I’ve traveled alone before, across Southeast Asia, Japan, and parts of Europe. I’m usually confident on the road. But India felt different.
Not because I wasn’t curious, but because I didn’t know what to expect.

India looked beautiful, intense, spiritual, and overwhelming all at once. And as my departure date got closer, one thought kept returning quietly but persistently, can I really do this alone?

Every search I made online only added to the uncertainty. Travel forums were full of mixed opinions, warnings, and long lists of things to avoid. Some stories were inspiring, others frightening. As a woman traveling solo, safety became the question behind every plan.

I didn’t want a tour group.
I didn’t want to be rushed from place to place.
I didn’t want someone controlling my journey.

I wanted to experience the real India, but safely, calmly, and on my own terms. Yet no amount of research gave me the confidence to go.

Then one night, while scrolling through a women’s travel group, I saw a short comment under a post. It simply said,
“If you want to experience India safely and genuinely, talk to Planout.”

There was no advertisement, no exaggeration. Just replies from other women sharing honest experiences. They sounded thoughtful, grounded, and real. I saved the name, hesitated for a few days, and finally reached out.

That conversation changed everything.

There was no sales pitch. No pressure. No fixed itinerary.
They listened.

They asked about my concerns, my boundaries, how fast or slow I like to travel, and what kind of experience I was actually looking for. For the first time since I started planning India, I felt understood, not judged, not rushed.

I chose Planout’s Pro Plan, not because it sounded premium, but because having a trusted local buddy in each region felt like a quiet form of protection. I could travel independently, but I was never alone. Someone local was always there if I needed clarity, reassurance, or help.

The fear that almost made me cancel didn’t disappear instantly.
But it softened.

And that was enough.

That’s when I knew, I was ready for India.