Let travel mend your broken heart

When you’re in love, your partner is the centre of the world. When love ends, your heart is broken, but the world suddenly opens up. That’s where the Mend travel guides come in, channelizing all that’s best about travel—fresh perspectives, new cultures and people, incredible experiences—to help you fix yourself.

Mend, a website and app with the tag line We mend broken hearts, likens broken hearts to the Japanese art of kintsugi, in which broken pottery is mended with gold to highlight the cracks rather than hide them.

Started by Elle Huerta, a former Google employee, and mentored by Jessica Alba on the Planet Of The Apps reality television show, the app has short 3-minute audio guides, a friendly and concerned chatbot, and travel guides to help plan an epic solo trip that can wipe out all sad memories.

In its list of the best trips around the world, Mend includes Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for its vibrancy and energy; Kauai, Hawaii, and Bali, Indonesia, for their calm, introspective vibe; Italy for joy, conversation and falling back in love with yourself; and Australia for its incredible variety.

There are Mend city guides to London, New York City (NYC), Los Angeles and more (there’s a focus on the US, since that’s where the app was born) that list activities of interest to those nursing broken hearts. The emphasis is on places and experiences that help you become a fitter, healthier, happier and more confident version of yourself in the most fun and pampering ways. One of the recommendations in London, for example, is a healthy breakfast rave where you can start your day with massages and organic coffees, music and visualization, smoothie bars and costumed entertainers. The recommendations for NYC include a quiet morning at the Museum of Modern Art; and in Boston, a browsing trip to the Brattle Bookshop, one of America’s largest and oldest. It’s a good mix that covers the gamut from places to wallow in self-pity, indulge yourself with little treats, power up with good food and exercise, and party.

Their list of post-break-up retreats includes a recommendation in India as well. The Ayurveda spa, Ananda in the Himalayas, is known for its relaxing and rejuvenating treatments and lovely walks in its 100-acre estate.