First Ever holiday abroad and Alone

newroadahead

Hi All

I have decided to have a holiday alone this year for many reasons.

The thing is I keep changing my mind about what to do and thought I would ask MSE folk what they thought.

I had thought about a cruise, I would meet people and be in pleasant surroundings, but it is expensive:eek:

My newest thought is this. Go somewhere I know and have been before albeit some time ago.

So I thought about the Canary islands. Then I looked at self catering which price wise is not too bad but when I thought about buying food , maybe eating out, cups of coffee etc it would soon add up.

So last night I looked at all inclusive, the price is not greatly different to SC and it would mean all my food and drink would be near enough paid for. I could still go out but would also have entertainment if I didn't.

I would appreciate some thoughts on this, nothing is set in concrete yet.
I do have the odd pang of feeling guilty about not going away with my BF but seem to have be doing things for everyone else for years now and want to do something for me..

Many thanks


NRA

zagfles

Personally the only way I would travel alone is staying in hostels, as you'll never get lonely as there are usually loads of solo travellers, and even those that aren't on their own are usually very friendly. Also it'll be a lot cheaper. A lot of hostels these days have small or even private rooms, rather than the big dorms.

Hotels/apartments tend to be all couples/families, who are more likely to want to keep themselves to themselves.

bajangal

Have a look at Friendship Travel. I highly recommend them. I have travelled with them as a loner and thoroughly enjoyed. (I am not affiliated to this company in anyway - just a lone traveller).

shudd1967

I travelled alone for the first time last year. I was really nervous to start of with but I have to say I loved it!

For the first time in years I didn't have to consider anyone but myself, no kids or husbands or anything! It was really liberating and good for my confidence.

Now the money saving! Do it independently. I do get quite annoyed that looking at packages on most of the tour operator websites they do not even give you a choice, they only offer you accommodation they feel they have suitable rooms for. Now if I want a king size bed or double room with a sea view in a certain hotel that is what i want! I liked a certain hotel in Kefalonia which was tied to an operator. It would not come up putting 1 person in the Thomson search when I put 2 people in I got the package for 2 people at £2400. I rang Thomson and asked for a quote....it came in at £2,780 for 1 person!

Crazy and I have vowed to never travel with them.

I booked the last year holiday flying with thomas cook in to zante and stayed a week booking the hotel directly. I made sure I researched it and informed them I was safety conscious and could they bear that in mind with my room allocation. Booking it direct I think i paid about £470 total (and had air con & safe for free - with tour op it was extra). Had I booked it as a single person via a tour op it was going to be nearly £650, as one half of a couple it would have been £460.

This year i am doing solo again. Booked my flight via Easyjet and my one hotel with them directly. The other hotel (as I am doing a 2 centre) is via booking.com. I had a quote from Greek Sun (who had been brilliant) and I think I am getting it about £300 cheaper in total.

Go and enjoy

cclarke12

Cruises can be a good way to travel solo. Do think about which cruise line though. We travel as a family but P&O and Cunard in particular seem to put on events that give solo travellers a chance to get together. Also if you do want company go for a cruise line that offers fixed time dining and ask for a large table so you have a variety of dining companions.

[Deleted User]

Depends on your age but coach travel is very sociable and the ones we have been on seem to have a proportion of single travelers. Tremendous choice on price and destination and length. Our favourites are the ones where you fly to an area to start you holiday and then pick up the coach.

Bailey101

I've been on holiday myself quite a few times (my friends all enjoy drinking holidays in magaluf and places like that, but that's not my idea f a holiday at all) and I've always met plenty of other people. I've done both hotel and hosteling holidays and enjoyed bth types but it really depends on personal preference.

I love doing it this way as you don't need to compromise on what you want to do and more often then not you'll meet folk to spend time with, whether it's a day or a week!!

I've just booked a trip with trek America which is an 'adventure tour' with a group of about 12 other people. They do all kinds of tours though so you should check out ther website for ideas.

Xxx

Hevding

I went to Nerja in spain last year, not alone but I had a falling out with the person I went with so basically spent the 2nd half of the week as if I were alone!

Everyone was very friendly, and it was very cheap (about £45 each for the week self catering) Flights were about £120 but I noticed they went down to £20 a couple of weeks before!

scarletjim

3 years ago I saw a cheap last minute hol to a hotel I'd been before, none of my friends could make it, so I went alone. It was best thing I've ever done, and have had at least 2 holidays per year alone since then. Obviously it depends what you like, but my personal advice is: If you want to make a few friends, go all inclusive, because then most people are 'on site' most of the time, so you will get to know them. You will see the same people in the restaurants and bars every day and, in my experience, every day someone at some point will let their curiousity get the better of them and come over to ask if you are alone, then you have a chat and get to know them. I definitely make more friends on hol alone than with friends! Of course you may actually want to spend your hol alone, and not get to know people - when I feel like that, I tend to go to Carribean, as there most people seem to be couples, and people tend to stay in hotel, so if you go to the beach and wander just 5 mins one way or the other, you can actually lay in a hammock and not see another human being for hours!

My holidays alone have so far included Ibiza (many many times), Tenerife, Fuerte Ventura, Dominican Republic, and this year hopefully Cuba and Ibiza (yet again!). If you want to ask me anything about my personal experiences, I'd be happy to discuss.

The_Road_Warrior

Hi all, been lurking these parts for a while but this thread made me sign up, so hello from a newbie!

I've been away twice on my own: Fuerteventura, Corralejo during 2010 (Thomson package holiday) and Lanzarote, Playa Blanca during 2011 (DIY: Ryanair and Travel Republic for Iberostar Hotel). I'm a single dad (Non Resident Parent) and am pretty much finished with relationships, the Family Court opened my eyes...and wallet LOL! Anyway, I am not bitter but just more at ease with myself! Oddly enough, I got much better tans when going solo compared to when I used to go away with partners and/or friends?

Both holidays were great and I did exactly what I wanted to do i.e. sun bathing, swimming, quad biking, volcano trips and driving around the islands in a hire car! Plenty of folk to chat with and I found that conversations were usually struck up at the pool area of the hotel. Most of my days were pretty much planned in advance so I was always up early in the morning for an activity and then back at the hotel for the early afternoon which left me with the choice of Pool or Beach.

At the end of the day, it really depends on what your idea of a holiday is i.e. walking around shops, dining in the evening or doing an activity and then crashing out at the beach/pool? My idea of a holiday is doing something fun in the morning, then chilling by the pool or on the beach till late afternoon and finishing up with pub dinner in the early evening, no 'lonely' issues cropped up for me!

Damn...I want to book my 2012 holiday now!!!!!

scarletjim

The_Road_Warrior wrote: »

Both holidays were great and I did exactly what I wanted to do i.e.

Oh yes I forgot to mention that - OP don't underestimate the beauty of being able to do whatever you want whenever you want! No waiting while each other get ready for dinner etc, eat whenever you want, have a lie in, have a day out, absolutely whatever you want whenever you want.

Welcome to 'posting MSE' RW!