Solo Holiday Experiences

sixfootaliw_2

I've been forced to travel away for work alone, and I do find it a little lonely, but I have toured China with TravelSphere where you join a group of other singles, and I loved that.

Now I am married, but I still holiday alone on occasion. Hubby likes diving, and I dont, so I holiday with Naturetrek. Last year I walked around Croatia looking at butterflies. The groups are small and a mix of singles and couples. It was great to share an interest and see a new country.

Briddie

I'd say it very much depends on what type of holiday you want. Many years ago I travelled to the Far East, Australia and Iceland on escorted tours. In each case many, if not most, people were on their own and of those, most had partners at home who just didn't want that sort of holiday. For someone alone but not very confident I'd recommend an escorted tour wherever you're going - unless you just want to lie on a beach!:)

Hoopylass

I'm so impressed by all the tales of holidays and solo travels. It has definetly got me thinking about planning a trip.

Amsterdam is a place I really want to go to and with everyone saying how good it is maybe that should be my 1st stop.

... Maybe

Deep_In_Debt

A few years ago, myself and ex OH did a Nile Cruise. There were loads of solo travellers on the cruise, both male and female and of all ages. We all mixed as the dinner tables were large and mixed and groups of us would go off when the boat docked and went as a group or we'd all meet in the bar for drinks in the evening. Very friendly group of people.

Chlorine7

I've just put on hold a ticket to Seoul. It's £400 with Cathay and I've got 24 hours to buy it for that price. I would only go for a week and there is so much to do and I've researched where to stay etc.

I've even convinced my mother that if I don't do this or something similar I'll just be that person who goes to work, comes home, goes to bars and nothing more. Eventually I got a text from her saying she wished she'd done it.

There is just still something holding me back. I don't know what exactly. Everyone on here has been quite inspiring and it's so good to know all the different ages that do it on their own. I hope that some others find the courage to buy a ticket to somewhere too!

balletshoes

Chia wrote: »

Man, this sounds amazing. And there's some great information in this thread. Thanks to all who contributed. I love my SO, but I haven't been single since I was pretty young and I often wonder what it would be like to be on my own for something more substantial than, for example, an overnight work trip to Nottingham.

It's an eye-opener to read about couples who've been married 20+ years taking holidays alone.
Has anyone in a couple had trouble convincing their other half to "let" them go with their blessing (not in place of together holidays, but in addition to)? I'm not thinking in terms of controlling behaviour but about the other person feeling rejected, e.g. "Why don't you want me there too?".
(I don't know that my SO would react in that way...just curious to hear the experiences of others who went from together-only holidays to including some solo travel in the relationship.)

we've been married for 15 years, we have family holidays together, but we also have trips apart due to differing interests etc - we have never asked each other for permission to go away, but we always give each other plenty of notice about when we're thinking of going away without the other, where we're going, and how long for. We have always done this though, we didn't start with always together holidays.

Mike10

Chlorine7 wrote: »

I've just put on hold a ticket to Seoul. It's £400 with Cathay and I've got 24 hours to buy it for that price. I would only go for a week and there is so much to do and I've researched where to stay etc.

I've even convinced my mother that if I don't do this or something similar I'll just be that person who goes to work, comes home, goes to bars and nothing more. Eventually I got a text from her saying she wished she'd done it.

There is just still something holding me back. I don't know what exactly. Everyone on here has been quite inspiring and it's so good to know all the different ages that do it on their own. I hope that some others find the courage to buy a ticket to somewhere too!

I felt similar to this in the lead up to booking my first trip. What I decided was that if I went and didn't enjoy myself, I would have no regrets and would just treat it as an experience and a learning curve. If I didn't go, I knew I would regret it and would spend the rest of my life wondering what if...

I don't regret attempting things and them not working out. I would regret passing up the opportunity on something when the chance arose.

newcook

I took the plunge last year and booked myself on an all inclusive short break - it was one of the best decisions I have made! sure it can be a little weird at first when you go for a meal but if you sit by the window you can watch the world go by or just sit and read a book!

I booked with Travel Republic and even got a discount as I was a single traveller!!

Sarah1951

Hi everyone, Just wanted to put in my tuppenceworth as a 60 plus lady who took a deep breath and travelled around India for 7 weeks solo last year. I'd always wanted to do this, but don't have anyone to do it with. The first few days were beyond terrifying, there were several times when I wondered what on earth had possessed me and longed to be home. But the more time went by, the more confident I got. I remember two weeks in, on a train from Jaipur to Udaipur, munching samosas and drinking chai, chatting to another solo traveller and feeling so pleased and proud of myself! Came home with fantastic memories, some great friendships made and a feeling that I can do anything.
Am currently doing a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course and planning a much longer trip at the end of the year. Vietnam, here I come!

LostSoulForever

Well, after posting earlier in the thread about my solo trips to NY.

I just want to say thanks to eveyone else who has posted, as it's given me some thoughts & ideas of other places that i should try .