Holiday alone

NiftyDigits

piglet74 wrote: »

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You can do all of those things backpacking and hostelling. The advantage being that you'll meet others doing the same thing. As they say, you have nothing to fear, but fear itself.
Do you think that unless you have a rolling suitcase, you'll be unable to sun, laze around the pool, read, listen to music, relax, be allowed to enjoy your own company, be left alone and not feel like you have to join a group,
You don't even have to be a backpacker. You just have to be slightly less of a wimp.
You can go on a prepackaged solo holiday or you can go on a holiday were there are many independent travellers. That way you can choose to be social or choose to stay quiet. Open up your horizons a little.[/QUOT

I don't want to back pack or go to hostels, and I'm not fussed on meeting others doing the same thing. Its not that I am a wimp, I just don't fancy it.

You should read again. I stated that you didn't need to be a backpacker...you just need to do it, instead of just looking at the safest option....and you are a wimp! Absolutely. You even put the word safe in your initial post and that was with reference to cruises and all inclusive. I mean...how safe can you get?
Forty one years old and looking at cruises and all inclusive? You don't even need to leave the resort or ship? Wowser!
You sound seventy one, take the cruise. At least you might actually get to see a few places along the way.

Seriously, don't limit yourself. Start planning to visit the places that you want to see. make connections with others travelling to and living in those places. Get out there!

zagfles

Doshwaster wrote: »

Backpacking isn't what it used to be. You can ow do it in comfort - stop in hostels with private room or even proper hotels, eat in restaurants rather than living on toast and pot noodles, fly rather than take overnight buses and never be far from your gadgets. It's now more of a state of mind of travelling independently without a pre-planned itinerary instead of having to rough it.

Backpacking when grown up and with money is known as "flashpacking".
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2893401/Are-backpacker-flashpacker-Research-suggests-adventure-seekers-prefer-little-bit-extra-comfort.html

http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/travel-articles/flashpacking/

Yes, I've stayed in some hostels with better rooms than the average hotel. It's not all sheet sleeping bags and dorms these days, you can get en-suite rooms sometimes even with daily maid service. And you are allowed to turn up with a suitcase instead of a backpack

The big advantage of hostels over hotels is they are far more social, they tend to have lounge areas, kitchens etc, where you can have a chat with fellow travellers, which as well as meaning you are less likley to get lonely, you can get all sorts of useful tips on things to do and places to see from people who've just done it.

piglet74

NiftyDigits wrote: »

piglet74 wrote: »

You should read again. I stated that you didn't need to be a backpacker...you just need to do it, instead of just looking at the safest option....and you are a wimp! Absolutely. You even put the word safe in your initial post and that was with reference to cruises and all inclusive. I mean...how safe can you get?
Forty one years old and looking at cruises and all inclusive? You don't even need to leave the resort or ship? Wowser!
You sound seventy one, take the cruise. At least you might actually get to see a few places along the way.

Seriously, don't limit yourself. Start planning to visit the places that you want to see. make connections with others travelling to and living in those places. Get out there!

I was referring to the first line of the reply, where you said, you can do all that backpacking.

I dont want to make connections with people, I am not looking for company,

And there's a big difference in wanting to be safe, and being a wimp.

NiftyDigits

piglet74 wrote: »

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I was referring to the first line of the reply, where you said, you can do all that backpacking.

I dont want to make connections with people, I am not looking for company,

And there's a big difference in wanting to be safe, and being a wimp.

What is the point of taking the first line of my reply out of context, unless for unnecessary argument?
The point was that backpackers can do all of the things that you mentioned.

As to making connections with others. Those are for the times that you don't want to be alone and for when you would like local advice.

As for the last point about safety...you protest too much....you most definitely are a wimp.
I repeat, if you are concerned about safety when referring to cruises and all inclusives, your priorities are all wrong.
Hey, don't you know that mishaps can and do occur on ships and there are many stories of food poisoning on those all inclusives? Does that make you feel more or less secure?

What you should do is to pick your destination and then begin to work on how to do it.
Choose where you want to go and what you want to see and do.
Then we can make a job of it. Don't let your anxiety about safety be a handicap.

So....begin with your destinations. Where and when...rather than some nonsense questions about safety on a hypothetical cruise or all inclusive.

piglet74

If I was such a wimp I would not even be considering going on holiday alone now would I.

winspiration

I think it is quite a big step to go on holiday alone for the first time - the whole point is to enjoy yourself, doing things that you want to do, so I don't think there's much point in pressurising the OP to go way outside her comfort zone, particularly on the first trip!

I don't really fancy backpacking either, maybe I'm a wimp too, but who cares!

NiftyDigits

winspiration wrote: »

I think it is quite a big step to go on holiday alone for the first time - the whole point is to enjoy yourself, doing things that you want to do, so I don't think there's much point in pressurising the OP to go way outside her comfort zone, particularly on the first trip!

I don't really fancy backpacking either, maybe I'm a wimp too, but who cares!

Not you too? Backpacking was just one of a few different things that I threw out there.
The point being that if the OP wants to see the places that she mentioned, she won't see any of them from the inside of an all inclusive resort.
In that case, she might as well go to Center Parcs.
'Backpacking' wasn't literal. It's another of saying get out there and do what you actually want to do and not be limited by fear of the unknown. There are amazing places and things to be experienced.
Thoe places she mentions are for families, perhaps honeymooning couples who don't want to venture too far from their rooms.
I can't imagine a more depressing kind of holiday.
One week? I'm away on holiday on my own for three months....and I think it too short.
piglet74 can come out to SE Asia, (Thailand at the moment) and I'll set her up with a bungalow on the beach. She can walk a few metres to eat fresh seafood(or whatever she wants) right next to the sea.
No need for cruises and naff all inclusives.

Yolina

I more often than not go on holiday on my own, could go with friends but I just like to be able to do what I want, when I want Stuff like cruises, all inclusive resorts or coach tours are firmly in my worst nightmare category, but I'm sure plenty of people enjoy them.
I tend to stick to western europe, not because of some misguided sense of safety, but simply because I don't travel well - I love being places but I hate getting there :rotfl:

OP: just pick something *you* want to do and go for it

PompeyPete

Having spent 23 years in Her Majesty's Grey Funnel Line, the last thing I wanted to do after I left the RN was to go on a cruise. And like a lot of people I was completely aghast at the thought.

Then in a moment of red wine fuelled late night online madness I booked an adult only cruise with Thomson.

You know what? We really enjoyed it, and have gone down the same road 3 times since. There's something quite nice about waking up in a different port in a different country or different island most mornings, and having a d-i-y wander round for a few hours.

Never been 'forced' to eat at the same table or the same restaurant. You have complete freedom where and when you eat. Alright there'll be one or two restaurants onboard that you might have to book or, pay a bit extra, and put a collar and tie on. But that's optional, or at least it is on the cruises we've been on.

Never been to Captain's Night, or worn a tie, or tried to dress-up to impress. A lot do, but it's all optional.

Shorts and T-shirt all day, long trollies and open neck shirt after dark. After dark wander around the bars, and/or enjoy the entertainment on offer, without worrying about how to get back to the hotel [albeit it, finding the right deck and cabin can be challenging after a few:)].

Still do plenty of independent travel too. But to knock cruising if you've never tried it is a little unfair.

piglet74

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Not you too? Backpacking was just one of a few different things that I threw out there.
The point being that if the OP wants to see the places that she mentioned, she won't see any of them from the inside of an all inclusive resort.
In that case, she might as well go to Center Parcs.
'Backpacking' wasn't literal. It's another of saying get out there and do what you actually want to do and not be limited by fear of the unknown. There are amazing places and things to be experienced.
Thoe places she mentions are for families, perhaps honeymooning couples who don't want to venture too far from their rooms.
I can't imagine a more depressing kind of holiday.
One week? I'm away on holiday on my own for three months....and I think it too short.
piglet74 can come out to SE Asia, (Thailand at the moment) and I'll set her up with a bungalow on the beach. She can walk a few metres to eat fresh seafood(or whatever she wants) right next to the sea.
No need for cruises and naff all inclusives.

Did you even read my original post?

I says I was thinking of a cruise, or a week, AI in the sun.

Thailand \ Asia, not for me, not interested

Back packing, no

Three months, out of the question,

We are obviously very different people and looking for different things from holidays. What I want to do, you find depressing, and that's fair enough, but I was looking for feedback from lone travellers, especially females, who had been on either a cruise, or a all inclusive holiday. That is me, doing what I want to do.