Lone female

melanzana

Jasmine81 wrote: »

Melanzana-I just thought that since it was a city, the by the sea part would be more of an ugly port type place

No worries Jasmine.

No it's not. The Port area is beautiful now, a great walkway, a park parrallel to where everyone walks, cycles, eats and drinks, and then when you get to the end, cross the road and you are on the beach.

It is amazing, and they have really put a lot of thought into making it accessible and wonderful for all.

Just a few minutes from the centre of the city too. Amazing.

Maybe check it out before dismissing it?

Hotel deals are good too if booked a bit in advance. As usual!

Andypandyboy

Malaga is a really nice city. We had a cruise stop there and it was one place we said we would love to go back to for a long weekend.

w211

Tried going on a cruise? I haven't done it as a solo traveller, but I would if I was single. P&O cruises do single rooms, and plenty of activities (some specifically for females) on board to keep you occupied, and they have a table set aside in the main restaurant for afternoon tea, specifically for solo travellers, where they can chat and socialise amongst themselves.

When the boat arrives in port, and they do excursions, there were plenty of passengers who were on their own anyway.

You may find more singles travelling, and potentially more people to meet up with on an adult-only ship, rather than one which caters for families.

missbiggles1

w211 wrote: »

Tried going on a cruise? I haven't done it as a solo traveller, but I would if I was single. P&O cruises do single rooms, and plenty of activities (some specifically for females) on board to keep you occupied, and they have a table set aside in the main restaurant for afternoon tea, specifically for solo travellers, where they can chat and socialise amongst themselves.

When the boat arrives in port, and they do excursions, there were plenty of passengers who were on their own anyway.

You may find more singles travelling, and potentially more people to meet up with on an adult-only ship, rather than one which caters for families.

I see what you mean but, when you put it like that, it sounds awful.

meer53

w211 wrote: »

Tried going on a cruise? I haven't done it as a solo traveller, but I would if I was single. P&O cruises do single rooms, and plenty of activities (some specifically for females) on board to keep you occupied, and they have a table set aside in the main restaurant for afternoon tea, specifically for solo travellers, where they can chat and socialise amongst themselves.

When the boat arrives in port, and they do excursions, there were plenty of passengers who were on their own anyway.

You may find more singles travelling, and potentially more people to meet up with on an adult-only ship, rather than one which caters for families.

If i were travelling solo this would be my idea of hell

Stuck on a ship with people you can't get away from ? Being seated away from other people because you're single ? Horses for courses and all that but it sounds awful !

onomatopoeia99

meer53 wrote: »

Being seated away from other people because you're single ?

I read it as it was for the use of single travelers if they wished, rather than by compulsion preventing them from sitting with couples / groups etc. So it would give those traveling alone the opportunity to meet others also doing so, if they wanted to.

Jasmine81

I went on a cruise with the ex and don't remember a table set aside for singles. We were allocated a seat at a table with others which I enjoyed as I got to meet other people. I don't know if I would like it now if I was the only single at the table.

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Perhaps look at going to a city which has beaches (or beaches nearby), Barcelona, Palma, Lisbon, Nice come to mind so you can have a choice.

I would second this, cities like this are full of people on their own enjoying the sun on the beach or in the parks on their lunch break or days off work who aren't 'on holiday' as such so you won't feel like an odd one out in the middle of a load of British families on their 2 weeks in a resort.

If you get a bit bored just sunbathing, you'll also be able to do lots of other stuff like wandering around museums, cathedrals etc.

One of my nicest travel experiences was when I was in Barcelona alone. I'd met up with a friend but he had to go back to work earlier than me so I had two nights and one day solo, and it was really lovely!

Tuesday_Tenor

Jasmine81 wrote: »

I would love to travel more and don't see why being single should put me off

Absolutely! Don't let it!

I often holiday alone and have no difficulty with any aspect of it. ( I'm not trying to have a mega social life in the evenings. )

In Spain, in general:

1) Do your eating out at lunch time at cafes frequented by locals, some of whom will be dining alone. People do! I'd dine alone any time, but you might feel less conspicuous at lunch than in the evening. Plus, It's much cheaper to have the lunchtime 'menu del dia', where for 8-10EU you get 2 courses, and a drink/sweet/coffee. (in Catalunya you get ALL that thrown in, on the Costa del Sol you'll probably have to choose coffee or sweet). If you don't speak Spanish, get a phrase book with lists of food, and/or waiters usually have enough English to explain. If I'm somewhere for a week, I usually go back to places I like several times; you start to be treated as a 'regular' , greeted warmly, get coffee thrown in, etc. I then buy bread / cheese/ olives for supper at the hotel/ apartment. Helps if you have a balcony to watch he sunset from, as I did in April!

2) Don't worry about sunbathing alone on the beach. There will be plenty of women holidaying alone, plus local women who head for the beach alone on their day off! Even if you can't see any such immediately around you, be assured that it's quite common! The most difficult bit , as anywhere else, is leaving your stuff when you go for a dip in the sea. Sometimes I ask someone to keep an eye on it, especially if we've already said hello/ chatted at all. Usually I'm happy to risk it as others will notice if a stranger tries to take anything. Don't take valuables, and minimal cash only.

Malaga area:

3) I like Nerja and Maro at the eastern end of the bus routes from Malaga. About 40 mins if you get a direct bus. More likely an hour and a quarter as you stop at all the towns on the way. Nerja is a tourist town, but still very Spanish at heart. The sort of place you can walk everywhere, find evening concerts at the Arts Centre ( where people go alone, of course). Maro is a delightful village, mostly residential, with a few apartments. Not right next to the beach, though (1km trek down) so probably not for your 2-day beach hol this time.

4) Dont discount Malaga itself. I've never actually stayed there but have gone in for day visits. It has beaches, some ancient streets, historic sites and museums. If you don't fancy straying too far from the airport it's an option.

For the future:
5) I've had several holidays which have been partly on my own and partly with friends. Last year, 2 weeks in Maro was 1 week with a friend (has main holiday with partner, so could only manage a week) and then 1 week on my own, by which time I was known , and welcomed, in the village shop and my favourite restaurant. ( I do speak Spanish). Two years before that I rented a 2-bed cottage in Dorset for 2 weeks. Different friends came for 2 long weekends, and I was on my own, doing my own things, Tues-Thurs.

6) I haven't used,but other solo friends have used Holiday Fellowship for enjoyable group holidays.

7) Check out Servas for an international travellers scheme where you get to stay with local people in their own homes. As a shy person, perhaps easier to chat to people who you know WANT you to visit and to hear about life in your country? When I travelled alone in South/Central America I didn't, as a single woman, go out much in the evenings. When you stay with Servas hosts, you do what they're doing, so I got invited to birthday parties, yoga classes, salsa dancing, so had an instant social life for those nights. More commonly, you just have a meal at home with the hosts, but the social nights were a bonus, as things I wouldn't have known about/ been invited to/been able to get to otherwise!

Hope this gives some ideas! Lots of different ways to travel and holiday - alone or with others.

Tuesday_Tenor

While I was writing my mega-script, I see others have also suggested Malaga.

I think you should seriously consider it.

You'll find plenty to do, and as others have said, you won't look like the only singleton surrounded by families on holiday. There'll be plenty of families on holiday of courses, but plenty of both local residents and tourists on there own.

If you want to spend a few hours on the beach each day then you'll only needs a couple of other places to visit, some cafes and park benches from which to watch the world go by, some places to walk ... and your 2 days will have gone by most enjoyably.

I think the glass museum must be one of your places to visit. It's in a private house, the owners are enthusiasts and it gets great reviews on trip advisor. I've not been, but will go next time I'm in the area:
http://www.museovidrioycristalmalaga.com/museoingles/index.html

I also love the typical Malaguesa cuisine: lots of battered fish/ seafood/ veg bits!

Yes, I must go stay there myself ...