Holidaying alone

elsien

I have done escorted holidays with companies like Explore. Yes, I could do it more cheaply myself but I was quite happy to let someone else do the planning and arrangements, and was also glad of the company.
If you go for the smaller number of people per group (if they still exist) and a company that uses local transport options, I found there was generally a mixture of people travelling together and singles. You could meet up for meals or do your own thing depending on preference. One thing to watch out for is age group - the more expensive ones tended to be older people who had more surplus income. 

Sandtree

Voyager2002 said:

If you go with one of the usual package holidays you will (i) pay more because it is a package; (ii) pay a lot more because you are on your own. 

Not sure that package holidays are materially worse for single travellers? The PP price is obviously much higher but then a hotel room is, say, £100/night if there is 1 or 2 people staying in it and so on a PP basis its £100 or £50 per night but the reality is if you are used to booking travel independently then you tend not to think of the PP cost (or at least I dont) but instead the total. The uplift in prices for single occupancy tends to be inline with what you'd expect for the loss of a second person contributing to the cost of the room.


If packages or independent travel is cheaper does vary, as does what's available. Generally I wouldn't go All Inclusive but in some places (eg Maldives) it does make sense and some hotels dont offer AI direct to travellers but do via packages.

RobM99

I always go independently - Menorca, Croatia, It is nothing to worry about. Book flight. Book hotel. Taxi/bus on landing. Bingo!

Brie

I think the other thing you have to consider is how sociable your are or want to be on holiday.  If you are a complete loner than booking things yourself so you can remain on your own through out would be great.  if you are going looking to join in with others then a package deal may work out better.

Also - what do you like to do?  There's a big difference (to me at least) about going somewhere that you can't escape from easily (remote hotels, cruises) or holidays where you are moving about (again cruises for a different reason, walking holidays).  On a cruise you can be social while on board and then charge off by yourself when you hit land.  Walking holidays can be arranged as a single with a company booking your acommodation along the way and you be alone all day or you could book in with a group trek where you can go at your own pace or match up with someone and walk with them depending on the day, terrain etc.

madlyn

I'm not shy but amongst strangers I do struggle to push myself to mix, that is why I would go to somewhere I have been before and I am familiar with. But booking something that is specifically for solo travellers may also be an idea as it would give me that push to mix.

katejo

madlyn said:

I'm not shy but amongst strangers I do struggle to push myself to mix, that is why I would go to somewhere I have been before and I am familiar with. But booking something that is specifically for solo travellers may also be an idea as it would give me that push to mix.

I have done quite a few group trips solo. All my Explore trips have been on my own but I usually opted to share a room to avoid single room supps. Explore als does specifically SOLO trips but I haven't tried one of those yet. If you find a trip which appeals and have dates, you can ring Explore and ask whether there are any other solo travellers on the trip. I also do entirely solo trips to capitals like Berlin. In that case I book my hotel and flight separately.

Doshwaster

I travel all over alone (got no friends and nobody loves me...) but I hardly ever book package deals as they are typically designed for couple and families. Going solo it is usually best just to book flights and accommodation separately which gives you more freedom to travel around rather than being stuck in an AI hotel for 2 weeks.

In past years I've had a great time exploring SE Asia on  my own. It's easy to get around and you will always meet a load of fellow travellers. COVID hit the tourism industry in that part of the world very hard but things are recovering now. Looking forward to going back next year. For 2022, I've got trips to Tenerife, Bodrum Turkey and Malga already booked and will hope to squeeze in a couple of weekends before the end of the year.

madlyn

So when you book accommodation and flights separately, you go direct to the hotel and the airline?  

elsien

madlyn said:

So when you book accommodation and flights separately, you go direct to the hotel and the airline?  

That tends to be better because you are dealing directly with no third party in the middle. Or rather, it’s better if you’re dealing with an online shed of a travel agent. Covid showed that a lot of refunds were quicker where there was no middle man. Reputable independent can be different. 

If you’re booking a DIY package that still gives you some protection but is less flexible. 

I’m just off to Croatia; flights booked directly with airline, accommodation was sourced via booking.com but is a direct arrangement. It was cancellable up to 2 weeks before travel, and I did change my mind, cancelled the first lot and booked something else. 

tightauldgit

madlyn said:

So when you book accommodation and flights separately, you go direct to the hotel and the airline?  

I usually find the best flight options with flights.google.com and then book directly with the airline on their website (it's often a few £ more expensive than whatever google shows as the price but I prefer to book direct) and 9 times out of 10 it will be a hotel through booking.com.

Just as an example I did a quick check - First week of August a week in the Algarve on Tui from BRS starts at about £1100, Flights BRS to FARO are £150 and a week's B&B in a decent place can be gotten for £400-500, cheaper still if you are happy with a more basic place.