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Holidays on my own ? Am i brave enough

(67 Posts)
Jeanlizzie Sat 25-May-19 14:04:47

Hi
I might have posted this in the wrong place I'm new here so please bear with me
My husband decided he had done with foreign holidays, but i don't feel the same i like my time in the sun and since we acquired a dog, DH has the perfect excuse
I went away with my DD and family last year and it was a nightmare and i felt like i was there for childcare
Anyway holiday time is here again, and I'm deciding if I'm brave enough to go on holiday on my own , has anyone else done this and has some advice ?
Im thinking about 14 days in malta

eGJ Sat 25-May-19 14:40:45

Look at *One Traveller*; especially for singles over 55. Good Tour Managers and free time built in too. Prague is the suggested first trip - Charles the Tout Manager is loverly!!
https://www.onetraveller.co.uk/

They do Malta !! smile My neighbour is just back from there, she enjoyed it all!!

BlueBelle Sat 25-May-19 14:51:11

I have holidayed alone in uk and it’s ok but it is a bit lonely and especially the evening meal I found that’s when I felt it most
I could never do a managed holiday, but that’s just me I m far too shy I suppose and would feel more lonely if people paired up and I didn’t or if they were all jolly or not on my wavelength it would just be too big a chasm for me to cross for a week but I have a friend older than me who goes on coaches and makes friends and enjoys herself I wish I could be more relaxed and open about it

Beckett Sat 25-May-19 15:20:14

I have been on holiday alone several times. If you are of a "more mature" age, you could try Saga, I have been with them and they do take care of you. I have always found someone to talk to - the worst part is the first nights dinner before you have had a chance to meet someone. Alternatively there are several companies who cater for people on their own. I say go for it.

David0205 Sat 25-May-19 15:42:44

Join up with a guided tour group and just go, the groups I have been on are made up of about 2/3 women many of whom have left boring men at home, you can share with another lady or pay a supplement.
I’m not sure about Malta for 2 weeks guiding for 12 days may be a challenge but there are plenty of other cultural or adventure holidays.
I would suggest India as a first holiday it’s not expensive, the guides are superb and look after you 24/7, it really is just like Marigold hotel ( without Miriam and Wayne)

Go for it

petra Sat 25-May-19 16:01:50

jeanlizzie
Have you been to Malta?

Galen Sat 25-May-19 16:29:38

We have a gransnetter who lives in Malta!
I often holiday on my own. I’m 75, disabled and a widow. I manage ok.

HildaW Sat 25-May-19 17:48:13

Perhaps an interest based holiday...Art, cooking etc. These tend to attract folks who are half of a couple as the other half does not always share the interest.
That being said on a Saga cruise once we had dinner with two people, a man and a woman who were both married to people who no longer enjoyed foreign holidays. They all knew each other and the partners stayed at home whilst they went on holiday purely platonically (we were assured). hmm

FlexibleFriend Sat 25-May-19 18:36:53

I've been on holiday alone, I didn't go on one aimed at a specific age group as personally I prefer a mixed age group. I found it easy to mix or not as the mood took me. Just work out what you want from the holiday, do you want organised activities or do you want to be able to choose. There are plenty of companies offering all kinds of activities from being very laid back to very active. They're all out there.

EllanVannin Sat 25-May-19 18:44:31

I wouldn't be going for 2 weeks if it's your first holiday alone.

Grammaretto Sat 25-May-19 18:47:55

I haven't tried yet but my friend who is widowed but still only 50 something , started a couple of years ago and absolutely adores it. She has been to Italy twice, Prague and America. She found a good travel agent who isn't specifically for singles but gives her peace of mind and seems to find lovely hotels with good service. It works for her. She isn't looking for a partner but loves site-seeing and wandering about on her own or with company.

Ngaio1 Sat 25-May-19 18:58:44

I go on holiday on my own since being widowed. I thoroughly recommend cruising - you have company when and if you wish and quiet times if you prefer.

BlueSapphire Sat 25-May-19 21:22:41

I had my first holiday on my own (since DH died last year) in April. I did a river cruise, and had a really good time. I could have time on my own if I wanted, but there was always company available, and I never felt like the odd one out. We were really well looked after and am already considering another river cruise next year. I am going on a Baltic cruise next month, really looking forward to it. I usually go with Saga; they really look after you.

maytime2 Sun 26-May-19 11:15:18

If you have never been on holiday before without your husband, perhaps a short break in the U.K. on your own would be advisable. You might find that you really miss him.
To those of us who do not have the luxury of choice due to being widowed or divorced then I second the solo holiday market. I have travelled through Italy and the United States with such a company and always felt that it enabled me to see parts of the World that interested me and the fact that I was a single traveller was not an obstacle.

Nonnie Sun 26-May-19 11:20:17

We went on a great group tour and there were a few women on their own. They joined in conversations, asked us to take their photos, sometimes joined various people for meals and generally joined in without attaching too closely to any of the others. I think they had just as good a time as those of us who were couples.

Crazygran Mon 27-May-19 09:04:24

Cruises are great for people travelling alone.
I would try a few days first, 14 may be to long if you get lonely.
Enjoy

NotSpaghetti Mon 27-May-19 09:10:36

I think Hilda is right - interest based holidays are probably the way to go. My mother in law was really miserable on other solo travel options but has loved her “art” and her “gardens” trips.
She even did one last year which combined art and gardens (think Monet).

BlueBelle Mon 27-May-19 09:15:14

crazygran I would have thought cruisers to be awful if you’re on your own with all the couples eating together etc Don’t get me wrong I ve never been on one so can’t comment with any knowledge but the thought unless you are a fairly confident exuberant type who doesn’t have any trouble joining in

Barmeyoldbat Mon 27-May-19 09:21:55

I have often been on holidays on my own. Husband and I couldn't always agree where to go so we would both do our own thing. I have gone with small walking groups and I have also just gone solo on an interest holiday. In fact I loved it in some ways, the freedom to do what you want and also a feeling of being in charge. Go for it

jura2 Mon 27-May-19 09:26:08

Oh yes, go! So much choice too. You could go all inclusive in a nice resort and stay there and just join excursions. Or just do your own thing. Or go on a holiday with a course attached, from yoga to archeology, paiting, whatever. Or go on a guided holiday so you will be part of a group...

Shirls52000 Mon 27-May-19 09:31:45

I ve been away a few times on my own and find group tours are the best as there are usually others on their own and it is easy to make friends. I did a charity trek to Peru shortly after getting divorced in 2004 and I am still friends with some of the people I met on that trek. I now travel with a friend, although not always, and we ve done a few Exodus trips, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam. There were people travelling on their own on all of these trips and again we made lots of friends and were very inclusive of those on their own. One man from Australia was travelling without his wife as she didn t like travelling and we delighted in helping him find presents to take back for her. I would say go for it, look for group trips, make new friends and have a great time. I m off to Ecuador and Galapagos in November and can t wait, life s too short, the older I get the more adventurous I am.... 62 going on 30 ? we never regret what we did do, we only regret the things we didn’t do.... go for it xx

quizqueen Mon 27-May-19 09:44:33

I have travelled with Just You, part of the Travelsphere group, for years and never had a complaint. The reps really look after you ( they even have someone meet you at the UK departure airport) and are with you all day, staying in the same hotel. They also use local guides for more specialised talks. You can join guided tours or do your own thing in the day and the whole group sits together for the evening meal so you will not be lonely. You always get your own double room and they use good hotels. They go all over the world; I've been to about 15 countries with them.

bingo12 Mon 27-May-19 09:47:28

Go to cities that are interesting and cosmopolitan. No one will notice you're alone. I find Americans travel in couples so don't do Bahamas, American cruises etc. Dubai is quite good for single old ladies - you can also go to Oman from there too.

zsazsa Mon 27-May-19 09:59:32

I've done several solo holidays abroad since my DH became too ill to go, and really love them. I started with destinations that were familiar and travelled with a good company that gives support if you need it. With plenty of books and music on my IPad, I catch up on lost sleep, and enjoy dressing for dinner each evening - such a change from home! With (hopefully) plenty of sunshine, and friendly chats with fellow diners, I come back with my batteries re-charged, already planning to save for my next break. A week alone seems about right for me, but like other gnetters advise, why not try a short break in the UK first...somewhere with plenty to see and do? You can do it!!

Dillyduck Mon 27-May-19 10:02:56

DO IT!!!

I too missed travelling when I was widowed, then I discovered the Mistral Hotel in Maleme, Crete. It's for single travellers ONLY so you are never lonely. It's where I learned to smile and laugh again, made lots of new friends and we meet every year to enjoy the wonderful food, and beautiful sunshine. Have a look at their website and read their Facebook pages. Dare yourself to be brave and do something outside your comfort zone, and you will come back happy and invigorated. You can do as much or as little as you like, go on hikes, trips, or laze by the pools (two for 35 guests so never crowded!)