Holidays alone

Thank you for all your lovely suggestions and stories. I have explored many options. It seems I may have been over optimistic regarding holiday prices! I have decided to continue saving and go later in the year when the kids are at school and the prices come down!
I am not able to go on a walking holiday, it's definitely a beach I have in mind with sunshine for my weary bones ?
Thanks again Gransnetters xx

I also do HF holidays. The big advantage about them is the communal tables. You can sit at which ever table you like and join in the conversation. This works really well as most regulars understand that is an important part of the ethos.

Google the range of holiday activities that go on.
They have their brochures online. The leisure activity holidays cover a whole range of things.
(I used to do lots of walking with HF but various back joints are protesting too much now.)

Although the OP was asking about holidaying solo many replies mention "we" which isn't really solo. As I live alone I am quite happy with ,my own company but like the option of people to talk to in the evenings, which is why I prefer an hotel to an apartment. For many years I have been holidaying in Tunisia and feel safer walking the streets of Sousse than I would London or Birmingham. My longest solo trip was 3.5 months visiting Bangkok, Singapore, Australia and Hongkong ,which was a fantastic experience.

Yes rosie that is exactly what I would choose to do.

I wouldn't go abroad alone, but I have had several holidays alone in this country. I enjoy hiking and cycling, my family don't. So I have rented a cottage for a week and spent my days enjoying what I like doing. It's wonderful to just please yourself, without having to consider other people.

Trip Advisor does holiday rentals worldwide... bookings, not just reviews, so you get the benefit of both. I find them easy to navigate.

Well to be honest you get what you pay for and I always go for as decent as possible.

For example this year we e been away 3 times.

The first a converted barn of 2 years in early spring. Underfloor heating, lots of goodies left including wine, 2bathrooms one a wet room, beds divine.
The next a dear little cottage in Cornwall really old but beautifully fitted out. Log fires nod right on the Camel Trail for walking the dog.
Last week was a modern cottage of 4 years old. Another beautifully appointed with the most divine garden fitted with sun beds etc.

All spotlessly clean and comfortable

I think your friend has been extremely unfortunate jane

There is usually a video recording of the entire place so you know what you are going to.

We have 2others booked in the UK before the winter.

We frequently have self catering holidays in this country and have always had excellent accommodation. I use several websites and do lots of cross referencing. I never go for anything that looks too good to be true at the price as it probably will be.

We've always been wary of self catering. I just heard today from a friend who'd taken a cottage for the week. Looked lovely from the outside and in photographs on the website but was disgusting inside. Really dirty. Yuk. They couldn't stay.
How do you judge which to choose? Its maybe easier to look at online reviews for hotels?

The reason that I like cottages is the privacy and peace and opportunity to completely relax. We've just come back from a week away in the dearest little place with the most beautiful garden with plenty of shade (needed in the heat). But always drift out and find somewhere delectable to eat.
I don't mind hotels we usually keep that for when we have our holiday abroad. But even then we do like to go out and explore different restaurants. Hotels are not always the best places to eat unless tip top.

oh blimey I don't cook - god forbid!!!!

whitewave definitely not for me- I do not like to exchange kitchen sinks.

We frequently have cottage holidays in the U.K., and I have thought they are ideal for single people to do your own thing unless of course you prefer to chat for company. I'm quite happy in my own company but everyone's different.

I have travelled solo for many years and thoroughly enjoy it, as unless you go in an organised group you can suit yourself. I prefer to book into an hotel b&b, as that way there are usually plenty of people to talk to in the evening and you can ignore those who aren't on your wavelength. I would recommend taking a couple of paperbacks with you, or a Kindle which will stop you looking or feeling like Nellie Nomates any time there isn't anybody you fancy chatting with.

I see that someone mentioned finding a travelling companion on Gumtree and there are some companies who will pair you up with someone ot the same sex who they consider suitable. If you go down this route BEWARE. Many years ago I did a coach tour from Sydney to Cairns with Australia Pacific and a very nice German lady had opted for this. She was paired with another lady who, to put it mildly, was a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. When we got to Hamilton Island Inga couldn't stand it any more so asked the rep if she could pay the extra for a single room. She told the other lady that as there were plenty of spare rooms so the rep had suggested the move.

HF HOLIDAYS usually do 3 levels of walks or you needn't walk at all . Just use their bus get dropped off n
And do your own thing is possible .
Food is good
Evening activities which you can but needn't join in with.

Otherwise some hotels have self catering flats attached but you can use the hotel if you want to.

Good luck

Oh, don't say that! I'm desperate to go back to Crete; one of my favourite places. The S.O. isn't all that keen on beach holidays; I never used to be but my body craves warmth these days. Keep trying to persuade him to stay at home and look after the dog, but it's falling on deaf ears.

I have been looking at the mistral hotel in crete, they have a Facebook page. The hotel specifically caters for singles. Looks really nice, just need to pluck up the courage ?

Safety? What are you on about? Most countries are as safe if not safer than the UK and most people are welcoming and helpful. I've met some charming people and never felt afraid in any of the countries I have visited.

From the point of view of safety of a person travelling alone in a foreign country, if you can afford it go on a cruise. I know that Norweigian Cruise Lines have just started single persons cabins without you having to pay a supplement, but they don't always depart from the UK. Have a look at other cruise lines they may well do the same thing now, as they usually always try to out-do each other. MSC is another cruise line I use when short of readies, it usually departs from Barcelona/Venice. There are a number of single people coach trips in the UK.

I went on a JustYou holiday to Italy several years ago. Left DH at home as at the time I needed to get away for a while. For those wondering what JustYou was like I found them very good. Nice hotel with a large double room to myself and although not cheap there were quite a few included excursions. Not being single I was a bit worried that a lot of people there would be looking for a partner. I didn't need to worry, there were only 2 men in the party and they were well into their eightys.

Looking back I wouldn't do it again. It was an easy way to travel on my own for the first time but there was lots of encouragement to socialise and I really needed time to myself. I was befriended by 2 very nice ladies but I didn't always get to do what I wanted to do. My fault I know.
However, for those of you looking for that type of holiday I can recommend them.

Just holidayed in Villefranche sur mer, flew into Nice and took two buses to the town. (You can also use the train) was with a female friend but we met several single women holidaying and chatted and became acquaintances. I would go on my own if I had no other choice, it's amazing who you meet.

My daughter has holidayed alone on four occasions after her first marriage broke up. She is very outgoing and makes friends easily so it did"nt daunt her. Two of her holidays where in the UK initially as she said if she found it unbearable it would be easier to go back home. The next two were package holidays abroad. She"s an avid reader so always had a book at hand for any awkward moments at the dining room in an evening. On the whole though I think you need to be a very confident person to do this ...if you are quite shy it might bring you out of your shell or put you off forever.

I have been on interest holidays on my own (birdwatching/wildlife) - I'm sure there are plenty out there to cater for all tastes. It is fine to be one your own if you have a shared interest -it's a real ice breaker. I really enjoyed them. Go for it!!

Why not holiday alone in this country? Might be easier and and so many wonderful places to visit. You could even try a coach tour

Yes fifywify.....that is a lovely resort to visit.

I went in the 70's so I know it's changed quite a lot. But I believe it's still a "classy" resort with many bars and eating places around the harbour.