single holidays

jeanie - I always carry my prescription face mask, which cost £150 from Vision Direct about 14 years ago. Just in case I ever lose it, I will remember your tip. Contact lenses work well too, but I have got out of the habit of wearing them now.
I had one Christmas when it was not possible for me to be with any of my family, so I went with Saga for a three day stay at an hotel. There was a mixture of couples and singles and everyone was very friendly.
I will be going alone for my sixth holiday to the Red Sea in June - I know I can rely on the reef, after being disappointed in Phuket and the Maldives.

I have been to many countries on my own including Maderia, Cyprus, Portugal, Bulgaria, Lapland and am going to Turkey in June and and Lanzarote in September, I always make sure I am booked in with a tour operator then at least someone looks out for me. Always meet up with very nice people, I can sense when my company isn't needed and some couples never speak to each other even on holiday so the wife is quite happy to speak to me. Happy to use local transport, don't mind my own company though it is nice to sit with someone at dinner, the staff always make an effort to speak. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so have to walk with a stick, have had to limit the things I do but isn't it nice to see the sun and a foreign country!!
Going with Thomas Cook Jet2 this year and the prices are okay and have been with Mercury Direct as they don't have single supplements on a lot of their holidays.

Snorkeling it's great, it's a whole different world on the ocean bed, if you wear specs like I do it's a consideration.
I had a prescription mask made which cost over £100 and some person stole it from a beach, anyhow to cut a long story short I just bought another ordinary mask and a very inexpensive pr of large framed specs and use them inside without the arms and it works.

Single holidays, not been on one myself but have friends who only ever holiday alone and totally enjoy themselves.

About singles holidays...I am 55, divorced three years and was very lonely at xmas 2011. In 2012, After a couple of failed attempts at relationships, and considering myself someone who is friendly but needing down time to myself, I decided on trying a Just You holiday. Their forum was reassuring, looked like a mix of ages and not a meat market. Just people who genuinely wanted nice company. The holiday I chose involved a 13 hour flight to Asia and some gentle adventures but nothing too tiring.
I had so much fun, made some friends ages 35 to 74, have even had a subsequent visit here in England with two of them. Everyone on the trip was friendly, the guide was good, only one guy was a bit of a lounge lizard but he backed off quickly...
The hotels we stayed in were surprisingly good quality, food good, guide took care of a few little emergencies...all in all, the perfect way to travel solo yet in the safety of a group. Highly recommended, looking forward to my next trip.

Eloethan, they call themselves HF now, I highly recommend them. Most of their holidays are walking but some are special interest, others sightseeing.

Good coral is found only in tropical waters so the nearest to Europe is in The Red Sea. Cyprus has some good beaches - I like those to the north of Pathos. It would not be a good idea for a newcomer to snorkeling to go in the sea alone. However, if you go on a boat trip that includes snorkeling they will keep you in a group and you will be safe. (I hate it, so I go to places where I can snorkel straight off the beach, on my own).
You can snorkel anywhere you can swim, so just choose your favourite beaches.

Some friends of mine often go on Holiday Friendship walking holidays (I think that's what they're called). They enjoy them very much.

Greatgran, snorkel sounds like fun I love the coral and the sea.
I heard Cyprus is quite a good place to snorkel. is it still the case do you think?

Hi shysal

You said '' 'Just Me' holidays are good, and not for matchmaking''.
I never expected to meet my future wife on my first day at school and the headmistress did not expect it would be her first step towards becoming a grandmother and great grandmother that day.

Frank

I had some wonderful holidays with Ramblers. They have different grades, catering for all abilities. People are very friendly, some single, some in couples, and leaders are helpful and informative.

No, you don't even have to be able to swim. If you are wearing a face mask and fins (flippers) it is quite hard to get underwater even if you want to. You just practise for a bit in the bath or pool, just so you get used to breathing through the snorkel, then you lie face down in the water and give a little flip with the fins! I travel all over the world looking for coral, but there is usually something interesting to see in any lake, or in the sea, unless there is just a flat, sandy bottom. You can buy a complete set of face mask, snorkel and fins for about £20.

If you like walking, HF do holidays for single travellers. Their ordinary holidays always have some singles as well, mostly 'women of a certain age' like myself.
I believe 'Just Me' holidays are good, and not for matchmaking.

I went on a cruise on my own last year and everyone on board was very friendly.

I did do a coach trip in UK and it was a complete disaster, the room I was given as a single traveller was small dirty and in desperatly in need of an update.

I have 2 holidays booked with Saga this year, one travelling alone and one travelling with a friend.

Greatnan do you have to be experienced to snorkel

I agree ,Hilda, I spent one Christmas with Saga at an hotel and although most people were in couples everybody was very friendly and I didn't feel in the least left out.

Having just returned from a Saga cruise (Northern Lights - brill) I was much impressed by the things they organised for singles. Lunch meetings etc. 'Gentleman' hosts who helped at all the evening dances and at dance lessons. The way the waiters enabled folks to mix at tables. Some of the single people we would find ourselves at meals with, spoke very highly of their experiences.

Depends how old you are -Saga do some good holidays. I used to go for weekend breaks with Solos but they are really intended for meeting the opposite sex and I found them a bit like a meat market.
What are your hobbies and interests - there are specialist holidays for people who like walking, history, architecture, etc. Have you considered River Cruising?
I will be spending two weeks, alone, in Egypt in June, snorkeling on coral, but I like being on my own.