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Travel

Solo travel

(80 Posts)
Luckylegs9 Mon 14-Mar-16 05:56:35

After many years, I have booked two weeks holiday for later in the year, just before Christmas. Now starting to think I was a bit hasty, how will I fill my time if everyone is in couples? Can any solo travellers give me any tips on not just surviving two weeks on my own, but enjoying it. The weather should be fairly warm, but not hot. I had two weeks with a good friend last year, she met someone and I might as well not have been there, so that is when I made the decision to just go for it.

numberplease Mon 27-Jun-16 18:44:26

Actually Luckylegs, I`ve found one, for £569, as long as I book by June 30th, but still haven`t found the courage to tell hubby that I want to toddle off on my own!

Luckylegs9 Sun 26-Jun-16 20:23:04

Cruises are so expensive, rang Saga earlier and when I told them my budget for a single traveller she said to look at double that figure. The lady that wants a cruise for £600, afraid there's no chance put a 1 in front of it and you might get a deal for a week.

numberplease Tue 21-Jun-16 17:58:01

After our disastrous cruise in April, spoilt because hubby refused to go ashore anywhere, he says never again, but I WOULD like to go again, on my own if need be, but so far all the cruises that are within my price limit turn out not to be if you`re a solo traveller. Are there any cruises that don`t charge double for single folk? I`m talking a price range of not more than £600 for a week. I`m not a cheapskate, just can`t afford more, the April one cost us £399 each.

NathalieMartin Tue 21-Jun-16 15:28:47

Sounds amazing, I'm very envious! I'm sure you'll find plenty to fill your time, if not, I think a bit of exploration will keep things fresh. If there's others travelling alone, you may even make some new friends!

petra Fri 17-Jun-16 13:21:45

For those of you who are not aware of it there is a great site called ' Virtual Tourist' You can access any info you want about anywhere in the world. Even if you don't want information it's good to read about where people are going.

ellwyn Fri 17-Jun-16 12:53:57

why not try a cruise Ive just come back had a great time
some are a bit pricey but shop around

Deedi Thu 09-Jun-16 22:05:08

Hello Luckylegs I've recently joined GN and saw your post about travelling on your first solo holiday. I've just returned from my first holiday alone and I can't wait to get another booked - the only thing holding me back is finances confused. I went with a company that specialises in solo travel for mature people. The company are OneTraveller and I chose Prague. Apparently this company are amongst only a few that do not charge supplements for a single room. The upside for me is I've exchanged email address with two ladies and we are determined to meet up before Christmas.
I hope you let us know how you got on. Bon voyage grin

Nightnurse Tue 26-Apr-16 18:37:15

Go and enjoy. I have travelled many places on my own and have not had any problems. I find if you join in with any entertainment in hotel you make contact with other travellers and even if its just to pass time of day with you will always speak to someone. I like to dine on my own and always have my book or reader with me. I usually go on a few outings too, again you get to know people when you are out of your room. Yes its daunting first time but please relax and enjoy.

Jane10 Sun 03-Apr-16 17:49:03

I often think that the best bit of holidays is the planning and researching. The internet is such a great way to 'window shop' hols. The critic sites are helpful and I found a brilliant couple of sites that tell you what seats to avoid on planes or the dud cabins on ships.

Luckylegs9 Sun 03-Apr-16 08:13:04

Thank you for all your comments. I have made a rough plan of what to take and do. I will travel light, take a guide book and my I pad. I enjoy reading and meeting new people. I spend a lot of time on my own now and feel that if I don't do it now it will be too late.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 16-Mar-16 13:18:28

I didn't exactly mean hang onto Galen. Sorry. I meant trail round behind. I get lost easily.

Lyndylou Wed 16-Mar-16 13:16:28

wot I use Saga holidays a lot and I would be in big trouble if I needed posher clothes than jeans as DP and I only own jeans (and I have one pair of posher trousers for work assignments where jeans aren't allowed). I just dress up with silky tops for night. I don't own jewellery either, I have 2 rings and a pendant that I wear all the time and that's it. I think I missed out on a vital "girly" gene somwhere!! So if I can get away with it, I'm sure you will be fine. DP and I are off to Pompeii later this year with Saga and my main obsession about packing will be to get the case as light as possible.

Galen Wed 16-Mar-16 10:48:33

jing they provide wheelchairs for the decrepit ones like us ( ducks behind sofa)

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 16-Mar-16 09:54:23

I think the very best part of any trips abroad are the delicious cookies they put in the big jars in BA Business Class lounges. Yum!

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 16-Mar-16 09:53:02

Each to their own I guess Izabella.

TBH if I was coming to the end of life, how much travelling I had or hadn't done, would be the last thing on my mind.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 16-Mar-16 09:50:30

I would be hopeless on my own. I need someone to hang onto just to get across the airport.

wot Wed 16-Mar-16 09:39:34

Izabella, very inspiring and appreciated post of yours.

etheltbags1 Wed 16-Mar-16 09:32:38

Having read through these posts I envy (in a nice way)anyone who can afford to and can manage to go off on holiday alone. Wish I could. Good luck

Jaxie Wed 16-Mar-16 09:30:29

If you are easily confused by airports and railway stations, as I am, it takes courage to travel alone, as I have had to do over the years as my grumpy husband doesn't believe in holidays. I have had a few negative experiences as a single traveller: being seated next to the lavatories in an hotel restaurant in Fiji for example; being given the wrong exchange rate ( accidentally on purpose) given the room overlooking the car park or with a view of a brick wall. I have had to learn to make a bit of a fuss & stand my ground against staff cynicism or indifference. Feal the fear & do it anyway - or, if you can afford it, try a Saga singles hol.

Izabella Wed 16-Mar-16 08:54:35

Pearls, Chanel? Goodness me. I back pack the world with two sets of underwear (one on) and very few clothes, mainly Rohan that can be washed and drip dried overnight. The comments I usually attract are admiration for having so little to lug around and I am far too mature to bother what people think of my limited wardrobe. Life should be for living not worrying about clothes. I once went on an expedition to Antarctica flying Aerolineus who lost my luggage, so turned up at the expedition ship (NOT a cruise) in what I was wearing. Sorted in 2 hours with the help of like minded women and an international crew who just loaned and gave me stuff.

Years ago ago I actually fitted into the category of worrying about clothes. A serious illness put things sharply into perspective. My first trip after that was a solo 4000 mile trip round China. Life changing.

So please just have your adventures. I have nursed so many patients who had regrets about not doing things. Very few who regretted grasping life no matter what their limitations or disabilities were in many cases.

GeminiJen Tue 15-Mar-16 17:25:34

Hello Luckylegs9
I'm just back from a Solos holiday to Costa Rica with Cox and Kings, which was excellent...and am now playing catch up.
I haven't read all the responses to your post, so this may already have been mentioned....but I would recommend the Silvertraveladvisor website.
As luck would have it, its March newsletter focusses on solo travel, and there's a forum with lots of useful hints and tips.
Happy to respond to any specific queries, either here or via a PM, if you like.
Happy travelling smile

wot Tue 15-Mar-16 16:40:11

Even if I is!

wot Tue 15-Mar-16 16:39:30

Yeah but no but yeah! I wouldn't want the fellow traveller s to think I was common or and scruffy!

janeainsworth Tue 15-Mar-16 15:38:27

Quite Galen that's all you need and your Chanel no 5 grin

Galen Tue 15-Mar-16 15:15:27

Don't forget the pearls!