First time holidaying alone after bereavement

I haven’t done it Luckygirl apart from flying out to stay with my son for a few days. I’ll follow your post with interest

Luckygirl

OK chaps - so what did you do and how did you do it?

The whole idea seems so daunting and I do not know where to begin; or even if I might spend the whole time in a weepy heap.

All thoughts gratefully received.

I’ve not been bereaved but have been on holiday on my own quite a few times. Most recently was in 2019. It was an activity holiday (tennis). with Solos holidays (NOT singles necessarily just people either on their own or whose partner didn’t share their hobby). And there was a newly widowed lady there.I think she found it very easy as we were a group of about 20 a d very easygoing. I’d suggest something like that. I have a friend who has never married and she goes on painting holidays.

I have a relative who is currently on a walking holiday with an organised group in the Peak District and loving it .

Thank you for those thoughts.

My situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that I broke my foot a few years back and my mobility is limited - so a lot of the things that would be top of my list - like a walking holiday - are now not possible.

I will keep thinking - and plucking up courage!

Hello, I have found that cruising - possibly not at the moment - is ideal. You have solitude when you wish, company when you wish and there is masses - or nothing - to do. Special attention is paid to those travelling alone and coffee mornings are arranged so that single passengers can meet and mix. Dinner tables are so arranged that you are not left as the odd one. During port time you can potter around by yourself or join well organised tours. On top of that, you visit someone new every day or so and can decide if you may want to spend time there in the future. It is more expensive to travel alone but well worth it, I feel. Jolly Good Luck. One piece of advice is to have a balcony or, at least, a sea view.

Should read you visit somewhere new every day or so...

If you join WAY UP, the website for widows over 55 (it's a big range of ages) there is a travel consultant who organises holidays specifically for widows. Some widows have bought motor homes and have regular meet ups with others, they call themselves Wagon Wuppers. Some people have gone on holiday happily with a company called Just You.

I'm saving up to go to NZ on the Riviera Travel singles trip in 2023. I don't want to sort out flights and hotels and trains anymore, I'd much rather have it done for me.

Where do you want to go?

DH and I were keen hill walkers so I started with a group walking holiday in the South of France so that I had a bit of company. I enjoyed that so went on several more over the following years with different companies both in the UK and overseas.

That’s not going to help you at the moment but I’d recommend HF Holidays because they also offer special interest holidays such as art, bridge, singing and photography as well as walking.

HF is terrific for solo travellers. Beautiful country house settings, communal dining and programmes of evening activities although do please check as the way things operate may have changed to comply with Covid safeguards.

How about a trip to see a musical with a couple of nights in a hotel, just to dip your toes into the water?

Following with interest . I have been on holiday since DH died but it was with my DD and family .I have just come back from a week in Cornwall with my sister and family , both were lovely but not taken the plunge and gone away on my own . I feel I should but not brave enough ?

My widowed Dad (90) is currently on a Saga cruise, visiting various UK ports of call.
He phoned me last Sunday to say he'd arrived and was in his balcony cabin, which was very nice with a "welcome aboard" bottle of fizz in his fridge. I haven't heard from him since which I'm taking as a good thing, presumably he's having a good time!
Saga offer a door to door collection service so there's no travel arrangements to worry about. Their Covid policies are very robust.
I helped him organise his clothes and packed his suitcase for him. He's back next Monday so I'll hear all about it then.

Arena Travel are also good for special interest holidays. They offer some lovely craft retreats.

I would agree that a course / activity that you enjoy might be a good first step - I have done a few sewing courses with recently bereaved women.
If you have an activity you enjoy (how I sympathise with limited walking!) i would look around that - some craft people run their own, and wouldn't be found on a 'holiday' site.
Good luck!

Thanks for these suggestions. Arena have craft holidays in the UK which look very interesting. And I am about to delve into Saga.

I have joined Way Up - but can't find this travel consultant bit yet. WE have done HF in the past as a family so I will look at that too. Lots of thanks to all for the ideas. I am in a bleak phase at the moment so it is hard to muster the volition to do all this, but you have given me a gentle kick up the rear.

Riviera run many of their tours for single travellers. My cousin says cruising is the best idea. There is always something to do and you are allocated a table so you get to know people,

I have been on a short holiday not far away from my home organised by a coach holiday firm. This was shortly after my husband died. I enjoyed it and will go further away next time. That one was for solo travellers but there are not many of those. I was told that many single people go on their other holidays and there are ones nearly every week to choose from.

I would base a holiday on your interests. Do you like cities , theaters, sun and relaxing. Do you want company or do you want to amble on your own. As Missadventure says start with short break. London shows with accommodation give you many options. There are lots of holiday companies that cater for singles only or just choose a well known company and ask when you book if any singles are going. Often people join up for the evening meal and if there is a tour itinerary you can mix and match who you speak too. Just try it, you could have fun.

Good idea from MissAdventure start with a short break maybe including a musical treat then go from there. I hope you find something you enjoy and take the plunge Luckygirl

Just You.

I’ve had some great holidays with them. Always well organised.
And always great company with other single travellers.

My widowed friend goes with a company that I believe is called
Just One Traveller. She goes with a widowed friend but as she finds it difficult seeing married couples on holiday and she doesn’t want to share a room this company suits her. She has been on their holidays several times.

Hmm. About Just You. I think you have to be careful of companies which label themselves holidays for solos. I made the mistake of thinking they were for people travelling alone but often they aren't.

People use them as your friend does Lovetopaint037. They still go in pairs or groups of single friends so that the truly solo traveller can be made to feel like an outsider - no different to being a single in a world of couples.

Of course, it depends of how people mix and socialise on the holiday but it can be an issue. Some pairs and groups will mix, some won't. Some solo travellers want company, others prefer to keep themselves to themselves and just book a package for the convenience. I just thought it worth flagging up in case anyone thinks that everyone on a solo holiday has travelled alone.

There are two companies. Just You and One Traveller so your friend may be using the latter, Lovetopaint037 but the principle is the same.

One of my smartest (luckiest) decisions was to go on a group trip over my first festive season alone. I didn't want to become anyone's burden or regular and my sons were active free as air bachelors at the time. Also I didn't fancy the long pick up bus journey so I arranged to make independent travel arrangements to and from the venue. Magic.