Taking the plunge to travel on your own (after bereavement or separation) have you manged to overcome it.

I’ve been on several coach trips on my own..

My husband died in March last year. I took the plunge to go away for a few days in September 2022. I'm not a confident driver so decided to travel by coach to Sheffield and stay at a hotel in a village on the outskirts of the city. I got around the place using taxis but next time will use the bus and tram network.
I met up with family whilst I was there but that was just one afternoon.
The hotel was one we had stayed at many times and the only problem I had was that I was given a room which I had shared with my husband on a past visit. That triggered a few tears but otherwise it did me good to actually do the trip.

My husband died in June 22 after a very short illness, how different my life is now but I have wonderful friends and family to help me to move on. I’m currently in the Alsace region of France with my Sister and Brother in Law. I’ve not been here before so no memories and am having a lovely break. I don’t think I will ever go on a solo trip as like some others I like to be with people having a chat and a laugh. Life will never be the same but we all try in our own ways to carry on. Sending hugs to everyone.

You have done well August2018 I’ve been widowed for almost two years and still haven’t plucked up the courage to go away on my own. I have holidayed abroad with my family and also been on a couple of UK coach holidays with friends who are in the same situation which was good. Holidays aren’t the same without DH of course but life is short & we have to make the most of things. There were quite a few lone travellers on the coach and we all soon made friends. We all sat together at meal times which is good for anyone travelling alone. I’d hate to sit there eating on my own! Like Bikergran I’m keen to give solo travel a try, hope you manage to get away soon.

I'm on my second sort of solo holiday. Not on my own but with strangers on a coach trip. Its so easy in a group, some couples and many singles. You are not completely on your own but can go off a do your own thing as and when you want. I find it is a really good way to travel and socialise. Go on a short break to try it. At the moment I'm in Corsica and then on to Sardinia and they are a great group of friendly people.

My husband passed away last year.I am just back from a 2 night stay in an hotel, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and felt confident and drove myself.
Feeling quite proud of myself. I will definitely go away on my own again..

Mimi54 How lovely you live so close to Whitby. I have visited twice before but this time it seemed to steal my soul. Hence wanting to go back so soon. It is about a 3 hour drive for me (not including a little tea stop on the way)

Looking forward. Not sure where my next port of call may be

bikergran

pinkjj27 I can smell the Whitby fish and chips as I type lol.

My dd and myself went to the "Fisherman's Wife" Restaurant down the windy slope from the Whalebone's Arch.

Had a delicious fish pie.

Oh thank you I have written that down on my phone note pad. I will visit if it’s still there.

I like to go on Uk coach holidays. I've been on several now, there's always been other lone travellers and although I have come across some odd characters, most people have been very friendly. I recently went on a lovely trip up to Holy Island, Alnwick castle and Durham, only two nights and, as dinner and breakfast is included in the hotel as a group, there isn't that awkwardness of eating alone. I usually get a sandwich meal deal for lunch and find a good spot to enjoy it alone when out on the trips

Please pack your bag and go . I have travelled on my own for several years and found that for longer visits a company like Jules Verne was excellent.I have been on small ship cruises too .
I no longer do this, but not because I don't want to but because of the extortionate price of travel insurance.

Bikergran
I live a few miles from Whitby and love to visit regularly, especially for the fish and chips. Some of my ancestors were from there so I’ve always loved it. So quaint and historical and it’s wonderful sitting on the pier watching the sea. We tend to go off season though as it gets too busy. Another place we visit regularly is Northumberland, especially Seahouses and Bamburgh. I hope you get there as it is beautiful.
Some of my family also live in the IOW and we are visiting later this week. It’s a long drive but again it’s a beautiful place.

Yes I was also in that situation where you dh/partner was just too ill to travel anywhere, even just a little ride to the coast. Our nearest place was Lytham St Annes (about 55 mins away)

But when people are poorly they have their comfort zone and do not want to stray.

Hence you do not like leaving them whilst you are off on your jollies. But I did go places when and if I could but always needed or wanted to get back home to see to dh.

But now I have no rush to get back home (other than work)

pinkjj27 I can smell the Whitby fish and chips as I type lol.

My dd and myself went to the "Fisherman's Wife" Restaurant down the windy slope from the Whalebone's Arch.

Had a delicious fish pie.

OP Have a lovely trip to Scarborough!

I think one of the drawbacks of marriage is that we tend to stop doing certain things on our own, or stop them entirely, handing them over to our spouses.

Due to DH's poor health I am having to deal with a great many of the things we formerly did together, or that he did, and like you others, I am not particularly enjoying this, or always very confident about doing them.

It is hard to give yourself a mental shake, pull up your socks and get on with it, isn't it?

But if you do, I have found confidence gradually returns. So take it slowly to start with, and try to enjoy these things.

BUT I am not sure that any amount of Nanny-like admonitions will get me up a ladder to clean the gutters, any time soon.

Hetty58 I really don't think my "assumptions" are strange at all. I was merely starting a new topic that I thought others may like to chip in.

But then maybe I am! strange ehhh Each to their own.

I have posted this before but not in so much detail.
I, was brought up in the USA, my dad’s job took me all around the word expect The UK . When I first got married to an abusive man, holidays where out of the question as he withheld money and kept me and the kids in poverty. Then I was a single mum and there was not the money for holidays. I tried my best with my girls to do day trips or the odd night away in a very blue moon. I longed to see the UK.
When I met my 2nd husband, he would say let us go here, let’s go there but we never went. I used to say “when are we going there, he would say on my next birthday (mine is Christmas day so out of the question) He would say “we will eat fish and chips in Whitby” where he was born. It never happened. When he was dying, we went and stayed in a caravan in Weymouth which was organised by the cancer trust. I was just a carer by then and could not relax.
When he died my family and friends kept saying yes, they would come away but again that never happened either. In Jan of this year, I had a cancer scare, then I was rushed in for emergency eye surgery, I had a flood in my home knocked of my bike and lots of other things happened. I saw an advert for a coach holiday, no not to everyone’s taste, I know but a safe way to travel alone. I have booked to go to Yorkshire Including Whitby, on my husband birthday ( I am going to eat fish and chips ) . It was cheep and I paid for it in a couple of moths since then I have booked two more for next year and am paying of monthly including ten days to Scotland.
I am apprehensive and terrified of getting lost but it is time to live and not wait for others.

I have travelled on my own several times since DH died in 2018. Love it and like the freedom of deciding how I want each day to go rather than have to take a travelling companion into consideration.

I have been on a Danube cruise, and two ocean cruises, another one coming up in a couple of weeks, and one already booked in April next year. In March this year I went to South Africa, a group holiday, a mix of singles and couples. It was fantastic; we all got on despite only meeting up on arrival in Cape Town

I think you need to bite the bullet and go for it!

I’m past 80…..enjoy travelling on my own, my husband won’t venture more than 20 miles from home and I like to see different places, meet different people …..so I’m always planning single travel. Italy’s a big favourite of mine….the beauty of small towns and villages, the friendly people, the food….but these past few years I have been travelling with tour companies or on coach tours where someone else does the worrying about hotels, flights etc., and I just turn up and enjoy!

Just go for it ! It's not exactly a trek through the Amazon jungle ! What is there to fear ? Have your mobile phone with you and you're good to go. I've been all over the world on my own and still travelling at 75. Although not as mobile as I've been, I would not hesitate travelling in the UK.

My late DH was always the travel planner and got enormous pleasure from finding the right place, means of getting there and planning what to do when we got there. We couldn’t go anywhere for the last three years o his life and I have absolutely no urge to organise something now. I don’t want to intrude on my children’s limited holiday time despite their hints, and for now am fine staying at home. Of course if I could have DH in his prime back …….

P.S. this was in 1987. Things have changed in Spain since then. Not for the better.
I returned to my bungalow in 1989 and took coach holidays and visited friends and relatives at home and abroad alone until I was 82 when I had to give up because of walking difficulties.

I have always been single so can not identify with having lost a partner or anything but I do often travel alone (as well as with my family and friends). Please do it! It is so much better on your own, you can do exactly what you are interested in, eat whatever you want and don't have to share a room with anyone. It is very liberating!

I have travelled on my own for many years, but since covid and getting older I got a bit nervous about doing everything solo. So this year I've done a coach trip to Scotland with Lochs and Glens (no single supplement and you can book early or wait until last minute when they open up for singles again) and a trip to Italy with Great Rail Discoveries (the name is misleading, we flew and only had one train journey!) Both lovely holidays and there were a few single women on both. We met up in the evenings sometimes for drinks before dinner but also kept our independence during the day. I would recommend both companies if you are trying solo for the first time.

Go for it. At 60 I went to India for 3 weeks on a solo trip. Now 78 still travelling but not so far. Gave me the confidence to travel alone ! Go for it ! Still miss my hubby after 20 years

Hetty58 and others, I understand where OP is coming from!
My DH was unable to travel for the last couple of years of his life , apart from me driving him to family events . Being very independent I went to many things on my own, including a trip to Gotland just 6 months before he died- his sister coming to look after him while I was away.
There is an enormous difference between doing things alone when one’s other half is still in the background, as it were, and the new unwelcome status of widowhood. I can’t exactly explain it, but it is very much there.
For the first year or so after his death, if I went anywhere on my own, I felt guilty that a) I was able to be a free agent , and b) that I was enjoying myself.
I have had one great holiday alone since he died but then the pandemic shut us all down and now I scarcely feel the urge. I don’t count visits or travelling with family of course but while I fail to understand my current reluctance - it is indeed a”plunge” for many of us.