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Solo quiet holiday advice please

(29 Posts)
EvieB Fri 16-Aug-24 18:57:39

Hello, I'm looking for suggestions for a quiet week to a fortnight away in January or February. This is a solo holiday.

I'd like to go abroad, not out of Europe, inexpensive and aiming at half board. Its for rest and reading.

Any suggestions or advice very gratefully received.

flappergirl Fri 16-Aug-24 20:40:06

The Canary Islands should be reasonably warm during the day then. I'm not sure you'll have the place to yourself but it should be fairly quiet and not overly expensive. Madeira is another idea, I believe it's a very relaxing island but not especially cheap. Malta should be warmish and isn't a particularly expensive destination. Otherwise one of the Spanish resorts like Torremolinos, Benidorm or Benalmadena really should be inexpensive at that time of year and offer more sunshine than the UK.

Floradora9 Fri 16-Aug-24 21:19:13

January is the worst month for rain in the Canaries even the locals tell you that . However if you are willing to take the chance Lanzarote is the place to go if you want to avoid high rise hotels and noisy night life.

Nannarose Fri 16-Aug-24 21:24:13

I would look in Andalucia. The Alpujarras, or over to the west, in the sherry triangle

petra Fri 16-Aug-24 21:41:31

Nerja, in Andalusia. Beautiful, not too touristy. Fly into Malaga.
Photos. www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/nerja.html

David49 Sat 17-Aug-24 09:06:36

The Canaries are warm and cheap out of season, as a single you are most likely going to be in an apartment block, don’t economize too much, choose one with good facilities.

RosiesMaw2 Sat 17-Aug-24 09:25:19

Apart from the fact that you want to go abroad, my idea of a perfect week or two of rest and reading would by Lyme Regis, overlooking the Cobb with the best fish and chips in the world on my doorstep. (And if it rained and blew a hooley so much the better! )

Fleurpepper Sat 17-Aug-24 09:31:40

Hard to even begin to reply as we don't know what you enjoy, walks, culture, cities, mountains, sea. What sort of weather and temps.

BevSec Sat 17-Aug-24 09:35:57

I love Lyme Regis too.

Caleo Sat 17-Aug-24 10:11:57

Northumberland, some quiet village that has so far resisted mass tourism.

Caleo Sat 17-Aug-24 10:14:13

PS Sorry, I had not understood you want to go " abroad",

It is hard to advise you as there must be many places overseas that have the same benefits of no mass tourism, and quietness.

J52 Sat 17-Aug-24 10:44:55

Altea and Albir are small adjoining Spanish, coasta Blanca, towns with no high rise, but a few lovely hotels. They might suit your needs.

V3ra Sat 17-Aug-24 12:38:56

Floradora9

January is the worst month for rain in the Canaries even the locals tell you that . However if you are willing to take the chance Lanzarote is the place to go if you want to avoid high rise hotels and noisy night life.

We were in Playa Blanca in Lanzarote in July.
The manager of our resort told us the island hadn't had any rain for four years!

I agree it's less over-developed than the other main islands, thanks to the architect César Manrique whose influence prevented the high-rise hotels seen elsewhere in the Canaries.

NoraBone Sat 17-Aug-24 12:48:41

A friend has a villa in Moraira, on the Costa Blanca, Spain. I was there in February a few years ago and while the evenings were chilly the days were beautiful. It was quiet, few tourists but lots of restaurants were open.

Dee1012 Sat 17-Aug-24 14:34:04

Malta? I'd suggest Mdina or Gozo... very quiet and ideal for relaxing.

EvieB Sat 17-Aug-24 20:57:28

I enjoy many things, but in this instance some local places to walk to a cafe, meander about. Not a complicated journey to get there and half board if possible. Warm but certainly not hot.
I am appreciating the thoughts so far. Thank you.

Fleurpepper Sat 17-Aug-24 21:25:56

Sicily, Ortigia, a small peninsula island south of Syracuse, in SE 'Baroque' part.

Indigo8 Sat 17-Aug-24 21:31:50

On a negative note, I don't recommend any holiday which involves coach trips when you are solo. In my experience somebody or a couple or even a family always "take pity on you" and won't just let you do your own thing.

Fleurpepper Sat 17-Aug-24 22:04:53

Malaga? Seville?

Indigo, just be polite but firm, surely.

biglouis Sat 17-Aug-24 22:31:24

Venice is magical in winter! Very few tourists (so long as you miss Carnevale) and Italy is not cold by our standards although the canals can be a bit chilly. The locals are a lot more friendly and glad of the business.

You have all the culture and history you could want without the pesky crowds. My favorite European city and I have only ever visted in winter and early spring. Its not cheap though although you might be able to bag an off peak deal via Expedia. I recommend Hotel Rialto - right next to the bridge. And you can hire a water taxi at the airport which will take you directly to the jetty outside. Spectacular journey across the lagoon. Great destination for a solo traveller.

Kate1949 Sat 17-Aug-24 22:36:45

I love Venice too. It's wonderful. I never in a million years thought I would go there but I've been four times. Lucky me. We go in summer. Yes it's crowded but I don't care!

Catterygirl Sun 18-Aug-24 00:11:07

Spent Christmas in Verona so must have reached Venice the next day. Was in 1965. All I remember from Venice is the super sized beds.

Grammaretto Sun 18-Aug-24 01:13:29

I recommend landmark trust for ultimate peace and quiet.
Can't promise warm weather but a cosy home in a beautiful place, I can.

It wouldn't be half-board though.
For that why not Southern France or Northern Spain but not the main cities. I once spent a week in Cordoba in early Spring. There weren't many tourists that early so it was peaceful.

Grammaretto Sun 18-Aug-24 01:15:15

www.landmarktrust.org.uk

David49 Sun 18-Aug-24 08:10:40

We visited Venice a couple of times, lastly in May, it was a heatwave, sweltering hot, crowded, nowhere to sit down, my idea of hell. In addition no air conditioning in the hotel we stayed in, so the nights were awful.

Visit in winter is a good plan

Tourism is back on a large scale especially in Europe with Asian tour groups filling the hot spots, UK hotspots are busy mostly UK visitors, overseas visitors havn’t returned to pre Covid levels.