Solo Travel groups for women...pros and cons?

I have no experience of such groups personally but my first thought was to suggest that you look at one of the groups typical holidays and then research that destination/hotel and work out the cost for booking independently. You might find that the group are significantly increasing the cost to members, something that wouldn’t sit right with me.

I’ve done a couple of walking holidays with Explore. Currently hiking in the Algarve. Although they are mixed groups there are always women travelling alone.
I don’t think that the cost is excessive for what is on offer. It’s great to have a walk leader who knows the area so you can enjoy the scenery. There are free days for exploring yourself.
The organisation is good and any problems quickly sorted.

A few years ago I thought about this but found it was too expensive. Now I just ask a good friend to come with me...

I have lived abroad and travelled quite widely too with family and alone. The major problem, now I am a widow. Is the exorbitant single supplement the companies want to charge for inferior rooms to. Drives me mad. I am perfectly happy to go anywhere and do my own thing. Have been travelling long before such things as trip advisor, and always did my own research.

As a lecturer and teacher am used to planning for all eventualities. So when a neighbour said she would like to visit Barcelona I came up with the proposal that we could go together. Share a twin room, therefore the cheaper price and better. But once there we do our own thing and behave as if we had gone alone, only having coffee together if it happened to suit.Pay your own bills etc.
We agreed and it worked very well. We shared one coffee and one meal over the total time, and have done this kind of trip in Britain with others. You have to be very clear in your planning meeting, about all sorts of things, from what time you get up and how you like to start your day etc. Whatever is important for you. So I couldn't take a trip with asmoker, but if someone starts their day with 4 cream cakes, that is up to them. I tried to get the NT, to have a contact list, where you could share the cost of travelling to properties, but they wouldn't play ball. So I would suggest that you start by looking at groups that you already belong to as away of experimenting. So if you are in a gardening club. Maybe you could suggest a trip to Cornwall to see 2 or 3 special places that don't have good access by public transport. When I do this, I propose that I will drive and we start with full tank. And then furled costs are shared by all. Food on the way whatever suits, a kitty. Or buy your own. And no stupid. Let me buy these etc. Then there are always too many places to choose from, so usually quote one or two definite places we all can visit together, the rest negotiated. For evenings, you either work independently or may agree to minimum phone call to confirm everyone's OK, or just be responsible for yourself.

Always worth trying out a couple of nights, to check how wellyou get on.
Then you can graduate to morespecial trips abroad. Also , in the case of cruises, where there are few single cabins. Ask them if they have a same sex dormitory, or shared cabins for women etc. You can also look at university holiday spaces. Good for places like Cambridge. But I just decide to go somewhere and then see what there is on offer. I am 80 now and still travel. Go with a good heart and a willingness to learn and you will have a great time.

I’m assuming you don’t mean “women only” groups but groups for women travelling alone instead.

I’ve been on several in the past, though not for two or three years.

In regard to expense, all single travel is more expensive than going as a couple. There is always a single supplement. It’s upfront in the companies that do single travel and usually a small print extra in others - but you’ll still pay 😬

Myself I found that though the price seemed higher, that was because you got more for your money.

A decent room room - usually a double- rather than the cupboard with the view of the bins that is often the single room.

A representative who not only accompanies the trip from start to finish but also makes sure that nobody is left out or bothered by unwanted attention. They’re very skilled at managing the social side.

More included meals. As well as breakfast usually there is an included lunch or dinner, in the hotel or at good local eateries. That’s so that people aren’t left trying to find somewhere to eat on their own.

More included activities. Again because people may be hesitant to book something on their own in an unknown place. Going off on your own with a cab driver isn’t for everyone.

If you’re new to travelling on your own I highly recommend

Just You

HF holidays

Explore - not a solo firm, but lots of singles in any group

There are groups called things like Ladies Who Travel on Facebook. The idea is that you get yourself to wherever the destination is (they have a range of options, in the UK and abroad) but know that when you arrive there will be other women travelling alone. Some of them have trips arranged if you want to sign up, but they aren't compulsory, and you can do your own thing if you prefer, or mix and match. Some are adventurous, with zipwires and kayaking, and others are things like visits to gardens and so on.

Much depends on who is there when you go. I know people who've had a great time as the group has gelled and they made long-lasting friends, and others who didn't enjoy it as much, as there were awkward characters who spoilt it for others.

They are more expensive than if you booked it all yourself, as the organiser has to make a profit and there are the overheads of running a business, but you have the security of knowing that the venue is women-only and that others there are likely to be looking for people to have lunch with etc.

If it’s a women-only walking holiday you are after I can highly recommend Walking Women which attracts intelligent, adventurous single women. Excellent walking and good conversations in the evening.

HF are good too but they have an odd solos policy (or did have last time I tried to book with them). Two or more unmarried people travelling together were counted as solos. In other words, you could book a dedicated solos holiday assuming everyone would be there alone and find yourself in group where a lot of the people were already in pairs and groups. That isn’t necessarily a deal breaker but it can affect the price. I only discovered this when trying to book on a dedicated solos holday with them assuming everyone would be travelling solo. All went went well until the final stage of booking when they wanted to add a hefty single supplement to the brochure price. But surely all solos are single, I said. Nope. Apparently, two people living together as a couple and sharing a room count as solos.

The non-solos holidays I been on with HF have been excellent. Exmoor, Selworthy, walking the Coleridge Way was outstanding.

Just You have a disciminatory booking policy because they strive to get an equal number of men and women on their holidays. If 50% of the spaces have already been booked by women when you call you may be told the holiday is already full when it isn’t. They only release remaining spaces close to the departure date when they have had to admit that the hoped for men haven’t come forward. I only discovered that when I went along to one of their marketing events at a local hotel. The audience was 95% women. We were tipped the wink that was how things were and that women would just have to persevere if they were intent on a particulary holiday, to keep calling until those places held back formen were released. This made me so cross, the assumption that women can’t enjoy a holiday unless men are present and have to wait in line until men have decided where they want to go.

Wow PaynesGrey, I’ve never had that experience with Just You!
On all the holidays I’ve been on the proportion of men to work men is about the same as the audience you mentioned.

Because we are longer living so there are more of us or because we are better at organising ourselves?

Or because single men don’t stay single for long?😳🤣🤣

men to women

I am so fed up with autocorrect

Some of us do not have any friends ...

You don’t need friends to go on a solo holiday Suzie, you make them when you get there. They’re usually just temporary ones for the duration so you can all be pleasant for a short time and enjoy doing stuff together 😬

Have lost count of the amount of Singles holidays I’ve been on, and I think it’s just a fabulous opportunity if you don’t want to travel alone. None of my friends have my wanderlust ! I love going up to the airport and wondering who I’m going to meet, all of a certain age, with so many shared interests. Have met such lovely people and still in touch with lots of them. I’ve been with Just You, One Traveller, plus Saga Singles. Riviera do Singles holidays now, so I’ll be giving them a go next year. I’ve never had cause to complain either so just do it and have fun !

Suzieque66

Some of us do not have any friends ...

You do- you just haven't met them yet.

I’ve been on 6 Explore holidays they have always been 3/4 women with only 2 or 3 single men the rest couples. If you don’t want to share you pay extra unless they are offering no supplement, I’ve only shared once, I’ve been the odd number, if there are 3 singles one gets his own room.
Twice I shared with my sister, that worked very well, she didn’t want to travel on her own.

I wouldn't share a room and so am happy to bite the bullet and pay the extra for my own room. I like to have my own space at the end of the day. I find that most most people are pleasant but beware the 'needy' type who, because I am naturally a friendly person, decides that I am going to be her bosom companion throughout the holiday and proceeds to try and cling like a leech. It's very hard to get rid of someone like that without being rude. I have got better at sussing them out over the years and give them a wide berth from the get go. I find holidaying alone quite relaxing as you don't have to consider anyone else, but I am just as happy to go with a friend and enjoy their company. But never ever share a room! It's only natural to be nervous the first time you go solo, but I am sure if you just take the plunge, you will have a great time.

Some great advice here ladies, thank you all.

The single supplement is a sting but then the idea of sharing a room doesn't appeal either.

I am in Australia and northern Europe, Ireland and Japan are on my bucket list.

As far as the meals are concerned I hadn't thought it through, so yes having a predestined restaurant/cafe will definitely be more relaxing than having to figure it out on arrival.

Its early days for me but I really appreciate all your input.

I've been on a few walking holidays with www.secrethillswalking.co.uk/
They are for solo's (not singles) ie people who may be in a relationship but whose other half doesn't walk. Like me. Not just women, but really nice people and you always get a single room. Lots of different holidays in the UK and abroad. Very good value.

Try walking holidays if they appear. Companies like HF. Always lots of lone travellers but not solos so less surcharge.