Holidays - If you're single and don't want to go alone, do you just never get to go on holiday?

[tattttoo]

Feeling a bit down tonight as everyone I know seems to be planning holidays and I have no plans. Didn't go away at all last year and really missed it but don't have anyone to go with.

When we were both single I used to go with my best friend but she's now married and has a baby, my sister is single but never has any money and all my other friends are married with children and understandably want to use their annual leave to go on holiday with them.

I've looked into the organised trips you can do but they seem much more expensive than putting it together yourself would be and can't really afford the ones I would want to do.

I know a lot of people enjoy solo holidays but i'm just not sure I would, I'm not very socially confident and don't find it easy to strike up conversation with strangers so imagine I could spend an entire week not talking to anyone. I am ok with my own company but spend enough time alone normally anyway I think this may drive me a bit mad.

Not really sure what i'm asking as realise I'm talking myself out of the options available but just feeling a bit grumpy and sorry for myself. Anyone else find themselves in the same situation?

Another option is to make friends with better off women who have supportive partners - they are often happy to have a holiday with a friend AS WELL as their family holiday(s) :-)

I would recommend something like a Neilson activity holiday. Theres a mix of couples and singles, there's a focus to the holiday and some group meals and drinks, but you can also be alone when you want to. You don't have to be really sporty, a lot of their stuff is for beginners.

I'll second Neilson - but don't do a snow one, snow stuff is awful solo (and rather unsafe). Get out to somewhere warm and learn to dive/kitesurf/windsurf.

Every single time I have planned a solo trip and told people about it, I have ended up having at least one friend come along. It’s like they can’t be bothered to do the work or have the imagination for their own planning but once I have done it all, they think my plans are awesome and ask to join me. To be clear - my plans are not spectacular and I don’t do anything differently than other people who actively plan a holiday.

I have sometimes purposely avoided talking about holidays just to ensure I can have the occasional solo trip.

Is there someone you know who lives a distance away whom you could visit (and reciprocate later on)?