Solo trip- where would you go?

[LilMissRe]

Hi everyone!
I am hoping to take myself on holiday somewhere next year. I'll be on my own, and it'll be a part of 'don't wait for love, just do it and be your best friend' mantra I have been trying to live by. I've taken myself out on dates, went on numerous day trips but I think it's time to move up a level. I've not been abroad for a few years and am itching to go ( if everything is ok next year)

I'm hoping to travel for a week, next July.

I'd love some peace and quiet, some sun and to feel safe.

Has anyone here done a solo trip that they would recommend/not recommend? Or, where would you go?

I'd appreciate your experiences in this

I've done a lot of city breaks by myself and would thoroughly recommend somewhere like Rome or maybe a combination of Italian cities like Florence and Verona. Other cities I've enjoyed would be Nantes in France, Lisbon and Barcelona, but all of them might be a bit hot in July. If you're looking for something more rural, I'd suggest a small group holiday - although they tend to be a bit pricier you can get better deals if you go with a company which effectively links you up with tour organisers in the country you're visiting. I've used Responsible Travel, and had a lovely small group walking holiday in the islands near Dubrovnik a couple of years ago. It was great not to have to worry about how to get from A to B, and there was a nice balance of free time/group time.

I nearly forgot Malta there: I stayed in Slimea (is that what it’s called?) in a swanky but v affordable hotel and it was LUSH.

[quote LilMissRe]@SoPanny have you been to Santorini? I haven't, if you have, have you got any thoughts on it?[/quote]
I didn’t like it. It’s certainly a beautiful island but somewhat Disneyfied, and has basically turned itself into an American tourist’s idea of what Greece is like. The food was the worst we’d eaten anywhere in Greece. And, yes, it’s full of honeymooning Americans who whoop and screech at the beautiful sunset as if they were on Spring Break, and who hire helicopters to fly around the crater and ruin the experience for everyone else. It might be perfectly lovely at certain times of the year, but when we went in July, it was a let down.

I regularly stay in a lovely friendly family run hotel in Chania, Crete.

Question to other solo travelers: do you like to meet others or keep to yourself? How do you meet others? Do you prefer tours or being independant? I haven't travelled for a few years and used to keep v much to myself but did get lonely at times so am wondering whether to shake things up

I travel solo a lot and tend to mix things up. I don’t do organised tours, and will book everything independently, but will try to get some human interaction in. For example, on city breaks I‘ll do some solo sightseeing but also book half or full day food or photography tours. I particularly recommend food tours as you get to eat much better, and try many more things, than you usually do as a solo traveller. If I go to, say, India, I’ll mix up hotels with homestays, which are always very sociable.

@ilovesooty that's the singles hotel isn't it? Is it nice? Decent beaches? How old is the crowd?

@ilovesooty
Yes I'd like to know too- could you give us a name so I can have a look?

@GCAcademic That is such a shame! A friend of mine went to Positano a few years ago with her family and she said similar- full of American tourists who also screeched in excitement over the smallest of things. I guess peak season will do that to any beautiful town.

@GCAcademic that's good advice thanks, I think I might do that going forward. The idea of doing the whole thing as a group tour makes a shudder a bit but I think a day or half day tour sounds good. Do you get other solo people in those sorts of things?

Ps I'm also a gcacademic

@LilMissRe Italy is beautiful, Lake Garda has some amazing places to explore, but so has Tuscany and Umbria. Sienna is an amazing city, lots of good shopping and restaurants, you could also visit Florence. The Italians are very welcoming and you will be well looked after if you want to dine out alone, they will take very good care to sit you somewhere you feel safe. The towns are also very safe for wandering around and exploring on your own. Flights are quite cheap with EasyJet. You could book a hotel with a swimming pool and have some relaxing days and some days out to explore.
I’ve done solo trips and loved it, it’s quite exhilarating being on your own and having the freedom to do whatever the hell you want!

Or Sardinia/Sicily would be great if you want to be by a beach, possibly more expensive, but you’re worth it!

[quote Redyellowpink]@GCAcademic that's good advice thanks, I think I might do that going forward. The idea of doing the whole thing as a group tour makes a shudder a bit but I think a day or half day tour sounds good. Do you get other solo people in those sorts of things?

Ps I'm also a gcacademic [/quote]

You do get solo people fairly often, though a lot of couples too. But, because it’s a group thing people are pretty sociable and tend not to act couply. You always end up chatting to people.

Definitely the Italian or Slovenian alps or if you like the UK somewhere out of season in Cornwall.

[quote Vodkacranberryplease]@ilovesooty that's the singles hotel isn't it? Is it nice? Decent beaches? How old is the crowd?[/quote]
No it's not the singles hotel , though I believe it is popular. Mine is a different one. The owner has become a real friend now. The hotel is fairly basic though it has a pool but the restaurant is wonderful and people come from miles around. Happy to tell you which one via PM if you get in touch.

I went to Paphos, Cyprus last year on my own. Felt totally safe, hotel was lovely.

Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

www.earthtrekkers.com/10-day-central-europe-itinerary-budapest-vienna-prague/

Beautiful, rich in culture and history and safe.

You can go anywhere you like solo. It's the best way to travel IMHO! I have never had any trouble at all in over three decades of solo travel all over the world

Seville side trips to Granada and Córdoba
Florence / Pisa/Lucca
Paris - but I would recommend the rive gauche to stay which is expensive
Greek Islands but avoid Kos and Rhodes
Northern Majorca
Portugal
Malta/ Gozo
Madeira

Rough guides are the best to give a flavour of a place. Brexit will cause issues and expensive health insurance in Europe, and COVID may not be history either so be careful when booking.

Some of the quieter resorts on the Algarve might suit you.

Fuerteventura.

Cape Verde.

Weather not guaranteed but Scotland or its islands.

Or for a city break, Vienna or New York (latter might not be doable for a while though).

Forgot to say, I would advise against Tenerife as I was harrassed, sexually assaulted and nearly raped when I went there alone

Like GC I always travel independently as I loathe being shepherded around. Could just about cope with a half day if there was no other way of doing or seeing what I wanted to do.

Also be prepared for the expense if going through a tour operator as the single room supplement very much adds to the cost.

Lemon
So sad to read that.

@Grinchlywords

Lemon So sad to read that.

@Grinchlywords thank you, it was some workers at the hotel who had been watching me since I arrived and finally broke into my room one night via the patio door

@LilMissRe sorry to hijack your thread. Most places are very safe for lone women, especially Vienna, I also felt very safe in NY

Friendship travel - Olu Deniz.

was a week of bliss. No I don't work for them ;-)

I was planning a solo trip for May/June this year, postponed for now...

I was going to go to Vilnius. I have only been there for work before, but the architecture is beautiful, the food and cafe culture is fabulous, there are cultural things to do in this small city and port and there are also lots of nature and foraging type things that you can do from there. It's also pretty inexpensive.

Oh and there appear to be yoga retreats there too

@Lemonmaid I am so sorry to hear you went through that!

These are really amazing ideas and I cannot wait to go.

Thank you all :)