What's it like to go on holiday alone?

[balconyfor1]

I have had a bit of a crap year. I'm turning 30 and I'm not doing very well with it- I've never had a boyfriend and I feel so much like I've failed. I am really lonely and longing to be settled down. I caught Covid in school (I'm a teacher) and I'm still struggling health wise.

I really want to go on holiday and lie in the sun, but I don't have anyone to go with. All of the friends I would have asked aren't available, especially during the school holidays. My mum did offer, but she's very anxious about travelling and teetotal.

Am I only going to sit on the plane/beach/balcony looking sadly at all the couples and families?

I'm an introvert so thought a holiday alone would be amazing. I actually found it to be very lonely. The first 48 hours was lovely but after that, I just missed people. I was staying alone in a self catering apartment. Despite going on two half day group tours, I didn't really speak to anyone or make any friends. The second week I was on an organised group tour and that was wonderful. The same people all week, all completely different 'types' of people, different nationalities - brilliant! So if you are worried about being lonely, I'd recommend booking onto a group tour.

Booking things for the evening sounds really interesting! Thank you. I hope I meet someone soon. It's really gruelling.

's brilliant.

I entirely recommend the solo holiday part.

I've done city breaks entirely by myself and group special interest holidays where most though not all the participants were single.

Alone in a city I do make accommodations. I tend to get up seriously early, so any tourist things v like taking photographs before anywhere gets busy. It's lovely to see famous spots relatively empty of people and especially creeps.

Main meal at lunchtime which tends to be cheaper than evening and it's most more usually to see people alone in the daytime.

Reasonable early back to my hotel room, ideally after a drink in the bar and early to bed for my early start.

I do like to have plenty of things to do lined up even if never do them. Having days stretching out with nothing to do is less pleasing for me than having something better turn up.

And chat to everyone. It's brilliant and I have no companion to feel embarrassed or neglected.

If you don't feel comfortable in your own company you may feel happier on a group holiday, maybe something like https://www.skyros.com

Thank you for being so honest.

Ooooh, at nighttime you get the bottle of fizz out of the fridge and go on your balcony, with some snacks and listen to the cicadas for a while.
I am quite sociable, I think nothing of walking into a restaurant and get a table. I like chatting to people.
I read a lot, so I relished a nice shower after a hot day, crisp bed that someone had made for me and reading in bed. Bliss.

Find in yourself what you’re looking for in others.

Please don't dismiss how lonely I am right now. I KNOW I'm missing out on a lot and I can't be everything to myself.

I've never been in holiday by myself but did go in a group tour years ago with my partner. Most of the group were single. We had the opportunity to go with the group each day or to do our own thing. Some of the single people did go alone or paired up for a day if they were not with the group. Great mix of people from different walks of life.

It was actually the best holiday I have been on.

Go for it 😁

I've done it loads, I love it. Right after I separated from my ex-husband I spent a week in Majorca on my own (planned holiday together, but like hell I was I sacrificing it just because he was a dickhead).

I packed my kindle, downloaded some great books, put a nice dress on each evening and shamelessly selected restaurants based on which had the most handsome waiters (I'm not even sorry).

It was wonderful. Go for it OP.

Whereabouts, if you don't mind? Majorca has such regular flights and I think I'd maybe try 4/5 days first rather than a week.

In my twenties I lived in Japan. I booked a solo trip to Guam which id been looking forward to - to read, have a beer when I wanted, nap, do what I wanted! Then I let a bloke id been seeing to hijack it and it was rubbish so I broke up with him on the plane back and went back the next year by myself. Best. Time. Ever.

Group tours are what you want! They aren’t all hiking all over the place! And they can be very reasonable if you can book late.

I stayed in Port de Soller. Lovely long harbour side promenade lined with restaurants and shops that are open late, and people strolling along at all times of the day so never felt remotely unsafe.

I took 2 boat trips (one high speed RIB with snorkelling, one sunset sail) where I met people on the trip. After the sunset sail we all went for a drink, and I ended up out with them the next night. You can take the old wooden tram into Soller town for a wander and reach other mountain villages by bus. Easy enough to go into the city of Palma for a day by bus or on the vintage train from Soller.

I stayed at the Hotel Eden on the promenade that time but have been back since and stayed at their (cheaper) sister hotel the Eden Nord.

Can recommend Restaurant Randemar for dishy waiters if that's your thing

Thank you, that sounds really lovely.

Have you seen the contiki tours company - young group travel, lots of stops and plenty to do with loads of choices of destinations.

Did it as a couple in New Zealand but there were loads of singles and friends and even a brother and sister and it was fantastic, made loads of friends and really enjoyed it !

Go somewhere with a proper back packer / hostel culture and just go and join in. I’ve experienced it in Istanbul and Barcelona but I’m sure it’s there all over Europe

I’m going away on my own next month to Tenerife for 5 days and I can’t wait! I’ve booked an air bnb because I did want to avoid being in a hotel around couples and families. I’m going to just relax and read my book and go on my iPad and relax I’m so excited

I went to the Maldives for 10 days in my own and absolutely loved it. Loads of people will take the time to talk to you, so much so that sometimes I wanted to be on my own take lots of books (people tend not to talk to you if they think you are reading), you can be really selfish and do what ever you want.

Just to add OP; while there might be moments of wistfully looking at people who aren't alone (I can't honestly say I've never felt that) the boost in self-confidence and pride in myself I've felt every time I've successfully navigated a trip alone is more than worth it.

The biggest trip I've done was 3 weeks in Costa Rica (part group tour; part solo) and I was absolutely on cloud 9 when I got back, after what had been a really difficult couple of years. I was absolutely ready to take on the world.

I really think you need to do a group tour, the last thing you need is to go and feel lonely. I did a holiday with young children and cried one evening of loneliness. Not one person spoke to me all week.

A year later I went on a single parent holiday group thing and it was the best holiday I've ever had.

I did a lot of group trips as a solo traveller pre kids and they're great.

I’ve always fancied going on a yoga retreat. I’ve looked at ones in Europe, so nice and hot. Lots of ladies who either travel in pairs or go solo. You have to pay extra for a single room.

yoga in the morning, then activities (trips/walking) in the afternoon, but I thought I’d dib out and lie by the pool.

communal earring in the evening.

I think I might be a bit like you @balconyfor1 I went for a city break. I went to museums - had those planned so knew the main pattern for the days. I did find eating out lonely. I had expected it for evening but also felt it at lunch.

I chose a hotel with English language tv and watched tv in the evenings. Thus was years ago though - if I could have Wi-Fi then I’d not feel as alone.

im thinking about booking with a solo travel group to see what it’s like.

I have booked a 4 night trip to Majorca in June .I absolutely cannot wait sight see in the morning and then to just flop by a pool ,good book,snack and cocktails from the bar and literally chill…first escape since 2018 !! Evening I will go somewhere local for tapas and wine and be in bed by 10 ish …a few days of me tine in the sun is what I really need!

Oh I just read your updates about being lonely. I went to Thailand with a group called intro travel for 2 weeks that was great! They’ve got lots of trips and I think they’re reasonably priced for what they are. You’ll make tons of friends there!

@balconyfor1 - Do what I did! I went on a "share a yacht" holiday around the Greek Islands on a Flotilla. The Flotilla consists of 10/12 different yachts and a Lead Crew who look after you all. The other yachts were friends or family. Everyone i have been on, they have all been very, very friendly and inclusive. They made sure I was part of the gang for the evenings etc.

The Company I used was called Sailing Holidays. This is their current availability: www.sailingholidays.com/yacht-charter/yacht-offers/share-a-yacht-flotilla-availability

By the way, absolutely NO need for any sailing experience. Just the thought of relaxing and exercising at the same time in the sun, with G&T's and cocktails in the evenings. Honestly, I have never looked back.