Holiday alone

[itsthesoundofthepolice]

I'm considering a weeks holiday in the sun but I'd be going by myself.

Would you do this?

What would be better. All inclusive resort with lots of pools, bars/restaurants on site.
Self catering? Adults only or family resort?
How do you put suncream on awkward places?!
I'm pretty quiet and reserved so wouldn't be up for joining in entertainment etc.

I look daily but manage to talk myself out of it!

I’m going to Tenerife for 5 days next month on my own. I booked an air bnb right by the beach. I chose this over a hotel because I didn’t want to be sitting around families/couples. I’m going to go to the supermarket and cook light meals or get take aways. I can’t wait! Not sure on the sun cream answer. I guess I’ll just have a little burnt patch on the top of my back as that’s the only place I can’t reach

@Fabpinky I'm not sure if I'd feel lonely in self catering.

I like people watching too much (nosy) do you think you'll eat out at all?
I'm wondering about the once a day cream and if putting it on first thing with no clothes on would make it easier to contort myself to get all covered. I used to manage fake tan but I was skinny and agile then

I did this when I was in my 20s - I wanted a bit of sun time and my then boyfriend didn't so, I went by myself.

I booked through a travel agent for a 5 day break, as I assumed they would know where would be suitable for a single female traveller. I think I went self catering, I do remember eating pasta on the balcony of the room I was in, which was on a site with a pool and sunbeds but walking distance from the beach and a couple of shops including a small supermarket. It was a family friendly resort so there were children around, but I went to read books and relax rather than be out partying so didn't want somewhere where there would be drinking and entertainment into the early hours.

Applying suncream was a bit of a nightmare, I had to look over my shoulder into a mirror to do my back and used the back of my fingers to reach the middle. The transfer to and from the airport was the only time I felt a bit self conscious.

I don't know if it is still possible to book a 5 night holiday, but it was a good length - enough to feel like I'd been away, but if I'd hated it, not too long before I was home.

I'd say go for it - there's no other way to know whether it's for you or not!

I’m also considering this, but would go to a resort I’ve been to before so I feel comfortable. I have no idea how I will put sun cream on my back? Maybe a spray?

I'd love this.

Get a spray sun cream, one of the aerosol ones that works upside down.

Personally I'd go to a hotel, I'm also very nosy but I'd want an AI with a l carte available every night or a regular hotel with a nice restaurant. I wouldn't like the buffet set up on my own.

Sounds bliss.

aerosol spray suntan lotion

Holidays alone are awesome (I think). Some of my most favourite memories are times when I took a break on my own. It's just so liberating! I would choose self catering because that gives you ultimate flexibility - and I never mind eating out alone and just watching the world.

Your sun cream worry has an easy solution...

www.completecareshop.co.uk/kitchen-aids/sponges-and-washing-aids/long-handled-lotion-applicator-2-spare-sponges?sku=Q20809&gclid=Cj0KCQjw06OTBhC_ARIsAAU1yOXdRJQ5ZMDfhdKH_VNHsj26jjWE0Z6gjBfR1Pp7f4TGFspfSvqNquYaAt5ZEALw_wcB

I might eat out once, I’ll see how I feel when I’m there. I do like people watching too but I can do that on the balcony from the apartment/on the beach.
ive just seen other advice about the spray creams so I think I’ll do that actually!

I’ve done it and loved it. I prefer hotels because I’m lazy and I don’t want to shop and cook on holiday. I do B+B and eat out the rest of the time. A nice dinner with a couple of glasses of wine and my kindle is absolute bliss. I don’t have the sunscreen issue because I don’t expose much of myself.

Personally I would pick somewhere with little restaurants and bars to visit eg an "old town" type area rather than a resort full of couples and families. I recommend somewhere like Taormina in Sicily, lots of little shops and alleys with restaurants tucked away, I loved Rhodes town too which is reasonably priced, Spain too has good options away from the nightlife strips.

Yes fine this a fair bit! A
Continuous spray sun lotion is your friend 😁 I've done apartments and AI and actually preferred AI as I always found someone to chat to if I wanted

I've been away twice on my own, once to Cyprus and once to Lanzarote.

Both times I stayed AI in hotels as I don't want to cook, wash up etc on holiday and staying AI only cost £100 more than room only.

Also as a solo female I didn't want to be wandering around an unfamiliar town at night trying to find somewhere to eat.

I loved it, and would do it again any time. I read a lot, used the gym, swam, slept, sunbathed, went for walks and runs and caught the bus into town to potter around. I'm quite happy with my own company so was as social or antisocial as I wanted to be.

Glad to see there's lots of you that have done this, thank you for confirming it's big a crazy idea.

Good point about looking for 4/5 days rather than a week especially for the first time. Think the airport will stress me out but I'm always there super early anyway.
Excellent idea about spray suncream, I actually forgot that existed, I'll get some to trial here!

Travelling alone in France I've found that often a waiter, on learning that I'm eating alone, will ask if I prefer a quiet table in a corner inside, or one on the periphery to watch 'le monde'.

Cheap and cheerful solution to apply any cream to your back: Wilko 'nook and cranny' brush, tape some gauze, a bit of crepe bandage, a piece of cloth, etc over the bristles with some duct tape and - hey presto - the Acme cream applier. Change the material as necessary.

Just a warning - spray sunscreen is rubbish. It doesn't give good coverage.

Here's an article from my country - I don't have time to find a UK one, sorry.

www.cancer.org.au/media-releases/2020/cancer-council-warns-against-use-of-aerosol-sunscreens

I'm having a rotten time ag the moment and I'm thinking of doing this. I just want sun and swimming! I don't even know where to start looking! I love the idea of AI but am a bit nervous after reading some posts on here!

Been solo several times. Small hotels best. Smaller restaurant and reception and bar, easier to get chatting. People are generally friendly and will spray sunscreen on your back for you. I am at the age where I couldn't care less about White bits 😁. You will see and meet so many other solos.

It’s nice hearing about everyone’s experiences, it must feel quite freeing knowing that you’re brave enough to go on holiday alone.

I went camping years ago with the DP, DC and DP’s friends - it was chaotic and not really in a good way. There was a middle aged woman who turned up on her own on a motorbike one evening, pitched her tent, set up her little camping stove and cooked her tea, then sat eating and reading a book. I will do this one day!

Done it loads. Small but lovely hotels* in small resorts. No one’s ever batted an eyelid at me.

Lots of relaxing by the pool, walk to town beach, lunch and sundowners in town, earlyish supper out or later at hotel, few cocktails or wine, lots of sleep, books and a decent box set.

*I don’t scrimp on price if alone.

You can buy a application type thing from amazon for applying cream in hard to reach places - it's a bit like a back scrubber but has little roller balls to apply cream. This works for suncream too!

After being widowed last year this is something I have on my list of things to do this year!

OP, I’m now in my mid 60’s and have been holiday inn om my own now for 12 years. It’s great and I highly recommend it. Just choose a place you want to go and build your holiday - never go on package tours as I really do like pleasing myself and a lot of the fun of the trip is in the actual planning of it.

Im never happier when out and about in nature and my most memorable trip nature wise was 2 weeks whale watching in Alaska.

I’m also fascinated by the Romans and if there’s a ruin or museum to go to I’m your way. Later this year I’m going back to Italy for 3 weeks going from north to south, east to west by train, just going back in time.

Ive no qualms about eating out alone or sitting at the hotel bar having a drink and I’m happy to talk to people but I’m equally happy on my own.

I’ve done it loads but I’d recommend an Airbnb or boutique hotel in a nice town/city so there’s stuff in walking distance to see and do. Depending on location there might be organised day trips you can book onto as well. I prefer to eat out every day to try different foods, personally I’d be bored silly in an AI resort in the middle of nowhere but if that’s your vibe just do it!

I've always fancied doing this. I feel like I'd properly relax. I often go with just my teens when dp is working. I'd go to a really nice ai which isn't family or couple focused. Somewhere where I could wander into a town.

Or a self catering apartment near a little Greek town where I could eat at tavernas every night.

I went to an all inclusive resort in Egypt on my own for a week. It was a nice leisurely week of sitting around the pool with a book, music etc and on the beach. I took part in all the daytime entertainment activities and I made friends with the animation team and joined them for nightclub visit with some other younger guests which was fun. Everyone was friendly. I asked random people to help with cream on back they were happy to oblige. About half way through I made friends with two middle aged sisters from the midlands who were happy to help with cream on my back and I sat with most evenings for the entertainment. They had also made friends with a recent German divorcee gentleman who would also join us but would get trashed and vanish off early in the night. I did a day trip on a boat to try scuba diving and made friends with an older Russian couple who I joined for dinner that night in one of the hotels a la carte restaurants.

Go for it.