Have you ever been on holiday alone? Where did you go and what did you do and did you like it?

[NaughtyBoyGeorgeMichaelJacksonBrown]

I have a lot of friends but they are either coupled up or (as much as I love them) not people I want to be stuck with for more than a few hours (I'm a people pleaser so go along with what others want then get resentful!). I'm happily single and can't say I ever really had compatible holidays with any exes. I have DC but they are secondary age, stay with their dad happily and are not interested in doing much with me (we do the usual meals and walks and film nights etc. but I don't want to spend £££ for days of whining about missing wifi/ Playstation/ friends/ home).

I'm happy being alone, don't get lonely and am reasonably confident but not sure where or what I would do alone for a week or two- do I just spend it at home doing days out and lies in or can you recommend something?

I went to Barcelona.

Stayed in a hotel on Las Ramblas (big main road). As it was city centre it was busy with lots of people from about 5am to about midnight.

Daytime I went to the cathedral, looked at Roman ruins, had some lovely lunches. Did a boat trip, went to the beach.

Evenings - flamenco show, meals out.

It felt very safe because so many people were around.

There are places geared to solo travellers as well as couples eg The Body Holiday in St Lucia is adults only and has a lot of activities so it doesn't matter if you are on your own, and has a solos table for dinner hosted by one of the activities team (everyone meets in the bar beforehand)

I spent a week alone in Bilbao and San Sebastian a few years ago, lovely! Felt super safe including at night. Barcelona is also excellent for solo travel.

I used to go on yoga holidays but ones that weren't too austere. I returned to Yoga Plus in Crete loads because there were other activities as well as yoga - like Ancient History, Pilates, Tai Chi, Salsa etc. Bliss. And I'd come back really fit because as well as doing Ashtanga yoga every day, I swam, walked loads, did tons of other stuff and just lived a lovely life.

I have also been to India twice alone: once to Goa, stayed in a basic but lovely beachfront hotel and did various trips to different cities. The other time was to Kerala where I stayed in Fort Kochi which was very chilled and I had one of the best meals of my life - a crab masala.

One of my friends has a holiday on her own every year. I need to get back into the habit. I bet it would be really good for me.

I have been to Majorca and spent an amazing week in an apartment overlooking the sea . A week in Turkey and met friends for the second week. Am planning on going to Majorca again for a few days this year and then family holiday to Vancouver.

@TheDogIsInCharge

I'd like to go to India but a lot of people have warned me that it really isn't safe for solo women.

How was Goa? Was it safe?

I love it. I’ve been to NYC, Lisbon, Louvain, various parts of France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, walked part of the Pennines Way and the Cotswold Way. I quite often rent a cottage by the sea for a week by myself and just read, drink wine and walk. I also do a silent retreat at a Buddhist centre periodically. I also go away with DS and DH and friends, but I really enjoy the completely self-directed solo trips.

yes I found it safe but the hotel I stayed at was very friendly and small. Right on a beach too. I swam with dolphins on my final day - couldn't believe it. I saw them playing in the water and swam out and the next thing they were swimming around me. It was properly magical. The owners of the hotel organised a taxi for trips and I never felt worried when out and about. It was this place
https://www.joets.in/about-joets-bar-restaurant-goa.html

I did have once incident in Kerala though. I'd been staying at a fab place in Fort Kochi that had simple rooms but the grounds were covered in antiques and it had a nice lively cafe attached. It was friendly and I met loads of really nice people. I then went on a trip through the waterways inland and stayed the night in a very weird, very retro place with bungalows. Someone kept turning the light on and off outside my room and banging the door. It didn't feel friendly. I just made sure the door and windows were locked and left as soon as I could the next morning. I didn't feel the people on reception would have cared and it was def someone who worked there who was doing it.

That was the only problem though.

I ran off to ibiza to try and get over an ex. Was still on the Amber list during covid so I spent more time in quarantine than I did there, more on covid tests than on my hotel, it was cloudy and most places were closed. Oh and I ended up in an article in The Times that entirely twisted my words/experience 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️🤣🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Did a solo trip to Japan though last year and loved it! Did join a group for some of it though. Done plenty of short trips by myself too.

Yes many times, London, Chester, Lesvos, Montenegro, Malta, Mexico, cruise around the canaries, Bulgaria, Lake District walking holiday, Scottish riding holiday and travelled around North America a bit.

Basically choose a place you fancy visiting and go, solo holidays are the best because you get to do EXACTLY what suits you and be totally selfish for a week or so...which is a rarity when you have kids.

I don't think I've ever been perceived as a weirdo but people do try to adopt me a fair bit which does get slightly annoying...even though they mean well.

I travelled a bit around Europe alone. Loved the days on my own but I wasn't quite so comfortable with the evenings.

Went on a horse riding holiday years ago and adored it!!! Was in Ireland (I’m Irish) and we trekked from the place we were staying to the next. God if I could do it again!!!

Yes several- twice to Turkey, once to India and twice to Morocco. Bliss to get some downtime; chilling, seeing anything I want, sunbathing, eating and drinking. Love my solo trips!

I travelled solo in my 20s but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to do it now. Would you consider an organised trip - TrailFinders or similar?
I used to really enjoy BTCV/Earthwatch conservation holidays but that kind of thing doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Another solo Mallorca visitor here!
Was sort of an accident that I was there alone, but I cycled, explored, snorkelled; sometimes ate out and other times ate in, spent time drinking cava on the balcony and admiring the view.
It's a safe and beautiful place.

I have a long-term partner - sometimes we holiday together, but sometimes we go alone.
My favourite is to have a few days in London, where I pack in as many galleries, museums and thatre shows as I possibly can. I absolutely love it and, being alone, can plan my time exactly assi want.
I also went to Cape Town alone, and did all the usual sightseeing.
I've been to Switzerland a couple of times to watch sporting events.
Once I retire, I'll probably do more.
I think European city breaks would probably be top of the list but, frankly, anything that someone would find interesting or relaxing would make a good solo holiday.

I do holiday on my tod quite a lot. I have some lovely friends that I also holiday with. When I say I holiday on my tod I don't mean travelling completely on my own (I know my limitations!). I travel in a group as a single person. The only thing I don't like is if it is not a singles holiday, you feel a bit awkward in a group setting and I have had a feeling wives are not happy I am near their husbands! Honestly I could care less about their old men!!!

Loads. Usually city breaks but I have done yoga and horseriding group trips. I feel most comfortable in places where English is spoken natively or because it's touristy, or France as I can speak and understand a bit of French. So New York, Boston, Budapest, Marseille, Lille, Lisbon, most English cities, Edinburgh... I'm going to Bordeaux in the spring, have been to Berlin with DH but would like to do it on my own and would love to do the US again.

I'm a single mum, so have to take DD with me but plan all of our trips myself. We've been to 14 countries and travelled to nearly every county in the UK but not been to Ireland yet. I think both of us would say Japan or Turkey were the best trips (great food, overnight trains, bullet trains, hot air balloons and boats!).

I tend to see something online and build a trip around it, or if she has something topical at school I'll try to fit it in. We did a 2 week drive around France last summer to help her confidence in speaking French as well as mixing in some History. I also look on sites such as Klook and Trip Advisor and pay attention to the reviews. Places I'd not feel confident (largely because I've not been often) to go alone alone (without any group) would be India, Africa and America. I think I know my limits and would do a solo holiday group with these.

I've been to Oxford, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Lincoln alone and had a fabulous time.
I visited art galleries, castles, cathedrals, museums and did boat trips. Really recommend it!

Id love to do this as Im having treatment on and off. I would love some sun before May. Its the expense of the hotels that is putting me off. BA have great packages but as soon as ypu put in one person it doubles in price.

Thailand. I do yoga, join tours to cycle in the countryside, visit rescue elephants, eat great food, visit temples and massages. It's very relaxing.

I think if you use Google flights you can see cheap flights to anywhere on each day - so if you want a real adventure you can go somewhere that fits your budget and do a hostel stay?

Alone can mean a lot of different things and I think the secret to a successful holiday is understanding which you want. Many companies run group trips that have lots of single travellers - for example Explore, so although you don't know anyone you aren't travelling on your own or responsible for much, then there is holidays where you will make contacts with and chat with other people like package holidays where there is a rep and organised trips but you will probably eat alone unless you make friends. And then my personal favourite where you organise everything yourself and the only person you speak to all week is the barman.

You can still go on Earthwatch trips https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/browse I went on one many years ago, and would highly recommend.

OP if I was going on a solo holiday, depending on your budget, I would go somewhere like https://www.daioscovecrete.com/ and do a few excursions, but mostly completely relax with a pile of books I've been meaning to read, and take advantage of ordering room service most nights.