Be honest, how do you feel when somebody tells you they’re going on holiday on their own?

[Zippityjumpingbean]

So, I suppose this is vaguely inspired by the thread about the lady volunteering at a festival in her van, also inspired by the fact that I have just booked my first Solo holiday in 14 years (since before DC were born) I’m ridiculously excited about it and I love holidaying alone but the first person I told about about it I got the sympathetic head tilt and “I’m sure you’ll still have fun though”

So , be honest, if you hear about somebody holidaying alone how does it make you feel?
Do you honestly feel a bit sad/sorry for them even if you don’t voice it?

Before I got married I did it all the time, I didn't think what I chose to do stayed in other people's head as much as it obviously stayed in my own, it would be a bit narcissistic to think people care if I holiday on my own or not

Jealous !

I’ve got a single-forever girlfriend who goes on holiday alone (she would love to meet someone) and I feel sad and sorry for her.

And yet, paradoxically, I - who have been married for all eternity - would love to go on holiday on my own for solitude and pure selfish indulgence.

I think it makes a difference whether it’s out of necessity or choice that someone is holidaying alone.

Jealous. Have a brilliant time.

I have only ever been on holiday on my own, since 2003. Have just returned from 3 weeks' long haul.
I wouldn't feel sad or sorry if anyone else told me they were holidaying alone.
However, I do sometimes feel that it would be nice to go on holiday with someone. That feeling last about 5 minutes, because I then remember all the compromises etc. that would need to be made.
If you do not like the idea of a "traditional" style holiday on your own, why not look at Ayurveda or volunteering or a themed holiday such as photography or cooking, where there will be other like-minded people and some structure, but with free time to do your own thing?

Why start a thread title with ‘be honest’? Why wouldn’t people be on an anonymous forum??? Or if they are the type to make stuff up, they won’t make them post differently.

I suppose because there’s often the “right” answer that people know they’re supposed to give and then there’s the way people really feel which is often not the way we know we “should” feel.

I Suppose it is a bit pointless because people will ultimately be as honest or as dishonest as they’re inclined to be anyway.

it was just the title that occurred to me at the time, as my ds would say “it’s not that deep!”

My first thought on reading the title was ‘you lucky bastard’.

Thanks @Spartakalthough DH and baby DS have rather put the kibosh on my solo travels for the time being! One day….

I feel that it's time I went to the travel agent's and found out how expensive it would be to go to Rome next autumn.

A woman once told me that if there's somewhere you really want to go, get on with it, because you can wait a very long time for family or friends to be ready to want to come along with you. She was a widow who'd been on quite an adventurous holiday on her own.

I'd be jealous.
But this reminds me of a time many many years ago when I told a colleague I was going on holiday to Japan that year, and her response was a very mystified "Why???" Like it was the worse thing she could imagine. Some people a, have no imagination and b, are just rude.
I'm sure you'll have an amazing holiday Op

How bizarre! I’d love to go to Japan, was it amazing?

You may have plenty of friends, but if they all tend to holiday with their family/partner then it can still leave you without a travelling companion. It needs to be quite a particular friendship to take the intensity of spending, say, a week together.

We had a fantastic time, I'd love to go back someday :)

Going solo isn't because you have no friends though. I have a few people who I could go with, but as much as I love them, their idea of what a Holiday is and what mine is are poles apart.

My sil wants a hotel with a pool and a bar all inclusive, she would never leave the hotel.
My friend wants to spend hours shopping.
My sis wants to plan itineraries and pre book everything, whereas I like to go with the flow.

I love history, architecture and food. I want to visit historic sights, pootle around old churches and museums, hike out somewhere and sit in a lovely cafe, eat foods new to me and read in peace.

If we went together, none of us would feel like we got the holiday we wanted.

Jealous!

DH got a holiday alone last year. He was travelling long-haul for work so (with my aporoval) extended the stay and did some touristing somewhere he'd always wanted to go to. I'd have loved to have gone but it was term time and not suitable to take the DCs out of school, and he'd have been daft to go straight home.

He says it's the best holiday he's had in years, because of the freedom to do what he wanted when he wanted, and I get that completely. Our family holidays are very compromised. Enjoyable, but compromised.

I haven't holidayed solo but have done travel connections including long-haul alone, and I have explored places alone.
If a sensible opportunity to go on holiday on my own came up, I'd take it up. I have taken the DCs away without him and used to meet with other people when I had chances that worked for me but not him. We always have been flexible about what works for each other's needs and constraints.

Going on holiday solo sounds like a great chance to enjoy doing your own thing without compromise.

Jealous!

What a crock of shit 😂I have friends and am social but sometimes the things I want to do, no one else does or they already have done. I won't let that stop me travelling or seeing the sights I want to see just because I have no one in my friendship circle who wants to do the same as me.

Envious

I am planning to later in the year and can't wait

In awe I wish I was brave enough 🤜

Honestly though I do think travelling with small children is much braver than travelling alone!

I’ve travelled and worked alone overseas since I was in my 20s. Though I love holidays with my partner and children, it is nice not to have to compromise sometimes. I gan go to as many museums as I like, and no-one will tell me they are bored, or ask when we are having dinner.

Agree, I think it sounds way harder, travelling alone is easy, you can do what you want when you want,

@Spartak I second that. It’s a fabulous place to visit.