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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a solo holiday

44 replies

sameoldtat · 16/01/2018 21:42

I want to ask where you would go if you had the chance to take a solo holiday. I have decided that to give me the incentive to take care of myself better instead of everyone else I will book a solo trip. If I sit here much longer I will be the size of a house. Its just me and dh, children have grown up and I need something to look forward too. As luck would have it dh shows no interest in going abroad. I will have to save up but I think we all need something to look forward too. I am looking forward to travelling alone without having to please anyone else. The only thing is......I don't know where to go. But once I decide on a destination I will book and pay a deposit then I will have to go on my middle-aged adventure. Of course, I will need new clothes and a hairdo. I cant wait.............any ideas out there.

OP posts:
cardibach · 16/01/2018 21:48

I’d go for a city break I think - lots of things to do and lots of places to eat/drink without being conspicuous alone (if you even care about that). Try one in the UK first to see if you like it - cheaper and reversible if being alone turns out to be not your thing. I went to Stratford -on -Avon alone last summer and had a great time (Shakespeare geek). Abroad, I’d say maybe Florence (I’ve been, it’s lovely and quite compact) or Amsterdam (haven’t been but fancy it).

Original poster
sameoldtat · 16/01/2018 21:50

Sorry. I have just realised that I have said 'I' quite a lot in my post. And have just done it again three times.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 16/01/2018 21:54

I would go to Malta and/or Gozo.

Lots of historical stuff, nice walks, relatively affordable, Gozo is very quiet, but interesting things to see, easy to get around on public transport (the drivers are a bit mad but they do drive on the same side of the road as the uk most of the time) just about everyone speaks English, a great choice for someone on their own who might not be an adventurous traveller, which it sounds like could be you?

Original poster
sameoldtat · 16/01/2018 21:54

Florence sounds lovely, as my body is better-suited to museums than lying on a beach a city break sounds good.

OP posts:
greenlizard · 16/01/2018 21:54

www.thebodyholiday.com/ lots of solo travellers go here! Communal dining, very friendly, loads of activities, so a treatments etc. Best holiday ever!

PenguinCuddler300 · 16/01/2018 21:55

I would personally do the Greek islands! I love Crete and I would love to see more of Greece. I wouldn't like to go too far afield by myself (I don't have the balls to do so)

Reallytired17 · 16/01/2018 21:55

I did once but it was not great tbh

HundredMilesAnHour · 16/01/2018 21:56

What about Malta? It's not too far, the weather is usually lovely, it's extremely safe and everyone speaks English. Lots of historic sights, beautiful coastal scenery, beaches, good local wine etc. You can even do a day trip (or overnight) to Sicily.

Userplusnumbers · 16/01/2018 21:56

I'd second Greek Islands - santorini is a personal fave

BarbaraofSevillle · 16/01/2018 21:57

Don't apologise for making yourself the focus for once. Do it more, get used to it and enjoy it Smile.

I would also like to see more of places like Bath, Edinburgh and Northern Ireland. You could also look at the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, or Madeira.

Depends on how much you want to spend, how confident you are, whether you want heat, or don't mind cold/wet weather.

Bluelady · 16/01/2018 21:58

Florence is stunning. Art, architecture, great food and wine, ice cream, shops - bliss. Malta is also lovely but very different. I'd go with you to either in a heartbeat.

sonjadog · 16/01/2018 21:59

I go away on my own all the time. It’s important to go somewhere with stuff to do, if you feel you might get lonely. I find evenings can be a bit too solitary, so I take masses of books and am careful to book a hotel in an area where it is safe for a woman to walk alone at night. It’s not fun if you end up stuck in your hotel as soon as the sun goes down...

PenguinCuddler300 · 16/01/2018 21:59

Northern Ireland is brill - I'm born and bred Belfast and still live here - if you fancy a mini trip to see how you get on travelling by yourself there is loads to do here!

TantieTowie · 16/01/2018 22:03

I did a course with Skyros (www.skyros.com) on my own. It was something DH and the kids weren’t interested in. Made friends, relaxed, never felt lonely at all but had much-appreciated time doing something I wanted to. I think most of the people doing it was on their own, though a fair few had partners at home.

TooManyButtons · 16/01/2018 22:03

I took myself off to Florida last November. Hired a car, did the Disney parks, had a great time. Not everyone's cup of tea but I loved it!

FinallyHere · 16/01/2018 22:04

Have you thought about something like this www.thebodyretreat.co.uk ?

They got me started on the road to better health a couple of years ago, when I was close to giving up on ever improving my health and fitness. Lovely, lovely food, programme, people. They do weekends, so you can give it a try up to full weeks, which can run back to back for a fortnight.

You will not regret giving them a go. Enjoy!

rhnireland · 16/01/2018 22:04

I did a trip to Florence on my own and it was lovely it's a great city to wonder in and loads to see with fab food

underneaththeash · 16/01/2018 22:07

I'v been to le sport in St Lucia by myself and it's a very easy holiday (not cheap though). Good, healthy food, sun, exercise classes. Nice atmosphere too.

KittiKat · 16/01/2018 22:07

I go on solo holidays as a middle aged Shirley Valentine!!! Mine are sailing holidays. I do a "share a yacht" with 3 others as part of a flotillia of 12 yachts. All very supervised, well organised etc. The social life in the evenings is fantastic!!! You would love it! You do NOT need to have sailed before either.

KittiKat · 16/01/2018 22:08

I meant to say, this all happens in the Greek Islands so lovely and warm!

BarbaraofSevillle · 16/01/2018 22:08

Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Malaga, Granada, Seville, although the last two might be a bit trickier depending on what flights you have available to you and how confident you are feeling about transport etc.

PanannyPanoo · 16/01/2018 22:08

look at explore and exodus. I went gorilla trekking in Uganda. It was wonderful. They do loads of different trips.

itsjess · 16/01/2018 22:27

Rome is an excellent place to travel solo- so much to see and do- I find the bustle of a city much more enjoyable alone than quieter, less touristy places. However, I would second pp with santorini - a beautiful place to stay :)

NancyDonahue · 16/01/2018 22:37

How about a cruise? There would be lots of planned activities and trips that you could join in if you fancied it or you could just mooch on your own Smile. I've often thought about doing one on my own as dh doesn't really fancy it. Only thing with solo hols is getting hit with room supplements.

Xmaspuddingdisaster · 16/01/2018 22:41

(Gentle) walking holiday somewhere warm and beautiful