To think going on holiday alone will be shit?

[balune]

Be honest here. And don’t answer as if you’re a frazzled woman with a job and parents and kids and husband and are lucky if you get to have a wee alone.

Every day is alone for me. So if I go on holiday alone, won’t it just be more of the same? Can’t decide ...

It will be awesome. If you go somewhere you can do things you love.

What kind of holiday?

I think if I was going alone I would go on some kind of activity or tour holiday. That way you are likely to have people to chat to and or things to hold your attention. I think a traditional beach holiday or even a city break alone might be a bit difficult.

I prefer going away on my own. It means I can be completely selfish and do everything my way. I'm an early riser so would be out and about at 7am, it's great not having to wait around for other people. I've been to Japan, New Zealand, and then shorter weekend breaks around Europe. Go for it

I think it depends on your attitude. Go thinking it will be shit and guess what!
However if you research the area you are going to, make plans and view it as an adventure and one that you don't have to make compromises with anyone else you may just. Find it fun, liberating and a little exciting that you have left your comfort level.
Just prepare well and have an open mind. Think about your personal safety and the things you like doing and it will be great!

My best ever holidays were solo ones....but organised group activities. On one i met my husband which ruined my future holiday trips, but 25 years later that is my only complaint!

Choose something that you are interested in, a lovely destination and go for it. You don't need to meet a life partner, but you will realise that the world is full of lovely, interesting people, who know how to enjoy themselves without relying on anyone else.

And don’t answer as if you’re a frazzled woman with a job and parents and kids and husband and are lucky if you get to have a wee alone

Well I’m a woman but a single parent whose kid goes to her dads a decent amount of time so I have plenty of alone time.

A holiday can be just what you make it. I’m really excited to go away this year when DD is away with her dad.

I’ve done it. It was awesome. Wasn’t beholden to anyone else’s schedule, could go wherever and whenever I wanted. Went on a few day trips and made friends that I could do other things with if I wanted to.

But if you had a partner and family and went on holiday with them then wouldn't that also be more of the same?

Surely the difference is that you will be somewhere new, seeing new things and, probably, having someone else run around after you getting you meals and so on.

If it bothers you have you considered looking in to singles holidays. I don't mean some sort of matchmaking thing but some activity where you will be with a group of people who you share an interest with.

E.g. my sister is widowed and is interested in gardening. She has been on a few holidays as a volunteer with the NT where they do a few hours a day on some specific task in a NT property and then all share accommodation and outings to other NT properties.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tours/trips-for-single-travellers-solo-travel/

Sorry don't know how to make a clicky link but this had some good ideas.

There are loads of holiday companies that cater to singles, from activity holidays to just lazing around on a beach somewhere. Maybe google some of those and see if anything takes your fancy?

I think it depends what you like to do and what sort of holiday you go on. Would a group holiday of some kind appeal? Something like an Explore package, where you go to a number of different places and keep busy with a group? Or a yoga/painting/cycling/history/whatever interests you trip? Or just a city break to somewhere that you know has lots of things that will keep you busy? I lived in a European city for six months and I was never lonely - masses to do and in the evenings I would go to one of the many English/Irish bars and always get chatting to other expats or travellers.

Nope, I frigging love holidays on my own. I was single for many years and lived alone. I realised I was missing out on lots of things including holidays, meals out, theatre, cinema etc because I associated them with being done with people.

I took to taking myself off at the drop of a hat to London to go to the zoo and see a show. Had a long weekend in Paris and saw all the sights. 10 days reading books and drinking cocktails at an AI hotel in Egypt. A week in the Gambia sitting in the sun and snoozing (I was too skint to go on any excursions on this break, but I suffer with SAD and needed winter sun!). A weekend in Budapest in the hot spring baths.

It's joyous. I get to be utterly selfish and please noone but myself, eating what I what, where I want, seeing only things that interest me. It is fab.

I work away a lot in my job and regularly eat out by myself. Whenever I'm in London I see a show (Wicked last week, undecided on next week!) and generally enjoy what I like and don't have to worry about dragging my husband to places he wouldn't enjoy. In turn, he goes to events I'm not interested in and we have other things we do together. So far so good!

Where so you want to go?

How about going with a group? I’ve a friend in a similar situation and she goes with a group and always meets nice people.

As long as you are outgoing you will meet people, I actually miss traveling alone (I'm not a frazzled mum with kids and love traveling with DH but it's different)

Nope! Do it! After a break up, I went away alone. Not gunna lie I was very nervous, but I just thought why not?! Most of my friends are married or have kids or long term partners and couldn’t come with me. Why miss out because your single. I guarantee people will talk to you more because your on your own, I made loads of friends, I still see some of them now. You will feel so much better once you have done it!

I’m a widow with an empty nest and not many close friends. I went on holiday on my own in March, all inclusive, island.
I had a nice time and enjoyed sightseeing. I felt a bit weird on my own in the restaurant at first but I made a couple of new friends over the course of the holiday.
You should at least try it! Go somewhere with lots of places to visit.

Cruises are good for single people.

cansu
I think if I was going alone I would go on some kind of activity or tour holiday. That way you are likely to have people to chat to and or things to hold your attention. I think a traditional beach holiday or even a city break alone might be a bit difficult

I am disagreeing with you here!cities are wonderful if you are alone and bothered about standing out! You just blend into the crowd. Nobody cares. Cities have so much going on. As a lone traveller I really recommend Berlin, Oslo, Brussels, Gothenberg, Munich and Budapest.
Tour operators are a pain in that you are often 'encouraged' to join in their forced fun and activities.
OP why not start with a few days somewhere and build up.

Every day is alone for me. So if I go on holiday alone, won’t it just be more of the same

Well, as a PP said up the thread, those of us with partners and children generally go on holiday with them, so in a sense that is also 'more of the same' -- the key is going somewhere new and doing things you like doing, and there you are at an advantage, in not having to compromise with the needs and preferences of others.

I don't mind holidaying alone, but I've also been on holidays relating to particular interests of mine, with talks and days out and free time to explore on your own. If you pick one with accommodation and meals all on site, and a bar, it's very easy to get talking to people, especially if you're all there because of a shared interest. And some are held in lovely settings - universities or country houses. I've made lasting friendships on that type of holiday.

I really enjoy going on holiday alone, although the ones I've done have tended to be things like driving around Ireland or Scotland rather than anything more exotic or adventurous. I love just poking around looking at stuff and not having to compromise with anyone. Why not pick somewhere that interests you as a place, do a bit of research about it and try a holiday for a few days to see how it feels?

Yes, the pity parties of well meaning people are frustrating! I don't want to do aqua aerobics to dodgy Russian pop music or play boules. I want to lie in the sun, read my Kindle and occasionally top up my vodka.

For city breaks, the anonymity is great and you will always find someone to talk to if you want. You'd be surprised how many other solo women are out there doing what you are, and you'll often end up chatting away to them in a bar!

I met a Swedish lass at the Royal Opera House in London - we had both bought the cheap £10 standing tickets for a very long opera (big mistake after hiking miles round the city by day!). I chatted to the usher, and when some seats were still empty at the beginning of the 2nd act of 5, we were allowed to sit in them. £200 seats!! Anyway, we loved the show, had a pint together afterwards and went on our merry ways never to see each other again. It was great.

I'm going on holiday on my own this Summer for the first time. I know what you mean about 'me time' being basically what your whole life is.

I'm part looking forward to it and part wondering if it'll be shit. I'm not going anywhere exotic, but I'm hoping to be adventurous and have a great experience (and not just mope around feeling sorry for myself). If you don't try though, you'll never know.

It depends how good you are at making friends, as well as how much you enjoy your own company.

But it seems a shame to miss out on new experiences just because you're on your own! Go.

Well yeah, I see your point about partners and kids, but I suppose the difference is that there’s no one there to talk to or bounce things off. I’ve noticed this in museums or galleries or other places of interest. Go with a friend and can while away hours and hours, go by myself and the whole things done within an hour or so