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 ...

I did it once. It wasn't meant to be a holiday alone, but for certain reasons it ended up being one last minute. I thought I was going to have some kind of Eat Pray Love experience and was really positive about it, but I didn't enjoy it. Felt awkward in restaurants in the evening (lunch was ok), had no one to watch my stuff on the beach when I went swimming, no one to chat to while doing stuff. It wasn't for me.

I went on holiday alone with DD when she was 5 and that was great. That was resort based though and I met quite a few people and enjoyed relaxing time alone by the pool while she went to kids club.

@balune loads of great advice for you here, are you ever coming back or have you in fact now been so inspired that you have gone off on holiday?

Well, I’m not going to make friends ... I just want to be somewhere that’s not home for a bit.

I never went on any of my solo trips with the intention of making friends, on a couple of occasions I just happened to meet very like minded people. Other times there were people who I just got on with and was happy to spend a bit of time with them.

If you think going on holiday on your own would just be more of the same and you go with that mindset, then it will. But if you are a bit more open minded that you might just bump into someone to have a bit of a laugh with, then maybe you would have a great time.
A few years ago I went on an Exodus run trip to Egypt. There were about 15 in the group, including 6 women travelling solo. We were a mix of singles and women travelling without partners. We just clicked - we had an absolute blast, with 6 of us we could do different things if we wanted to in twos or threes, there was also an older married couple who were fabulous company. I've never met up with any of them since, but I have great memories of an amazing holiday, shared with a bunch of interesting people.
Why not try it, you might surprise yourself

Oh don’t worry I don’t think you’re in any danger of making any friends when you can’t even muster the courtesy to say thank you to all the people who have spent time adding to this thread to give you advice.

I love holidays.

Holidays with DP. Holidays with friends. Holidays with family. Holidays on my own. All of them!

Holidays on my own are usually for a hobby where I am with a group during the day and we eat together in the evenings, or a last minute type thing where I think "I'd love to go to [x] festival, or to [x] city this weekend" and just go.

Happy to eat alone and read or people watch. Happy to hang out in a bar on my own and people watch / check FB / message people / write a diary entry. Love sightseeing and being out and about - I take photos when I'm sightseeing and that gives me something to focus on when I am on my own. Often get chatting to people but not always.

I used to go on my own all the time ... loved it ... you will get a real sense of freedom! Just have faith and enjoy yourself 😊

Depends what sort of things you like doing, but I regularly did tours with exodus, explore etc in my late 20s and early 30s. Went alone but joined a group and did mostly hiking but you can do other things too. I had some fabulous trips and enjoyed meeting new people who were all generally very friendly.

Well, I’m not going to make friends ... I just want to be somewhere that’s not home for a bit.

Then just go then!

No need to make a drama lama production out of it.

Hi Op

I holidayed once on my own it was a spa resort in Spain but predominantly German guests so missed having people to chat to in evening. It was quite remote

After 5 nights I was ready to come home. Enjoyed it but should have chosen more carefully.

I did a weeks riding hol in Ireland years ago solo though

Was amazing

I would definitely go on a group holiday, OP. You'd be able to spend time alone but there would be people to chat to when you wanted to.

I think sometimes younger people think it's just as easy for older people as for them. My daughter went travelling around India on her own, but in fact she made friends on every trip and in every place she stayed. I know if I'd gone on that adventure it would've been very different. There are tons and tons of solo travellers in their twenties and early thirties, but far fewer in their 50s upwards.

I did this a lot in my late 20’s early 30’s and absolutely loved it. I met lots of lovely people I would never have met otherwise. Mind you I did meet some people to avoid as well which I did.
Go with an open mind chose your destination and timing carefully I.e. not Majorca etc during school holidays and take lots of stuff to do on your own such as access to music reading material just incase and you’ll have a blast.

op- i just saw this advertised on my facebook...thought of you... flashpack.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=%5Bnew%5D%201.%20Cold%20-%20Conversion&utm_content=New%20Video%20-%20Radha%20%26%20Lee%20%2810160218014705623%29

I got divorced from exh and moved overseas alone for work. Was terrifying. I then went on my first holiday alone and was as nervous as you seem to be.
I really actually enjoyed myself.
I made sure I had some structure so booked some lessons/courses. Reasurched travel and costs a lot and made a plan. I took some books etc with me too. It was so great met some nice people but spent most of it just me and was lovely.
I would defo do it again.
If your not sure it's for you could you trying booking with a tour group? Some are aimed at single travelers and do backpacking to luxary trips . My firends been on some and she had a great time doing so

I would never do it, but I’d do an organised trip with people of my own age.

I did it when single. As does an unmarried cousin. As does a divorced cousin.

DH is so not a holiday person and I love sunshine and beaches - I don't want to inflict getting hot and crotchety on him, so I go on lovely yoga holidays. Have been completely on my own and ended up making some great friends as a result. I also did a wonderfully fitness holiday in Marrakech with hiking in the atlas mountains which was glorious!

I love them, I love history and visiting Roman archaeological sites and museums, so I go to Italy a lot which is my favourite destination. Every day I do a different trip, grab an audio guide and spend the entire day at my own leisure, whereas if I was with someone they would probably start moaning after half an hour and rush me. I'm going to Sicily for 2 weeks at the end of this summer, on my own. I can't wait

I often go away on my own the best bit is not having to compromise and being able to be totally selfish
Worst bit is not having someone to share it with and chat to
I don’t go on activity or group holidays but love sightseeing uk or abroad and can cope with a week by a pool with lots of good books
I tend to eat out more during the day and love people watching - at night will wander round - stop for a drink use their WiFi and might even be on MN

In my late twenties I was the odd man out - no partner, no kids, minimal friends......so I started travelling alone. It has its challenges but it's also very freeing. I know I felt a renewed sense of self confidence and accomplishment after. I'm at a particular moment in life where I'm literally never alone and I love it - but I do have moments where I miss the rise and fall of my own thoughts. I feel like I'll be able to weather future loneliness/solitude better having learned to enjoy my own company.

Go for it - you only live once.

I'm single. Holidays are fucking awesome. I can do what I want, when I want. I can choose the holiday that I want, and plan it around what only I want to do. I can have a lie in, and breakfast in bed, and read loads of books watching the sea go by. Or I can decide to visit and explore where I find interesting. Or decide it's too hot and pick a nice café to people watch. I've had lots of solo holidays. I've seen great places, and met amazing people. I've even ended up making new friends, leading to a few non-solo holidays.

Go for it.

Go on a coach tour to somewhere you've always wanted to go. There's usually someone at least you can chum up with.

Every day is alone for me.

Are you actually at home alone all day every day?

Like others have said- it depends. Do you enjoy your own company? Do you feel self conscious wandering around/eating by yourself. I have always been a solo holiday person- and to be ho est some have been great, and some average. Skiing alone was shite, Amsterdam was average, Australia was good. You need to motivate yourself to do things- no one there to encourage you to get out. That can be better as you can also see whatever you want to- not co strained by others. I’d suggest good planning in advance. Whinging it alone can be a bit of a letdown. Never liked tour groups, but that’s juts me. I feel more alone in a group of strangers, than I ever have alone. Planning is key, for me.

Pretty much, ragged, yes. I do try to go out and do different things but it is still different things alone.