Would you holiday alone right now?

[GrapevineFires]

At the end of last year, I split with my ex. He's great with DS so I have no concerns leaving them alone for a weekend/ week.

I had very dreams of going to a foreign country by myself, taking in the sites, chatting to locals and and just enjoying my own company - then Covid happened. I still want it though. I was thinking about booking something for early next year - but is there any point at the moment? Will everything be closed and restricted in European countries? Or even further afield (hey, if I need to go to Antigua I'll do so).

Would you travel alone?

I'm very cautious so no....but I know plenty of women who would. It's not COVID I'd worry about but being a woman abroad alone.

I personally wouldn’t travel abroad unless absolutely essential at the moment, alone or otherwise. But many will disagree.

Yes I would :)

I’d start in the UK to build my confidence- my sense of direction is abysmal, but I’d like to think that I’d soon start venturing further afield.

I wouldn’t book anything yet though unless you can get a full refund right up to the day of check in. Booking.com can be good for this

@FortunesFave

I'm very cautious so no....but I know plenty of women who would. It's not COVID I'd worry about but being a woman abroad alone.

This is something that does concern me, but I don't want to let this fear hold me back from having a future/ or spend my life being reliant on a man.

I had plans to go to the Athens (the home of western philosophy, Greek mythology and amazing Greek food) - but I'm worried I'll go somewhere and everything will be shut to tourists.

Id with a good insurance and as long as you’re willing to self isolate on your way back. Also I’d choose a country with a good health system and with less strict covid measurements. So for example I’d go to Mexico but not Thailand

If you are planning a holiday, make sure if you have to cancel it will be at no or minimal cost.

I'd book something last minute when the time comes - as who knows where we'll be by next year.
But if you're asking about travelling alone per se - of course I would. Despite @fortunesfave's timidity, 'a woman abroad alone' will manage just fine! We are not Victorian maidens and we don't need a chaperone.

Katy everyone's different. OP asked...so I told the truth. I also said that I know plenty of women who would. No need to be snarky.

I nearly always Holliday alone. I've been going to the same Greek island for 20 odd years.

Greece has a far better record on covid than the UK. And having travelled there recentley, I can see why. Getting into Greece was much more difficult than getting back into the UK.

An English friend who lives in the the island once told me never to think the local islanders don't know what's going on. This year, I had to ask to be moved to somewhere nearer the quay side because my asthma was playing up. The cleaner at my new place indicated to me (my Greek being limited and her English non existant) that she knew my chest was bad.

Go for it, but pick your places. On "my" place, I always feel.safe

Given the current situation I'd plan something on the UK with a kind of plan to get a last minute deal abroad if things change.

I love travelling alone.

I have traveled alone during covid. I have no fear of travelling alone from a safety point of view and feel confident enough to strike up conversations with anyone. From a tourism point of view, I recommend you check the restrictions on entry to your chosen country and any restrictions coming back to your home country. Then pre-booking entry into main tourist sites is probably needed so check that too. Take plenty of face masks. Aside from all that, enjoy yourself

Go for it OP!!! Ive been going abroad on my own for years and absolutely love it. I recently booked with jet2 for Zakynthos in September but it was cancelled due to covid. They were great and gave me a full refund so I then booked for Gran Canaria in early January, fingers crossed I will be allowed to go with no quarantine afterwards as rules have changed now so will get tested at hotel and if positive they have accommodation prepared in advance. Hope this helps !

Yes as I've been holidaying alone for years, but no at the moment I wouldn't be planning on travelling anywhere.

I've been travelling solo for years. I love it.
You can do what you want, when you want, if you want, for as long as you want.....

You have to get out of your comfort zone and be open to chat to people (not only when they talk to you). I've met some great people that way.

If you're on FB OP, take a look, there's loads of solo women travel pages on there. It will give you inspiration.

Thank you for this! It's really reassuring. Before all of this my only concern was being in my own company but corona has put a whole different spin on things.

In my excitement I've found a destination I want to visit in Italy between Rome and Florence and could happily plan a long weekend spanning the whole area. I just need to check the restrictions in the area but otherwise I'm excited to just go for it (with good insurance, of course).

I've travelled lots on my own. Caribbean several times, Kenya, Zambia, Portugal, Greece and Tunisia. Tunisia I wouldn't return to as the harrassment was ridiculous but I've loved everywhere else. Go for it x

Iflyaway Thank you - what would I be searching for on FB to find them? That sounds brilliant and really confidence boosting!

I have traveled alone quite a few times, but if you've never done it before, then I don't think now is the best time to try it. Not only will the travel experience itself likely be very different, but there is a relatively high chance your plans will be disrupted someway. Earlier this year there were various stories of people who were abroad, had their flights cancelled, and their hotel had kicked them out because the region/country was going into lockdown. That's not the sort of thing you'd want to deal with on your first solo trip.

So yes, I would travel alone, but not now and especially not if I'd never done it before. I'd wait until cases are on the way down again and then book a last minute trip somewhere.

I'm a bit worried if I wait it out, I could be waiting for months/years. I just want to get going. I've always been a planner so research everything I'm doing completely - but in current climate I may have it right but a week down the line guidance changes.

So I'm trying to balance my enthusiasm to go against the ever-changing guidance and I'm not sure what's best to do. I want to put something in place, even if it is cancelled but I am worried about what the state of my location may be, so that's a huge worry.

Worse year ever to go it alone!

Yes! I've traveled alone many times and love it. Obviously you need to be a bit more cautious when on your own but I wouldn't let fear of this stop you.

I would. But solely due to covid rules fluctuating quite rapidly, I would opt for uk holiday at the moment. Enjoy whoever you opt to go!

I travel alone abroad a lot and often enjoy it more than travelling with other people. I've really missed what I get out of it this year. Having said that, I won't travel at the moment as I feel the hassle of Covid just not worth the effort. I'll probably look to do some small trips in the spring if things are looking better.