How would I be viewed holidaying on my own?

[Slyngel]

Hi there,

I'm 67 and single. I retired at 62 and spent three years full-time looking after my mum with Alzhemers' dementia. She died in 2022 at the age of 94. I miss her very much and am having trouble finding a new purpose in life.

I haven't been on holiday since 2016. I don't have anybody to go with but was thinking that a week in the sun in December or January might perk me up a bit and help me through the winter. I was thinking of somewhere like Tenerife.

I was wondering how people in these times view people holidaying on their own. Is it an okay thing to do or is it regarded as strange? Not looking for company specifically, I can cope on my own, but really just wondering how someone like me would be viewed by other holidaymakers on a winter sun beach-type holiday.

I would welcome any advice or views, positive or negative. Thank you.

I go away on my own and have never felt awkward or judged. When I go away with DP or friends, I barely notice anyone else, never mind clock who they are with.

A friend of mine who often holidays alone to AI hotels will often chat to people (couples, groups) in the evenings. I prefer to mind my own business but there’s always company if she wants it.

Would you be able and interested in a walking holiday? Ramblers and others offer different levels of difficulty and most people join alone.

Absolutely fine but if you wanted some company would you consider something like this?

www.friendshiptravel.com/solo-holidays/

I am happily married with lovely midteen children and nice friends.

I love to holiday on my own.

When I see a another lone woman holidaying, there is always conspiratorial supportive eyecontact - and then back to enjoying the peacefulness of having no one but myself to please.

I would think you as wonderfully independent ( and I'd be a little jealous of you for having the balls )

a) Buy a spray bottle of suncream.

b) Swimming - options: buy a waterproof pouch on a lanyard for mobile phone & keys. Don't leave anything you can't face losing. Ask the people next to you to watch stuff. Buy a lockable tin that can be attached to legs of the sunlounger
c)Ye just use a reputable taxi app. Or: ask restaurant to order you one. Eat in the hotel restaurant is there is one. Book a hotel in walking distance of restaurants and walk home on a well lit route.
d) Be as sensible as you would at home. Use well lit, preferable busy streets. Buy a whistle!

OP, the one think a lot of people seem to find a bit intimidating at first is eating out alone in the evening. So practice doing that in your own city a few times. Take a book/kindle or just people watch. Get used to smiling if people look friendly. They may well chat to you or ask you to join them for dessert. Say yes. Have had some lovely conversations with people that way. Also try 'Host a sister' on FB for locals happy to meet tourists.

Also if you get a bit lonely, book day trips with a guide. I've done visits to historical sights, wine & food tours, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking & walking, boat trips, you name it. Often meet other singles (or couples) and arrange to meet up for drinks or dinner. Just google, ask at your hotel for recommendations, or try local travel agents. Also check Meet Up, there may be events you can join.

You'd be viewed positively by me if I thought about it at all, which I wouldn't.

I do like places which have a few laid on ‘classes’ though.

Like yoga or wine tasting or art or whatever.

People often turn up to those alone even if they are not travelling alone, and it gives a little bit of sense of community

I recently did a solo city break and I agree with PP that eating in the evening can be a harder aspect - what worked well for me was restaurants with bar style seating, and in one case a restaurant with communal tables, where I got chatting to some strangers.

No-one will notice or care but you will feel a bit self conscious the first time.

Start small, long weekend perhaps? Then build up. My mum goes on some organised holidays that are mostly single women. She’s made some friends through them, she started off on some UK based trips and has since been further afield. She prefers them to traveling completely solo but she is slightly older than you. You don’t have to stay with the group, you can do your own thing but aren’t completely on your own IYSWIM. So you can choose to eat with them/go on trips etc

Winter sun in the canaries no one would bat an eyelid. Saga Holidays do a lot of singles holidays for retired people on their own so it's really quite common.

The question is why do you care what anyone else thinks of you.

Its your life, as long as you aren’t hurting anyone do whatever you like.

It's not in the least bit strange and quite common these days - you should definitely give it a go. I have holidayed alone and enjoyed it - for things like restaurants I just take a kindle. I never felt that anyone thought it was strange that I was alone. Great for people watching too.

By me … with envy. Sounds bliss.

Love it. I had a family holiday recently and had a morning and then a day to myself. I can relate to the ‘look’ - we know. All my female friends the same age as me relish time in their own. I loved being able to just suit myself. Made me really want to go away on my own soon.

Unasked for advice here:

If I were to holiday alone - and I'm sure I will in the future - I'd go to Playa las Americas and stay right near the promenade on the front. Lots of various price points to choose from.
Then I could have good long walks along the promenade which is safe and stop for a cocktail on the way. From Las Americas you can walk to Plaza del Duce area one way or to the end of Los Cristianos the other way. I've done 18k around these resorts many times!

Also near the 'golden mile' for shopping and restaurants.

I go every January and it's so good wearing a sleeveless dress when it's so cold at home.

Enjoy yourself

I'd think "I bet she's having the best holiday with absolutely no one to negotiate with about what to do, when to get up, when to leave the pool, where to eat dinner, reading her book in peace and people watching!"

Go for it xx

Enviously! Go for it 😊

I've been on several holidays alone and had a great time, more common than u might expect.
I have also been on holidays organised for solo travellers (Just You is a good company IMO). Very well organised and good to be able to meet up in evening for a meal with others. Important to emphasise that they are not singles holidays for people looking for a partner.

Please look those.
You deserve a good holiday take care

I chose all-inclusive for similar reasons. I also like having people around and reps can take care of any issues.

I'd actually be delighted to meet someone like you on holiday and will have a look out for female solo travellers when I'm there.

Please go! I've holidayed alone so many times and it's a lovely thing to do. Go somewhere you can walk in a nice town and city, and with a place to relax in the sunshine. Malaga or lots of places in Italy would fit the bill.

Sun cream (and any body cream) if you put the cream on the back of your hand, it's easier to apply to your back and you can cover your whole back using two arms.

I don't have anything of value if I go to the beach or by the pool alone. Usually book and suncream. I leave my phone and purse in hotel safe if having a hotel day. If a beach day I use a waterproof pouch that I keep on me.

Fine travelling alone.

And walking back is fine. I take the same precautions I would at home, keep to well lit places and be aware of surroundings. And don't get into a drunken state.

Thank you to all who have taken the time and trouble to post here with your experiences and suggestions. I take on board everything that has been said. It is a battle with myself to overcome the reluctance to bite the bullet. I know that getting away will lift my spirits.

I'm thinking of Tenerife, leaving around 9th December. That will get me home around 16th, before the shutdown for the Festive Season has begun here. Prices after New Year seem a bit higher and, as I can go anytime really, I might as well choose December before the school holidays for Christmas kick in. I was in Costa Adeje in 2016 with my mother (she was 88 then but physically still able to get around) and we enjoyed it, so looking at some hotels there. Thinking of spending a bit more on good quality accommodation and facilities, as this will be all the more important as a solo traveller. Food less important, so probably will be breakfast only at the hotel. I like the idea of enjoying a good lunch in a local eatery rather than eating out alone in the evening.

I am hopeful that the "bounce" from the change of scenery will see me through Christmas and January and into February, By February the days are getting a bit longer and spring is on the horizon. Last winter was something of an ordeal, so hoping that a bit of planning this year will work wonders.

Thanks again to everyone for your encouragement.

No one will bat an eyelid - in fact there may well be a few people looking across enviously as you sit quietly with your book at dinner one evening while they are having to listen to the usual boring “blah blah blah” from their DP or the kids are arguing 🙂.

Lots of people holiday alone - I love it and never feel judged. Often there will be people to chat to over coffee / a glass of wine if you want a bit of company and just as easily you can sit on your own and visit the sites you want to see. Book yourself a nice hotel and it will be fine. Just take a couple of good books you have been meaning to read and enjoy the sunshine

Sounds like you have had a hard few years and I am sorry to hear about your mum. You absolutely must go away and no one will bat an eyelid!
My mum used to go on holiday solo for two weeks every year to Portugal - the Algarve. She got to know the owners of the hotel and would hire a bike to cycle round and generally have a lovely time. She even made some local Portuguese friends after learning the language. I lost her relatively early to cancer so we absolutely must seize the day.
Enjoy your holiday!

I lost my mother last year and went on holiday for 5 days, on my own, a couple of months after. I needed time to think, to be sad, and to just be. I went to a place that I have been to several times, and so had the advantage of seeing some familiar staff faces around, which was nice. I didn't socialise with other people, but had brief chats with staff I knew. It was really nice, and I think did me good. I didn't feel at all uncomfortable being on my own. Tbh, I doubt people even noticed I was on my own. I wear a wedding ring and for all people knew, my family could have just been elsewhere on the resort. Good luck with whatever choice you make.