CORFU: Going Solo on my 1st holiday since separation & anxious about travelling solo

[CleanCityBird]

I’ve booked a 2 week holiday to Corfu and I’m travelling solo. Just me! I felt so good when I booked it, I thought I was so brave & courageous, & I’m so devastated that these doubts are creeping in. I’m a 53 year old woman & I went through a separation 7yrs ago. He left. It’s taken me years to get over it, I was devastated. My only daughter is 30 now & lives abroad with her partner. I don’t have much family & it’s been a huge adjustment living alone. I took in student this year & I’ve loved having them, breathing life into the house. It’s the money they brought in that’s paying for this holiday. I was beginning to feel like I’ve come out the other side (or I think I am).
So in March I booked this holiday to Corfu for 2 weeks in September. It’s my first holiday in 8 years. It’s almost upon me now. I’d imagined strolls on the beach at sunset, peacefulness, reading, swimming in the sea, beautiful food, wonderful locals.
The closer it gets to C Day the more anxious I become. I’m afraid I’ll get there, be paralysed by irrational fear, never leave my accommodation & count down the days until I come home. Worse, I’m afraid I will get to the day & won’t get on the plane, almost sabotage myself.
It’s the fear that is so powerful, but I don’t even know what I’m afraid of. I think it’s the sadness of what life is like now compared to what it used to be.
I’ve booked accommodation in Messonghi ( which I can cancel up to a week before travel). I’m nervous I’ve booked the wrong location for a solo traveller looking for peace. I’ve a very limited budget so I’m nervous about it. I read about Agios Gordios being beautiful but it’s pricier. Recommendations anyone has for a peaceful place beside a beach I’d be very grateful. But also, moral support would be wonderful for me to lean on to bolster my confidence & help me to grab hold of this holiday with both hands and begin to feel alive again.

I can't tell you how jealous I am. I love a holiday by myself. I did one to Barcelona and went to the same museum three times- could never have done that with someone else. All those moments you've had to compromise on a holiday, not this one. Enjoy

That the place near Marseilles? Lucky you! Hoping to go to the area around Avignon October. Just trying to figure out the train/bus connections to places around like Arles, Nimes, etc. Enjoy yourself and have a wonderful time.

My secret (no more obv) place in S of F is a little town called Quillan. It is on the local trainline from Carcassonne and I just hopped on the little two carriage train one day from Carcassonne to the end of that line and there it was. I'd go back tomorrow, but there are so many other places to see!

Hi there, after my divorce I went on a solo trip to the south of France. I had a few false starts on the first days, but gradually found my feet (imagine Shirley Valentine when she gets into her stride, walking round the markets and that was me), hired a moped, went wind surfing, had multiple meals alone, walked on the beach at sunset, midnight skinny dipping…:it was one of the best weeks of my entire life: 25 years on and I have very fond memories and am SO grateful I got to do it.

I hope you have a bloody wonderful trip. Take a few good books, a brand new blank journal and enjoy finding yourself x

That sounds great.

I love Shirley valentine too!

That’s the one @wimonnzy . We had a family holiday near there and I love the area but Cassis suits my swimming needs better.

You must visit the Pont du Gard when you stay near Avignon. It’s epic.

Please go!
Break it up into little chunks. At home I'm sure you can do a bus journey, a supermarket shop,
A coffee out alone. This is just a string of them!
Bring books and enjoy!

I’ve just come back from a family holiday in Messonghi. The village is small but bustling and felt safe. There are lots of tavernas & bars, and some good local supermarkets. the beach isn’t amazing but it’s fine and the sea is gorgeous. You can go on boat trips from there or catch a local bus (air conditioned) into Corfu Town. I’d be happy to go on my own with a good book or two! You’ll be fine. Feel free to ask me more about Messonghi.

I’ve done Greece solo three times. I’d be inclined to do two centre and would recommend the ferry to Parga for a week. Very safe, lovely restaurants, several beaches and friendly people.

There's no danger you’ll lack people to talk to !

North and north east Corfu are really pretty. Kassiopi is really lovely. Harbour nice shops lovely beaches (stoney so take beach shoes) lots of places to eat and some nice shops to browse. Boat & other trips too around the island. This would feel a safe place to hang out and a bit of buzz without being tacky - it’s not too big but big enough to have a good choice of restaurants and things to do or arrange sightseeing from.

Agios Stefanos - stoney beach, few tavernas & supermarket very pretty but might be too quiet.

Nissaki is also really lovely - few tavernas small beach and hotel with a public pool (as long as you buy a drink/food). There are apartments and villas near the beach but bigger hotels too further along which have their own beach.

Corfu town is nice if you like shops and restaurants and a few museums but bigger and busier than the other places. More of a day visit for me but depends what you like.

I did not like Sidari (very touristy and tacky shops). I found Roda a bit souless but had a strip of shops, bars & restaurants but maybe I didn’t spend enough time there to get the full vibe. I didn’t see the beach.

I hope you have an amazing time and can relax into your solo holiday meeting locals and other friendly holiday makers. Good luck.

Enjoy yourself I’m going to do solo travelling soon

Good luck OP, this sounds amazing! I recommend taking an iPad or similar ... recently I saw a solo traveller sitting in a lovely restaurant contentedly eating a wonderful meal whilst watching a show on a tablet.... he looked utterly carefree and very happy. I want to head off on my own too.

Do go and do enjoy it OP. I’m same age as you and have been abroad solo fairly frequently. But this year I’ve actually had 2 solo holidays. Once to Vietnam (I joined a group for part of it) and once to France. I am happy going out for dinner or a drink, armed with a book. During the day I had a plan… walk to X, visit museum, do cookery course, cycle somewhere. I enjoyed my company and found it liberating to wander round and take my time without others saying “I’m hungry/thirsty/bored….”

Seriously have fun in the sun!

I did my first solo trip when I was 20 and not a confident person in any way. I was in a big panic in the run up to D day and really did not want to go. However, I had burnt my boats by telling everyone at work I was going so I couldn't really back out. I had a wonderful time despite my trepidation and it gave me that much needed confidence I had been lacking. You will be absolutely fine.

This trip OP is the start of many adventures.

You will get on that plane and you will walk along the beach, eat at a tiny tavern and have the time of your life.

In order to prepare I suggest watching Shirley Valentine.

I've done solo trips to many places, I'll warn you it is addictive.

All the love and all the fingers crossed here for OP is really warming my cockles. There's so much 'what the hell is the matter with you' on some other threads when people have simply asked for support, this gentle encouragement and reassurance is a bit more like it! 💐

You deserve this holiday and you will have such a wonderful time. Corfu is beautiful and everyone is very friendly. Make this all about you, recharge your batteries and enjoy the slow pace, gorgeous beaches and crystal clear sea. Take lots of books and go at your own pace. Sample all the food - and explore. I am very jealous!

Congratulations!

I haven’t been to Messonghi, but maybe if budget allows, you could consider travelling around a bit. Maybe stay close to Corfu Town and you could hop across to Paxos, and Antipaxos even which is so beautiful! (Actually you can travel there from Lefkimmi port too!)

I am sure there will be other people in a similar situation and other travellers if you move around a little, especially as you aren’t going in term time.

However, if that feels a little too scary then day trips and excursions will be lovely.

Take water shoes, mosquito spray and snorkel/facemask. Corfu is lovely.

Wishing you very best of luck and hope you have a fabulous time. Just a little tip - buy a “rash vest” swimsuit top so you don’t have to ask anyone to put sunscreen on your back for you. Enjoy ☺️

I've got a kind of back strap fabric thing with handles on it from Amazon that you spray suncream/ moisturiser/ fake tan on to and apply to that bit across the back you can't reach any more, like a back scrubber in the bath. Came in a pack of 2 so can keep them separate for different products.

Unless of course you get so into it that you lose all inhibition and just ask them at the next umbrella if they wouldn't mind lol

Do not under any circumstances cancel.

If needs be, book a taxi from the airport to the hotel so you know you'll be picked up and will travel with no hassle to the hotel.
Take each day as it comes - read - audiobooks - sunbathe - read - start small, a coffee out, then lunch - I can assure you no one will be looking or judging.

@CleanCityBird
I don’t like to use the word ‘separated’ as it makes it sound as if it was a joint decision-it wasn’t. He left me with our two children and was with someone new a few weeks later. Someone from work, 10 years younger. 17 years together, 10 married, gone just like that.

Anyways….4 months later and I have just returned from holidaying alone with my two children, 14&9. Like you, I was terrified, almost cancelled. BUT, let me tell you, I did it! I went on holiday and loved every minute! It was a holiday we had booked as a family, but I had to have his name removed.

I completely understand how you feel, but trust me, you will feel so proud once you have done this and it will be another one of those ‘firsts’ ticked off your list.

Hi, thank you so so much for your message. I’m so delighted with the response and it’s lifted me enormously. I agree with you about Messonghi. I’ve booked it in March as a safety net and I have free cancellation. I’ve been trawling the booking sites for a better location but it’s all guess work. I kept my budget small because I wasn’t sure how much I’d have but I’ve more that I expected so I can do better. All of your suggestions are so welcome. If you could dm me I could let you know where I’m at. Thanks again 🥰

Don't put pressure on yourself to get out and explore. You have two weeks so plenty of time for that. If you prefer just lounge around the hotel for the first couple of days. Sit beside the pool or in the bar if it has one. Chat to staff about suggestions for good places you could go for lunch. Once you've got your bearings and hopefully a bit more confident you can head further afield.

Hi everyone.
i wanted to send an update on my upcoming trip to Corfu.
So many of you responded to my original post. I was overwhelmed. And utterly thrilled. I took real strength from the messages of support & encouragement & stories of your own. They truly spurred me on. So everyone who responded had a part to play in getting me this far.
one user responded with such excellent pointers as to where to stay it cemented for me what part of the island I would love & their location & hotel recommendations helped me choose and book a perfect location. Instead of dread I’ve butterflies of excitement & I have not had those for years. It feels wonderful. I leave next Tuesday (2nd Sep) and now it’s full steam ahead.
i was nervous putting my fear & anxiety out there into the world, and I’m so glad I did. To every one of you- thank you. 🙏 Jenny.

I'm so glad you are going. I've been lurking on this thread as I used to live on Corfu and have travelled in Greece a lot.

Wishing you the most wonderful time.