Single so I never go away on holiday

[JNicholson]

I’m realising I’ve become completely crap, since post-pandemic made travel abroad a thing again, at booking time off for myself and actually going away somewhere. I seem to have got into an awful habit of basically just spending annual leave at home (and not even away somewhere else in the UK), sleeping late and eating crap and watching TV. Which can be enjoyable, sometimes, but it’s definitely not uplifting and it makes the whole year feel sludgey and samey and as if you haven’t really had actual holiday. I feel like one of those empty nest divorcees who says she doesn’t feel it’s worth cooking a proper meal when it’s just her. I never thought I’d be like this, but I feel like I’ve become really bad at giving myself permission to have an actual holiday. My job is stressful and full on (although I mostly wfh) and it’s so easy to go ‘oh I can’t afford to take time to actually plan and book something abroad, it will be easier to just have a staycation and then I won’t have the post-trip adjustment either, it will be easier to just go back to work’. But it’s meaning I really don’t feel like I have much of a life outside work. I kind of think how much easier it would be if I had a partner and had to go away because they wanted it. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you pull yourself out of it?

Just seen this. Absolutely it does you are correct. If I lived with a partner, I would pay half the rent and half the bills I currently do. I would have so much more money.

The only reduction we get is 25% off the council tax. Not 50% of course.

So which city do you fancy? Book it today whilst we are all behind you.

Do it. Do it. Do it!

being in a relationship doesn’t give you more money to suddenly do things

I've just been away for 2 weeks on my own. I've driven about 1400 miles and stayed in various hotels. It would have cost exactly the same if I had a partner with me.

I have only spent on food for me and entrance tickets to museums etc for me, so that would have costs more, but equally, I might have been able to make use of some 2 for 1 offers. The biggest cost was accommodation and petrol, and that would be the same with 1 extra. If I had gone abroad, there would have been an extra flight or train to pay for, but being in a couple definitely does give you more money unless one of you has zero income.

True on most of that but the cost of all that fuel would have been effectively divided by half with two people.

This post is a bit confusing, but I think one of your points (?) is that if one partner has no income and the other partner is paying for both, it’s more expensive than being single? That’s true of course, but personally I wasn’t really contemplating dating someone with no income.

Cost can be a big thing for solo travellers. I see a couple of people here have recommended a cruise and from an activity and sociability point of view that would be a good choice - but the cost of a cabin as a single can be very expensive. You pay almost as much as a couple.

I had to think about it for a moment but I think that’s what @EBearhug’s saying - that accommodation & petrol costs are likely to be the same for 2 people as for 1, except that 2 people can save money by paying half each.

I remember booking what looked like a good offer once, & then realising just in time that the discounts only applied for couples, not singles.

People who are in a relationship but holiday solo are not having the same experience as someone who is single.

I have zero enthusiasm for holidaying solo. I spend a lot of time alone and being alone is no novelty for me. I have done a few daytrips solo and I don't find them as good as going with someone else. There is noone to say "look at that isn't it interesting" or similar. Noone to talk about the trip with. I am happy going to the cinema or theatre alone and do so frequently, but holidays don't appeal.

I could spend £100 on fuel for a trip on my own. But two people might mean the cost is split £50 each. Obviously depends how people choose to split costs etc etc.

Not to derail the thread: I can afford to travel solo, cost isn’t really what’s stopping me, but it unquestionably is more expensive single than in a dual-income relationship.

I know what you mean - I could afford it too, but the extra cost puts me off a bit. I feel like I'm being ripped off. I could happily pay 1500 for a short cruise, but I'm not willing to pay nearly 3k when I know I would pay half that as a couple.

I’ve only voted YABU because I don’t think you should let your relationship status (or lack of) dictate your life. Go on a holiday if you want to. Otherwise you’re letting life pass you by. I’m single too and I completely get where you’re coming from, but don’t sit around waiting for someone to do things with.

I decided to do it and I just did it. It was difficult the first time.walking in to restaurants alone I felt like a right idiot. But soon I realised no one cared! When I used to go away would stick to family resorts as I felt safer but that was actually worse as was coupled /families every where who didn’t want to interact . I now would go to cities and far away countries such as Thailand without batting an eyelid. It gives you confidence. Plus although the solo travel days are behind me now I notice far more people travelling solo now than ever was when I was on my own. Just book it be the best change you ever make .

I’ve also used G Adventures in a few countries and loved them. It means you can meet other people but also have time alone if you want to.

It used to be I find not so much any more. If you book as a package yes, but do everything seperately it won’t be.

Yes, sorry for being confusing - the cost of a hotel room is the cost of a hotel room, regardless of whether there's one or two people in it (or even three in one room i was allocated,) and a tank of petrol will cost the same (well, there is variability around the country/stations) regardless of how many people are in the car. The costs might have been split, of course, but while some hotels do single rooms, they're rarely half the price of a double. The only really cheap accommodation is hostel dormitories (which I do use sometimes.)

Yes so two people sharing the cost means it's cheaper for each person. The fuel cost and room cost is the same but divide it by two and obviously its cheaper for each person on the trip. I'm referring of course to any relationship where you dont live with the other person and dont pool everything into one.

Explore. Exodus. Friendship Travel. Plenty of group holidays just sign up and go

Just book something x

I quite like doing 5 night stays as you still have a day or two to compose yourself before going back to work (sleeping late and eating crap and watching TV!) :)

I've just done a comparison quote on a P&O cruise. For a couple the cost was 1818 (just over 900 each) and for a single the cost was just over 2k! Same cabin. How does that work?!

That’s a really good idea re 5 night stays. Work won’t always be this busy but it is at the moment, and I’m definitely conscious that travel tires me more than it used to. So building in some rest time at home before the end of the holiday is a good idea.

i love doing solo city breaks but will admit that evenings are the trickiest bits but early evening food tours can be a brilliant solution

I hear you. But still better than not travelling.

Cruises are notoriously bad for it but try Norwegian cruise I think it’s them that do single occupancy

Are you a skier @JNicholson ?

My single friend went on a great holiday with Ski Club of Great Britain last year and booked to go again as soon as she could!