If you were planning a solo holiday …

[JMSA]

Would you prefer a smaller, friendly, family run hotel where you might have people looking out for you?

Or would you rather go to a large hotel/resort that’s a bit more anonymous, where you’re less likely to stand out in the dining room, for example?

I am thinking of booking my first solo break and I am interested in your views. Both hotels are abroad, but in different countries (both by the beach, as that’s a priority for me).

Thanks ☺️

Smaller one.

But I'd pick on location and facilities snd room decor not anything to do with other guests.

I'd avoid a resort hotel for a solo trip.

I would plan my holiday around whichever accommodation is available and affordable in the country I wanted to go too.

I wouldn't choose accommodation first and then whichever country it is in becomes where my holiday is. That to me seems backwards!

First paragraph is kind of obvious really, so I agree with you there.
I guess I’m just torn on what kind of accommodation I’d feel most comfortable at. I’d be happy with the location of either.

I have done both. I prefer the anonymity of a larger hotel but I am a raging introvert.

Depends what you want from your holiday?

To engage with other people? Choose a smaller place, you'll be more known.

To be totally left to yourself and broadly ignored, choose a bigger place.

Definitely the first. That's what I prefer when booking accommodation anyway, but it's more important when I'm on my own.

I'm going on a solo trip to Armenia and Georgia later this year and one of my primary considerations for accommodation is somewhere where reviews suggest the host/owner/staff speak English and will help me arrange things an generally look after me. I also think you are more likely to speak to other guests at a small place as you will see the same people.

Having said that, if it was a resort type holiday where I don't have to do much in the way of planning, in quite a familiar setting, where most people speak English and/or I speak the language OK then it wouldn't matter so much. But I still prefer small and friendly!

I am planning a solo holiday - and would prefer a bigger hotel where I can be anonymous. I just want to spend the holiday relaxing by myself and I'm not interested in socialising. I'm fairly introverted and in my normal life I rarely get time to myself, so once a year I take a few days away and ideally don't talk to anyone!
However if I was doing a solo holiday because I didn't have anyone to go with and might feel a bit lonely then I'd choose a smaller hotel and book some excursions and activities.

Depends on what facilities you want, I’m pretty sociable so would choose a hotel where there’s something to do in the evening as I may not want to be travelling alone after dark far from the hotel whereas travelling as a couple we usually book b&b

Boutique hotel or Airbnb, mostly so I can avoid contact with all people. 😂 Definitely would not go to a resort. I don’t really go to resorts even with family. But I take a solo holiday every year and have, well, forever, since before Dh and I were married or had dc (eldest is a teen now).

I don’t need anyone to look out for me or any socialisation of any sort. I just want peace and quiet and to be left to it. A big hotel is too busy for me. I mostly stay in an Airbnb just for affordability, but sometimes a small hotel or guesthouse depending on what’s available.

Thanks everyone. I’m leaning towards the bigger place as I’m an introvert too. But the smaller hotel has more going on in the immediate vicinity, so lots of shops, a lovely marina, places to walk to.
Bigger place has its own private beach but not much else. It would be perfect for relaxation but I don’t want to get bored.

I'm planning my first bit of solo travel abroad - a bit different to you as I'm travelling between a few cities, and the long scenic train journeys are part of what I'm looking forward to. There will be plenty close to the places I stay whatever kind of hotels I choose. But I'm going for a chain I've used a lot in various countries before with my husband & family, as I feel like I can trust that I know what I'm going to get, and that there's back up if I need anything. It does feel very unimaginative and that I could probably find some lovely places to stay if I were a bit more adventurous, but this option makes me feel more confident for a first time trip.

PS I'm also an introvert and looking forward to nestling away quietly with a book, definitely not talking to people!

I would go for the larger, more anonymous hotel but I'm very anti social!

I like a big hotel for solo holidays.

If you choose a smaller one, you start getting people trying to match you up or they want you to join them.....

It depends what you like! 🙂

I'd go for the first one on location. But if your instinct is pulling you towards being more comfortable at a larger place, then there's nothing wrong with that choice!

I'm a raging introvert as well ell but I prefer small as there are less people around and it's usually quieter.
I'm usually out and about all day but like to choose somewhere that's got a pleasant place to sit and read and a nice location for early morning/evening walks.

Well back in the "olden days" when I began going on holiday alone (1970s) I always used to take a book into the hotel dining room at meal time. However its fair to say that I was so active during the day that I was tired out by evening. I rarely dined in public and mostly ordered room service or brought back a snack. In fact, eating on your own is often the main drawback to solo travel if you feel uncomfortable being alone in public.

After so many years of having travelled to unusual non tourist destinations (think Syria, Iran etc) I would now happily sit alone in a hotel dining room and eat. Nowadays you can take a smartphone with you and have 24/7 entertainment wherever you go so no need to feel conspicuous.

To answer your question about hotels I have no particular preference between a small
intimate hotel and a large anonymous one. You make your own rules and atmosphere when you travel solo. I would never again want to travel with a companion.

Exactly this. I love a solo holiday and have been on several. People often talk to me which is fine for 10 minutes but would be very annoying if you saw the same people regularly who tried to take you under their wing.

In a small hotel, I'd need one of those signs that dogs wear 'I need space. NOT FRIENDLY'.

I would check what the food options will be as that would be a priority for me. Good breakfasts especially!

I would also be looking mostly at the surrounding area and what there is to do.

I wouldn't care at all about being alone at the table and such so that wouldn't feature.

My issue with resort hotels has been lack of room amenities so a bit of a mare if you want to stay in. This would obviously differ between hotels but my impression was that the rooms were a lot more basic (lack of bottle opener as an example/awful room service) assuming, I guess, that people were generally out in shared spaces not eating in room being anti social! Business hotels were better (chains like holiday inn etc) as they generally cater to people who actually want to stay in. Not sure if that is an option..

All my holidays since 2003 have been solo and generally based around a single theme.
I look at the places offering this themed holiday, read reviews, look at websites etc. and generally choose my hotel based on the pool, the theme and the look of the rooms. 99% of the time I get it right. However, there have been a couple of times where the pool that looked great in the photos turned out to be 75% paddling depth, although you could swim in the sea as well or where the pool was great, but the food (a fairly vital part of this holiday theme) was not at all good.
I don't really mind if the hotel is boutique or large, but I do like a walk-in shower, decent balcony and reliable wifi.

First of all as a mum of two young children, I cannot think of anything better than a solo holiday but that is a long way off for me.

personally I would go for a larger hotel so I can stay anonymous and choose to talk to people if I want to.

Myself and partner stayed in a small family hotel a couple of times in Crete before we had the kids and it was absolutely lovely, the family were helpful and friendly and all the guests socialised with each other, they had a bbq evening where everyone sat together, but if you are looking to be left alone it would be your worst nightmare! So for solo and peace and quiet i definitely vote larger hotel.

If it’s a large hotel and resort with families, I would feel as a solo traveller, I would stand out more.

I went to Rhodes by myself and wanted to be able to chuck a stone from my room into the sea, the kind of place we would never go as a couple as DP needs 5 star luxury. I stayed in a little beach front studio. It was bliss

Exactly. Hotels are only there because you want to be somewhere that's too far away to get home from at night. Choose the place because it's interesting and has the things you want to do. Then see what accommodation is available, consider exact location, budget etc.