If you had three weeks for a solo holiday....

[waterhipcrown]

...potentially over Christmas and new year (or at least in Dec or Jan), where would you go? What would you do?

I need to escape (currently going through a separation) and getting away for Christmas and new year is very appealing! I think December onwards is the earliest I could go but could go later than January although I need to use my leave before the end of March.

Open to all ideas. Travelling around a bit is appealing, but I've never really 'roughed it' before. Nervous about going away on my own. Have looked at group tours but none quite hits the spot as yet. I need to relax too though. TIA

(I've postee this in long haul but I neednt go long haul)

I would be wary of being alone in some hotel on Christmas Day. I've been in a hotel at Christmas (with DH & DC) once & all the 'ho, ho, ho,' false jollity became very wearying. (I am a bit of agrinch).

If you are prepared to be travelling on Christmas Day itself you can get some amazing bargains! Also on NYE & Jan 1st. Especially long haul!

OK, ideas:

1. USA / Canada: By Amtrak - you can go Coast to Coast stopping off at various cities. I did this with 4 kids (only adult!) and it was great fun. We went back across Canada - Vancouver and Niagara were particular highlights. Overall, too 7 weeks so for 3 weeks, you could easily do either one.

Benefits: Lots of interesting cities / no language barriers

1. Australia: In 3 weeks, you could do the touristy thing / Tasmania... Long flight and their summer, so could combine some traveling and a beach holiday

1. Alaska or Lapland... Visit the midnight sun, be at one with nature... Not much sunigliht though.

1. Do something for Charity: Lands End to John O'Groats or the coast to coast walk.. - takes your mind off stuff ad get you fit...

Any of those take your fancy???

Oh, and yes, as magi said - look at the deals for flights on Christmas day and NYD (morning) - you could travel first class for the price of premium economy!!!

The problem with the U.S. idea is it will be bloody freezing for an awful lot of it in December-March.

What kind of thing do you like to do, OP? Are you a beach girl, prefer to stay active, etc?

Personally I'd do a trip around NZ. Hiking, canoeing, beach time. The best xmas i spent one year was hiking one of the sth island trails. Completely escaped from it and one of the other hikers had carried in a bottle of whiskey and shared it around.

Much cooler than Australia and smaller so you can really takr a good look around in 3 weeks or 4 if you could stretch to it.

Otherwise look at gap adventures and go to sth america. Meet new people, see some great things and maybe do the inca trail.

Again, all depends on what you like to do

I would go to SE Asia. Start in Kuala Lumpur, visit Penang, go up to Langkawi Island. Head up through to Thailand. Just have a magical tropical time.

Go to Burma, you will be welcomed and feel safe . I was there briefly recently and envied a woman I met who was a solo traveller - she told me all about her trip and I just wanted to stay and do what she had done . Such a beautiful country with contrasting areas, so worth exploring .

I have travelled heaps over Xmas. My best trips were in Patagonia, southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar), and East Africa. In all cases i was solo but met people en route. This is easier if you join trips or stay in more budget accomm than a 4* hotel.

I'd go for the Australia option. It's summer there, there are natural wonders to see and they speak English (would be important to me if alone!). Also I've seen that there are various small group escorted tours available in case you wanted to say wow! to another person! Xx

If a small group tour appeals and you haven't already looked at this one, I can highly recommend Explore

I was just coming back to suggest Explore, Exodus and Wild Frontiers as excellent small group operators to look at. I've also do e lots alone but booked tours when I got there eg through local tour operator.

My mother fab Xmas was central America.

The South of sri lanka is lovely and warm at the time of year you are planning to travel. You could explore lots of fantastic monuments and go on safari or relax on some stunning beaches and enjoy gorgeous food. We got married there on Christmas Day 2013. As it's a Buddhist country Christmas doesn't feature so you'll feel like it's simply another (hot sunny) day.

It's not over run with couples and honeymooners either, a real mix bag of solo travellers, backpackers, families etc and vv safe.

Thank you for all of the ideas! I will research all of them and check out the recommended companies.

I really fancied South America but it's more expensive than I had bargained for!

In terms of what I like doing... A bit of everything. I like a day spent on the beach but also like exploring and art and culture etc. Bit of a mix really. I'm not very fit but am working on it!

I haven't ruled South America out though - I had just expdcted IT to be more in line with south East Asia.

The flight costs for S America are killer. It depends where you are looking at going, really. Its most certainly not SE Asia prices when you get there, either but oh my, it's worth it.

We went to Ecuador and Galapagos last year - I cannot recommend it highly enough, but you will need to rob a bank/trade in the crown jewels.

Im a solo traveller and I have a South African trip in the pipeline for Decenber /January 2016, not Christmas though.

Sri Lanka is fabulous according to my children who've all been there often.

In two weeks Im off to Seattle, an Alaskan Cruise, then Vancouver. And next may Im inter-railing between a few European countries. But none of that will help you because you have specific date and the weather had to be good where ever you go.

I guess I just posted to give you encouragement

If you fancy South America consider Colombia. Amazing place. Tropical Caribbean beaches in the north, Andes mountains, Amazon rain forest - you name it! And incredibly open and friendly people. Well worth it.

I'd do the hurtigruten Norway coast trip, from Bergen north to Kirkenes, and back again. Some of the boats have pools etc on them. There are lots of excursions etc. See the northern lights. It would be wonderful.

But if budget was no issue, that's the best time to go to Antarctica.