Single holidays

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Not really sure this is the best place to put this but...

I'm single, having separated from ex h about 2 years ago. He is taking the dc's away for a week in the school holidays so I am child free. I would really like to go on holiday. Nothing fancy - just a chilling by the pool with a book and a cocktail somewhere hot - type of holiday. I have the money. I have the time off work (teacher). What I don't have is anyone to go with I'm not totally friendless or anything but my friends are mostly married with children and understandably want to spend their precious holiday time with their families.

So..... I'm not sure I have the guts to go to a "regular" hotel completely alone. In my head (and I confess I haven't done any research) companies that specialise in solo holidays are going to be full of people of retirement age or possibly 18-30 type affairs.

So can anyone recommend a company or even a hotel which would cater for a 41 year old travelling alone. I don't want to have to take part in any organised activities or anything forced. Nor am I particularly wanting it as a "meeting a man" opportunity. I just want to be with people in a similar position so I don't look odd being alone and/or I can make friends with other singletons.

An ex-colleague goes with Solo Holidays every year. She's in her late 30s and has no interest in meeting someone. She went to Cuba the year I worked with her. She always has a whale of a time.

Friendshiptravel.com - specialise in trips for lone travellers. It is annoying how much more expensive it is to holiday as a single person.

Thank you both I'll have a look

Mark Warner do singles holidays where you can do activities but you don't have to. There is a bit of a datey vibe but equally I made friends with other women and had a blast. Definitely not a shagfest.

Crikey! They're all very expensive Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have just been looking up single holidays on behalf of my MIL, who pretty much wants the same criteria as you, and I was stunned by the price of them.

It's ridiculous isn't it? Maybe your MIL and I should go together!

What about a holiday that focuses on an activity eg yoga. Not for singles per se but you would meet folk doing the activity.

My friend did a surfing holiday in Morocco one year. Met lots of people.

Hmmm. I can see how that might work but tbh, the holidays with the dc's are quite active so I really want a relaxing holiday doing fuck all

Yoga might be quite relaxing though.

It doesn't do it for me unfortunately. I'm a bit of a cynical cow and find it a bit "woo". I could look at something like wine tasting perhaps 😉

I second Mark Warner - they are pricey but worth it.

As a teacher, I'm guessing in the holidays you really want to just read a book / people watch / sit in the sun and not do a lot else?
I think I'd actually just book an ordinary holiday - big step in the first instance I know, but easy enough to chat to others in the evenings if you wish without having to if you don't want to the next night. The supplements they put on to "arranging" for you to go with other single people are ridiculous.

Yeah the Mark Warner ones are expensive because you can go sailing/windsurfing/waterskiing etc whenever you fancy and there are trainers and equipment on standby.

If you just want to do nothing, just book a room in a hotel and take a book. It's a bit harder if you have to go in school holidays though. Mexico might be good?

I find the specialist holidays ridiculously expensive so I've booked a "normal" all inclusive in Gran Canaria for a winter break. Can't wait to do my own thing ... read, people watch and gaze into space. I may prise myself away and sightsee a little. I have another couple of family holidays booked but this is one just for me! (I'm in my fifties and a gran). Do it ...it's so liberating.

Not sure when you intend to travel but a city break in a hotel with pool/spa might work well for you. I could definitely a spend a week on my own in places such as Geneva/Krakow/Copenhagen/Budapest ...

Hi there I'm new here.
I just wanted to say Hello x
I'm also looking for a single holiday to Spain and surrounding areas in Sept this year.

I have a solo inexpensive holiday every year.

I don't go through a tour operator - I just book a flight and a hotel separately. Taxi from airport to resort and vice versa. Going in low season for 7 nights usually costs me around £450 plus spend.

Sometimes I meet people to hang out with [when it suits me] and sometimes I don't. Both fine. Do it!

No help but have to say i share your annoyance. I following in the hope someone suggests something fair and reasonable.
In my experience solo holidays/travellers face steep prices and supplements.
I looked into coach holidays even- thinking along the lines that i may get to speak to other people a bit on the coach but thry dont allow you to reserve a seat, book window seats. Basically you get treated as a 2nd class citizen - sat where ever there is a space with no option to upgrade like couples can. Even if you want to pay for a chosen seat - you just cant as a single traveller. Then theres a single room supplement for a single room thats probably got a crap single bed with a window over looking the kitchens/bins or something nasty - guaranteed no sea/mountain views!!
Its a nightmare - there seems to be a clause and supplement for pretty much everything if you travel alone and rarely able to access the same as non singles.

I'm in a similar pickle I'm looking to go away too on my own so if you interested let me know. I'm just looking to travel to Europe though.

Cruising is a safe bet. Lots of opportunity to relax but with the advantage of going ashore somewhere new and interesting everyday.

The other place I'd recommend is somewhere on the coast of the French Riveria. It's not a strong family holiday location but still tourist driven and with plenty of people coming in on yachts that chatting to people is very easy. It's very beautiful so you always feel grateful for being there even if you get a bored of reading a book.

I went on a trip to India with G Adventures and really enjoyed it.

www.gadventures.co.uk/

The youngest person on the trip was 25, the oldest 70. The others spread in between.

We bumped into a group who were doing a "yolo" (cheaper, more basic accommodation) trip and they looked more 18-25ish.

GoLearnTo is another company that does tons of activity singles holidays. Mostly in Europe, but you can also go to Central and South America, the Caribbean, Morocco, and Australia with them.

I've looked into painting and cooking holidays, but they also do surfing, photography, yoga, fitness and language retreats (among others, I think!).

Some of their trips are all-inclusive, and you always stay with a local host who does the tutoring and shows you about... it's an easy place to book where you're guaranteed to meet other travellers.

Website is www.golearnto.com :)

Mistral Hotel in Maleme,Crete. Look for singles in Crete on google, sorry can’t link.Lovely double rooms(no supplement); lovely family-run, friendly hotel, amazing food. Everyone (20 ish people) has dinner together and I.ve always met really interesting people. Chill by the pool or join one of their excursions. So relaxing, friendly and you choose how much to do - or not! Hard to beat.