Has anyone been on a solo holiday (escorted group) and would you recommend it? What's the best company?

[ScreamingBeans]

That's it really. Want to do this in 2024 but procrastinating.

That sounds lovely! I’m thinking this might be a good way into group travel, as having a common interest would help socially!

Before getting married I went with these guys to Morocco, the group was mainly solo females and the guide was excellent. The groups were a good size and the guide put everyone at ease https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/solo

A few years ago I went on a Healthy Options holiday to Greece which had yoga, cycling, wellness, windsurfing, SUPing, walking etc and was co-located with a WildWind sailing holiday in Vassiliki on Lefkas. Loved it and met three amazing people who are my firm friends to this day, two of us on the yoga and two sailors, all solo travellers. Highly recommend and they have multiple locations.

I’ve done a safari with Exodus which was brilliant, and a volunteering trip in Borneo with The Great Adventures (also amazing, but it was more of a working holiday)

Yes, done about 5 trips with each of Intrepid, Explore and Exodus. Most of those trips I travelled on my own. I booked my first trip, which was Peru in 2002, after finding someone printing trip itineraries on the printer at work, and it totally grabbed my attention. Met my now husband on an Intrepid trip almost 20 years ago. Not been on one for quite a while though, as now have 2 kids. Intrepid has different 'style' trips basic, original, comfort and premium. Basic is targeted at the younger end of the market. You can usually enquire about group composition for the dates you are looking at. You could always try a one week trip to test the water. Get it booked, you won't regret it.

A few years ago when I was 50 I went on a solo holiday. As it was the first time I had holidayed alone I wanted an escorted tour and chose Riviera( not a holiday just for solos). Most people were couples, there were 3 singles in the group of about 25. The organisation of the trip was very good but what annoyed me was that the hotel automatically put each single on a dining table with a couple! I was absolutely horrified and no doubt the couple whose table I was on were too, of course even before we sat down I asked the waiter to move me and thereafter ate alone as I wanted to do. One of the other couples later asked why I didn't want to sit with other couple to eat, my reply was that I wanted to go on an escorted tour to feel more secure, not to have dinner with or talk to strangers. Surely they would want their own time too. After that I have travelled solo several times, I'm happy to do city breaks alone but always choose a hotel with good reviews of the food so that I can eat in the hotel in the evening if I feel uncomfortable about being alone in the city in the evening.

I've been with Exodus and Explore, most recently Exodus. I've also used a company called Responsible Travel, who seem to act as brokers for other tour companies, especially local companies. There are always other singles, especially women, and also often friends of the same sex going together, so I've never felt out of place as a single person. Now I'm older and grumpier I pay for a single room supplement, but in the past I didn't and ended up sharing rooms with other single women. This was mostly ok (and I made one good friend out of it). I'd really recommend!

Explore are good I’ve been on 5 or 6 good range of trips mostly women, a few couples and the odd single men, often the women are sharing with a woman friend

GAdventures. It's a Canadian company so many of the group are from the US and Canada. I found them more friendly than Brits.

I would really recommend.

I’ve only been on one group trip for solo travellers, with Intrepid. It was an adventure activity holiday in the Pyrenees and I’d highly recommend it.

I was lucky in that the rest of the group were all nice and we supported each other during the activities. One of our tour guides told us that that isn’t always the case. Our group was aged from early 20s to early 40s (ish), with more women than men. Most were UK residents and the rest were from other English-speaking countries. I don’t know if that’s a typical group for an Intrepid holiday.

I did a walking holiday in Bulgaria this year through The Natural Adventure, great experience. They subcontracted the tour delivery but it was all excellent. I've also done several Exodus tours, all really good.

I'd recommend looking for an in-country specialist for the place you want to go.

Out of interest has anyone come across a solo traveller specialist for Australia? The single supplements are eye-watering for the non-solo companies. Definitely not at the right age for backpacking!

I used to travel with both Exodus and Solo's, and enjoyed trips with both of them. Exodus was a mix of solo travellers and couples/friends.

Another vote for hf holidays if you like walking.

Also, many people go solo sailing - look at Classic Sailing…

https://classic-sailing.com/

Not travelled as a single traveller myself but DH and I went to Jordan last year with Cox & Kings and would recommend. Our group was a mix of couples, singles and one family group. Ages ranged from a couple of young teens in the family group to a single lady of 81. Group size was about 19 which was big enough that could avoid anyone you didn't gel with, but small enough that you got to know who everyone was.

I’ve done them a few times with Meetup hiking groups and with much better adventures which was reasonably priced for Europe. They often have small groups 10-15 on these trips which I prefer.

Wow, that sounds interesting!

I did Hong Kong and China with Ritz Tours a few years back. Flew out alone and met the group there. I was the only solo traveller in our group of 9 (me, 3 couples and 2 friends). We spent 3 weeks travelling around, I loved it! Would highly recommend.

Wow, so many recommendations, thanks all.

I really only want short haul and really just Italy for next year. But I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference.

Voyages Jules Verne do great trips and have a lot of deals on solo travellers.

My Voyages Jules Verne recommended does Italy..

I've been away with Explore a few times as a single person. I can totally recommend them. It's not a 'singles' holiday as such there is a mixture but single people are well catered for and it's good to have people to go out for meals with and talk to.

I did Sicily with Jules Verne.

Gnerally recommended. Negatives are you don’t always get as much time anywhere as you would like, and solo travellers seem to get the worst rooms.

It was really well organised, guide was great, and you cover a lot of ground.