Solo travel where would you go?

[startingoveragainagain]

I'm really hoping to go away for a week or two this year. I'm just not sure where to go. I'll be (hopefully) just divorced. I haven't been away since before lockdown. I'm after an adventure. I was carjacked many years ago, so a bit nervous, but my life has been miserable for years and i'm yearning for a life.
I have a friend who left her husband and kids at home last New Year and went to south africa on safari but that feels a bit too brave for me.
I'm used to 5 star all inc with my ex, but i'm worried that sort of thing i'd be surrounded by couples or families - and I don't want a holiday to highlight how miserable my life is.

Any suggestions where might be a good place for me to go and whether anyone has any experience of guided tours? (i'm 51, childless for reference).

I've never done paddleboarding or surfing, I loved surf canoeing when I was 16 - which is a long time ago. I do like Yoga.

I've thought about a Yoga retreat and have looked at InSpa but again seem really expensive 🙁

Go to Thailand! I spent 5 months there on my own and felt very safe, and free! I just booked trips when I got there and met lots of people that way.

Or look for a hotel / resort that offers quite a few classes / activities you like so you know you have some things to do that you will enjoy, and without having to go out anywhere.

My friend's mum used to go away with Saga holidays. The stereotype is that they're for the pipe and slippers brigade but they're for 50+. She's very adventurous and went to all sorts of interesting places and met a lot of interesting people.

Explore Worldwide - they’ve been around for years and travelled with them a lot on the past pre DH - I have friends who’ve used them more recently

Somewhere like sharm el sheikh, fully inclusive hotels and learn to scuba dive.
underwater safari!!
once qualified scuba diving is not actually that expensive to do.
or small boat cruises- you lots of interesting things, ie if you were interested in classic civilisation you can visit places with a specialist lecturer etc

If you want a cheap cruise and you can go at the last minute have a look at Ambassador cruises.

It’s passion for cruises - sorry, probably wasn’t clear in my post.

ETA link: Passion For Cruises
029 2061 9961

https://g.co/kgs/CXssBBn

I visited this place in Indonesia a few years ago when travelling solo and really liked it:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g608495-d3178794-Reviews-Subak_Tabola_Villa-Sidemen_Karangasem_Bali.html

It isn't a retreat, but does have yoga classes. Sidemen is also a good spot for hiking.

Thailand

Can I ask where you've been? I'm going away in October with my son who will be 13 then. I'm nervous as it'll be the first time we've been away since I separated from his dad! Sorry for railroading the thread.

I'd pick a Greek island. I'd spend my days reading, swimming, snorkeling and eating good food.

After divorce I did a few with explore... www.explore.co.uk
Did a few like Cyprus and turkey as well as some more adventurous ones like China.

I'd go back to Egypt and learn to scuba dive again. To think I was on the verge of a train tour across Europe, visiting all the romantic places. That would have been incredibly depressing.

Can also recommend skydiving. Also many hot and available men (depends what you want, I suppose).

Something like this? https://www.swimtrek.com/packages/swimming-holiday-crete-discovery-short-swims

I got divorced this year and went to Santorini on my own. I drank beer on the beach and read books and ate my bodyweight in moussaka. Highly recommend!

Another shout-out for Explore/Exodus - especially if it involves going to places that are a bit off the beaten track or doing activities such as walking/cycling which you might not want to do by yourself. There's usually a good mixture of singles and friendly couples and you can pay more to have your own room. I've also chosen to add a few extra days on which I've spent by myself - so that can be a good way of getting used to travelling by yourself. One year I went by train from the UK to the south of Italy via Switzerland which was lovely!

Join the solo cruises group on facebook. They get special offers and are a friendly bunch, many are older but were very welcoming when I was in your position. As it happens I went with my dd in the end but it's a good starting point and on board there's the option of dining with other solos if you like, but you don't have to

I decided last year that I wanted to do something this year that I had never done before and to go somewhere I'd never been. I ended up on a cruise. I went with P&O and there were (unhosted) meet ups for solo travellers each morning and evening. I had a brilliant time and met a lovely bunch of people. You can be as sociable (or not!) as you like, and I met people to have dinner with and spend port days with. You can book organised excursions or just do your own thing when in port. I enjoyed it so much I'm going on another cruise in march. As has been suggested above, look at the Passion for Cruises website and join their facebook group. There are some great bargains to be had!

I am recently separated and did a language holiday last summer. I had never been away on my own before. I booked the fanciest accommodation available and it was still cheap as chips (I was in Barcelona).
There was three hours of language learning in the mornings, then optional activities in the afternoons and evenings. There were loads of people on their own from all over the world and the middle aged people kind of gravitated towards each other. I had loads of fun. Going to do another this year

Would you be able to provide the name or link, please?

https://www.caminobarcelona.com/?utm_source=Maps&utm_medium=profile. - this is where I went in July

I was also here, in Valencia, but with a friend, not alone. The accommodation was nicer and I prefer Valencia but the school in Barcelona was bigger and there were more students my approximate age https://espanoleschool.com/

The school, activities and room with private bathroom and shared kitchen came to less than €700 in Valencia for one week and it gets cheaper the longer you're there.
Barcelona is more expensive. School, activities and room with private bathroom came to €900.
In both places the accommodation was ridiculously central and a 3 minute walk from the school. Activities were things like walking tours of neighbourhoods and touristy spots. I like that sort of thing, I found the local knowledge really interesting. More than that, they were great for getting to know people and then at the end you group up and go for tapas and drinks. I had loads of fun.

Sounds fantastic OP. What are your interests? What type of holiday would you enjoy? All inclusive at a gorgeous resort with lovely pools and restaurants and maybe a spa? Would a cruise be something you would enjoy?

for dipping your toe in 😉@startingoveragainagain I'd agree with @Snowmanscarf

Princess Cruise

eta; cost will be hugely dependent on whether you have an interior/balcony etc. type room 🙂