Solo Holiday

[LittlePudding1]

I’ve hit 50 and feel like I really want to go on holiday on my own to lie in the sun, do a bit of sightseeing, read my book and just generally get away from the drudgery of life!

I’m thinking Greece for 5 nights end of May but I’m feeling a bit apprehensive, not sure why.

I have teenagers 17 & 15 who will be fine on their own and we will have a holiday together later in the year.

Has anyone who regularly solo travels got any advice please?

I just don’t want people trying to include me because they feel sorry for me being on my own, does this happen?

I travel solo a lot and I love it, but it's definitely not for everyone. I know some solo travellers who love it (some so much they have a hard time adjusting to having a partner who wants to travel with them), some who tolerate it because the alternative is either not going or putting up with an incompatible/draining/unpredictable travel partner - and some who were persuaded to try it but hate it and feel it's not worth going alone.

If you're not sure if you'll enjoy it, one "test" I like is to ask yourself to imagine being alone for a three-day weekend - let's say all of your friends and family go out of town, but you have to stay put for a personal or work commitment that still has you alone at home. Would you be climbing the walls by the end, or quite happy doing your own thing for a bit? If climbing the walls, then solo travel may not be for you, but if happy - I think you can risk it for five days in a place you expect to like. If you hate it you never have to do it again but if you love it, it might open up a lot more options.

I just don’t want people trying to include me because they feel sorry for me being on my own, does this happen? I'm not sure what you mean by this - do you mean a friend or family member might invite you along on a trip only because they feel sorry for you going solo? If so, I guess that could happen but you'd probably know it and in that case I'd decline the invitation. If you mean will people be fake nice to you on the road because they feel sorry for you as a solo traveller then no, I don't think so (much). You may meet people when travelling solo - for example, by doing a free walking tour or checking out some excursions on the local hostel bulletin board, whether you're staying there or not, or even just by chance - but if you do they're likely spending time with you because they also want (your) company.

I am 51 and looking at more solo holidays. My partner is not a fan of holidays and neither is my son, they both prefer chilling at home, although they will come away with me sometimes. I can travel out of school holidays off-peak and would like to have more holidays whilst I am in good health. Looking at Pilates/yoga retreats and possibly art/history/painting holidays because there seems a market for these and most of the others who go seem to be single and you can also have a private room which I would want. This option seems more attractive than travelling completely alone since there is some organisation to them. Is this your sort of thing?

After I separated from my ex husband I really needed to get away on my own to clear my head so left my 4 year old with my mum for a week and went to Greece to a “house party” style holiday with Friendship Travel who were excellent. That was a while ago now but I’d really recommend it.

It’s a U.K. based solo travel company, so kind of a group of solo travellers, and you have a host/rep type person who will help organise trips. You can dip in or out as you like of the trips and socialising with others generally, or having evening meals together etc. - basically you can go off on your own all day and nobody will bat an eyelid (other than the host maybe checking in that you’ve returned safely), but it means there is usually some company if you want it which is nice. And nobody feeling sorry for you!

People are travelling solo because of a real mix of situations, many single/divorced/widowed, but a few people who were married whose spouses couldn’t get time off or were too unwell to travel anymore etc. I’d say it was mostly people in their 40s and 50s but a few younger and a few older too.

I think a solo travel holiday company is such a good option! I’m sure there are other companies too but this is the one I used (since then I’ve tended to travel with my child though I did go to a few single parent company holidays too for similar reasons!)

www.friendshiptravel.com

@jennylamb1 I also agree an activity holiday like you suggested will also attract a lot of solo travellers.