Solo travel on retirement

[greasyspooncafe]

I'm thinking ahead here (am 53) but want to travel / explore when I retire. I'm single and may or may not meet a partner before then.

I travelled a lot alone when I was younger but I wanted to get advice from fellow ladies on how you've travelled for more than just a week or two. I like the idea of a Barefoot Caravan but not the hell of towing a caraven alone! I have had no experience of a camper and I wouldn't know where to start.

I'd like to head south at the start of October and be overseas in Europe for 6 weeks to shorten the winter- and repeat in March. I wouldn't be in one place all the time. Hence my questions.

What do you do? How do you travel alone if you're not in posh hotels? Do you take a pet for companionship?

There are some great campervan facebook groups for female solo travelers.

My friend who’s 60’s does lots of Exodus trips on her own, not for weeks at a time but she always has good things to say about her experiences

It sounds as if you are in UK, & just want to go to Europe?

Lots of options if you really want to travel the world.

I've travelled a lot in my youth and lived overseas in Asia and Africa so for a regular winter thing it would be france and Spain- two countries I've lived in also

Assuming you drive, definitely investigate camper vans and also the online groups for women and vans.

Thank you. Yes I'm familiar with Exodus and a colleague recommended them to me a few weeks ago. I'm thinking more along lines of true solo travel rather than joining a group (or joining a group for a week in the middle of a longer road if that makes sense)!

Can u share a link?

I dont how to send a link to a FBgroup but I follow one called, surprisingly, Ladies Camper Van Travel Group. Hopefully you can track it down.

I'm retired (No kids or other baggage!), and go away for about 4 weeks over Christmas and New Year. I don't like Christmas here at all, so it's mainly to escape the crap surrounding it, and get longer days and a bit of uplifting sunshine.

I would not personally do camper vanning on my own. I know that might sound negative and not sassy enough, I don't care. I'd be scared in the park ups on my own and I wouldn't sleep properly in case someone got in, or the van was broken into while I wasn't there. All kinds of things, which I think are normal as a woman of a certain age! It's ok for the young things, they are fearless, just like I was when younger, but not having the ability to race away from danger makes me value my comfort and safety these days. 😊

So I usually rent air BnB or stay in a host lodging (see below) in Southern France for about ten days up to mid December, then go down to Southern Spain around Estepona for Christmas and beyond. Again, airBnb or a nice hotel whichever is easier. I know places a bit better now so feel it's easier to get around alone. I use trains and coaches. Much less hassle for me, but I have perfected the art of just bringing a smallish backpack. Great for getting around easily and on and off transport.

If you are interested there are lots of host places where you stay with the owner, kind of like the original version of Airbnb. I used one in Arles a couple of years ago and it was great. This is not the one I used but the concept is similar. Quite inexpensive and if you get a good host you are made up.

www.homestay.com/france/arles/57300-homestay-in-la-roquette-arles

Thank you so much! This is really helpful and something I hadn't even considered. Totally unaware of home stays. I will look into!