Solo travel in your sixties: enjoyable, realistic and safe?

[Dora60]

I would love to hear stories of solo travelling from women in their sixties. I’m approaching that era and thinking about retirement, my other half is a few years older but still working (own business) and probably always will! We will travel together a couple of times a year, long haul most likely, but I know I’m going to want to do more, whilst he’s happy at home, working, gardening, golfing. I’m not sure I’d want to do organised group holidays, so I’m thinking more along the lines of 2/3 weeks in an Airbnb in various cities, Portugal, Italy, Germany. Whilst part of me thinks it would be the perfect way to broaden horizons and break up the year, I’m not sure I’m being realistic about it. Would it actually feel quite lonely and potentially a bit unsafe? I’d be interested in hearing opinions.

I recommend the Solo in Style group on Facebook for solo women travellers over 50 - really helpful for tips & recommendations. I love solo holidays but mine are usually a week in a couple of hotels.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/198m365GL7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I’d start with Northern Europe in smaller hotels so you’ll have breakfast provided and may get the chance to meet other guests. I personally would be considering hopping from city to city by train or flixbus staying 3 nights in each place, don’t prebook though, just book a ticket and the next hotel as you go to be flexible. (We do this but by motorcycle). There’s so many places you wouldn’t spend a whole holiday in but would be interesting to see. I particularly recommend Germany and the Nordics

@Dora60 If you act fast (sale ends today - 9am I believe 😯) there is a huge sale at Interail. I got an over 60 1month continous rail pass for £272 which is half price - I intend to do exactly as you are planning next Sept.

I'm 58 and have been single for about 15 years so going on holiday alone is my default and I can't see it changing!

I think the thing that I miss most is sharing experiences in the moment with someone; it's not the same as telling someone about it afterwards.

I find that evenings can feel quite lonely. You don't always want to go out again if you've been out all day but then it is just you and your book or netflix on a phone or tablet. You might think this would be heaven if you are normally busy at home, but I find it can drag a bit after a few days.

Also, everything is down to you; there is nobody else to suggest things to do or to share the admin parts of travel or sort it out if things go wrong.

I haven't felt unsafe while away but I tend to take the same kind of precautions that I do at home.

I agree with PP that a few days here and there would be better than 2 or 3 weeks in one place.

I do sound very negative, but don't let this put you off. You'll only know if you like it if you give it a go!

Go for it. I'm 67 and I go on hiking trips by myself. Off to Nepal next year. The trek itself is a group trip but I'll have an extra couple of days in Kathmandu by myself.

I like the idea of 2/3 weeks somewhere. Or even longer, I’d plan to have people come stay for a bit too….its nice to get into the rhythm of a place.

I did similar travelling solo in my 20s. I'm not sure why you'd feel unsafe? I never felt unsafe then when arguably I was more vulnerable to men.

At 60+ you are more likely to look like you live somewhere. Just do the normal stuff. Cross body bag etc.

If You are happy walking around Central London at night then I'd say you'll be fine anywhere else.

I am 54 and have been solo travelling for 25 years. I am not sure why that should suddenly change in 6 years.
I am never lonely. I hate group travel. I like to set my own schedule.

I travelled like this in developed countries when I was young.
I imagine it's much easier now (I'm nearing 60).
I still do travel like this in UK, actually.

Those places OP lists have lots of accommodation & transport options you can organise online and lots of "how to be a tourist in x city" info.

I have been going on organised group trips because I like activity holidays moving on every other day & someone else to deliver a bicycle to a start point, what is the route to follow, or know where we should stop for lunch, etc. Also I live alone and often work alone in office so I would rather travel with others, even if I barely know them.

I’d suggest a hotel/ private room in a hostel rather than Airbnb. There will be people around rather than you sitting in your own apartment, and usually a receptionist to ask where to go and eat for example.

I only do AirBnbs in Europe. Cheaper and great deals.
As for organising, I now use Chatgpt. It's great for suggesting things to see, lunches etc.

I do a lot of solo travelling here in the UK and am just starting to branch out to doing it abroad although so far have chickened out and only gone in a group! I get ideas from the Facebook group Solo Female Travellers (first FB group for Women Who Travel Solo) although it's for women of all ages...I'm going to check out the one mentioned in the post above, Solo in Style for over 50s 😄
It does seem though, that although you need to take all the usual precautions, it's quite safe especially for women of our age...all the women on my group who say they've been catcalled and harassed tended to have been younger women. Oh the joys of being older and invisible!!! 😄

I travel in countries like Turkey, Cambodia and Thailand alone. I am perfectly invisible. Love being 50 +.

I'm late 50s and I've done group travel as a solo and also travel by myself. I can only do group travel for fairly short periods, as I find endless small talk a real bore and prefer to set my own pace. I do enjoy the fact that I don't have to think about any of the organising and that I have people to have dinner with. What works really well for me is an activity based holiday as a solo, so a yoga week, sailing tuition week, cookery course or Mark Warner / Neilson type of thing.

When I travel completely on my own, I rarely eat out by myself in the evenings. I feel very comfortable eating by myself at breakfast and lunchtime but I really don't enjoy it in the evenings. So I tend to have a lovely lunch out somewhere and then eat in my room / apartment in the evening.

Yes, yes and yes.

I do walking holidays in the UK and beach/city breaks in Europe and N Africa. I stay in small, mostly family run hotels or hostels. In my seventies now.

Slightly similar situation to OP; husband somehow runs out of annual leave so I go away by myself a lot (just back from a few days in Yorkshire). When I was working, I was in hotels by myself a fair bit so I suppose I am used to it.

I would start with a short break (call it a trial run). I would probably pick a city-based aparthotel over an Airbnb and chose somewhere with a good transport network. If you lose confidence, you can simply self-cater and most will have a staffed reception. If you find somewhere moderately touristy you can join daytrips or walking tours. Lots of cities seem to offer food/drink-tasting tours these days.

I would be inclined to start with “northern Europe” (Denmark/Belgium/Switzerland/Netherlands etc).

A couple of hours on the Man in Seat 61’s website will help you understand whether you should get a railpass for the relevant countries.

Good luck and happy travelling.

PS Flixbus are pretty good for longer journeys as you don’t have to worry about somebody walking off with your luggage

I am in my 50s now and have travelled solo all over the world! I have often met other solo women along the way in their 60s and 70s. I find solo travel really empowering. My advice would be first to not overthink it, just focus on where you want to go/what you want to do/see and go, and second be engaged and start conversations with people, locals, other travellers, anyone, you’ll meet people as you go.

I'm 63 and off to Romania tomorrow for three weeks on my own; Bucharest, Sibiu, Timisoara, Oradea, Brasov and back to Bucharest. All Air BnB.

Stupidly excited about it!

Just posting an alternative viewpoint to those saying start in Europe. I find Europe can be a lonely and cold place. As a solo traveller (partner dislikes travel) my very best solo trips have been further afield to Sri Lanka and Thailand. In both I stayed in home stays, small independent accommodation with local families. This is a wonderful way to stay as a solo traveller, the families were so nice and welcoming and I had lovely company if or when I wanted it, eg being included in family meals if wanted. I really recommend considering this as an option. You can really experience local culture in a unique way as a solo traveller in home stays

Well, I’m in my 50s, but regularly go away by myself, mostly to European cities to see exhibitions or operas I want to see. It’s pure bliss. Five days in Madrid in which I did literally nothing but look at art from 10 in the morning till 9 at night before falling into the bath on my hotel was a particular highlight last year.

I’ve never felt remotely unsafe or lonely. Mix of hotels and Airbnbs.

This sounds great!
How do you find places to stay?

For both of those, before booking the trip I took time to research the areas I wanted to stay in and looked in Facebook groups and online for recommendations from other travellers for home stays. You do have to take a little time to suss it out and find the information. Facebook groups for travellers or tourists to specific places can be good for info. Also things like Bradt guides can be good.

Oh no, I missed this! Do they do this regularly?

It's still there! Not sure what time today it ends.

@FictionalCharacter sorry- my bad. Tom morning 9am. And no - this has been the first 50% one for years! They do have other sales though. But this one really was too good to
miss (I’m going to work out the details later!)