Where would you go...

[escapetoacountry]

Have name changed for this though I lurk more than post. Back story - horrendous last couple of years trying to divorce exH

British Columbia. Heal your soul with nature - see orcas, grizzlies and a myriad of other wildlife which will make your soul sing.

In Vancouver there will be tons to occupy your time and you can be at the end of a phone/email if needs be.

Hit up the mountains and you can be totally off grid.

(Another lurking nc'ing hobbiter who found peace in BC).

i would rent an apartment in a city, Florence, or Paris, or anywhere really, and relax into culture, city life, long walks round everything, stopping for coffees, or wine and going to museums, galleries, goes, concerts, the opera.

But I guess it might depend where you live: I am in the sticks so long for city life.

Oh, or I might go to San Francisco, and wander round pretending to be in Tales of the City ??

Iguazu and Rio if you're willing to go to the top end of your flight limit.

Iguazu took my breath away and I found plenty of, um, distractions from a bad man in Rio de Janeiro.

Or Portugal is nice if you want something cultural and closer. Lisbon is gorgeous. Nice coast nearby. And it's fairly small so you can go to Porto in the same week and get ratted on port

I vote for a lusophone territory!

New York.
Boston
Toronto
Any main city in Europe.
A beach somewhere hot.

Depends on what sort of break you want really.

Ooh yes NYC. Thought I'd hate it. Loved it. You can be many things there but bored is not one of them.

NYC was the best experience of my life. I'd recommend booking on tours so you know where you're going. Book a spa day whilst there too for some relaxation, maybe towards the end of your trip.

I did:

Tour of 50 movie sites
NBC studios
Rockerfella (sp?) centre
Empire State
Ground zero
Statue of Liberty
Brooklyn bridge
Times Square
Madame Tussaud's

Go and watch a show on Broadway!

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I shall have to get researching.

ToGoBoldly that kind of distraction would be ahem most welcome!!

NYC is actually at the top of my list but a friend said it was too intense and it might be too much as the first trip by myself? Is that bollocks?

Or if you need inner peace a holiday like the body holiday in st Lucia. Beauty or relaxation treatment every day and then you can fill up as much as you like of the rest of the day with organised classes, water sports, day trips. All inclusive, no children and quite a few people travelling alone.

Barcelona. Airport bus every 7 mins straight into centre of city. 6e and takes 35 mins. Lots to do and loads of beaches. Organised tours etc. really easy for a first trip.

Skyros. Someone I know went by herself, had a wonderful time and made friends.
www.skyros.com

(Actually the company does holidays in lots of destinations not just Skyros)

Your friend is talking bollocks about NYC. It is intense, and if you're doing the Statue of Liberty, Empire State and so on there will be crowds and it will be hectic. But you can do that for a couple of days, and spend other days doing more serene stuff like the High Line, Central Park (I did walking tours of both, loved them, especially the High Line), or a boat trip around manhattan island.
(get a New York pass, excellent value)

I was obliged to go for something specific and wss expecting to hate it, I'm so not a crowds kind of girl. But I adored it, amazing city. Even the crazy bits. And it's somewhere you can unashamedly do all the naff touristy shit like which is infinite fun.

I got more action in Brazil though

Canada. BC or Alberta. Canadians are such lovely people and it is a beautiful place.
Or do some interailing in Europe and do the cultural thing.

Would avoid any type of resort as on your own that's not going to offer you what you want just a load of other people playing happy families.

Anywhere with friendship travel! Organises holidays for solo travellers. Did it last year. Best thing I ever did. Companionship when you want but no pressure to join in if you want solitude.

If you do NYC, the FREE Staten island ferry is a must - take it out at dusk, returning in just dark, utterly breath taking, just what you see in the movies. Agree with the high line too and I adored China town and Greenwich and just bloody everything, it's the best

NYC is actually at the top of my list but a friend said it was too intense and it might be too much as the first trip by myself? Is that bollocks?

Utterly

My first NYC trip was on my own and it was awesome. Totally awesome.

Each day I chose a different area to go to.

I would say St Lucia or Grenada in Caribeean where they have adults only spa hotels with lots of activities and lots of solo travelers. I love New York and it is not intense at all but the thing with city travelling is that in the evening you end up eating by yourself and that's when all the issues on your mind hit you. I know only of two adults only hotels very popular with solo travellers (one in Grenada and another one in St Lucia) - I am sure there are more around the world - there you really have no time to think - the whole day is packed with activities (yoga, Pilates, tai chi, you name it) and in the evening solo travellers gather at the bar and then usually have dinner together.
I also heard about friendship travel (haven't tried it myself) and they organise trips for solo travellers.