Holidaying on your own, a bit tragic?
Discussion
I've done about 6 holidays by myself. No problem, and certainly not tragic. You have the benefits of being on your own schedule too, and no commitee meeting trying to decide what to do with each day. Though it helps if you're comfortable with your own company - if you go to some far flung corner you might be the only person you talk to for a week, though there's always plenty of other tourists around.
My last Solo holiday was Korea. Wife wanted Europe, I wanted Asia. We'd already had a holiday together that year, so I went to Seoul alone and she went to Barcelona alone, worked out well for both of us. She has no problem travelling alone either. Just make sure to take a few thick books for the boring moments.
100% recommended. Tragic is not doing something only because others might think it is tragic.
My last Solo holiday was Korea. Wife wanted Europe, I wanted Asia. We'd already had a holiday together that year, so I went to Seoul alone and she went to Barcelona alone, worked out well for both of us. She has no problem travelling alone either. Just make sure to take a few thick books for the boring moments.
100% recommended. Tragic is not doing something only because others might think it is tragic.
Edited by mej023 on Wednesday 15th May 12:46
Kozy said:
Personally, I like the idea of it.
How do you wangle it when you have a wife and kids though?
My wife is glad to see the back of me for a week. She also does stuff with her sister who lives across the country which I decline to participate in so I'm "owed it". How do you wangle it when you have a wife and kids though?
(I've just read that back and it sounds far more "interesting" than it was meant to....)
Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 15th May 19:35
Last year I went to The Bahamas with a load of mates to celebrate a 50th birthday.
I couldn't go for the whole stint so I went out on my own after they had already been there 6 days. I enjoyed the traveling solo bit, enjoyed my own company and talking to people in the bar whilst waiting for my connection to one of the islands.
It was great to see the lads but after a couple of days I really fancied being on my own again.
Think I'm getting old and cranky but thanks to this thread it has given me the incentive to either head out to Europe in my car or on my bike, or even dig out the small tent and go off on my lonesome as the camping with the kids a couple of years back was bloody hard work
I couldn't go for the whole stint so I went out on my own after they had already been there 6 days. I enjoyed the traveling solo bit, enjoyed my own company and talking to people in the bar whilst waiting for my connection to one of the islands.
It was great to see the lads but after a couple of days I really fancied being on my own again.
Think I'm getting old and cranky but thanks to this thread it has given me the incentive to either head out to Europe in my car or on my bike, or even dig out the small tent and go off on my lonesome as the camping with the kids a couple of years back was bloody hard work
One of the nest holidays I ever had was on my own - I had total freedom because I was a teacher at the time so had a full six weeks to do as I wanted.
I just got in the car and drove north with a tent, some beer and a borrowed camping stove (that I used once) for company. I pottered wherever I fancied and rolled up at a campsite most afternoons about 3 ish (so if they were full I had time to find somewhere else, although I always got a space for my and my small tent)
It's great to do what you want without worrying. The evening I remember most was parked up overlooking a marvellous view, listening to a concert on radio 3 and the rain bouncing off the car, while I read the paper. Sounds tragic, but it was magical. Do it - nobody knows or cares who you are with.
I just got in the car and drove north with a tent, some beer and a borrowed camping stove (that I used once) for company. I pottered wherever I fancied and rolled up at a campsite most afternoons about 3 ish (so if they were full I had time to find somewhere else, although I always got a space for my and my small tent)
It's great to do what you want without worrying. The evening I remember most was parked up overlooking a marvellous view, listening to a concert on radio 3 and the rain bouncing off the car, while I read the paper. Sounds tragic, but it was magical. Do it - nobody knows or cares who you are with.
I'd always wanted to visit Cyprus, no-one else was that fussed so I went on my own. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole week and hadn't felt so relaxed in years. Get up when I wanted, do what I wanted to do - bliss!
Far from getting any pity from people I got chatting to they were rather jealous of the freedom I had to please myself.
Far from getting any pity from people I got chatting to they were rather jealous of the freedom I had to please myself.
Done quite a bit of travelling alone and it can be a bit lonely sometimes, but with a good book and a nice cafe or bar, it can be nice and relaxing. I have had people say it is tragic or even dangerous but I know loads of people who do it. The main reason I ever go alone is that I rarely end up with the same time off or want to the same places as anyone else.
My last trip was good. I spent a week on my own in various Belgian cities before meeting a friend in Maastricht any spending a week in Germany and Holland with him. The best of both worlds.
If you want to meet more people join couchsurfing. You can use it to sleep on other peoples couches or just to go for coffee with someone who lives where you are visiting.
My last trip was good. I spent a week on my own in various Belgian cities before meeting a friend in Maastricht any spending a week in Germany and Holland with him. The best of both worlds.
If you want to meet more people join couchsurfing. You can use it to sleep on other peoples couches or just to go for coffee with someone who lives where you are visiting.
Regularly book a week in spain with off road bike outfits who will get me a bike, the kit and a guide.
Have met lots of great people and on a bike you're on your own effectively anyway so what does it matter.
I do all my European, far East, and Australia business trips on my own too, and often have days or afternoon/ evenings to myself- its the best way, strike up conversation with the random public or don't its up to you.
having all my favourite films and tunes on the iphone give me all the comfort/isolation that I need.
You wont regret it, just make sure you tell someone at in your home country when you are going and a loose itinerary so they don't think you've gone missing eh!
Have met lots of great people and on a bike you're on your own effectively anyway so what does it matter.
I do all my European, far East, and Australia business trips on my own too, and often have days or afternoon/ evenings to myself- its the best way, strike up conversation with the random public or don't its up to you.
having all my favourite films and tunes on the iphone give me all the comfort/isolation that I need.
You wont regret it, just make sure you tell someone at in your home country when you are going and a loose itinerary so they don't think you've gone missing eh!
Very far from tragic! 6yrs ago I split up with my control-freak mentalist of an ex-girlfriend whom I'd come to realise I had little in common with. She'd lived in the US in her teens and had an irrational dislike of America, whilst I love the place. Similarly I love music festivals, she hated them. So, as some personal karma-rebuilding I booked myself to go to a music festival in Texas, Austin City Limits.
I had a total whale of a time, and whilst I'm neither shy nor extrovert I had no trouble meeting people, in fact it led to me making a whole new group of friends there, I've been back three times since, most recently as part of a road trip on honeymoon with my now wife, one of the friends I made chucked us the keys to his Jeep to explore the Hill Country round Lake Travis for a few days, it was brilliant.
I've done a whole load of solo motorcycle tours to, there's a lot to be said to having time to yourself and doing what the hell you want, when you want.
In fact, I need to go see the Picos De Europa soon .... hmmmmm :-)
I had a total whale of a time, and whilst I'm neither shy nor extrovert I had no trouble meeting people, in fact it led to me making a whole new group of friends there, I've been back three times since, most recently as part of a road trip on honeymoon with my now wife, one of the friends I made chucked us the keys to his Jeep to explore the Hill Country round Lake Travis for a few days, it was brilliant.
I've done a whole load of solo motorcycle tours to, there's a lot to be said to having time to yourself and doing what the hell you want, when you want.
In fact, I need to go see the Picos De Europa soon .... hmmmmm :-)
PurpleTurtle said:
Very far from tragic! 6yrs ago I split up with my control-freak mentalist of an ex-girlfriend whom I'd come to realise I had little in common with. She'd lived in the US in her teens and had an irrational dislike of America, whilst I love the place. Similarly I love music festivals, she hated them. So, as some personal karma-rebuilding I booked myself to go to a music festival in Texas, Austin City Limits.
I had a total whale of a time, and whilst I'm neither shy nor extrovert I had no trouble meeting people, in fact it led to me making a whole new group of friends there, I've been back three times since, most recently as part of a road trip on honeymoon with my now wife, one of the friends I made chucked us the keys to his Jeep to explore the Hill Country round Lake Travis for a few days, it was brilliant.
I've done a whole load of solo motorcycle tours to, there's a lot to be said to having time to yourself and doing what the hell you want, when you want.
In fact, I need to go see the Picos De Europa soon .... hmmmmm :-)
Too late. You have officially booked into the Hotel Pistonheads - you can check out but you can never leave....I had a total whale of a time, and whilst I'm neither shy nor extrovert I had no trouble meeting people, in fact it led to me making a whole new group of friends there, I've been back three times since, most recently as part of a road trip on honeymoon with my now wife, one of the friends I made chucked us the keys to his Jeep to explore the Hill Country round Lake Travis for a few days, it was brilliant.
I've done a whole load of solo motorcycle tours to, there's a lot to be said to having time to yourself and doing what the hell you want, when you want.
In fact, I need to go see the Picos De Europa soon .... hmmmmm :-)
NelsonR32 said:
Basically, I feel the need to get away from everything and everyone for a while and have some thinking space. I don't have a girlfriend at the moment and I don't really fancy the R&R of a pissup/banter with mates. I'm talking more pack a tent in the car and drive a few hours to somewhere in the country to a nice campsite. Maybe go for a few jogs, update the CV on the tablet, prop up a bar in a random pub, take the car for a blast etc. (maybe no in that order!).
Keep coming back to the thought its maybe a bit tragic though to be holidaying on my own even though it would only be a long weekend. Anyone done this before? Was it a disaster? Did it work? Would you do it again?
I did this once donkeys years ago when I was in a similar position. However, I combined it with a PADI diving course, knowing that there would be people in a similar position.Keep coming back to the thought its maybe a bit tragic though to be holidaying on my own even though it would only be a long weekend. Anyone done this before? Was it a disaster? Did it work? Would you do it again?
Had a great time, got my PADI and my end away - triple win
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