Solo Holiday-Where do I Begin

davidtn

Hi folks

Just looking for some advice/recommendations here.
Male, 34, recently single after many years!
Ive started planning my holidays & with most my friends either married
or unable to holiday abroad with effects of recession, Ive decided to go it alone this year!

Just wondered has anyone been on a holiday alone recently/last year?
How did it go?
Kind of find the thought slightly daunting but it beats sitting on the couch this year.
I did come across something on the traveldepartment.ie which advertised solo friendly holidays, but just wondered are they solo friendly because you dont have to pay a single supplement rate or that there are actually all solo holiday travelers & I would also be keen not to end up on a tour the same age group as my parents .

Just wondered if anyone had any recent experience or used particular group/tour operators for single holidays?? How was the holiday?
. No specific destination in mind. Thought about NYC/Asia but Im open to anything.
Comments/suggestions welcome.
Thank You

aineoco

Last summer I traveled from LA to NYC on my own. Daunting at first but amazing in the finish! I did some of it alone but used TrekAmerica for a
LA/Grand Canyon/Vegas adventure. It was a great decision. Lots of us on our own and had seriously good craic!

another native

The Patt Club is for solo travellers, but it adds a supplement for single rooms.

cutymonalisa

Gadventures or Interpid, both great for single travellers!

mrsWhippy

I'd avoid the travel department, average age is older and full of couples ... not to say they're not a good agency, they are, but id second a trip with Gap or Intrepid! I went to India with Gap and it was a fantastic trip with solo travellers, young couples and retirees! Great mix of ppl and great fun!

formernyer

Agree on Intrepid. Exodus are good too. http://www.exodus.co.uk/

The big advantage with going with on a group trip is you will have company - there's usually a mix of different people, ages, nationalities - some couples, some singles. You can look out for "solo only" trips too.

I think both won't charge a single supplement if you're willing to share.

december83

i have travelled numerous times on my own to many countries (europe, america, middle east, australia). i am in my late twenties and i can highly recommend it, the possibilites are endless.
i have never been on my group solo organised thingy as its not my cup of tea. so if you fancy setting off by yourself, i would suggest your first solo trip to be to a country which language you speak (dunno what lang you speak apart from english) cause then you can mix with locals and travel about with a little more ease (its one less thing to be anxious about). and maybe over the course of your trip you do some organised day trips or a few days, where you get to mingle with other travellers.
dunno if you are a hotel person or hostel, but for a solo travellers the hostel is the place to socialise and maybe find another person on the same route as you?
you will learn so much about yourself when you take a trip on your own (the good and the bad), i cant recommend it enough.
PM me if you have any further questions
good luck

music crazy

@Davidtn how did you travel in the end with a tour or solo?I'm thinking of doing the same and just wondered how you got on.


Thanks

cclittlec

Hi music crazy, saw your bump there. Just wondering if you have had any luck organising your solo travel? I'm hopin to go away in July for a bit (most likely solo) but amn't sure where would be good to go at a reasonable price. I've looked up Intrepid Travel and Gadventures but they are a bit too pricey when July flights are factored in.

music crazy

@ cclittlec I looked up a lot of different tour operators but I think I have decided that a tour is not for me. I had been thinking of it as it sounded less daunting than travelling solo. I did a tour to Italy while in school. I loved it and I have wanted to return ever since, but on reflection there was far too much travelling involved. I mean it was great you got to see a lot of places and sites in such a short space of time but the reality is you were up at six and after hours travelling you might get one or two hours in a place at the most. I also feel that the price of those tours is extortionate , as you still have to live after that never mind the flights. I found a tour leaving Ireland to Rome and Sorrento for seven days and it worked out at just over a grand incl.flights with four nights half board and when you compare to the other tour operators is really great value. The advantage of this one is there is very little travelling and still time for lots of sightseeing, the only disadvantage of this option is that it would probably attract an older age group as most tours of Italy probably do unless you go with the likes of contiki , topdeck etc.I'm feeling brave at the moment and I'm planning to go to Italy next year for two weeks. I plan to visit Rome , Florence , Sorrento and Venice if time allows. I feel I will have much more freedom this way and should have plenty of time in each but if I do chicken out of going solo there is always the tour to fall back on !! Have you ever done a solo trip yourself?

cclittlec

Yeah I've been to Madrid and Barcelona on my own but that's it! Think I will venture further afield this time and for a bit longer but have yet to decide where. A little nervous about it too! I agree with you about organised tours, the prices of some are utterly ridiculous! I found that once you stay in hostels you will meet people to hang out with. You have to put yourself out there a bit more but most people are really welcoming and generally you will find a lot of other solo travellers staying in hostels too. I think the hardest step is booking the flights and actually committing to it!