Finding someone to go on holidays with...

LegacyUser

I'm kind of embarressed asking about such a trivial thing compared to most other issues on this forum, but I hope you can help me with it.

I really want to go on holidays this year. I rarely get to go abroad, and most of the times I have been, it has been with my family. I am a man in my twenties so I can't really do that anymore!

The issue lies with all my friends having no money (due to lack of decent paying jobs/no jobs) or have left the country to live abroad. I am really at a loss as to what to do. I could travel alone, but I really dont think that would be my thing, especially with some of the locations I'd like to see. I've always wanted to travel and without friends to go with, it's pretty difficult.

I do have one friend who is going on holidays (alone) to visit some relatives of his. I got the impression that he might struggle to find things to do on this holiday and I wouldn't mind going, but I can't exactly invite myself. It seems like my only option but I don't know how to approach the situation. Do you think I should ask him or would that be putting him on the spot?

Hopefully you can give me some advice as I don't really know what else to do. Thanks for reading.

Susie_Q

Travelling alone is surprisingly easy and it also gives you a huge confidence boost - which it sounds like you could do with. I wanted to travel when I was 19 but same as you, none of my friends had money and they weren't interested in going to the same places as me. I saved up money and flew to Bolivia on my own and stayed for 3 months. It was daunting as hell but life is too short to be scared of these things. I had an amazing time and met so many people - there's loads of people travelling alone and I was never short of people to have drinks or dinner with. I came home feeling liberated and invincible - I highly recommend it! 10 years later and here I am living independently in India so clearly I still have the travel bug

I wouldn't advise inviting yourself along on your friends holiday - if they wanted you to go with them, they'd ask. Take a deep breath, get over your nerves and book the holiday you want on your own. You won't regret it.

Last summer I really wanted to go travelling but couldn't find anyone to go with so I thought, feckit - I'll go by myself! So I went to Spain for about 10 days (genuinely wish it were longer), during which time I was in Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia and Madrid. I stayed in hostels on my way and I have to tell you, I had the best time, met the most interesting characters and did so many things I wouldn't have been able to do if I were with someone else.

So just because you can't find anyone else to go with, doesn't mean you can't go by yourself.

And as someone else has said, it genuinely helped me gain more confidence.

Stavro Mueller

Some of my single friends have gone on organised trips abroad. Not one of those sitting on a bus with the grey rinse brigade type holidays but ones that were more activity based. One went on a walking holiday in Europe and another to South America. They were in small groups of people and there were other singles amongst them. I can't remember the names of the companies they went with or how much they paid but I'm sure google will help you there

How Strange

I've been on holidays on my own with www.explore.co.uk. They're a brilliant company and the trips are fantastic value for money. It also gave the courage to go away on my own but it's not everyone's cup of tea so companies like this are great as you'll meet lots of like minded people.

CarMe

OP i was the exact same for a couple of years! Friends either had no job, money or wanted different kinds of holidays to me, i went along with them for a couple of hols and they were very expensive and frankly rubbish! Im 24 now and have a beautiful baby and i so regret not just heading off on my own when i had the chance!
Do it, hostels are a great place to meet people, there's also a section on gumtree for people just like you looking for travel buddies!
Id head off on my own if all else fails, i bet you won't regret it!

LegacyUser

I may go on holidays on my own down the line, but only short city breaks.

What I'm talking about are longish holidays where company is a requirement, like sun holidays or where you want to experience the night life. Those are the type of things I couldn't do on my own as I couldn't find enjoyment out of going to beaches, pubs and nightclubs alone - defeats the purpose.

In relation to my friends holiday - could it not be the case that he just hasn't thought about inviting someone else? I know if I wanted to plan a holiday I would be cautious about asking people if I thought they might say no - maybe it is the same for him?

Susie_Q

You've said that your friend is going on holiday to visit his relatives, so don't invite yourself along - it's a family holiday. Like I said, if they wanted you to go they're either ask you outright or hint around it.

You might want to do an organised tour or trip or something if you're really desperate for company, I don't see what else you can do if you're really set on not going solo.

ihsb

I have mentioned this website before on threads but meetup.com could be tried. Some groups on it have holidays away together, so everyone will have people to go away with

Green Gelato

Someone else already suggested this, but I would recommend an activity-based holiday where you spend a good portion of your time with a group. This way you get to make new friends but get to know them a little rather then moving on every day to a new place. Also, group holidays (eg hiking, volunteering or simply touring around) often cater for various ages and nationalites and there could be a better mix of people involved, many of whom may be alone and looking to make new friends also.

Travelling alone is not for everyone. I consider myself very independent but found travelling alone tedious in the past as you have to keep telling your life story over and over to different people every day, and whenever you make new friends it always turns out they have different plans to you and you never see them again! Whatever do do though, just go somewhere! Don't let the fact that no-one else is going stop you!

AckwelFoley

Since i got married what do i miss the most?

Holidaying alone

I always had friends to go with but the freedom was great going alone. Generally i did road trips..got in the car for 2 weeks and drove to prague and then italy and south of france and spain.

Try a weekend in paris or amsterdam and see how it suits you before you go for longer :-)

Battleflag

You say you have friends who live abroad? How about visiting a few of them, that way you would be travelling alone but also meeting up with familiar faces.

hdowney

I was in your boat so to speak op. My friend and I made plans to go to Spain together this Sept, then last minute (but before everything was paid) he informs me he isn't going, cos he wants to buy a car. I was pissed. I had been looking forward to a holiday. I didn't think travelling alone was something I would be interested in at all, so the mother decided we would save for longer and go away over Halloween to Venice In the process of researching the Venice trip however I have come to the conclusion that travelling alone would actually interest me greatly and want to go interrailling on my own.