O how strange SM
I spoke to my sister this week and it was decided that we would try to find somewhere local for salsa lessons. Her suggestion not mine. She loves to dance so I'm sure she would enjoy a holiday like the one you had in cuba.

Sandra

I've booked to go to the Dominican Republic on my own for two weeks in October........It's my first holiday alone and I am a bit nervous but also excited at the same time............my kids are going away with their dad so I intend to have some "me" time wirh no-one to worry about.........bliss

samx

I have regularly travelled alone, mainly because my friends are part of a couple, also because my job did not allow me to book in advance so was always short notice. I am in my early 40's.
I was really nervous my first time but stayed in an 'All inclusive' hotel in Kenya and had a great time.
Over the last few years I have regularly travelled to Turkey, mainly because I can book direct with the hotel/apartment which saves paying any single supplements. Usually my holiday would cost about 300GBP
I always take a book with me when I go out in the evening, usually just venture to a restaurant, so if I feel a little awkward I have something to do. I find people, mainly other women, love to chat and admire those of us who travel alone.
I am a real 'people person' but have never felt lonely on holiday. If its a choice of either travelling alone or not going at all, I know which I prefer to do!

I live alone and would like a late holiday, somewhere cheap and quiet (ha! don't we all).
I have no desire to go 'bopping', boozing, or with a group of other singles (aaargh!), just to be on my own and do my own thing. I'm much more interested in the local people and countryside, wildlife, architecture, history etc.
Funnily enough, I do like Majorca (the North East), but I think that's because I have been several times as part of a couple or with friends and feel I know my way around comfortably.
Does anybody have any ideas on the best websites for late deals - all the usual ones seem to charge an arm and a leg even for late deals, and then there's always the dreaded 'single supplement'.

Cheers all,
MRmoonlight

A friend of mine has just come back from a holiday with solo holidays, she had a brilliant time, everyone was really friendly, and she is already thinking of booking again.

My brother (divorced, 45+), has just returned from his 2nd singles holiday and has booked up to go again in October. Says its great, lots of like minded people, and he has made some great friends.
He went with soloholidays.

Carol

Cruise holidays are a great safe way of meeting people - went on the Spirit on my own last year met a great group - who i met for dinner/trips. This year i went on one of the Daily Express £10 cruises - arranged to meet the others going and we had a fab time!

My friend has been on 3 holidays on her own - Archers are a good company she went to Egypt on a cruise with them and loved it (all trips are included and it cost £700 last Aug) Im considering that for next year.

She also went on a coach trip to Andulucia last week with Archers and loved it too. Her other break was thru her singles club spice to Lake Garda.

I will continue to book singles holidays, but the single supplements are so unfair esp as i work in a college so only get to go peak times!

Alison

Tunisia can be great destination for those of us wanting to avoid the dreaded 'single supplement'. Most operators include many more no supplement deals in their brochures but even if you do have to pay one they are uausally very cheap (eg£3/4pn) compared to places like Spain, Portugal or the Canaries.

SM

I've looked at Solo holidays and I find them expensive - I'm sure it would be cheaper on normal holidays and pay the single supplement.
I could not bear to go on holiday 'with like-minded people' , that is the last thing I want. I have no wish to form a new relationship although a new friend may be OK.
The last holiday I took was a DIY thingy, where I wanted to go, at my time, and my price, but there are limited options doing it that way.
I am fortunate to work in a large (French) hotel chain which is fine for reduced rates (including car hire) but again they never have hotels in the places I would like to go. And then again, it's like being at work, but in a different country!!
I think I'll plough through the 'late deals' and see whats on offer - might get lucky!

Thanks all,
MRmoonlight

I am being sent away on my own this year. does anybody have any advise about singles holidays?

I want a mainly beach based holiday with a some activities; walking, cycling,site seeing etc.

A lot of the (singles) holidays seem to be for the unattached.
The activity seem to have too much activity: all walking, all cycling, all water sports.

I need to go in the school summer holiday and I'm mainly interested in going to Greek Islands, Croatia, Spain or South of France.

Dave

There is an organisation called SPICE who organise holidays and events for people travelling alone.

A friend of mine has just been skiing with them and said it was absolutely not a dating agency type thing. She did however make a couple of new girlfriends.

http://www.spiceuk.com

Have a look at this thread HERE
EDIT: latest posts now merged with that topic.
David HT Mod

Hi Seagull,

I regularly go on holiday on my own but have never gone on a designated 'singles' holiday. It would help to know a bit more eg are you looking for a 'singles' holiday where most of the people will be single/unattached or simply looking for suggestions for the lone traveller? Most 'singles' holidays look expensive because the single supplement that will payable to the hotel is usually included in the basic price rather than being added on. And it is the single supplement that can make holidays aimed at families and couples ruinously expensive for the lone traveller. Some companies eg Archer will offer to try and pair you up for a room share with another lonetraveller but this has never been a risk I'm prepared to take.

So my solution is usually to focus in on destinations where it is frequently possible to find 'no single supplement' packages or where the supplements are very low. Hence why my winter sun bolthole is Tunisia - I've never paid a single supplement yet but even so they usually hover around the £3 mark which isn't bad even for a fortnight. But I see that this isn't one of you preferred destinations but you might want to consider it as there is plenty to see and do and it is an easy country to get around cheaply under your own steam. My other main tactic when going it alone is to go self-catering in a small apartment or studio but always by dealing direct and never with one of the package companies who usually really whack you with under-occupancy supplements.

The third alternative is ask around and look for companies which while not marketing 'singles' holidays do tend to attract people travelling on their own and where you won't feel out of place amongst a sea of couples. I regularly go on dance holidays - salsa is one of my passions! - and the couples are always in the minority. Similarly, someone I know who runs a company specialising in language holidays says that the majority of people who book with them do as lone travellers. I would assume that many 'special interest' holidays follow the same pattern but don't assume that if you go on such a holiday you always have to join in everything!

On my last dance trip to Cuba the group of 14 contained 1 man who never went to any of the dance classes but loved Cuban culture and music and signed up because it meant that he'd have company of evening to go out with and hear live music if he wanted, 1 woman who didn't go to the dance classes either but simply wanted to be immersed in a non-tourist environment where she would be able to work on developing her fluency in Spanish and 1 woman who bunked off half the classes because she wanted to do other things half the time! I think the moral is that just because the TO or holiday organiser offers lots of things to do you don't have to do them :-)

SM

Being 41, single, and a "bah humbug" about xmas/new year, I have decided this year I am spending it in the sun, on a beach.

Does anyone know where single people can get reasonable prices etc?.
Long haul is not a problem, the warmer the climate the better!.

Andrew.

Andrew,

If you google "single holidays" there are quite a few companies........not ALL of them double as intro agencies Their used to be a really good company called Friendship Travel based in Ireland and they arranged good rates for single travellers not looking for lurve !

Another alternative is to DIY your holiday and contact the hotels direct, they seem to be far less bothered about under occupancy than the tour operators.

Good luck

Friendship Travel is a very good company, I have travelled with them twice, albeit not over Xmas. If you google them you can have a look on their website. They also have a small chat room where people ask questions etc. It is most definitely not aimed at fixing people up (though inevitably that sometimes happens).

They don't have a huge selection of hols over Xmas but this means that the places are pretty much always filled.

can any one tell me if it is possible to go on a singles holiday from ireland ?my friend has noone to go on holidays with this year and would love to meet other people in the some position.
any information would be great. even 18-30s although she is just reaching 40 but sure who cares what age as long as she has a good time !!
thanks in advance !!

Try friendship travel (just join together and add.com). They are actually based in Ireland but you can travel with them from anywhere.

I've had two holidays with them and they've been great. A mix of ages but mostly 30s to 60s and a variety of different holidays and everyone after the same thing - NOT a dating agency, but a good break with likeminded people and probably the bit that puts most travellers from going it alone - having other people to dine with.

I know someone who had quite a few holidays with
http://www.solosholidays.co.uk

Again not a dating agency, although she did meet her husband on one of the holidays