Holidays on my own ? Am i brave enough

jean go for it!

Two weeks isn’t for ever. If you don’t like it, well you’ll soon be home, but if you like it then a whole new world is open to you. You’ve nothing to lose

Thanks for all your lovely replies and sorry i havent been back and checked before.
Your answers are really encouraging and have made me feel much braver about it all and am thinking of having a look at guided holidays but might start with a few days in the UK first
And petra yes I've been to malta a couple of times and love it ,
And to the lady who suggested Dubai that sounds very adventurous !!!

14 days would be a little too long for me. Try a week with maybe an all inclusive so you don't have to sit in restaurants on your own - although good opportunity to make new friends.

Go for it, Jeanlizzie. I'm sure that you will enjoy yourself. Plucking up courage is the hardest part!
Some of the holidays mentioned sound very expensive! For those who. like me. have to watch the pennies Shearings is very good. Anything from 3-day breaks to holidays abroad. They are advertising a 5-day 'mystery break' for less than £150, for example. Their holidays are very good value, and I have never been disappointed with the hotels and food. There are usually some people on their own, and the couples are always friendly. A couple of sightseeing trips and some evening entertainment in the hotel is usually included.
It's a good way to ease yourself into solo travelling without the hassle of coping with all the arrangements.

I've done lots of travelling alone, holidays etc, and it's amazing how kind people are when you're alone.
You'll soon make friends, so go for it. Life is an adventure.

I definitely recommend The Mistral in Crete. I’m going there for the 3rd time this year. Also recommend Friendship Travel. Slightly smaller groups, where you can please yourself in the daytime but join together (with a resident host) for meals.

I went to China with Just You and met 4 lovely ladies. It took me weeks to pluck up the courage to book a singles holiday but I'm so glad I did. On the trip were other people whose partners no longer wish to travel as well as those that were divorced, widowed or were just single.
Now I meet up with the ladies I met on that holiday a couple of times a year and we have all gone on other holidays together too and had great fun.

I've done lots of holidays alone. Some good advice on this thread about what you really want. I'm fairly independent and book my own travel, but I can see that for some having a group would be easier and more sociable. Whatever you decide I would say get yourself a good guidebook and look at what you want to see, then you will be able to join in the trips you like, or if there is something not being covered go off exploring on your own for a bit.

have travelled world wide on my own, no problem some times meals a little awkward, have been to Malta several times a lot of people on their own, so always some one to talk to, airports area nuisance hanging around, you will be fine,go and enjoy

Hi, I regularly travel alone and each time I have felt a bit nervous and each time I have had an amazing time. Just You are brilliant although choose carefully if you want a chilled rest as can pack a lot in. I've also travelled with Leger who are good. Last year I booked with a local coach company on a holiday not specifically for solo travellers. About a quarter of group were single and we had a lovely time. I've never travelled completely on my own,i have a friend who does who went away for 3 weeks but by third week was feeling a bit lonely. I'm more introvert than extrovert but have always met some lovely people! Do some research and read some reviews and have a wonderful time!

After I was widowed I went on at least three holidays a year both home and abroad. Everyone was very friendly and I never had to sit alone. Some were with Saga, Malta, Italy, Spain. Others with a local coach company. Czech Republic, etc. I flew out alone each year to visit relatives in California and Barbados. I only gave up at age 84 when arthritis in knees made it difficult.

You certainly wouldn't struggle language wise as English is spoken and a big expat community lives there. It is really easy to get around on the local buses and lots to see. June is the month we used to go and it is extremely hot then. Very friendly place to go. It's worth going on a couple of pre booked trips to places like the Blue Lagoon on Comino isle and Gozo. Otherwise you can easily take yourself off on a local bus to various other attractions. There are plenty of little bistro type places and local cafes everywhere, depending on whether you choose to eat out mostly or in the hotel, it's one of my favourite places and hope if you do decide to go there you will equally enjoy it.

Not sure what you are in to but I had a lovely yoga holiday a few years back. It has been one of the best experiences I have had and the healthy food delicious.

There is another one that I will treat myself to go on which is healthy holidays. I agree just do it.

It takes the first time of trying to see if you can do it!
I must admit I haven't travelled overseas on my own yet, but I decided I wanted to visit York, travelled by train and booked myself into a B&B for a few days.
Train journey ok and fairly easy, when I got to York, I went into the Tourist Info office who kindly called the B&B to let them know I had arrived. B&B owner told me the best route to get there and very kindly allowed me to book in outside the usual times. All in all, had a great time and would love to go back.
I have been to several concerts on my own too and every time have been lucky to have met nice friendly people from a group of 20 somethings that insisted on walking me back to my hotel as well as a couple that were staying at the same hotel that arranged to meet up with me after the concert so we could walk back to the hotel together. People can be so kind! Have a go, it will be worth it!

The dog is NO excuse. There are plenty of lovely dog boarding places in this country where your dog is guaranteed to have a wonderful time whilst you are away. I think your husband need to think a little more about what you would like for a holiday as well as what he likes. Could you not stay in the Uk one year - loads of places will take the dog as well if that's an issue and go abroad the next for you? If not try to find someone to go with - maybe there is someone on their own that you know who would jump at the chance. Otherwise go it alone but it depends on the kind of person you are if you will enjoy this. You could try it and see.

Such a lot of good, sensible advice on this thread Jeanlizzie. A special interest trip or a river cruise seems the best way to go. Gransnet at its best.

I went on a Solos holiday last summer when I needed a quick get away and was with a nice group of people of mixed ages (50's upwards). I was the granny of the group (!) but everyone was very nice. First time I'd done anything like that. I'd happily go with Solos again , and have since discovered lots of my friends do holidays with them. But there are loads of companies out there that cater for people on their own...hit the internet and see what you can find!

DO IT!!!

I too missed travelling when I was widowed, then I discovered the Mistral Hotel in Maleme, Crete. It's for single travellers ONLY so you are never lonely. It's where I learned to smile and laugh again, made lots of new friends and we meet every year to enjoy the wonderful food, and beautiful sunshine. Have a look at their website and read their Facebook pages. Dare yourself to be brave and do something outside your comfort zone, and you will come back happy and invigorated. You can do as much or as little as you like, go on hikes, trips, or laze by the pools (two for 35 guests so never crowded!)

I've done several solo holidays abroad since my DH became too ill to go, and really love them. I started with destinations that were familiar and travelled with a good company that gives support if you need it. With plenty of books and music on my IPad, I catch up on lost sleep, and enjoy dressing for dinner each evening - such a change from home! With (hopefully) plenty of sunshine, and friendly chats with fellow diners, I come back with my batteries re-charged, already planning to save for my next break. A week alone seems about right for me, but like other gnetters advise, why not try a short break in the UK first...somewhere with plenty to see and do? You can do it!!

Go to cities that are interesting and cosmopolitan. No one will notice you're alone. I find Americans travel in couples so don't do Bahamas, American cruises etc. Dubai is quite good for single old ladies - you can also go to Oman from there too.

I have travelled with Just You, part of the Travelsphere group, for years and never had a complaint. The reps really look after you ( they even have someone meet you at the UK departure airport) and are with you all day, staying in the same hotel. They also use local guides for more specialised talks. You can join guided tours or do your own thing in the day and the whole group sits together for the evening meal so you will not be lonely. You always get your own double room and they use good hotels. They go all over the world; I've been to about 15 countries with them.

I ve been away a few times on my own and find group tours are the best as there are usually others on their own and it is easy to make friends. I did a charity trek to Peru shortly after getting divorced in 2004 and I am still friends with some of the people I met on that trek. I now travel with a friend, although not always, and we ve done a few Exodus trips, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam. There were people travelling on their own on all of these trips and again we made lots of friends and were very inclusive of those on their own. One man from Australia was travelling without his wife as she didn t like travelling and we delighted in helping him find presents to take back for her. I would say go for it, look for group trips, make new friends and have a great time. I m off to Ecuador and Galapagos in November and can t wait, life s too short, the older I get the more adventurous I am.... 62 going on 30 ? we never regret what we did do, we only regret the things we didn’t do.... go for it xx

Oh yes, go! So much choice too. You could go all inclusive in a nice resort and stay there and just join excursions. Or just do your own thing. Or go on a holiday with a course attached, from yoga to archeology, paiting, whatever. Or go on a guided holiday so you will be part of a group...

I have often been on holidays on my own. Husband and I couldn't always agree where to go so we would both do our own thing. I have gone with small walking groups and I have also just gone solo on an interest holiday. In fact I loved it in some ways, the freedom to do what you want and also a feeling of being in charge. Go for it

crazygran I would have thought cruisers to be awful if you’re on your own with all the couples eating together etc Don’t get me wrong I ve never been on one so can’t comment with any knowledge but the thought unless you are a fairly confident exuberant type who doesn’t have any trouble joining in