Lone Holidays abroad

That's a good resolution Caramac and worthy of a support thread all of its own. Good luck.

I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions from cruising to Saga holidays and more.

Look at the Travel companies that specialise in holidays for single travellers. I have had some great experiences with Just You. A friend regularly uses Solos and I have heard good things about One Traveller although I have never used them. If you like walking holidays you can't beat HF holidays. Explore is more adventurous and always seems to have a fair proportion of single travellers in the group.

I agree with Just You and HF. I used to holiday alone when still married and then after the divorce. I hope you find something to suit Caramac, you will find plenty of women 'of a certain age' on this kind of holiday.

I would echo all the suggestions in Jayanna's post. Many years ago my husband declared he wouldn't visit America which left me two choices: I wouldn't go either, or I'd go on my own. So I joined a walking group with HF and had a brilliant holiday around New England, ending in New York. And feeling thankful I made the decision. That would have been about 20 years ago, in my mid 50s. Since then I've been with them to various parts of the UK, including a great trip to Aran, where we saw golden eagles, and to Iceland. I have also been with Naturetrek. A friend regularly uses Just You and I nearly booked a trip to China with them, but knee problems set in. Now I can't leave DH for more than a couple of days, just in case he gets ill, so do take the plunge. Just you, by the way, is designed specifically for singles, although clients are not necessarily single, as indeed was I not. These holidays are very friendly and do not have to be walk based. I enjoyed many natural history trips, but certainly in the case of HF you can paint, sing, do yoga, and follow many other hobbies. Look into it and go for it.

My ex husband who is single goes on fab singles holidays at least twice a year
When he gets back from this one ( Christmas and new year in far east) ill ask him which company he has found the best.

I do know from what he has said that they tend to be quite expensive

The back pages of the U3A magazine seems full of holiday companies specialising in singles. They always look tempting to me. Good luck. I bet you'll have a wonderful time and it will be the first of many.

I agree about choosing a holiday which is packed with activities or excusions. It gives you the opportunity to converse with others in the group about the trip, (and not about everyone's boring/troubled lives!)
You could first choose your destination, then look in the small ads in travel magazines if you want a more personal touch.
We used to run painting and cookery courses when we lived in France and had some lovely single, more mature guests who I believe became friends for life. Try the back pages of The Lady magazine to see what's on offer.

I had many wonderful holidays with Ramblers Holidays. I haven't been on one for some years because my hip 'went' and had to be replaced, but I have plenty of great memories. I went mostly on my own, a couple of times with a friend. I loved seeing the out-of-the-way places rarely visited by tourists. The groups were mixed singles and couples but singles were never made to feel out of it as we all had a lot in common.

Ladies you have all helped enormously and I intend to be my usual self and act now, worry later! I have had a quick look at a couple of websites and shall look more closely but want to book asap before anyone pours cold water on the idea

Start off with a three day city break and see how you go on. I've been to Bruges with a friend and there were various people on their own. We generally asked them if they would like to join us if we were going out for a meal. I think you will find your feet quite easily once you take the plunge. The company we went with advertises in the times and the telegraph and others I suspect.

I went with Solos on a couple of holidays but that was many years ago when I was first divorced. I did not enjoy them- they were not cheap and I expect better entertainment than to play table tennis. I would think and hope that they have improved since then.

The Bodach and I began going to Zakynthos three years ago, as friends of ours lived there. It's a great place for a solo traveller, everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

I have done loads of holidays alone. I've looked at the singles holiday companies but have usually avoided them because they are expensive and I don't particularly want to have to follow a group around. If you want to look further I would suggest looking at companies which offer 'No single supplements' as many others will take advantage of this. Choose a smallish hotel with some entertainment, don't do self-catering. It's easy to book excursions and trips with your rep or the hotel. If you choose small. mini bus tours you will have more people to chat to. Personally I enjoy some quiet time alone to read and relax for part of the holiday. One of the great things about holidaying alone is that you can have days doing exactly what you feel like doing. Do a short break or a week at first, you can take longer later on. Good luck!!!

I do not mind holidaying on my own, the only thing I do not like is dining on my own each evening.

Charleygirl, I tend to eat out mid day or late afternoon and snack on my balcony with a glass of wine in the evening. Early night with a good book and I'm a happy camper.

I went to Russia with Saga on my own after a friend let me down at the last minute. There were a couple of other lone women on the trip with loads of couples and everyone made me feel very welcome. Go for it, any organised company like Saga will take good care of you.

I'm thinking of going abroad next year too and it will most likey be alone. I'm scared but will probably go, I will ask my friend first, but I wont miss out on a holiday if she doesn't want to go. Not been away for over 10 years

We went to Russia with Saga too and ,as Lynylou says , there were a fair number of single travellers with the group. The great thing with Saga is that they cater for us older travellers so well.

Well the truth will out! I am furious! I told not so DH I had booked - to see what his reaction was. After some digging (me) and squirming (him) it transpires I am too much of a burden to take abroad!!!! Because he would have to organise it (not true) plus driving on the wrong side of the road (different not wrong, I would drive but he would insist he drive). When I said a tour operator would negate those issues he said it's because I am unadventurous with food ( True. I cannot abide spicy food partly due to having no sense of taste and only get the burn, no nuance of flavour). I pointed out most European hotels cater for Brits like me and serve steak, fish etc. Also food issues likely to get worse as my diabetes progresses. Still does not want to go abroad with me until I've proven I can do it on my own!!!! I'm flabbergasted and very very hurt

It'll be more fun without him anyway! A group of single travellers is generally up for anything and encourage each other. In a couple, if one of them doesn't want to do something the other one will hold back - in my experience anyway. In the ten years since my husband died I have been places he would never have gone and done things that he would have hated.

Just book and go! Most tours have a good range of food available so catering for your preferences/ needs should be no bother. I can't say the food has been spicy when we have been away on holiday.

Yes go for it anyway! You might find you enjoy better on your own than you would have done with him there. Food will be fine, as Niobe says there is usually a good choice available.

Personally, when my ex husband told me I had to prove I could take care of his mother's cast off oven before I deserved a new one, it was a great stimulus to earn enough to buy my own. But that's just me!

When I was first widowed I was nervous about travelling alone so I booked with Saga. They really take care of you and the reps are on the whole very good. Try somewhere fairly touristy to start (I went to Tenerife). I have been on several holidays alone since then and I always find someone to talk to - as someone else said the worse thing is eating alone in the evening but after the first couple of nights you will usually find someone you can share a table with. Do go and enjoy yourself!