Holidays alone? (Full Version)

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canupleaseme -> Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 8:19:42 AM)

Hi I am just looking for some good advice really about holidaying alone.  I have been given the rare oppourtunity of having a week to myself in August.  My mum is taking my U.M away for 7 days.
I havent had a holiday in 7 years [&:] (unless you count odd weekends camping!!)
And ive never had an oppourtunity to take some time out just for myself.

So I have been thinking that this is a wnoderful time to go and have a break somewhere alone in the sun without having any ties or other people to think about for a week.

My problem is I am ashamed to admit I have only ever been abroad with either my mum lol or when i was married on my honeymoon.  I dont want to just book somewhere and sod off without making sure I have taken all the precautions and made sure I know what i'm doing.  This post may sound very silly.

I just wondered if others would be able to share any experiences with me or tips or even ideas on where to go ?



pahunkboy -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 9:38:51 AM)

well- i spend many days alone. physically it doesnt matter were u are- so long as u are safe.

i chose solitude. i have already shut the shades- turned off the phone and refused to anwere the door.

there is abit more to thta tho. ppl never see me on a bad day. like now- if a cam wass going u would say why is that nut there.

if you are sure this is what you want then go for it.  a time of solitude meditation.  nothing wrong with that. ur mom is perhaps even expecting this to happen.

if possible one idea is to travel with a flex ticket- where u could come home sooner if u so choose with no extra fees.

i have seen the world when i was young.... now with a breoken back im lucky to see the next day.  each moment is truly a blessing.   go for it hun!!!



Vendaval -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 9:44:50 AM)

What a wonderful gift to you from your mum.
 
Can you get an open rail pass, one that lets you get off and on
at multiple destinations for a flat fee?  You could travel around
and go places while looking out the window and relaxing, without
having to worry about driving and parking, etc.
 
Do have hotel reservations in advance because August is prime
holiday time or you may find yourself out of luck in some small
village, that is hosting its annual cheese and wine festival or
some such thing.
 
And like hunkboy said, just take sensible precautions about
traveling by yourself. 
 
I highly recommend keeping a journal and taking photographs
to document your trip and a keep a record of your experiences.
You can of course, use either a digital camera and a laptop or
the old fashioned approach of pen and paper and a regular
camera. 
 
Plan well in advance so that you can relax once you begin your
trip.  [:)]
 
Best wishes,
 
Vendaval



pahunkboy -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 10:37:29 AM)

yes- august is prime season. bargains are hard to come by.

even still- a great deal of self reflection can occur. a few times i took a bus 1/2 cross country. at 43, i wouldnt want too, but at the time- it was intersting hearing peoples life stories. buslines here have come to be sorta trashy- so i avoid them now.

the world is full of things to discover. i know if i did not travel in my 20s  i never would have gotten to it.

i would  watch for special sales. i went to california 3x that way. it was fun. at the time- i really liked it.  these daays im more laid back. my next trip will be to chicago- to see family. i wanted to get settled here frst.



seeksfemslave -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 10:50:43 AM)

I think even in todays world it is still more more difficult for a woman to travel and holiday alone than for a man, so I wish you well where ever you.go. I should think confirmed hotel reservations are a must.

Canary Islands are OK if you like Sun and sand.
How about a sea cruise tho' I expect they are geared for couples.
Or just rent a car and take your chances.




pahunkboy -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 11:04:12 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave

I think even in todays world it is still more more difficult for a woman to travel and holiday alone than for a man, so I wish you well where ever you.go. I should think confirmed hotel reservations are a must.

Canary Islands are OK if you like Sun and sand.
How about a sea cruise tho' I expect they are geared for couples.
Or just rent a car and take your chances.


so true. travel can be more dangerous for a woman. my buddy jenny tells me how she is afraid to walk to her car while after dark-in williamsport. yes the town has its problems. usually a man is not a target for rape. the thing is- suppose an attack occurs- the attacker is harming someones daughter, sister, cousin, mom, wife etc.. in a civil society you dont do that. but there is always that bad boy element.

even tho this is a safe area we have had some heinous crimes happen here. the diffence being 99% chnce the perp will be prosecuted. thinking on it further they tore down an auction barn over a horrific crime happened. 

it may surprise you but most weapons are NOT guns.

as a male- i would be very uncomfortable being a femail even for just a week.

most men will be civil- BUT- we have no shortage of harmed woman,. it sucks...it really does.



LadyEllen -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 11:13:59 AM)

which week do you have?

I have one bed left available for a week at the beach in Wales - between Harlech and Barmouth, in view of Snowdon, 10 minute walk to family beach and nudist beach (wahey!) just up the road.

E



stagerlee -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 11:28:13 AM)

I am totaly biased becuase its my home town but if you dont want to just veg with a book try Edinburgh dureing the festival.




popeye1250 -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 11:35:23 AM)

I live alone and I like it.
How about taking the ferry over to Ireland and seeing the breath taking Irish countryside?
And the people there are very friendly too!
Sheffield, you guys used to be a big steel producer, didn't you? And they made excellent knives there too I think.



LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 11:57:31 AM)

Just plan it well- and you only have to care about what YOU want and what works for YOUR schedule.

I was solo about 80% of my time in Ireland.  Although in a place like Ireland, even I can make friends in 10 seconds so that's not necessarily a good reference if you're planning on going to NYC. 



canupleaseme -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 12:24:08 PM)

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I have to say whats appealing to me most is the peace and quiet. I really havent, since leaving home at 15, had any time with peace and quiet I had my U.M at 18 and the thought of solitary space and sunshine sounds so appealing !!!
I am very grateful to my mum :)
I plan to do a lot of traveling cities with my U.m and boy next year so getting a sun sea and sand holiday is definatly the way to go.
Your right about saftey being paramount I must admit I am a bit apprehensive becasue of that, but I know how good and proud of my self I will feel if I do this so as long as I give 100% to the satfey aspect it should be ok.
I love Ireland I have family somewhere near Omargh (not sure if thats correct spelling)  And the Giants Causeway was one of the most breath taking places I have seen [:D]
Last time I went to Edinburgh I was 15 and me and my best friend booked on a coach trip for the Edinbrough Tattoo, how dispaointed we were when we got there and found it wasn't actuall body art !!!

I am looking at somewhere like Spain or the Algarve purely because its quicker traveling time and with only having a week it seemed more logical.

Most worryingly though is looking this afternoon at holidays and getting prices and finding they double almost becasue I have to pay a single supplement!!!   I'm off to search for singles holidays to see if they are any cheaper and hoping its not a dating thing lol





soultoshare -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 2:47:44 PM)

Maybe just taking a few days away from home, but basically staying at home and branching out from there?  Day trips are pretty inexpensive, and if you don't feel like doing anything, then just stay home, curl up with a book and veg!  Being a single mom too, i learned how to enjoy cheap trips....even just getting in my car alone and driving to someplace else was a treat!  Try some new restaurants, stroll thru museums, window shop...do things that you normally can't do with the UM's in tow.

The one thing I loved about Europe when I was there in the Army was that you folks can go 4 hours in any direction, and be in an entirely new country.....we have states over here that driving 4 hours won't even get you halfway across it...can you say TEXAS?  (Be nice, i've lived there too, and loved it!)  The transportation system there is awesome too.....miss the first train, another is along in 5 minutes.  I used to just get on the first one that came into the station and just see where it took me.  In London, i hopped on one double decker bus and just rode it the entire route to see where it went.  And i love to walk in big cities, i seem to have a pretty good sense of direction, so getting lost wasn't a big deal...plus, if i ever gt stuck, i'd look for a cab.

Whatever you do, enjoy your time alone, recharge, turn everything off, and of course...don't forget the bubble bath and the wine!



Vendaval -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 3:19:52 PM)

I have to ask - Is it warm enough in England during the summer
to sunbathe in the nude?  [:D]

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen
10 minute walk to family beach and nudist beach (wahey!) just up the road.

E



Quivver -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 3:37:23 PM)

too bad your over the pond .. I'd say we could meet up somewhere mid states and sneak up on Mnottertail. 
he heee .........



pahunkboy -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/2/2007 4:12:24 PM)

more and more ppl are doing day trips=- or are exploring closer to home. it makes sense.

one thing to consider is where your currecy will buy more. if i went to EU i would go to places that the USD was stronger. this rules out Paris and London. But im sure there are lovely places all over EU. :-)

i had wanted to go to Chengdu China for the longest time. i never quite made it.  China in its eastern traditions is interesting.  being that i like accupuncture and feng shui- im sure there is alot to learn.....



wandersalone -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/3/2007 4:49:25 AM)

I love holidays on my own - I get to do what I want, when I want... which often means nothing more than lazing by a pool sipping cocktails!

If you are game to try something new and can take the time to do a little research first try out http://travel.priceline.com/default.asp?rdr=2 - you bid for flights and hotel rooms.  After doing a heap of research on this site - http://p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding  I managed to get a fairly decent hotel in LA for about $34 USD/night in june/july last year. They also have destinations in the UK and Europe which may be a bit closer to home for you.

If you decide on a particular destination the various travel guides can give you a whole lot of useful information including activities that are cheap or free.  I am sure that travel agents/immigration department can tell you which places are not recommended if you are travelling alone.  I have travelled to a number of places on my own without any problems by using the same safety precautions that I would use when at home.

Write a wishlist of things you would love to do or see, see what fits into your budget and go for it! [:)]



petdave -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/3/2007 6:34:09 AM)

Afraid i can't be much help on destinations unless you're planning to hop the big silver bus and come to the east coast of the U.S., but...

Think about what you'd most enjoy. Does the journey matter, or is it all about the destination? Do you want to get somewhere and just go splat and unwind while cute cabana boys bring you fruity cocktails, or see the sights in several new and different places? Do you want to go somewhere that you don't speak the language? (i try to avoid it)

From what i hear here in Off-Topic, since guns are banned in in most of Europe, your safety really shouldn't be a concern at all
(sorry, couldn't help it)

If you can afford it, i find cruises to be an excellent vacation- you get pampering, good food, not too many decisions to make, and you can see new places AND spend lots of time relaxing. Unfortunately, most cruises are priced for couples, so it may be hard to do unless you have a girlfriend who wants to join you.

i try to take a holiday alone at least twice a year- i love my wife dearly, but i'm a tremendous introvert, and i need alone time to recharge. i just hop on my motorcycle and head up to the mountains (i'm only 20 minutes from the beach, so that has less allure for a getaway)... book a cheap motel room somewhere to use as a home base, take a bunch of maps, and roam around checking out anything that catches my attention, sitting on the grass at scenic overlooks reading a book... just following the white line. It's not for everyone, though.

Have fun!


...dave



pahunkboy -> RE: Holidays alone? (5/3/2007 8:08:43 AM)

the single supplement sucks. they really ought to rid that.  i found with alot of packages by the time you add teh fees and surcharges   the price is out of my range.

i tend to do teh oppisite of what the crowd is doing.

it is fun to dream. med tourism is becoming popular. india is building a whole city just for that. say you need a heart valve $100k-in US- they do em in India for @ 10K.  there is a resort area in MX that fixes teeth for like 1/2 the cost here. i so wanted to go get 2 bridges put in.,,,,, oh well,



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