Going Solo...

Once the preserve of the young, heading off with a backpack to explore the world, solo trips are now becoming more and more popular and appealing to people of all ages. It’s not just singles who are taking these trips either. Some travel solo because they have a specific interest not shared by their partner, such as photography or golf. In other cases a major life change like redundancy can spur someone on to realise a dream on their own, especially if that dream is a longer trip that would use up far too much annual leave in the world of work. Whilst taking a holiday alone for the first time can be daunting, I will help you find the ideal package to suit you. Whilst I can tailor make a trip for one with a personal guide, it generally makes sense to join a group or a tour, where you will be with like minded people and have the benefit of a group leader or tour manager to help break the ice and ensure things run smoothly. A favourite operator of mine when it comes to solo holidays is Just You, who offer destinations as diverse as Puglia, Chile and Uzbekistan and who recognise that travelling alone should not mean having to compromise on standards. You’ll always have your own twin or double room, rather than having to settle for a tiny single, and for trips outside of Europe and Jordan, use of an airport lounge comes as standard. Other operators offer specific departures with no single supplement - a major bonus to help manage the budget if you can be flexible on travel dates. You can even join a women only expedition with Intrepid to areas such as Pakistan or Saudi Arabia where women have not traditionally held a prominent role in society. Cruising is also popular with lone adventurers. Expedition cruise specialist, Hurtigruten, reports that 1 in 8 of their passengers are now travelling solo, with the most popular destinations being the Galapagos and Antarctica. As well as a dedicated welcome get together for solo travellers, on this type of trip smaller groups of guests go out on activities in zodiac boats, so it’s really conducive to getting to know others and sharing experiences at the end of the day. Virgin Voyages is another great option to consider. Being adult only, it attracts couples, singles and groups of friends and So, don’t let the lack of a travelling companion hold you back from following your travel dreams. Your first solo holiday could well be the first of many!