Using holiday as single person
Discussion
Four months into the year and I'm having to think about how to use my annual leave.
This year it's worse than normal as we've been given an extra 2 days of normal holiday, then I have to work half the bank holidays and will have days in lieu, meaning 25 to allocate throughout the year.
Every year I struggle with finding things to do on my own and normally end up just sitting around at home watching the hours tick by, then feeling like I've wasted the time off.
I'm probably going to split it up so rather than having blocks of a week off, I'll make sure I've got some long weekends instead (although this isn't easy as I work every other Saturday. Yay motor trade!), but even then I don't know what to do with myself.
I'm happy in my own company, which is fortunate but I do hate spending money on treating myself so I find the idea of chucking thousands of pounds at a week away completely alien.
I'm not sure if this is something only I suffer with or if it's a single person problem.
This year it's worse than normal as we've been given an extra 2 days of normal holiday, then I have to work half the bank holidays and will have days in lieu, meaning 25 to allocate throughout the year.
Every year I struggle with finding things to do on my own and normally end up just sitting around at home watching the hours tick by, then feeling like I've wasted the time off.
I'm probably going to split it up so rather than having blocks of a week off, I'll make sure I've got some long weekends instead (although this isn't easy as I work every other Saturday. Yay motor trade!), but even then I don't know what to do with myself.
I'm happy in my own company, which is fortunate but I do hate spending money on treating myself so I find the idea of chucking thousands of pounds at a week away completely alien.
I'm not sure if this is something only I suffer with or if it's a single person problem.
A few years ago I had unused holiday to take from work and Mrs Scrump could not the time off so I went on a week long Arctic adventure, there were quite a few other single travellers also on the trip and it was really enjoyable (and not too expensive).
Earlier this week I had the same issue with using holiday so borrowed a camper van and spent a few days on Dartmoor. Much better than sitting at home.
Earlier this week I had the same issue with using holiday so borrowed a camper van and spent a few days on Dartmoor. Much better than sitting at home.
Definitely not a single person problem.
Why don't you go anywhere? Travelling as a single person is great. You can do what you want, when you want. No sitting around in hotel lobbies waiting for Jane to finish getting ready, no arguments over what to have for dinner because "Stephen doesn't like foreign food". If you get bored, you can just pick yourself up and do something, including leaving your current continent entirely if the mood takes you. You don't have to worry about organising anyone else (or worse, putting up with the holiday scheduler who is perpetually upset that nothing goes to schedule) and above all else, there is no-one slowing you down at the airport. It's not unusual for me to get though customs before my bags are even on the conveyor.
If you pick your destination well, it can be really cheap. Also offset by the fact you're not spending money on things you usually do like shopping and fuel.
Why don't you go anywhere? Travelling as a single person is great. You can do what you want, when you want. No sitting around in hotel lobbies waiting for Jane to finish getting ready, no arguments over what to have for dinner because "Stephen doesn't like foreign food". If you get bored, you can just pick yourself up and do something, including leaving your current continent entirely if the mood takes you. You don't have to worry about organising anyone else (or worse, putting up with the holiday scheduler who is perpetually upset that nothing goes to schedule) and above all else, there is no-one slowing you down at the airport. It's not unusual for me to get though customs before my bags are even on the conveyor.
If you pick your destination well, it can be really cheap. Also offset by the fact you're not spending money on things you usually do like shopping and fuel.
I've done some solo holidays before in the UK, spent 4 days in Cornwall and 4 days in Derbyshire (driving from Cornwall to Derbyshire in the middle was a waste of a day and a bit of a chore).
The thing I struggled with the most was keeping myself occupied. Yes, I could do whatever I want whenever I wanted but finding enough stuff to do wasn't easy. A couple of hours of sitting on the beach and I was bored, a few hours of cycling around the area, bored again... A day is long when you've got no company and a week is even longer. That's where I need the most help I think.
And then the big thing was eating alone. A lot of places I tried to eat at refused a table for one, so I spent a lot of time eating in the hotel, either in the restaurant or in my room having found a local takeaway. Part of the problem here is that I don't drink, so where someone else might sit in a bar and try to engage with the local 'wildlife', I can't think of much I'd rather be doing less.
When it comes to travel further afield, I'm not the best on planes so I avoid them. Boats are a 100% avoid like the plague situation too, not in a million years thank you. Even if I did manage to find myself on a nice warm island somewhere, I think I'd still be fighting the boredom/loneliness.
The thing I struggled with the most was keeping myself occupied. Yes, I could do whatever I want whenever I wanted but finding enough stuff to do wasn't easy. A couple of hours of sitting on the beach and I was bored, a few hours of cycling around the area, bored again... A day is long when you've got no company and a week is even longer. That's where I need the most help I think.
And then the big thing was eating alone. A lot of places I tried to eat at refused a table for one, so I spent a lot of time eating in the hotel, either in the restaurant or in my room having found a local takeaway. Part of the problem here is that I don't drink, so where someone else might sit in a bar and try to engage with the local 'wildlife', I can't think of much I'd rather be doing less.
When it comes to travel further afield, I'm not the best on planes so I avoid them. Boats are a 100% avoid like the plague situation too, not in a million years thank you. Even if I did manage to find myself on a nice warm island somewhere, I think I'd still be fighting the boredom/loneliness.
Depends what you enjoy. I'm not single but if I was I could easily take a week off on my own and fill it...
I love walking up mountains. The OH doesn't because there are no toilets.
I love show caves.
I can easily lose a day in the National Railway museum in York.
I love wandering around art galleries.
I love Cornwall but the OH won't entertain the idea because it's eight hours plus drive, so I'd take myself off there and spend a week wondering the coastal paths and visiting the many galleries.
Also, the OH can't get up on a morning and I can't be arsed setting off if I'm only going to have half a day left by the time we get there so I spend half my life rueing the things I miss out on because she's a sleepaholic.
So, if you were in a relationship, what would you wish you were free to do that you're not?
I love walking up mountains. The OH doesn't because there are no toilets.
I love show caves.
I can easily lose a day in the National Railway museum in York.
I love wandering around art galleries.
I love Cornwall but the OH won't entertain the idea because it's eight hours plus drive, so I'd take myself off there and spend a week wondering the coastal paths and visiting the many galleries.
Also, the OH can't get up on a morning and I can't be arsed setting off if I'm only going to have half a day left by the time we get there so I spend half my life rueing the things I miss out on because she's a sleepaholic.
So, if you were in a relationship, what would you wish you were free to do that you're not?
Absolutely this /\/\/\/\
And, in true PH spirit, plan a decent road trip - Scotland? Wales? Germany etc.
I've done two solo holidays in the past 3 months, both times skiing and it was excellent. People are really friendly, far less hassle than keeping other people happy and you can do exactly what you want, when you want. Veg out if you want - no problem. Eat where you like, what you like, when you like - what's not to like?
And, in true PH spirit, plan a decent road trip - Scotland? Wales? Germany etc.
I've done two solo holidays in the past 3 months, both times skiing and it was excellent. People are really friendly, far less hassle than keeping other people happy and you can do exactly what you want, when you want. Veg out if you want - no problem. Eat where you like, what you like, when you like - what's not to like?
Here's a suggestion: throw some stuff in the boot drive as far as you can. Tip of Scotland if you're in England; tip of England if you're in Scotland. Use the main routes to get there. Then, over the following days make your way slowly back by any route you fancy. No bookings, no plans, just an empty itinerary. Works on any large land mass. Better outside of peak season. Near-zero planning required.
You could do this in another country but planes and car hire might take the fun out of it unless your budget is big or you don't mind crappy hires. Driving Route 1 on west coast USA is lovely, and when you feel sociable the natives mostly speak english.
Edit 2 to say: you could put the car on a boat and do this in Ireland. Drive to Cork and do as much of the Wild Atlantic Way as you can. Or start in Belfast, do the Causeway Coastal Route around the top of the island and then continue on with the Wild Atlantic Way. Find a place to stay each day walking distance from some friendly pubs and you'll meet some lovely people. No route planning required. It's all signposted, amazingly.
You could do this in another country but planes and car hire might take the fun out of it unless your budget is big or you don't mind crappy hires. Driving Route 1 on west coast USA is lovely, and when you feel sociable the natives mostly speak english.
Edit 2 to say: you could put the car on a boat and do this in Ireland. Drive to Cork and do as much of the Wild Atlantic Way as you can. Or start in Belfast, do the Causeway Coastal Route around the top of the island and then continue on with the Wild Atlantic Way. Find a place to stay each day walking distance from some friendly pubs and you'll meet some lovely people. No route planning required. It's all signposted, amazingly.
Edited by gland on Sunday 3rd April 16:18
Don’t think of it as a single person problem but an opportunity to indulge as selfishly as you damn well please in something you enjoy. A solid week or more of off-road motorcycling or sailing accounted for some of my favourite singleton holiday time. Nor was it expensive compared to travelling with some of my laddish mates where the bar bills could get a bit out of control.
I think you need a hobby of some kind? Something that you could maybe combine with trips away?
I love my wife, gawd bless 'er, and I love going on holidays with her. But, and here's the but, I am often in cities on my own for work and I really enjoy it
I massively enjoy photography, especially in cities, and I always stick my camera in my jacket pocket and after work I spend the afternoons/evenings strolling about taking photographs on the streets and doing geeky stuff like visiting museums, art galleries, and usually any museums/attractions involving transport, trains, technology, vintage computing, wartime stuff, etc.
I explore loads of backstreet areas, little cafes, bars, interesting old shops, wine merchants, that kind of thing. I also don't mind eating on my own as I'm used to it, but tend to ignore restaurants in favour of informal 'street food' or takeaway places. I'll then find somewhere to sit and eat in peace. Sometimes I will eat in a bar on my own and have a few drinks which is fine as well.
It's great because, as patient as she is, I know my wife would be bored stiff endlessly wandering the streets and adding about taking 15 different photos of a bridge or building or whatever, and she would be bored visiting a transport museum, so I can enjoy all that sort of stuff without worrying that I'm boring her.
A single person, could easily fill an entire 5 days in somewhere like New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome etc, on your own, and not get bored in the slightest. I've ended up chatting to all kinds of interesting people while on my own wandering around cities.
The days would fly by, especially if you had something extra to do while there such as photography. When you get home, you then have the fun of going through all the photos, tweaking them in Lightroom, and then admiring your handywork and memories.
Just something to consider really
(I fully appreciate that you said you don't like flying, but maybe now is the time to give it a go again?)
I love my wife, gawd bless 'er, and I love going on holidays with her. But, and here's the but, I am often in cities on my own for work and I really enjoy it
I massively enjoy photography, especially in cities, and I always stick my camera in my jacket pocket and after work I spend the afternoons/evenings strolling about taking photographs on the streets and doing geeky stuff like visiting museums, art galleries, and usually any museums/attractions involving transport, trains, technology, vintage computing, wartime stuff, etc.I explore loads of backstreet areas, little cafes, bars, interesting old shops, wine merchants, that kind of thing. I also don't mind eating on my own as I'm used to it, but tend to ignore restaurants in favour of informal 'street food' or takeaway places. I'll then find somewhere to sit and eat in peace. Sometimes I will eat in a bar on my own and have a few drinks which is fine as well.
It's great because, as patient as she is, I know my wife would be bored stiff endlessly wandering the streets and adding about taking 15 different photos of a bridge or building or whatever, and she would be bored visiting a transport museum, so I can enjoy all that sort of stuff without worrying that I'm boring her.
A single person, could easily fill an entire 5 days in somewhere like New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome etc, on your own, and not get bored in the slightest. I've ended up chatting to all kinds of interesting people while on my own wandering around cities.
The days would fly by, especially if you had something extra to do while there such as photography. When you get home, you then have the fun of going through all the photos, tweaking them in Lightroom, and then admiring your handywork and memories.
Just something to consider really
(I fully appreciate that you said you don't like flying, but maybe now is the time to give it a go again?)
Perhaps try a course or planned trip? Look at Much Better Adventures for ideas.
Or you could get your motorbike licence/spend a week learning to glide/parachute/sail/other.
Or you could plan trips to see distant mates. If you have a mate you haven't seen in a distant area; instant "mission" or point to the trip.
Or you could get your motorbike licence/spend a week learning to glide/parachute/sail/other.
Or you could plan trips to see distant mates. If you have a mate you haven't seen in a distant area; instant "mission" or point to the trip.
Precovd i used to travel loads all on my own. Started from scratch really never travelled on my own before. Always booked mon to friday to cut down costs at off peak times.
I went to Germany berlin twice. Went to Nuremberg then got train to Stuttgart
Went to Sofia, Bulgaria, hired a guide and mountain biked down a mountain, also went to some dodgy place and shot a load of guns.
Went to Amsterdam on a day trip ferry.
Went to Liverpool few days
Went London on train for a day.
Future plan go to Japan next year. Thailand, America. St Petersburg was on the cards as well as Ukraine but might never happen now.
I just look out for deals.
The only thing stopping me is money, i try to work to budgets. My confidence gets better with each trip, it is hard not to have someone but on the other hand you do what you want.
I do struggle with night-time to do stuff , but fill the day with site seeing and other stuff.
I went to Germany berlin twice. Went to Nuremberg then got train to Stuttgart
Went to Sofia, Bulgaria, hired a guide and mountain biked down a mountain, also went to some dodgy place and shot a load of guns.
Went to Amsterdam on a day trip ferry.
Went to Liverpool few days
Went London on train for a day.
Future plan go to Japan next year. Thailand, America. St Petersburg was on the cards as well as Ukraine but might never happen now.
I just look out for deals.
The only thing stopping me is money, i try to work to budgets. My confidence gets better with each trip, it is hard not to have someone but on the other hand you do what you want.
I do struggle with night-time to do stuff , but fill the day with site seeing and other stuff.
I usually gather up another 1-3 mates and go somewhere, try and line our annual leave up. I'm massively into theme parks and have done them alone loads of times. Other ideas being museums etc, peace and quiet to wander around and enjoy. With regards to food, I like trains as well so usually get something I can take away and go train spotting for half an hour whilst having my food.
If you can gather anyone else, in the past year the small group of us have done trips in a small group covering everything from the Midlands southwards plus Germany, Poland and Spain. Join forums of your other hobbies and see if anyone else is available for you to meet up with?
If you can gather anyone else, in the past year the small group of us have done trips in a small group covering everything from the Midlands southwards plus Germany, Poland and Spain. Join forums of your other hobbies and see if anyone else is available for you to meet up with?
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