Getting away from 'it'

Author
Discussion

Mojooo

Original Poster:

12,971 posts

186 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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I've decided I want to get away for a bit to somewhere quieter - specifically from technology and just general stresses of life. I think a week would be good.

I am single can do whatever I want.

Options

1 - could just go on a normal holiday but I tend to be a sightseer who tries to cram lots in and would rather save holidays for that. I specifically want something that is low stress.

2 - could go camping but not a huge fan of that sort of thing but benefit is that there may be activities to do outdoors etc

3 - there are some 'retreats' - where you go and stay in a proper building and benefit is everyone else is there to do the same as you

I could just stay at home for 5 days and do nothing but sit in silence but I want to get away from the environment as too easy to relapse.

Anyone done anything similar and have any recommendations?

limpsfield

6,078 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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Interested to see what anyone suggests as I would like this sort of thing.

In the past I have just booked a leshuttle crossing and then driven into Europe for a week with no plan, to get away from it all, different cheap hotel every day, but perhaps not what you are looking for.

Motorman74

418 posts

27 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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Your description of yourself sounds just like me.

The problem will be doing something and not getting bored - or else you'll be doing the whole cramming on as much as possible thing.

We have booked a cruise - on a very small ship (228 passengers) with sails to have a week away where I have very little control over what is going on, so I have to go with the flow... It's not a cheap option though (edit: especially with a single supplement)...

gotoPzero

18,024 posts

195 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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Budget?

stepaway

469 posts

151 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Bikepacking? Think of which way you want to go, set off with a tent, some basic spares, snacks and some spare clothes and ride as far as you can from home.

When you’ve had enough jump on a train home.

Cycling to me has the added advantage of being a great ice breaker. Plenty of folk happy to chat with a cycle tourist and plenty of others doing the same to chat to/ride with?

lizardbrain

2,382 posts

43 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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1. All inclusive resort. Remove all decisions on food etc. Don't take any devices, cars, just books etc.

2. Get some light camping gear, and hike to a remote spot and spend 12 hours completely isolated from civilisation.

3. Load up on podcasts, and do USA style Road trip somewhere it's easy to find roadside accomodation without booking. ( rules out nc500 sadly)

CheesecakeRunner

4,320 posts

97 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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I get the cheapest holiday cottage/static caravan thing I can find in the Scottish Highlands whenever I want to do this. Bit of walking, some cycling, just generally mooching around the mountains.

Jasandjules

70,412 posts

235 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Can you dive or want to learn? A week or two in the Maldives, there are (or were when I last went) islands that are "no news, no shoes" - no internet etc (well there is really the staff have PCs etc but the guests don't). Then you can just dive twice a day and not get disturbed with anything from home..

steveatesh

4,986 posts

170 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Hire a camper van and pick a part of the U.K. to tour, say the road around Scotland for example…. Take pictures and enjoy it.

fat80b

2,432 posts

227 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Go and do a sailing qualification.

Day skipper in Gibraltar. £900 or so and a pretty fun week away - meet a few others and come back with a new skill.

SlimJim16v

6,007 posts

149 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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One of those fancy European train journeys?

GetCarter

29,558 posts

285 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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There's plenty of holiday lets/air BnBs with no cell coverage, TV signal or wifi.

bristolracer

5,612 posts

155 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Kefalonia
Book via TUI, look for the small and friendly hotels, self catering.
If you go before the schools break up the place will be full of middle age couples who don't like noise and clamour.
Plenty of beaches, lots of great tavernas to eat at, and really very little to do.
Chill by the pool, or beach, cold beer in hand.
Leave your phone in your room, take a couple of books and relax .

DodgyGeezer

41,853 posts

196 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
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a small cruise or a road-trip (R66, Romantische Strasse, Pacific Coast Highway. one of the US national parks) seems to be the answer

bearman68

4,758 posts

138 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Did a fortnight in a small island called Milos a few years ago. Small cheap hotel, breakfast on site, and every day on the water, usually in a kayak.

Bloody brilliant.

Mojooo

Original Poster:

12,971 posts

186 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
I don't really want to hassle of DOING something per se. I actually just want to be bored sat around doing nothing - I remember having that feeling often as a child but not for the past 20 years as there is always something to do these days.

Budget wise, I have seen some of these retreats charge about £500 for a week - whilst that is expensive, it has the benefit of everything like food is sorted for you.

I think camping is the next best thing.

Biking sounds good but of course then you have the issues of planning where to go, what you want to see etc and to be honest would prob just become stressful again.

One thing I really want is not to look at my phone for any reason.

vixen1700

23,880 posts

276 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
bristolracer said:
Kefalonia
Book via TUI, look for the small and friendly hotels, self catering.
If you go before the schools break up the place will be full of middle age couples who don't like noise and clamour.
Plenty of beaches, lots of great tavernas to eat at, and really very little to do.
Chill by the pool, or beach, cold beer in hand.
Leave your phone in your room, take a couple of books and relax .
Greek Islands were my first thought reading the OP.

Perfect.

ben5575

6,582 posts

227 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
Fly to biarritz for a night, mini bus it to St Jean and walk the first three days of The Camino over the Pyrenees until you get to Pamplona, spend a night there, quick train to Madrid for a night or two and fly back.

It’ll change your life wink

You don’t have to rough it, these guys organise everything incl transporting your luggage everyday. https://santiagoways.com/

Link to the ubiquitous film for inspo: https://youtu.be/o5VZKWcgw6c

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

266 months

xx99xx

2,184 posts

79 months

Sunday 2nd July 2023
quotequote all
steveatesh said:
Hire a camper van and pick a part of the U.K. to tour, say the road around Scotland for example…. Take pictures and enjoy it.
Good one.

It wasn't until some Australian friends lived in the UK for a bit and visited loads of places, I realised that they'd seen more of my country in 2 years than I had in my lifetime.