“I went to the local travel agency and they
really boosted my confidence. They said that loads of people came in to book single
holidays, and always came back. I took away with me
a number of mini-break brochures and decided on a three-day “Mystery” trip. Short, I know, but it was a safeguard in case I
didn’t like it.”
 The mystery destination turned out to be in the “Last of the Summer Wine” country in the
Yorkshire Dales, a break that included a variety of mini tours around the local area
including country walks and visits to nearby villages including those used in the filming
of the popular BBC TV series.
Wendy was delighted. “It was beautiful. And
the hotel was a really nice, 4 star Hilton with
superb food and wine, jacuzzi, swimming pool and excellent service.
“One if my biggest concerns about holidaying
alone was worrying about how to break the ice when meeting new people. I quickly
learnt that many people didn’t mind me joining in; it’s up to you to be
friendly. If you have the confidence to make the
first move, people quickly respond. Normally, I find it hard to mix with strangers like
this but I found myself next to two people in a restaurant queue on the first evening, and
I asked if I could join them. I had a great time with them for the full three days”.
Travel arrangements can be off-putting, but in
Wendy’s case the organisers had thought of everything. The cost of the holiday
included transport by taxi to and from the collection point. “Motorway delays on the
way back worried me, but the bus driver called ahead and advised the taxi company of the
time change. They were very safety conscious, insisting on waiting for my taxi to arrive
before leaving”.
Holidaying alone is becoming more and more common
these days and holiday companies are adapting to meet people’s needs.. A variety of
mini breaks are available across the United Kingdom to suit almost every taste. Some
companies specialise in holidays for single people, although Wendy chose one that
wasn’t specific. And the once dreaded single supplement? “The single room supplement was £14 for the
three night break, which I think was very reasonable”.
So having taken the plunge, what is
Wendy’s advice for those thinking of holidaying alone? “I wish I’d done
it before. I’ve got more confidence now than I’ve ever had. Since the first trip, I’ve been for a
five-day break to Scotland, a second three-day “Mystery” tour and a day trip to
the Lincolnshire coast. “I’d encourage anyone, it’s the best thing
I’ve ever done. Just do it.”
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