According to the Holiday Habits Report 2017 by ABTA, 12% of people taking a holiday last year did so alone; with solo travel being the most popular with the over 65s.
When a partner dies, life and the way we approach it changes. Up until then, holidays were a break to be spent with a loved one or with family. Now, the only opportunity to travel might be solo – although this doesn’t necessarily mean going on holiday completely alone, as there a variety of tours available which involve travelling with other people.
At a recent meeting of our Bereavement Group, Wendy Slack from Crowborough’s Global Travel – which is based in the High Street – came along to tell our members what choices there are for people considering travelling alone and which companies particularly support solo travel.
Wendy told the group about some of the specialist tour operators Global Travel works with which focus on solo travellers. These include tours in Europe and worldwide, ranging from short breaks in the UK to extensive trips to Vietnam and Cambodia for the more adventurous.
“These companies base their prices on single rooms, so there is your own space if you need it but then company during the day, seeing sights or just relaxing,” Wendy explained.
She also told the group about other options, including coach tours from Crowborough which may appeal to single travellers or cruises where entertainment and meals are all provided and it’s easy to meet new people, should you wish. Wendy added that cruise companies sometimes hold meet-ups for solo travellers to get together at the beginning of a trip – offering a chance to ‘break the ice’.
“I’d say to any solo traveller, don’t be afraid of your own company, take a book to read at the dining room table. Be honest, if you would like to be by yourself; don’t feel obligated to spend time with others,” Wendy told the group. “At Global Travel, we endeavour to get to know our clients so when they come to book their holiday we have a better understanding of their requirements. We all have quite different ideas of our perfect holiday, so it’s very important to us to tailor our clients’ holidays to their needs.”
For more information about Global Travel, click here: www.globaltraveluk.com