29years old. Electronics Engineer currently designing DigitalTV stuff.
Adore gadgets and gizmos bu...
29years old. Electronics Engineer currently designing DigitalTV stuff.
Adore gadgets and gizmos but flatly refuse to play the "brand-name" game when possible.
Adore films and home cinema. I'm going to try and review every new film I see!
Mad abou...
Member since:25.02.2001
Reviews:17
Members who trust:1
If you're unfamiliar with Solo's Holidays (www.solosholidays.co.uk) then you’re certainly not alone (pun intended). They tend to have small adverts towards the back of most newspapers, but have actually been around for 18 years or so!
If you hadn’t already guessed, they cater for people wanting to go on holiday on their own. Single people. People without partners, or wanting to go somewhere/do something that their friends aren’t interested in. Note that the holiday is not about finding a partner (although two of the group did get it together by the end of the week), but about having fun and doing/seeing different things.
Solo’s offer a very wide range of holidays all year round from short-breaks, skiing trips, beach breaks, sightseeing, educational trips, cruises and exotic adventures.
I chose a learn-to-ski trip in Andorra. One week long in a good quality hotel. To take the serious amount of stress away that going on your own can bring, Solo’s attempt to organise most things for you. Accommodation, transfers, equipment hire, even group tipping is looked after by the tour-guide. The tour-guide is there throughout the holiday and looks solely after the party of people. They do not spend hours in other hotels etc. They look after you and ensure you are getting the most out of things. The holidays are not the cheapest around – but the presence of a fulltime rep and the excellent management of things more than makes up for this.
On our trip I was amazed at the diversity of people attracted. Our group had divorcees, single-parents (without the kids in tow!), young professionals, early-retirees and normal everyday workers.
For our skiing trip there were 17 people ranging in age from 28 through to the mid-50’s. A 2:1 split of women to men kept us chaps in tow!
I was quite nervous that the more mature people would be “limiting”, and I was a little concerned with the idea that some of the people would be “nutters”. However this was wholly unfounded nonsense. People got on extremely well and there was always someone to go out for a drink or walk with. Meal-times were great fun and nightlife was strictly up to you. If you wanted to go clubbing every night you could, or you could go to bed early instead. There is no “jollying you along” like you see on some organised holidays – you are left to be an individual.
The Hotel was good value for the money, and the Jacuzzi used daily by our group after our skiing trips!
Solo’s management of the holiday through all stages was very good. Booking was easy, information was supplied in a timely and detailed fashion, and arrangements while away were very well sorted. I am now starting to leaf through the brochure for my next adventure!
These types of holidays certainly appeal to people who want to get away and meet people. If you are a loner-type that does not want to mix and/or feel more comfortable working out every detail of your ittinery yourself then you may not find it that much fun.
However if you are on your own and want to go away, pick up a brochure (they will mail you one) and see what you fancy. Don’t be scared – everyone is in the same boat and most people will be going for exactly the same reasons as you! You can make new friends and see new things at the same time.
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Good review. I think it is really important that there is holiday provision for single travellers - I say that as a young woman who is dating, and sometimes would want to go on holiday myself, but also as my Dad is widowed. He would like to go away on holiday, but have company as well! There needs to be provision at both ends of the market.
joycarole 27.09.2004 14:50
Like firm-and-pert, I've booked with Solos for later this year, and I found this review very encouraging. Thanks.
firm-and-pert 28.03.2004 22:57
Thanks for your review. I am going on my first Solo's holiday this year and I have many of the same worries about nutters etc that you mention in your op. Your review has really reassured me and I feel alot more confident about my holiday now thanks. K xx
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