Fed up of family arguments and couple rows on holiday? THIS is the solution
IF you’ve ever struggled with agreeing on where to go on holiday, getting the same time off as your mates or simply wanted to split off and do your own thing – this one’s for you.
Holiday company Opodo has looked into why more and more Brits are choosing to go away on solo holidays, plus they offer package deals that make it cheap and easy to do so.
It’s that freedom to do what you want that makes a solo holiday so appealing, as ‘travellers are no longer waiting for someone else to be available before they book.’
And it turns out travelling alone has loads of benefits too, with 47% of solo-travelling Brits saying it makes them feel more capable, and 32% saying it gives them better mental clarity.
Not only is a solo holiday good for self-confidence, but it can work out to be very cheap, too.
When you’re only visiting the attractions you want to go to, you have complete control over the holiday budget – so you can skip the expensive museums you didn’t really care about, or the fancy sit-down meals when you wanted to try the street food.
Read more on cheap holidays
If you’re planning a solo holiday, with Opodo you can save up to 40% off breaks if you book your flights and hotel together as a package.
From Spanish city breaks to red sand beaches and sunny islands, here’s our pick of Opodo’s best value solo holiday deals.
Barcelona – £141pp
Book a break to Barcelona for great beaches, food and architecture that makes walking around the city feel like strolling through a giant, open-air museum.
When you’re not admiring Gaudi’s House of Bones or the world-famous Sagrada Familia, the Picasso Museum and MACBA (museum of contemporary art) both offer free entry.
Come evening, the bars around El Born and Gracia are made for pulling up a stool at the counter, tucking into some delicious tapas and getting to know some fellow travellers over a cheap beer.
This Opodo offer includes a stay at the clean and comfortable Hotel 170, plus return flights from Manchester.
Istanbul – £123pp
A city made up of maze-like streets, colourful bazaars and gorgeous mosques, Istanbul is perfect for a solo holiday.
Wander through its historic centre at your own pace, stopping to take pictures of the impressively giant Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
Then stroll across the Galata Bridge to watch fishermen and tea sellers stroll along the Bosphorus sea strait at sunset.
This deal includes return flights from London plus a stay at Hamzabey Hotel, which is a 10-minute drive from Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower.
Amsterdam – £211pp
Whether you’re after a slow-paced break to chill and stroll alongside pretty canals, or an action-packed weekend ticking off all the amazing museums, Amsterdam is an ideal solo holiday destination.
You can visit the OSCAM art museum, the quirky ‘Mouse Mansion’ and the Amsterdam City Archives all for free. But if you’re wanting to tick off all the big sights, opt for a city card (£58), which gives you access to over 70 of the city’s top museums and attractions.
To soak up the outdoors, Vondelpark and Rijksmuseum gardens are totally free to visit and make for a great spot to sit and watch the world go by.
This deal is for a stay at the Boutique Hotel 43 Zaandam, which sits in a quiet spot shaded by trees that is only 15 minutes’ drive from Vondelpark.
Tenerife – £147pp
With year-round sunshine, dramatic volcanic landscapes and plenty of cheap, laid-back bars and restaurants to grab a sundowner, why would you not book a break to Tenerife?
There’s plenty to explore here, including Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site overlooked by two incredible twin volcanoes.
If you’re less into hiking and more into partying, make sure to visit the strip on Playa de las Americas, which is packed with lively bars.
This deal includes return flights from London plus a stay at the Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel, a sprawling holiday resort with a giant pool and its own spa.
Santorini – £239pp
Once you’ve touched down on the island, Santorini’s postcard-perfect views come free of charge, from the cascading clifftops of Fira to the sunsets behind the blue domes of Oia.
It’s easy to spend all of your time drifting between these dramatic viewpoints, but make sure to spend some time discovering Santorini’s beaches.
At Kamari Beach you’ll find rich black sand, while Red Beach gets its name from sand made from its rust-coloured volcanic cliffs.
This Opodo deal includes a stay at Castro Hotel, a friendly, family-owned spot surrounded by green gardens in the coastal village of Kamari.
Prices correct at the time of publication.