Decisions

So far I've got a City break booked to Barcelona coming up at end of February plus a JY holidays to Slovenia in May and America in November sorted I'm now swithching my attention to other months. As I've said previously this is going to be a big holiday year.

I'm really thinking of doing a walking holiday in April am looking at a couple of options so m ore on that later.

June is the difficult month, I know I've said I'd like to go to Chicago while the Blues festival is on, in fact was looking at a deal the other day. When I looked the best deal I found currently was for a week flying from Manchester and a very good 4 star hotel in a ideal location for everything. The cost for a single person was £1,184 (no meals) but prices are changing all the time so just monitering. Not a bad price but it drops much further could sway me.

Against that option I'm considering a Greek island holiday with Solos for a forthnight and taking everthing into account including spending money reckon the costs would end up very similar.

So the decision is a week in Chicago against a fortnight on a Greek Island.

Obviously if I choose Chicago I'd be totally on my own where as the Greek option would be a group holiday. Travelling alone isn't a major issue to me but it is nice to travel with others, maybe some of you reading this fancy the same holiday (my email is at top of page), would be good to get a small group together.

So watch this space will decide soon I think.

July I'm not planning anything, a friend is planning to visit from Australia but not got dates yet.

These Boots are made for Walking

Yesterday was out shopping and decided to buy some Walking Boots. Yes they were a very good price and us Yorkshire folk love a bargain.

Its something I've been thinking of investing in for quite a long time, don't mind walking.

I'm now looking at a Walking holiday this year so my plans are changing. It'll be a new type of holiday for me.

Love to hear from anyone thats done a walking holiday, what are they like ? do you get a good group of people ?

Gee I'm in danger of getting fit.

Discover Mallorca - Are Singles Holiday companies just a dating agency ?

Are Singles Holidays just a dating agency ?

Well I've done a few now so probably in a position to answer this common question. I would actually say if you booking a holiday and are just looking for love this isn't the place.

Sure people do meet and appear to hook up on these holidays but it is very few and certainly no more than if you put 30 or so singles at any other function or event.
In fact I would estimate on average maybe somewhere between one and two couples possibly get together per holiday, whether these relationships last who knows.

What I would say is lots of friendships develop and i hear of many reunions and of people holidaying together again. Done all that and have lots of friends I keep in touch with.

I go on holiday because its the holiday I want to do and certainly don't go looking for love, the vast majority of travellers are there for the same reason. I have on rare occasions spoke with people who are looking to find someone but in my experience finding a partner is something that happens when you are least expecting it.

Saying all that I have met someone who I had a very good relationship with on a holiday, in fact we dated for almost a year and are still good friends, just didn't work out because our lifestyles were so different (but thats another story).

As you'll have guessed it happend on the Discover Mallorca holiday at Easter in 2011 with Just You, we actually first met at the baggage carosel at Palma airport (was only looking for my luggage honest).

Think it was about the 2nd day of the holiday and a large group of us were exploring the resort (Santa Ponsa) together. Anyway as lunchtime approached  spotted a Pub that looked ok but most of the group wanted to head back to the hotel but I decided diferent. Anyway the lady in question decided to join me while the rest moved on leaving just the two of us.

We chatted and discovered we got on really well and also the added bonus was we lived close to each other. In fact we got on so well we spent most of the rest of the holiday (others did join us).
We actually met the night after we returned to England and the rest is history so they say.

As for the holiday if I'm honest ther than finding love I can't remember too much, think my mind was elsewhere. Not only with the start of a relationship but my Mum had an accident while I was away and was in hospital.

If I remember correctly the hotel wasn't really that good for singles it was more a family complex with kids entertainment until 10-30pm in the bar.
The food was poor and remember we abandoned the half board we had paid for and ate in local restaurants which were good, well some of us did and numbers grew each night.

We did some nice excursions, remember Palma was good and also the Soller train journey but there was definately a few others. Also remember ding a boat trip in a glass bottomed boat that we arranged ourselves.

Mallorca is a nice place and well worth a visit, maybe I should return sometime, hope you enjoy the photos.

Me and Travel (an introduction)

Ever since i was young I've been interested in travel, visiting new places and meeting new people but for many years i never got the opportunity.
Did travel a bit with family and friends in my younger days but then had a time in life where i just didn't, the main reason was i'd nobody to go with as friends had their families and also had other commitments that restricted me.

It was almost 10 years ago that I built up the nerve to go on my own, I'd always wanted to go to America and New York seemed the obvious place so it was down to the travel agents (nervous about booking through the internet back then) and they sorted me a flight and hotel. Actually decided as I was travelling that far it would be good to visit another city, a friend suggested Chicago so it was arranged. I loved Chicago and have been back many times since, often a few days onroute elsewhere as its still my favorite city.
I'll write more about my first nervous trip alone in a future dedicated post aswell as a post why i love Chicago the most (so far).

So what do I like on a holiday ?
Well I get bored easy and I'm not one for sitting on a beach or around a swimming pool for a fortnight, will chill occasionally for a couple of hours but i want to be visiting things or doing something. Actually dont mind doing a bit of walking, best way of seeing some places.
Also will add somewhere with decent nightlife especially live music because i like to go out every night I'm away.