Single,adventurous, travel-loving female wants to take a short trip over Xmas vacation. Can anyone help me come up with some mid-priced ideas?
Oct 22nd, 2003, 10:10 AM
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Single,adventurous, travel-loving female wants to take a short trip over Xmas vacation. Can anyone help me come up with some mid-priced ideas?
I live in NYC, in my early 30s, and have 12 days off over the Xmas holiday. I really want to go away on a trip but I am realistic and I know that going away solo is very expensive, especially during that time of the year. I am a huge skier and would prefer to take a ski trip, but I am also amenable to other activities. I was thinking about an organized trip to Costa Rica or Belize as well. Does anyone know of tour companies open to singles, not outrageously expensive (like a Backroads), that may have trips running over this time period? I am free Dec.24-January 4.
I am not interested in Vermont, NH or local areas. I can do that any other time. I will fly anywhere and I don't care how long it takes. I don't know if Club Med is what I want as I feel I may be a little old for it. I've never been so I"m not so sure. Thanks very much in advance.
I am not interested in Vermont, NH or local areas. I can do that any other time. I will fly anywhere and I don't care how long it takes. I don't know if Club Med is what I want as I feel I may be a little old for it. I've never been so I"m not so sure. Thanks very much in advance.
Oct 22nd, 2003, 10:29 AM
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REI runs organized trips. Some are for women only, singles welcome. I don't know if you'd consider them mid-priced.
http://www.rei.com/adventures/date/december.html
http://www.rei.com/adventures/date/december.html
Oct 22nd, 2003, 10:48 AM
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My favorite subject! I'm working on a book on the subject as we speak! Definitely check out journeywoman.com for ideas.
Also, I know Sherri Griffith expeditions offers trips for women out West.
Bicycle Adventures is another company but it's more pricey.
If I think of more, I'll write back.
Also, I know Sherri Griffith expeditions offers trips for women out West.
Bicycle Adventures is another company but it's more pricey.
If I think of more, I'll write back.
Oct 22nd, 2003, 10:58 AM
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 12:39 PM
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Thanks so much for the replies! I'm actually a Whistler freak and have gone for the past 3 years. I did think about returning and that is an option. I one aspect I'm most interested in is a tour-like trip so I don't have to be alone (I travel alone a lot, but thought it might be more fun this way) and one in which I could ski or just get away to somewhere nice and relaxing. Any good companies out there for Central America? Does anyone know about Adventure Center? They had a trip that looked good and pretty inexpensive. Any companies that offer tours to Europe for skiing? I have lots of info but I am not finding what I want/need. Thanks again, keep it coming!
Oct 22nd, 2003, 01:16 PM
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Abby, (great name by the way! just named my new puppy that!) I am NOT an adventurous person, sort of timid and shy, but also in my early 30s and single. Last year I did a European trip with Contiki (www.contiki.com), a company exclusively for 18-35 year olds. I was so scared but ended up having THE BEST trip of my life! I went by myself and had no idea what to expect, but had more fun than I could tell you. I know they have for the winter a ski trip in Hopfgarten, Austria, which is one of the places I visited, it was magnificient. I was concerned about the age thing, but there was a wide range of ages and I did not at all feel weird. You can check out my pics from the trip at http://photos.yahoo.com/harmony29 and click on Lisa's Contiki Trip. I would strongly recommend Contiki and am actually hoping to do another tour next year before I turn too old. Email me if you need any other information.
Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:11 PM
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There are some good options in Colorado for solo travellers
http://www.alpenhutte.com and http://www.firesideinn.com
It has been awhile since I stayed at the fireside but usally a diverse group of people, even if sharing a room does not appeal everyone hangs out in the main area.
Beaver Lodge in Winter Park,http://www.beavervillage.com/lodge.phtml also has a rep as a good place to meet ppl WP may have deal on their web page as well
Copper Mountian has some great deals on lifts on thier web site.
http://www.alpenhutte.com and http://www.firesideinn.com
It has been awhile since I stayed at the fireside but usally a diverse group of people, even if sharing a room does not appeal everyone hangs out in the main area.
Beaver Lodge in Winter Park,http://www.beavervillage.com/lodge.phtml also has a rep as a good place to meet ppl WP may have deal on their web page as well
Copper Mountian has some great deals on lifts on thier web site.
Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:27 PM
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Abby-
I am 34 and have gone to Club Med twice in the past 3 years. You are definitely NOT too old - I was younger than the average person when I went to Turkoise last year. Club Med is a ton of fun...very social, enough activities to keep you booked about 18 hours a day, and there are lots of people who go by themselves. And, to my surprise, it wasn't the "hook-up" atmosphere I had expected...it was more like summer camp for adults, with all its activities, classes, and contests! I learned how to sail, and took trampoline lessons every morning.
I also highly recommend REI Adventures. I have taken three hiking trips with them (Czech Republic, Crete, and Thailand). The groups were small (8-12 people) and the guides took us to areas (and local restaurants!) that many tourists don't get to see. The average age was about 40 for my 2 European trips and 30 for the Thailand trip, and there tend to be more women than men. There were several people on each trip that were there all by themselves. I think their prices are lower than most other adventure travel outfits for what you get (all meals are usually included).
Let me know if you have any questions about any of this stuff. Good Luck.
I am 34 and have gone to Club Med twice in the past 3 years. You are definitely NOT too old - I was younger than the average person when I went to Turkoise last year. Club Med is a ton of fun...very social, enough activities to keep you booked about 18 hours a day, and there are lots of people who go by themselves. And, to my surprise, it wasn't the "hook-up" atmosphere I had expected...it was more like summer camp for adults, with all its activities, classes, and contests! I learned how to sail, and took trampoline lessons every morning.
I also highly recommend REI Adventures. I have taken three hiking trips with them (Czech Republic, Crete, and Thailand). The groups were small (8-12 people) and the guides took us to areas (and local restaurants!) that many tourists don't get to see. The average age was about 40 for my 2 European trips and 30 for the Thailand trip, and there tend to be more women than men. There were several people on each trip that were there all by themselves. I think their prices are lower than most other adventure travel outfits for what you get (all meals are usually included).
Let me know if you have any questions about any of this stuff. Good Luck.
Oct 23rd, 2003, 05:00 AM
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Thanks everyone! I looked at REI and the trip I want to take is booked. I've already done Contiki twice and will not go again due to a major travel snafu that was their fault. SUZANNE-can you please tell me more about your Club Med experience? I have had some friends who have gone and they loved it as well. Whereas I'd love to meet new people I do not want a college-aged party scene. Thanks so much.
Oct 23rd, 2003, 06:36 AM
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Abby-
I took my first Club Med trip to Playa Blanca Mexico (sadly, now closed) in March of 2001 for $950 all inclusive for 1 week. My second trip was to Turkoise (Turks & Caicos) in February 2003 for about $1200 for a week. It costs extra ($200?) for a drink bracelet which allows you to get alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks and snacks all day long. If you are going on your own they can find you a roommate or you can get a room by yourself for extra money. The extra cost isn't huge, maybe $300 extra?
I'll tell you more about Turkoise. No one under 18 is allowed - it's almost impossible to find resortslike this that aren't couples-only! The resort is nothing fancy, but it's clean and decent. The beach is spectacular - one of the best I've seen - with clear, turquoise water. The pool is really nice too. Very few people leave to do activities outside the resort.
Club Med is a French company so you will notice that all announcements are made in both French and English. The clientele at Turkoise is probably at least half New Yorkers, and half people from elsewhere (Canada, rest of US, and Europe). When I was there, there were mainly single 30-somethings, but quite a few middle age couples too. When my bf went to Turkoise a couple years ago and said the average age at that time (May) was closer to 30.
Meals are served buffet-style at specific hours during the day. There is a very wide variety of food (salads, pasta, pizza, stews, various meats, cheese, fruit, deserts, etc) which is neither great nor terrible. There are different dinner themes each night (Mexican, French, etc.). Wine and beer are available to all at meals whether you have a bracelet or not. Hostesses seat you at a table which fits 8 or 10 people...you get seated with strangers, but it's okay, it is one of the ways you can meet lots of people there! Towards the end of the week you wind up going to meals with people you've befriended. Oh, there is also an ala carte restaurant where you have to make reservations beforehand. My meal there was excellent.
There are so many activities I don't think I can list them all here. Scuba (extra $), snorkeling, trampolining, trapeze, water sports, sailing, dance lessons, basketball, beach volleyball, pool volleyball, exercise classes....there is just so much to do! The GOs (the people who work there) teach the classes and are very energetic and fun. They have meals with the guests too. And many of them are very easy on the eyes!
Some of the nighttime activities are totally cheesy and some are really fun. Just before sunset each night, people gather at Sharkie's and listen to Daniel sing and play guitar - a real treat. Then after dinner there are Club Med dances (aka "Crazy Signs") which I think look really silly but lots of people enjoy them. After that there's the nightime show, which ranges from an awesome circus performance by the GOs to audience participation shows to talent contests to musicals put on by the GOs (which are often really bad, but they try). After that everyone hangs out at the bar and there is usually a band and dancing. Then at 2AM (if you can make it that long) everyone goes back to Sharkie's for more socializing and music.
What more can I tell you? It's an excellent time, and though it's not really luxury it's extremely relaxing and social. No one tries to force to you "join in" if you don't want to, which is nice. If you want to do your own thing it's very easy to also. It really is like summer camp for adults. Both times I have gone, I've exclaimed to my friends, "I feel like I'm six years old again!"
Sorry, I probably won't be able to answer any additional questions because I am leaving for Italy today on a small-group hiking trip I found through GORP.COM (a site that finds adventure trips around the world) - you should check out this site too...
I took my first Club Med trip to Playa Blanca Mexico (sadly, now closed) in March of 2001 for $950 all inclusive for 1 week. My second trip was to Turkoise (Turks & Caicos) in February 2003 for about $1200 for a week. It costs extra ($200?) for a drink bracelet which allows you to get alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks and snacks all day long. If you are going on your own they can find you a roommate or you can get a room by yourself for extra money. The extra cost isn't huge, maybe $300 extra?
I'll tell you more about Turkoise. No one under 18 is allowed - it's almost impossible to find resortslike this that aren't couples-only! The resort is nothing fancy, but it's clean and decent. The beach is spectacular - one of the best I've seen - with clear, turquoise water. The pool is really nice too. Very few people leave to do activities outside the resort.
Club Med is a French company so you will notice that all announcements are made in both French and English. The clientele at Turkoise is probably at least half New Yorkers, and half people from elsewhere (Canada, rest of US, and Europe). When I was there, there were mainly single 30-somethings, but quite a few middle age couples too. When my bf went to Turkoise a couple years ago and said the average age at that time (May) was closer to 30.
Meals are served buffet-style at specific hours during the day. There is a very wide variety of food (salads, pasta, pizza, stews, various meats, cheese, fruit, deserts, etc) which is neither great nor terrible. There are different dinner themes each night (Mexican, French, etc.). Wine and beer are available to all at meals whether you have a bracelet or not. Hostesses seat you at a table which fits 8 or 10 people...you get seated with strangers, but it's okay, it is one of the ways you can meet lots of people there! Towards the end of the week you wind up going to meals with people you've befriended. Oh, there is also an ala carte restaurant where you have to make reservations beforehand. My meal there was excellent.
There are so many activities I don't think I can list them all here. Scuba (extra $), snorkeling, trampolining, trapeze, water sports, sailing, dance lessons, basketball, beach volleyball, pool volleyball, exercise classes....there is just so much to do! The GOs (the people who work there) teach the classes and are very energetic and fun. They have meals with the guests too. And many of them are very easy on the eyes!
Some of the nighttime activities are totally cheesy and some are really fun. Just before sunset each night, people gather at Sharkie's and listen to Daniel sing and play guitar - a real treat. Then after dinner there are Club Med dances (aka "Crazy Signs") which I think look really silly but lots of people enjoy them. After that there's the nightime show, which ranges from an awesome circus performance by the GOs to audience participation shows to talent contests to musicals put on by the GOs (which are often really bad, but they try). After that everyone hangs out at the bar and there is usually a band and dancing. Then at 2AM (if you can make it that long) everyone goes back to Sharkie's for more socializing and music.
What more can I tell you? It's an excellent time, and though it's not really luxury it's extremely relaxing and social. No one tries to force to you "join in" if you don't want to, which is nice. If you want to do your own thing it's very easy to also. It really is like summer camp for adults. Both times I have gone, I've exclaimed to my friends, "I feel like I'm six years old again!"
Sorry, I probably won't be able to answer any additional questions because I am leaving for Italy today on a small-group hiking trip I found through GORP.COM (a site that finds adventure trips around the world) - you should check out this site too...
Oct 23rd, 2003, 07:14 AM
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Suzanne-you are the best. thank you so much. Did you book directly through Club Med or use an outside agent/agency? I need to know how to get a good rate. Also, why do you have to pay extra for the bracelet? I thought all that stuff was included in the price? Have a great time in Italy.
Oct 23rd, 2003, 09:28 AM
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Often the drink bracelet IS included in the quote price (depending on who you get the package from). You don't HAVE to buy the bracelet if you want to drink...you can instead buy a book of tickets to pay separately for each drink (a good option if you only plan to have a drink or two each day, BUT you'd also have to pay for soda, bottled water, etc.). The bracelet just allows you unlimited drinks (if you don't like that crazy frozen concoction they served you, you can immediately order something different!)
Okay...I just checked through my old emails and saw that we actually paid $1541 last year and it DID include the wristband. I believe we booked directly thru Club Med. The first time we took a CM trip it was through Alwaystravel(?). It may be worth it to do an internet search...some travel agents say they'll give you 5-10% off the quoted CM price. I think that Club Med posts its prices right on its website...you can then compare these to clubmeddiscounts.com, vacation-travel.com and others.
Hope this helps...
PS Costa Rica and Belize are on my list as well! I will likely plan something thru REI in the next few years...
Okay...I just checked through my old emails and saw that we actually paid $1541 last year and it DID include the wristband. I believe we booked directly thru Club Med. The first time we took a CM trip it was through Alwaystravel(?). It may be worth it to do an internet search...some travel agents say they'll give you 5-10% off the quoted CM price. I think that Club Med posts its prices right on its website...you can then compare these to clubmeddiscounts.com, vacation-travel.com and others.
Hope this helps...
PS Costa Rica and Belize are on my list as well! I will likely plan something thru REI in the next few years...
Mar 21st, 2004, 11:20 AM
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I'm single, in my 30s, and planning a trip to Chile, where I've always wanted to go. It's heartening to read about the experiences of solo women travelers, and I've checked out REI. IF anyone knows of any other forums or groups for single women travelers, pls let me know. Thanks.
Dec 30th, 2004, 02:17 PM
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Abby did you end up going somewhere??
just wondering ??
I am in NY also. 36 Single male.
I want to travel someplace by myself & wanted to hear about a recent experience. I have been to Belize but scuba dove with a friend.
just wondering ??
I am in NY also. 36 Single male.
I want to travel someplace by myself & wanted to hear about a recent experience. I have been to Belize but scuba dove with a friend.
Feb 4th, 2005, 09:41 AM
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to:wishyouwerehere
how was Belize, I am planning trip to Belize/Costa Rica with another friend, Did you go to San Pedro while you were there, Any trip idea, prob. wont scuba dive cause were not certified. Let me know thanks. Andrea
how was Belize, I am planning trip to Belize/Costa Rica with another friend, Did you go to San Pedro while you were there, Any trip idea, prob. wont scuba dive cause were not certified. Let me know thanks. Andrea
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