What would you recommend, please, as a good holiday for a widow, where she would not feel odd and perhaps might meet interesting, compatible men?

For women 50 years of age and older, ElderHostels (wish they'd change the name) are a great way to meet interesting people. There are programs of varying lengths all over the world.

what about for under 50?

Don't worry about age, just go, you will meet someone who is meant to be. I have travelled alone on many ages of my life and meeting men was not difficult, only getting them away.

geez. that's interesting. so it's not just golf holidays?

My advice is to not think of yourself as a widow too much. Whether you come to the table as a widow, nevermarried, or divorcee the point is you have to learn to be yourself by yourself at some point in your (everyone's) life, if you want to grow as a person.

Take any tour group you like, have fun and if you meet someone, fine, but make your destination the important part.

Travel alone or with a friend or go in a group, start collecting brochures for what interests you. At least pick out a country or area so people here can help you.

You'll be fine, it will all be ok.

I like the nocinonut's thoughts. Also, make a nice album of your trip with commentary. Taking the photos gives you something to discuss on your tour. Also, you can share your album with friends and nice men you meet, and talk about your trip. It's a great ice breaker.
One of my Mom's friends brought albums of her trips to share with my Mom when my Mom had chemo, and it gave my Mom a focus outside of herself. First thing she did when she found out she was in remission was book a tour to Russia, a place she has always wanted to go. She went on the tour by herself and had a grand time and now has the albums to show us. Go for it!

I agree with noc..Why introduce yourself as a widow? I mean, I know it is correct, but wouldn't it be more interesting to just say "single?" Especially if you are widowed at a young age. Adds a little mystery to be introduced as "single" .. aha.. what has happened in the life of this beautiful woman that she is now... single....and available.

I have taken several Globus tours on which there were recent widows and widowers. At that time, there was no single supplement, so they arranged a same gender roommate at no charge.

Hi horizon,

I suggest a week in London and a week in Paris or
a week in Paris and a week in Rome or
a week in Rome and a week in Florence.

I think mid Sept - mid Oct is the best time.

Don't bother with a packaged tour.

Take one or two tours of the city.

You will enjoy your visit and you will meet interesting people.

If your goal is to meet compatible men, I hardly think traveling is the way to do it, I would think you would want to meet a man in your town. If you did meet up with someone in your travels it would most likely be one of those "ships passing in the night" things or at best a long distance relationship.

But other than meeting men, travel is a good way to get your mind off your grief.

Joelle

If you want something with a lot of structured activity involving the same group, a cruise ship, or one of the guided tours would seem to fit the bill. I would not think independent travel would be a good way to meet fellow travelers, as you would all have separate itineraries.

Horizon,

You might look at the tours offered by the Smithsonian Institution. There are all sorts, both in the U.S. and abroad, and they are led by knowledgeable people. The advantage is that these tours attract people interested in more than just travel--learning about different cultures, for example--and you would almost certainly find compatible companions.

Take a nice cruise for singles only..Also dont try to hard to meet someone or you are going to look like a desperate woman.
Also our Dear Degas is going to be a Gigolo soon..He would be a Funny and amusing escort..
Degas Darling, if you are reading this post help this nice lady..
Have Fun

Singles cruises--and other cruises, for that matter--tend to have a lot more women than men on board. That's why some cruise lines have hired male "hosts" to dance with the unaccompanied ladies.

A dear friend (early 50's, widowed, very active) has taken three Backroads trips and loved the experience. She has met interesting and fun-loving men and women with whom she has maintained contact with. Her next trip...biking/hiking in Ireland.

I agree with a lot of this advice, but don't think we know enough about the woman as being a widow isn't the most important characteristic, it is probably age and marital status (assuming the goal is compatible men). My sister was widowed a few years ago at age 47, for example. Her interests and potential romantic interests would be different than someone widowed at age 75.

I think Elderhostel is an excellent idea if she is over 55, as well as any active biking/hiking or other activity tour where you are together in a group quite a bit. I also think the singles cruises are not a good idea (from what I've read).

There are many interesting type of "volunteer" or learning vacations which I'd like to do, but I don't have the time with my work schedule. If she has more free time, those could be good, also. For example, Volunteers for Peace www.vfp.org The CARE charity has summer volunteer trips to Peru to work in orphanages, medical clinics, etc. Some other unique small-group tours are offered by TraveLearn www.travelearn.com, Earthbound Expeditions or Overseas Adventure Travel.

Those may not really be at all what she is seeking, and to some extent, larger group tours would give you a greater chance of meeting people. I can understand people in some circumstances (eg, widow or widower) find someone compatible who has been through the same experiences and has some of the same expectations.

We don't have enough info, but if the goal is to meet men, I don't think a 75 year old widow going to Paris by herself is going to do that.

a 75 year old widow would probably have a better shot in paris than in the u.s., because europeans generally have a more enlightened attitude about age. not entirely, but generally.

anyway, most widows and widowers don't qualify as "single" because they are parents, and after years of marriage they don't have the same points of view as truly single people.

w/w's aren't mutants. it's just that through travel they might meet a like-minded person, whether through adventure, culture, history.

up till now it has seemed all the widowers are at golf resorts or travelling with the family.

someone should organize a cool trip for this set - whatever their ages.