Suggestions for a solo beach vacation for 45 year old stressed out working Mom
 

I want a winter holiday (say Feb '06) on the beach, pool with swim up bar and interesting day tours. Have been to Playa del Carmen, Varadero, and Orlando (the theme park thing) with DH and kids. DH is a reluctant traveller and I can't afford to take the kids all of the time so I would like to begin venturing out on my own. Any ideas for destinations from Canada? Also, I don't mind lounging, touring, and eating on my own but how do you experienced solos cope with the evenings?

Hi Nickity,
Ok, I'm going to suggest something different--how about a cruise? I travel solo, am mid 50s, and cruising solo is so easy. You can be as alone or with others as you want to be. There are plenty of activites on the ship or you can just hang out on deck with a good book and enjoy the sea.
When the ship stops at a port you can do a ship excursion or wander around on your own.
At night on the ship you can go to many fun shows/lounges etc comfortably.
Anyway, I really think that cruising is a great stress free fun vacation. You can go to cruisecritic or cruisemates for a lot more info.
Faith

I have thought of that possibility, Faith. I was looking at a western Carribean cruise since I would like to visit Belize. My one worry is setting a budget. What do the port excursions usually cost and what on board do you have to pay for (I have been seeing postings about $1000 bar tabs)? Also, are the ship excursions rushed and crowded? Thanks for your help.

Nickity, I have never been to the Carib so don't know anything about those ports. I live in CA and have family in NY so I've cruised to Alaska, cruised out of NY, and to Mexico out of SD.
As far as excurisons you can go on your own, with a local vendor/guide at the port, or thru the ship.
My credit card bill has been between $250-$350 on most of my cruises. Usually I do a few tours and have a few drinks during the week in the lounges/clubs.
I'd check out the specific ports you are interested in on the cruisecritic website. Good luck in whatever you decide. Faith

Check out Puerto Vallarta. I know you can sometimes get very good charter flights/package tours from Canada. I would compare it similarly to PdC only on the west coast of Mexico.

<how do you experienced solos cope with the evenings?>

I usually go down to the main local beach and watch the sunset (7-ish), have a couple cocktails, walk somewhere and have a nice dinner in town, then head back to the hotel to read a trashy paperback novel or watch bad TV on the Spanish language local channels ;-)

In PV, strolling the Malecon (seawall promonade), having an ice cream cone & sitting on a bench and people watching, walking thru a different residential neighborhood, catching a free music or dance performance, window shopping at the art galleries and upscale clothing stores are all good too.

Thanks for your suggestions. I hope more keep coming. Faith, do you always pay the single supplement on cruises?
Suze, which part of PV do you recommend? Is the new development (Nuevo Vallarta, I think they call it) getting too far from town?

Nickity
I am a seasoned solo traveller. This past February, I took a trip to the Dominican Republic. I booked about 4 weeks ahead of time and paid a little less then $1000,for an all inclusive and airfare for 6 days. I had a great time. There was no swim up bar so I will not suggest the same hotel, but I got what I needed, relaxation. I took $100 cash for spending money, and maybe spent $30 giving tips. I would suggest an all-inclusive package, you will not have to worry about large bar bills. I tried to book that same deal for next year when I got home, and I could not. Waiting to book again in January. Good luck on your travels.

Nickity,

In PV I prefer "south of the river" a neighborhood sometimes dubbed Zona Romantica. It is the old part of town with cobblestone streets, red tile roofs, black wrought iron decorative work, bouganvilla everywhere. You can walk up to El Centro and the Malecon (downtown and the seawall promonade) in about 10 mins.

That said, there are no fancy resorts or swim up bars here. Take a look at www.casa-andrea.com as an example of a place I have stayed.

Personally I would not recommend Nuevo Vallarta for a solo person (it is a 1 hour drive north) unless you only want to stay at the resort and relax (nothing wrong with that).

All of the above ideas are good, it's just a matter of sorting out what's right for you. For instance I would never go A-I in the Dominican Republic, because what I like most about travel is getting out in a town and exploring not being (what to me would feel) cooped up with my fellow tourists. I would also not choose a cruise, first and foremost because I get seasick and claustrophobic both -LOL.

Hi Again,
This post has really blossomed--lots of good info here.
How to get a good deal when cruising solo--thats got to be a 64 million $ question. I've had luck getting good deals cruising before/after school holidays and times when kids are in school. I usually decide where I want to go and am very flexible with ship, itineary, and dates and see what the various web based cruise agencies can do for me.
A good web site to check out is vacationstogo.com. I really like their 90 day cruise calendar.
I'd also check out the singles sections of the cruisecritic and cruisemates websites and ask questions. Good luck in whatever you do.
Faith

Try Costa Rica! My first real vacation was in Mar. of 03, I was 48 and went alone! I was terrified as I got on the plane to leave and wondered what I had gotten myself into. It was the most wonderful experience of my life. This place has to be the closest thing possible to paradise. Most of the people (ticos) speak english or at least try. If you can learn a little spanish it would help. I used a company called Discover Costa Rica. I had a driver sometimes and other times they set me up with Shuttle services. The beaches are spectacular, you can white water raft in virgin rainforest, watch volcanos erupt (arenal), watch monkeys cavort from your hut balcony overlooking the ocean. I went alone but I never felt alone, everyone was friendly and helpful. Even though the tour books tell you how flirtacious the tico men are I never had a problem. Most of the towns are safe (not san jose)I was walking around after 10 pm in Manuel Antonio and never felt unsafe. The Costs are reasonable, I went for 16 days, and spent about $2,400 (air, hotels, 2 day rafting, Transportion between 6 cities and 1 interflight to Osa Penn.)for the customized tour itinery and air fare. Others I spoke with spent way less, but they were more experienced travellers. I highly recommend it.

Katrina

Wow, what a lot of great ideas! When I first posted, my attitude was I solo travelling mainly by default - now I'm quite excited. Thanks, everyone!

Some of us travel solo by choice ;-)

Well granted since I'm single it's easier and sometimes necessary for me. Often I go with a friend or relative but most trips are on my own. It may be a bit different for you since you have a family at home, but I'm guessing you can get used to it for a few days on the beach -LOL.

suze or anyone else
Are you familiar with Buenaventura Hotel & Beach Club? Wondered if it would be a good compromise to get my beach/pool/drinks with umbrellas but to be within walking distance of downtown PV(or so the brochure claims). It's AI but cheap enough that I could eat and explore off site without feeling guilty.

Hi Nickity, I have not stayed at the Buenaventura but have stayed several times at the Sheraton Buegonvilla (sp?, sorry) which is right in the same area. This is a great area. At night if you are downtown you will want to take a taxi back to your hotel but the taxis do not cost very much.

The Sheraton is a beautiful hotel but is more expensive then the Buenaventura I believe.

BTW, February was ALWAYS the month my late husband and I went to PV. The perfect month IMO!! We would go there when we needed to get away from "life" and just relax and chill out.

No Nickity I have not been to PV on my own, haven't gone since I lost my DH. But I would say this, I would not be afraid to go. And if one wants to have any evening without going into town (neither resort is IN the historical town) having a restaurant or two on the premises as well as lounges is ideal.

If I were there on my own I would enjoy the historical town during the day and probably come back to the resort, take a shower, have a drink or two and dinner at the resort most nights. But I would also enjoy the resort for relaxing on the beach, swimming in the pool, the swim up bar etc, walking on the beach etc. Hope this helps a little.

Oh, one thing I have always noticed at the Sheraton in February is that there were often Mexican women there without there husbands. They were obviously having a "getaway" also. Best wishes to you. And, we met people from Canada also. Best wishes to you.

The Buenaventura is in the Hotel Zone just north of El Centro (downtown), and technically yes it's walking distance. I have never stayed at a resort or in an all-inclusive (in 16 trips to PV!) so I can't give a personal opinion on that part.

But if it looks like a comfortable, and affordable options to you, and gets you to Puerto Vallarta... I say go for it!

I prefer to stay in the Old Town which is south over the other side of downtown area and the river (Rio Cuale). A district sometimes dubbed Zona Romantica. It has cobblestone streets, red tile roofs, more old timey. The area in the Hotel Zone is busier, noisier, with more traffic (Buenaventura is located on the main drag that comes from the airport all the way into town).

But staying any place in town is a wonderful idea. Every trip I spend a little of my leisure time walking around and looking at other hotel options for the next trip!