Nervous. Apprehensive. Excited. And, if I’m completely honest, a little bit terrified.
Those were probably the best words to describe how I felt in the days leading up to 24 July.
I had decided to take the plunge and go on my first solo holiday. Not just a weekend away on my own, but an organised group tour where I would be meeting a whole group of people I had never met before.
Would I fit in? Would everyone already know each other? Would I feel awkward? Would I regret booking it?
If you’re considering a solo holiday for the first time, I imagine some of those questions might sound familiar.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that I needn’t have worried.
In fact, I came home having made friends for life.
Starting My First Solo Holiday
The big day finally arrived.
I travelled from Birmingham New Street to London Euston, and from there it was a short walk across to St Pancras International, where I was due to meet Kelly, our Holiday Director, for the first time.
And then came the moment I had been wondering about.
There were 13 of us in total, 12 fellow solo travellers and me, and none of us had ever met before.
It could have been awkward.
It wasn’t.
There was an instant feeling that we were all in the same boat. We had all made the decision to travel alone, and I think that gave us something in common straight away.
That was probably the first moment I realised that going on a solo group holiday isn’t quite the same as being completely on your own.
Before long, we were boarding the Eurostar to Paris.
Paris, Here We Come!
There are three Eurostar travel options: Standard, Plus and Premier, and we travelled Premier, which meant we had access to the Premier Lounge before departure.
And what better way to start a holiday than with a glass of champagne?
It was the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of our adventure and, perhaps more importantly, to relax and realise that I had actually done it.
I was on my way to Paris!
Once we arrived, Kelly escorted us to our coach and we had a short transfer to our hotel, the Grand Hotel Le Plessis.
The hotel was situated in the centre of Plessis-Robinson, around 7km from Paris. It was modern, comfortable and a lovely base for our stay.
One of my favourite things was the continental breakfast, which was included throughout the trip. There was plenty of choice and it was a great way to start each morning before heading out to explore.
Our First Evening: The Perfect Icebreaker
On our first evening, we headed to a local restaurant called Strada.
And what a great choice for our first night.
We sat together, ate, drank and, most importantly, started getting to know one another.
Those first conversations were the beginning of what would become a really special few days.
By the end of the evening, the nerves I had felt before travelling were already starting to disappear. I certainly didn’t feel like I was holidaying alone.
Day 2: Versailles and Paris by Night
On day two, we decided to take the optional excursion to Versailles.
And I’m so glad we did.
The Château de Versailles and its gardens were absolutely stunning.
We explored the formal gardens, with their beautiful parterres, sculptures, fountains, woodland groves and spectacular orangery.
It was one of those places where photographs really don’t do it justice.
The sheer scale and beauty of the grounds were incredible, and I would highly recommend adding this excursion if you get the opportunity.
Paris by Night
But our day wasn’t over.
That evening, we had opted to do the Paris by Night excursion, which included dinner before heading out on a sightseeing tour of the city.
We enjoyed a meal in a Parisian restaurant before setting off by coach to see some of Paris’s most famous landmarks.
We saw the Arc de Triomphe, the Opera House, the Louvre and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night was something I know I will remember for a very long time.
There was something magical about seeing the city illuminated, and the atmosphere was just incredible.
And Then There Was Emily in Paris!
There was also a very special surprise.
Kelly, our Holiday Director, had discovered that several people in the group were big fans of Emily in Paris.
So she arranged a little detour to see Emily’s home and the restaurant featured in the programme.
It was such a thoughtful touch and just one of those little extras that made the trip feel personal.
Kelly really went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time.
My advice? If you’re considering the Paris by Night excursion, add it on. I would highly recommend it.
Day 3: Monet’s Gardens at Giverny
Our next adventure took us to Giverny, home of Claude Monet’s famous gardens.
If you love gardens, art or simply beautiful places, this is somewhere you really need to see.
We explored the Clos Normand, Monet’s flower garden, as well as the Japanese-style water garden. The contrast between the two areas was beautiful.
Of course, one of the highlights was the famous lily pond, which provided so much inspiration for Monet’s celebrated water-lily paintings.
And then there was the beautiful Japanese bridge covered in wisteria, another feature that Monet captured in his work.
Walking through the gardens gave me a real appreciation for how much inspiration he must have found here.
It was peaceful, beautiful and completely enchanting.
That evening, we gathered together for a farewell drink.
And that’s when it really hit me.
Tomorrow we would be going home.
Had it really gone that quickly?
Day 4: Paris to the UK
Sadly, our adventure had come to an end.
We headed back to St Pancras International by Eurostar, ready to make our way home.
But although the holiday was over, something much more important had happened.
We had become friends.
What had started with a group of complete strangers standing at St Pancras had turned into a group of people who had shared experiences, laughter, meals, sightseeing, champagne, photographs and memories together.
And we have even arranged to meet up again at Christmas!
Meeting Other Solo Travellers Before the Holiday
One thing I found particularly useful was the Kindred app, which we were asked to download before travelling.
The app is specifically for Just You customers and gives you the opportunity to connect with other people joining your tour before, during and after your holiday.
You can chat to fellow travellers before you go, find out who else will be joining you and start getting to know people before you even arrive.
It also contains information about your itinerary, and your Holiday Director can use it to provide important information and meeting times throughout the trip.
For someone feeling nervous about their first solo holiday, I think this is a really useful feature.
Instead of arriving wondering who you’re going to meet, you can already have some idea of who will be there. For me, anything that takes away a little bit of that fear of the unknown can make taking that first step much easier.
Is Going on a Solo Holiday Scary?
If you’d asked me this before I left, I probably would have said yes.
I was nervous.
I was apprehensive.
I wondered whether I had made the right decision.
But now?
Absolutely not.
In fact, I would say the hardest part of going on a solo holiday was making the decision to book it in the first place.
Once I arrived and realised that everyone else was there for exactly the same reason, those worries quickly disappeared.
That’s the beauty of an organised solo group tour.
You’re travelling alone, but you’re not actually alone.
You’re surrounded by like-minded people who have also decided to step outside their comfort zone and experience something new.
For me, that was one of the biggest surprises. I had worried so much about whether I would feel lonely or awkward, but there was always someone to talk to, eat with or explore with.
And that’s exactly what touring is all about.
You meet people you would probably never have crossed paths with otherwise, share experiences and, sometimes, make friendships that continue long after the holiday ends.
I’ve already heard that it’s very common for people to rebook another tour with the friends they’ve made on a previous trip.
And now I completely understand why.
Would I Do Another Solo Holiday?
100% YES!
If you’re reading this because you’re considering booking your first solo holiday but you’re feeling nervous, my advice would be simple:
Start small.
Choose a shorter itinerary, perhaps just a few days, and give yourself the opportunity to experience what it’s like.
I honestly believe that once you’ve done it, you might just catch the touring bug.
I certainly have.
I travelled to Paris not knowing a single person.
I came home with memories I’ll treasure, a new confidence in travelling solo and a group of friends who I’m already looking forward to seeing again at Christmas.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking, “Could I really do a solo holiday?”
My answer is:
Yes, you can.
Take the leap.
You might just surprise yourself.