Is holidaying solo a benefit of being single or second best to going away with a partner, family or friends? 

That’s the question Lunchtime Live asked listeners today as part of a week-long examination of the pros and cons of singledom.

Presenter Andrea Gilligan is single has never been away on holiday by herself and the phone lines were flooded with callers keen to persuade her to give it a go.

“For me, the freedom of it is just incredible,” travel blogger Melanie May told her.

“So, I know a lot of people say that they go off travelling to find themselves - I go off travelling to be myself.

“When I’m away by myself, I am 100% as I am.

“I’m not tapering my personality for other people, I’m not waiting around for other people, I’m not doing any sort of compromise on things that I like or things that I want to do.

“If I want to get up and see the sunset I can and if I want to spend a whole day in bed I can.”

A woman walking on a beach in Vik, Iceland.

Ms May has been travelling solo for 25 years and feels it is just “so different” to ordinary life.

“When you’re at home, in your daily life, you’re being pulled left, right and centre by people’s demands - work, family, friends,” she said.

“When you’re away by yourself, it all just stops.”

Also speaking to the show, blogger Jeannette Newman said it is a common misconception that travelling by yourself is a lonely experience.

“Just because you’re a solo traveller, doesn’t mean you’re actually ever by yourself - that’s the crazy thing,” she said.

“When you solo travel, you literally make new friends every minute of every day - it’s crazy.

“I’ve never met more friends than when I solo travel; so many of my friends now from around the world - and even from Ireland - are from when I was travelling with them.”

2DBWEFN Brunette young man in jacket walking on the beach close to snowy mountains and Japanese sea. Solo traveller.

Ms Newman said while she “loves” travelling with friends, holidaying solo is a very special experience and recommends Andrea give it a go.

“I really hope you’ll do it someday, I really do,” she said.

“It is the most amazing thing.”

Data from Booking.com suggests solo travelling has increased in popularity since the pandemic; in 2021, 23% of travellers told the website they were planning a solo trip - compared to only 14% in 2019.

You can listen back here:

Main image: A solo traveller. Picture by: Alamy.com