Where would you go to be alone?

[jlt19]

DH wrote me a sweet card for Xmas. Said he tried but couldn't think of anything I really wanted. Then it hit him, time away. So he's "sending" me on a weekend away. He said I could take a friend or go alone. Stay in town or go to a beach. From any Thursday night to Sunday of my choosing, I get to do whatever I want.

I don't know what to do with all of this power!

For reference, I live in the Midwest, so if a beach, then east coast. I may consider going alone or bringing a friend. Haven't decided. I'm already going to Sonoma with a friend in June and tagging along on DHs work trip to Orlando in late April (to lounge by the pool and read alone). He said neither of these counts, but of course I'm already feeling guilty.

I'm not a hiker or spa person really. I like to lay around, drink and eat. So really the other two trips are perfect for me.

[skidunks]

That’s so fun!! I would take my bestie along and head somewhere relatively close. We live in CO so I would likely head to the mountains. But a beach or warm pool would be nice too!

[jackie011]

I’m kind of over traveling right now, so that may be skewing my response...I’d choose a lovely spa/resort that’s maybe a little out of town, but not a great distance (far enough that you’re “away”) and then choose the “gold package” of treatments and such. I may have to drop some hints next year because this sounds wonderful!

[krystee]

If I were given this gift, I think I’d do NYC and see plays and museums and go on long walks in Central Park and shop. I love solo trips where I’m busy, but solo trips where I’m lying around make me kind of lonely after the first day. If it was just one day, I’d find a fancy hotel and do spa treatments and the pool.

[Patsy Baloney]

That’s really great! I’m Midwest, too. I’d probably go city - Chicago or Nashville immediately jumped to mind, because I like to drink, eat and see things.

[aprilsails]

I would go with a friend if they are available since I have so few opportunities for quality time with my friends and I find weekends away like this are so valuable with those who don’t live nearby.

I would probably rent a AirBnB either in a winery area or I would go to Montreal or Quebec City. I love both those towns but the French puts DH off so I try to go without him when I can. I would eat and shop to my hearts content!i would try to find a good central location and take the train since it is such a pleasant way to travel (for distances less than 6 hours).

[devonpow]

For my birthday DH sent me to a very nice hotel just in our city. It was AMAZING because honestly all I wanted to do was sleep in, go to the spa, do some shopping, wander a bit by myself, and nap lol. I felt very little pressure to go out and do stuff because it’s my city so I do that stuff all the time just not by myself So I just say pick a place close by with impeccable service and a great spa, bring a bunch of books and magazines, get room service and enjoy

[Jalapeñomel]

I’d go to the Florida Keys, drink on the beach and read a few good books.

[Que?]

I’m going to a hotel alone for a night next week. I’m just going to smoke weed, and alternate between binge watching shows and hanging in the spa. If I were offered a whole weekend away, I would choose something similar, but in a city so I could shop and eat good ethnic cuisine (things I can’t do where I live). I would choose to be alone, but my daughter or niece would be excellent companions (and also give me ample alone time).

[hamster]

This is so hard! I think I'd go to the coast. Shops, food, walk the beach and watch the ocean from my hotel room.

[mbcdefg]

I like cities - Chicago, New York, Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia.

[jlt19]

Dec 25, 2019 21:42:15 GMT -5 krystee said:

If I were given this gift, I think I’d do NYC and see plays and museums and go on long walks in Central Park and shop. I love solo trips where I’m busy, but solo trips where I’m lying around make me kind of lonely after the first day. If it was just one day, I’d find a fancy hotel and do spa treatments and the pool.

I think this may happen to me too (the lonely part). What really sucks is I enjoy DHs company more than anyone else's. So I'd actually prefer he come with me, but then that adds in my mom (our only overnight sitter) and kind of defeats the whole gift.

Maybe if I stay local, I could do different things with different friends. Happy Hour here, lunch there...

[goldengirlz]

Dec 25, 2019 22:10:36 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I like cities - Chicago, New York, Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia.

This, but probably Toronto over Philly

What a fun gift!

[waverly]

I might go visit family. But other than that staying in town sounds nice. Do one night with a friend, one night with DH and one night by myself.

[fryjack2]

That’s an amazing gift!

I go to nyc solo multiple times a year and love it. I see friends that live there sometimes, but sometimes I just do everything alone.

[wanderingback]

I do a solo trip every year and I’ve mostly gone to cities out of the country. I prefer cities for solo trips.

So if I were you I’d go to an easy city with easy public transportation like Chicago, nyc, philly, DC, etc. You could do 1 activity a day plus eat good food and relax the rest of the day. Definitely stay in a hotel with a spa.

[alleinesein]

London if you are near an airport with a non-stop flight. Fly out Thurs night, get there friday morning and have 2.5 days to peruse Borough Market, museums, etc. Fly home Sunday afternoon/evening.

[goldengirlz]

The other thing on my list these days is a yoga retreat. For some reason, that really appeals to me.

[brooke77]

I would definitely bring my BFF, but for solo ideas I love London, NYC, or Montreal. I am from Boston and also think it’s a great city to explore solo.

Ditto the PP who mentioned a yoga retreat. Is there a specific hobby you are interested in? Maybe go to the city for an event and go the day before and after.

If you are bringing your BFF, I would do Nashville, Savannah, or NOLA.

[memenee]

I would head to a major city for a Friday to Sunday getaway. Honestly that would be plenty of time for me. Any longer and truthfully I’d be missing my kids. Cities are great places to be alone. Enjoy!

[lemoncupcake]

Dec 25, 2019 21:42:15 GMT -5 krystee said:

If I were given this gift, I think I’d do NYC and see plays and museums and go on long walks in Central Park and shop. I love solo trips where I’m busy, but solo trips where I’m lying around make me kind of lonely after the first day. If it was just one day, I’d find a fancy hotel and do spa treatments and the pool.

That’s what I would do too! That sounds amazing, I’m really jealous.

[flex]

Wow...your H is very thoughtful!! I think the idea of traveling to a large city and doing fun things there, solo, is a great idea. On the other hand, I went on a cruise by myself (well, not REALLY by myself--my son and wife, GD, and a whole bunch of the bride's side of the family were there too), and I got bored sitting on a sandy beach with no one else to talk to. So the question is: do you want to be "alone alone" or do you want "alone time"? Either way will be a nice change of pace. : )

[notsopicky]

flex brings up some good reflection questions. If I were going to travel somewhere solo, I think I would want a/some friend(s) around with whom to hang out with a little bit, although not the whole time, lol. Is there a location you could choose where you know people that you don't get to travel to often?

I would pick the lake or the beach, even in the off-season (see also: vacation home thread), I have a friend who lives in each of these locations. I like the idea of solo spa day, although I wouldn't need 4 days to do that.

[joy]

I would go alone to a fun city and be a tourist.

[jlt19]

You all have brought up so many great ideas, thanks!

What's really funny (odd) is that I love vacation planning. Almost as much as I love the actual vacation. So the research part of this is part of the gift too. And DH so knows this, lol.

[followyourarrow]

I'd do a city so you can do museums, galleries, and coffee shops. I love to read in a coffee shop, I'm alone, but not really.

[ribollita]

Museums alone are my favorite. I’d do London or Boston most likely. Or, I’d go to a place I’m forced to be unplugged like a mindfulness retreat.

[litskispeciality]

If it's just for laying around, reading and sleeping I'd try FL or somewhere near a beach that's warm and cheap. We went to Santa Fe this year and loved it, suuuuper relaxing and a lot to do within walking distance, however I don't like to explore alone. I'll echo ribollita that going somewhere you have to unplug will really help.

[litskispeciality]

Dec 26, 2019 8:52:24 GMT -5 notsopicky said:

flex brings up some good reflection questions. If I were going to travel somewhere solo, I think I would want a/some friend(s) around with whom to hang out with a little bit, although not the whole time, lol. Is there a location you could choose were you know people that you don't get to travel to often?

I would pick the lake or the beach, even in the off-season (see also: vacation home thread), I have a friend who lives in each of these locations. I like the idea of solo spa day, although I wouldn't need 4 days to do that.

This brings up a good point that if New England is in the running you could go to Cape Cod or the lakes region in NH of season for "cheaper". Off season is running later and later now as people are catching on to this, but you could be near a lake, or by the ocean, it just might be colder.

[cville]

I think I might do a thing designed to be done alone. Like a silent retreat.

Otherwise, I'd consider San Francisco for the food and lots of stuff to do that aren't hiking or one of those ridiculously picturesque New England inns that feature so prominently in Netflix Christmas romantic comedies. Or a place my husband has less interest in than me, like Havana or Mexico City (the #1 place I want to go that he doesn't is Cairo, but that's too far for a long weekend).