Need ideas for a 1-wk solo trip in Nov/Dec

[GilliC]

I need ideas. I have a week of vacation that I need to use before the end of the year or I will lose it.

The problem is that my SO is hoarding his vacation time for a month-long trip back to Brazil next summer for the World Cup. I did a 4-day solo trip to Sardinia back in May, and while I do enjoy traveling solo, I'm not coming up with any ideas that I'm really excited about. Nothing at the top of my wishlist really seems to fit the bill, because I feel like I want to share those experiences with someone.

So what would you suggest for a week on your own in early-to-mid November or early December? Where would you go, and what would you do there? Someplace in/around Europe would be the easiest logistically, but I don't have a problem with long-haul if the destination inspires me.

Some ideas I'm considering but am not completely sold on yet:
- Morocco (not sure how this would be as a solo female traveler)
- Vienna & Salzburg (would this feel too romantic to do on my own?)
- Slovenia (I guess the caves are the same year-round, but for the rest of the scenery, will it be too late in the year?)
- Somewhere for Christmas markets (a week is a lot for just Christmas markets, so maybe someplace that also has a lot of museums and sightseeing to occupy my time?)
- Someplace for a relaxing spa holiday (not sure if I'd be able to afford this, but maybe if I went somewhere in Eastern Europe?)

(PS - I don't ski.)

[Deleted]

That's tough - I totally understand why you would want to share those experiences with someone, but I love that you will still go on your own!

I don't know if I would do Morocco on my own - from friends' experiences, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming.

I would totally do Vienna & Salzurg on my own, or any other place with Christmas Markets - like Munich - you could do Munich & Salzburg pretty easily.

I would be tempted to do a beach/spa holiday, but I don't think anywhere close to you will have that warm of weather then?

[GilliC]

Maybe I should look into ticket prices to India or China. There are places I haven't been, but if I go back with SO, it will mean revisiting the highlights.

In India I've been to the Golden Triangle & Udaipur, Bombay, Goa, and Kerala. I'm obviously missing Amritsar. What else is a must-see?

For China, I've been to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Harbin, Guilin & Yangshuo, Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong & Macau. I'd love to go to Sichuan. How's Sichuan at that time of year? And I've always wondered if I was missing out by skipping the Yangtze. Or maybe Taiwan?

[mrsukyankee]

What about Thailand?

[scout8]

I have been to Slovenia that time of year. It was chilly, but still nice. I believe all the leaves were off the trees by then, but it was still pretty.

I have also been to Budapest that time of year and it was fun. There was a nice Christmas market and the thermal baths were nice to visit since it was cold out.

I have also been to (mainland) Greece that time of year and it was beautiful. Not crowded at all either.

[anna7602]

I would do a yoga retreat. The studio I used to go to in Paris had retreats around that time of year in places like Sicily and Cyprus (I think, but maybe those were spring locations?).  

Have you been to Portugal? I had some lovely short solo trips to Lisbon and Porto last year. Both are walkable and fun and you can get good food. 

[alleinesein]

If you want to go the Christmas market route you can spend a few days in Dresden and then take the train to Prague for a few days. Or you could just stay in Germany and visit other cities.

India- could you swing your trip for the first week of November? Diwali is Nov 3rd this year. You could spend a week exploring the state of Gujarat.

[Deleted]

I know this is the travel board so this may not be a well received idea but why travel if nothing is exciting you? Take the vacation time and relax and home; do a spa day, redecorate a room you haven't had time to get too.

Though I love traveling and spend all my vacation time travel H has significantly more time off then me and his favorite vacations are the ones where he doesn't have to go anywhere or do anything.

[alleinesein]

Have you been to Croatia yet? If you are outdoorsy at all you might enjoy Plitvice Lakes; you can easily spend 3-4 days just hiking all the trails in the park.

[GilliC]

Sept 26, 2013 14:20:25 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

I know this is the travel board so this may not be a well received idea but why travel if nothing is exciting you? Take the vacation time and relax and home; do a spa day, redecorate a room you haven't had time to get too.

Though I love traveling and spend all my vacation time travel H has significantly more time off then me and his favorite vacations are the ones where he doesn't have to go anywhere or do anything.

That's like saying "Why go shopping if I don't like any of the clothes in my closet?" I love to travel. I just don't have anything in my "closet" that fits the time and conditions. So I'm shopping for new ideas.

Also, half the point of traveling is to relax. I live in a very high cost of living city, so just eating out for a weekend would probably cost more than plane fare. That's part of the reason I'm interested in suggestions for somewhere to go for a relaxing spa trip. As for redecorating, I'm moving next month, so I will be spending nearly every weekend for the rest of the year unpacking and redecorating, hanging light fixtures, etc. Getting away from all of that chaos for a while is part of the goal. (Plus I live in a 2-room apartment, so the idea of "redecorating a room" comes across as kind of flippant.)

I have plenty of time to do the things I want to do locally and I've already set aside some vacation time for the move and other local activities. I asked for trip ideas, not ideas for how to use my vacation time. I fully agree with your sentiment, but your post was so loaded with assumptions, and that's what rubbed me the wrong way.

[scout8]

Sept 26, 2013 19:53:25 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Have you been to Croatia yet? If you are outdoorsy at all you might enjoy Plitvice Lakes; you can easily spend 3-4 days just hiking all the trails in the park.

We were in Plitvice early December. (As you have probably noticed, we usually travel this time of year). They had heavy snow the week before we were there. They had also closed down half the park so we didn't get to visit it all. On the other hand, it was almost completely empty which was really nice.

[Waffles]

My mother goes for a spa week in Roumania every year, in the Constanța area.

They change hotels every year depending on deals but it's generally really cheap and they go in May, which I suspect would be pricier than a winter break.

[orangello]

Oooh, a yoga retreat - I have a friend who did this in Bali with one of her friends. Long flight, but that's my vote :-)

[neonpink]

I have only heard wonderful things about Morocco. A friend of mine went there over the summer to visit her sister and really made me want to go.
I think you live in a cold snowy climate so I would want to head somewhere warmer and sunnier. If you don't end up in Morrocco how about Granada or Southern Spain. Chill out with some Sangria and dig into some tapas.

[GilliC]

Sept 27, 2013 10:21:57 GMT -5 neonpink said:

I think you live in a cold snowy climate so I would want to head somewhere warmer and sunnier. If you don't end up in Morrocco how about Granada or Southern Spain. Chill out with some Sangria and dig into some tapas.

Haha! I've actually been considering Svalbard! (But I think SO would be too jealous!)

I do usually like to get out of town once during mørketid, but this summer was so long that I could really go either way!

[anna7602]

Oh, I just had another idea! Go to Havana for the Havana Film Festival! It's usually in early December (I went for my birthday one year). It's a great time of year to be there. Hurricane season is over and it's pretty mild temperature-wise. Airfare from Europe to Cuba doesn't get crazy until closer to Christmas, but you might have some weird connections.

[wise_rita]

I had a week to kill in Europe and did Pueblo Ingles. Look into that or VaughnTown if you're down for meeting people and drinking over hardcore sightseeing.

I've got a spare bedroom for you in Brisbane, but no way is it worth that flight for just a week.

[dulcemariamar]

Madrid

[GilliC]

Sept 29, 2013 7:13:41 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

Madrid

With a crazy Polish girl in a plastic tiara? 

[lolo]

I was also considering Budapest. You could pair it with Vienna if you wanted...but a 5* spa hotel in Budapest that time of year will be a total steal. I was in Vienna + Budapest in January and, while it was definitely cold, it was a fabulous time to visit.