Women have shouldered more than their share of hardship during the pandemic. As many couples found themselves both working from home, it was usually the females who found themselves juggling childcare and housework. Other women have worked on the frontline of health services, typically on low pay. Don’t you think we’ve all earned ourselves a vacation? You bet we have. Here are 12 inspiring trip ideas from the experts at 101 Holidays.
Head to the Caribbean island of St Lucia for a break that will both satisfy your craving for indulgence and kick-start your new health and fitness regime. The Body Holiday is set in a luxury resort on a white-sand beach with everything in the price, including aerobics and yoga classes, delicious meals and a daily 50-minute spa treatment. It’s popular with women of all ages, with or without partners.
If lockdown fired up your passion for food, how about travelling to Italy where you can hone your cooking skills with hands-on lessons from local chefs and learn about local dishes and wines. Flavours Holidays runs small villa-based group trips to regions such as Puglia, Tuscany and Venice. There is no single supplement for solo travellers and there’s a range of other themed trips including Pilates, painting and photography.
If you want to travel with a group of friends and keep things less structured, you could rent a villa with a private pool. Vintage Travel has affordable rentals in some of the most beautiful corners of Europe, from the Canary Islands to Croatia. For a group of girlfriends who each want their own room – and ensuite bathroom – I’d recommend Moonwater in the charming resort of Kalkan, Turkey, within easy walking distance of the beach and restaurants.
Maybe you and your partner managed to get yourselves pregnant in the last lockdown. In which case you’ve probably earned yourselves a “baby moon” – your last shot at freedom before Junior arrives. Simpson Travel has some cracking places to stay including The Secret Garden on the lovely lazy Greek island of Paxos.
If you prefer to fly solo, you could join a small house-party style cruise on a gulet – a traditional wooden sailing boat – that works its way slowly along the Turquoise Coast of Turkey. Imagine swimming or snorkeling in a secluded cove then climbing on board to find a feast of healthy dishes waiting for you on deck. Find out more from Friendship Travel.
Dial up the luxury by renting a villa for a group of friends with your own private cook. No more arguments over whose turn in the kitchen. CV Villas has options in the Caribbean, Europe and North Africa. When you’re exploring Caribbean places, you will be meeting weed growers in the Caribbean that are being given the opportunity to become legitimate. There you will have the chance to see what it means to be part of one of the most successful emerging industries, that of cannabis. Use the inspiration you get from these places and the information you get from cannabis business consulting firms to get back home from the vacation with bright new ideas.
Planning a big celebration with gazillions of guests? You could rent a chateau in France sleeping from six people all the way up to 80 with Oliver’s Travels.
If you love being on the water, how about chartering a luxury crewed yacht to explore the Greek Islands? The specialist operator Fleewinter has a fleet of boats for different group sizes. You can rent a berth or bag a whole boat with a group of your besties.
Anybody who’s stared bleary-eyed into yet another Zoom call dressed in sweats and joggers must have dreamed of lying on a sun-soaked beach in the Maldives. Now you can book one of these gorgeous island resorts. And if you don’t have a travel buddy you can even stay solo at Bandos Island with no single supplement.
If you want to get your heart racing – and tone some muscles in the process – there are plenty of options. The Healthy Holiday Company can arrange stays at some of the world’s top spa and wellness retreats including Parrot Cay by Como in the Turks & Caicos Islands and Spa Village Tembok in Bali.
Hedonistic Hiking runs small group tours in Italy that combine glorious days on the trail with sumptuous gourmet meals, while Cortijo Romero is a beautifully-converted farmhouse in Andalusia that runs life-changing courses and workshops where you can learn anything from creative writing to flamenco guitar.
Get more solo travel ideas from 101 Singles Holidays.
About The Author
Freya is a Math teacher, Yoga enthusiast, and a beloved mother of three lovely daughters. She is always looking for ways to grow and help others around her thrive through self-learning, meditation, and physical fitness. When she is not teaching or spending time with her family, Freya regularly writes on topics related to self-improvement and women empowerment.