With ten solo breaks under her belt (and still counting!) we spoke to Carole Davies to get the low down on her solo travel adventures so far.
When planning my holidays I like to tick off somewhere I haven’t been before, and so Discover Sicily with Just You was a new one to add to the mix.
We started with visiting Mount Etna, which was good to experience, we didn’t go all the way up, but there is a lovely café there with panoramic views. If I were ever to return, I would perhaps spend a little more time here and venture a little higher, but Taormina was awaiting us, so we had no time to waste!
I have seen many mosaics on my travels but at Villa Romana del Casale, they were absolutely staggering and in excellent condition. There were so many of them in a variety of colours, depicting everything from chariot races to stories of Hercules.
Our time in Cefalù was perfect and it was nice to explore at leisure. I like to buy bracelet charms as mementoes from my adventures, so I spent some time shopping to track down my latest souvenir! My collection includes a lemon charm from Sorrento and even a trulli house from Puglia, so I have been doing quite well in finding them.
I enjoyed discovering Sicily with our group and I usually find within a day or so you tend to settle into little groups. Everyone was lovely, as well as our Holiday Director Rosalia, she was excellent and so knowledgeable about her homeland of Sicily.
The mosaics at Villa de Casale were the biggest highlight, and what I love about Just You holidays is that there is something memorable on each tour so it’s impossible to choose just one tour as being the best. Puglia’s trulli houses, the ruins of Pompeii, a drive along the Amalfi Coast … there is just so many memorable moments, and that’s just Italy!
I have travelled around Europe extensively, and if there’s one tip I have it would be take a travel kettle along with if you like a brew first thing in the morning. Not every hotel has them in the room, so I always pack my trusty kettle and tea!
This year, I am breaking my rule of only visiting somewhere once. I have booked Costa De La Luz again as it is a very relaxed tour and the hotel is nice. I also know some other solo travelers going so will be nice to catch up, as well as meet some new people too. Next, I am considering the French and Italian Riviera Splendor or perhaps a tour of Tuscany, we shall see.
After losing my husband, it took me years to pluck up the courage to book a holiday, but in 2017 I booked my first holiday to Mallorca. My mindset was to try it once and if it was a disaster, I told myself I’d put it down to experience. And now ten holidays later here I am! I suppose a lot of it is to do with the fact that people on tour are in the same boat as you which is encouraging and partly why these holidays are so good, so if you’re not sure, try it once and go from there!
Next steps
Has Carole’s story inspired you to discover Sicily as a solo traveller? Call our team of Silver Travel Advisors on 0800 412 5678 to help plan your perfect trip.
