I’m one of the Product Executives at Solos, and I joined the company in September last year. It’s my job to plan and put together exciting itineraries for our City Breaks, UK Breaks and Discovery tours.
Well I’ve just come back from a short holiday in Sri Lanka, where I spent a week in Mirissa. I’ve actually been to Sri Lanka seven times now, so I’ve seen all the main sights and plenty of beautiful beaches too. It’s probably one of my favourite countries in the world, which is why I’m going back again this Christmas for two weeks!
I spent my last Christmas in the Spanish city of Malaga, which was lovely. It’s a very compact city, so you can walk everywhere, and when I went the streets were decorated with some of the best Christmas lights I’ve ever seen. The food was absolutely fantastic; we had a seafood feast for Christmas lunch! It’s a nice temperature throughout the winter too, warm enough to soak up some sun but cool enough to explore without getting tired and sweaty. In short, it’s the perfect place for a city break!
San Sebastián was actually my biggest discovery last year.
My partner and I have a camper van, and we discovered San Sebastián when we were driving across France and northern Spain. It’s so beautiful and historical – staying there turned out to be the best part of the holiday! I felt like I’d stepped back into the 60s: it’s a beach town, so it’s where the rich used to go on holiday.
The best bit about it is definitely the food: the city is dotted with pinxtos bars, where you can sample tasty local tapas from the Basque region, and there’s also a handful of Michelin star restaurants if you’re into fine dining. Now is definitely the right time to visit; the city is super popular with Spanish tourists, but it’s still relatively undiscovered amongst foreigners.
I’m originally from a very small town in Lithuania, but I lived in Vilnius – the capital city – for 15 years.
Lithuanians love their beer, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Vilnius! You’ll find so many pubs and local breweries, all reasonably priced, and the nightlife is also great. You can walk absolutely everywhere, and there’s a beautiful Baroque-style Old Town to explore.
This year our Solos group will be heading to Vilnius at a very special time – during the annual Culture Night Festival! Usually in summertime the capital is quiet because people migrate to the coast, but on the Culture Night Festival people from all over Europe come to Vilnius to stroll through the city’s art and light installations, admire the galleries and craft stalls, and sample the cafes and pubs which stay open all night. It’s a real treat that shouldn’t be missed!
That’s such a difficult question! My ideal holiday would probably combine lots of sightseeing with a relaxing beach stay. I think it’s a shame to travel and not learn about the country you’re in, but you should always be able to relax on your holiday too.
I also love city breaks. Sometimes you need to recharge your batteries quickly, so it’s great to be able to just jump on a plane and spend a few days in Rome, Barcelona or another beautiful European city. City breaks are action-packed but you’ll return home feeling like a new person!
Saying that, I do think the UK is absolutely beautiful too, and I try to explore it as much as I can.
There’s so many, but my most memorable experience was when I stayed at a campsite in Wales and climbed Mount Snowdon. The scenery is something I’ll never forget.
I’m also going to Scotland this summer, which I’m really excited about. I’ve been to the Scottish highlands before, but this time I’ll be seeing Glasgow, Edinburgh and everything in between.
It wasn’t really a holiday, but my favourite travel experience was when I lived and worked in Alaska for 8 months in my twenties for a student exchange programme. I lived right next to Denali National Park, saw grizzly bears on the streets, went rafting and caught a fish that was the same size as me!
Alaska was my first proper travel experience – a real eye-opener – and it was then that I decided I wanted to work in travel.
I’ve been to Thailand three times now, but I really want to explore the rest of south-east Asia – Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Burma in particular. I’d also love to island hop around the Philippines – the beaches are supposed to be some of the most beautiful in the world.
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”