How to plan a festive break you’ll love

There is something extra special about travelling with Just You over Christmas and New Year for a whole host of reasons.

If you’re yet to travel solo over the festive period and feel like something’s holding you back from booking, we’re here to help you prepare you for one of your best holidays yet! For those of you who might still be trying to decide where to go, see our handy guide below to help you narrow down your options.

Travelling solo for the first time

You may find that you’re considering going on a solo holiday at Christmas; you’ve even browsed our festive collection and narrowed down a few options, but you haven’t quite hit the ‘Book now’ button yet.

There’s always a first time whenever we venture into the world of something new. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous, but that’s often the case with anything new in life. Think back to the last time you felt like this, and how you pushed through and reached a positive outcome.

It's usually the fear of the unknown, and that’s all part of the parcel of the mind’s very powerful “fight or flight” response. Focus on the moments afterwards – the freedom, the empowerment, the joy of ‘I can and I did’. The powerful rush of feelings is hard to beat, so perhaps you owe it to yourself to revel in these experiences.

Many Just You travellers tell us how, once they get to the airport and meet their Holiday Director and travel companions their nerves completely disappear. This left them to focus on getting to know the group and having a great time. Once you get that first trip under your belt, you’ll be raring to go for your next solo break.

Being away from home at Christmas

It’s very likely that if you had a chat with your loved ones, they would understand why you might want to go away. Sit down with them and take time to explain you need to get away, possibly just to do something different, get a bit of distraction or new perspective, or even get out there and meet new people.

Perhaps you want to swap the chill of a UK winter for the sunny skies of Northern Cyprus or Malta or want some time to relax without being tied to all the festive logistics!

Whatever your reason, the best place to start is to have that conversation. It’s one trip with plenty of special occasions ahead to celebrate, so one Christmas or New Year where you decide to do something for you is not a lot to ask for. There is nothing wrong in wanting to put yourself first occasionally, and the chance to meet new people and enjoy a little time to rest and recharge is good for your health!

This time of year can be tricky, will I have a good time?

We all have our reasons for travelling solo, but there will be plenty of people on your tour who may well share the exact same feelings as you.

Travelling with people who understand you and know exactly what you’re experiencing is half the battle. There might be the odd moment that takes you back to times gone by, but rest assured there will be someone in your group who completely understands.

Our Holiday Directors are not only empathetic to everyone in the group, but they are experts in bringing everyone together for a jolly good time too. It could be as part of the festive entertainment – in Oxford we’ll be enjoying a quiz, carols and a competition too, or as simple as sitting down to eat with different people and getting to know them a little better.

Our Holiday Directors also have a wealth of experience and it’s not just about showing you around the sights. They truly believe that solo holidays are better together and are unbelievably adept at uniting the group in shared experiences. Within the first couple of days, it’s amazing to see how people naturally gravitate towards their kindred spirits. Remember, you have all booked this tour because you have a keen interest in the itinerary and that alone makes for a great conversation starter.

And strong friendships are often forged on a Just You holiday:

“The biggest thing that has surprised me with Just You is not the tours themselves, but the friendships made from them. I never went on these tours expecting to build up such good friendships.” – Sharon, Chile, Argentina and Brazil

The Just You community is here to help

As we mentioned earlier, there’s always a first time, and there’s a whole bunch of people there to support, from making that booking to finding your feet on tour…

Holiday Advisors – Our friendly team of advisors are here to help so note down all your questions, pick up the phone and have a chat with a member of the team. They’ll help answer some of those burning questions for you and put your mind at ease.

Holiday Directors – Not only are they experts in leading solo breaks, but they’re thoroughly lovely people who will soon become more like friends on your tour. They lead the way with a smile, and you couldn’t be in better company.

Just You online community – head on over to forum.justyou.co.uk and join the conversation with other like-minded travellers, read reviews and perhaps post your own messages to see who is heading off on the trip you’ve got your eye on. Forging connections before you travel will pave the way for a fantastic festive break.

Hear from other Just You travellers

If you’re wondering what to expect from a festive tour, who better to share their experiences than some of our travellers…

“It was the first time I'd been away at Christmas on a solo trip. Although it wasn't Christmas as such there was genuinely a party atmosphere. What's not to like, great venue and tours, lovely weather and interesting people to spend time with.” – Jillian, Christmas on the Lisbon Coast

“A great tour leader, good choice of hotel, interesting activities, and friendly companions made it a good Christmas for my first on my own.” Eileen, Christmas in Oxford

“Best Christmas ever! Superb location and accommodation, seamlessly organised, great group, fantastic food, amazing tour guide. For those of us living alone, Christmas can be challenging but I would not hesitate to join a group with Just You the same time next year!” Gill, Christmas with the Countess Luppis

“I would highly recommend this holiday. It gives you a great opportunity to spend the festive season making new friends, going to interesting and beautiful places, with everything taken care of. Pure enjoyment!” Natalia, Christmas and New Year on the Costa Brava

Find the perfect break

So, you’ve made the decision to book yourself onto a festive break, but which one should you go for, as there are over 20 tours to choose from? Here’s our top highlights from our 12 most popular trips for this year.

For history:

As part of New Year in Stratford Upon Avon you’ll trace the life and times of Shakespeare in the medieval market town and visit Warwick Castle to unearth its myths and legends – if the walls could talk!

If you’re looking to leave the (probably) chilly UK, you can trace the history of port wine, visit the centuries-old Lello Bookstore, medieval capitals, UNESCO sites and more as you spend 11 days with Christmas in Porto and New Year on the Lisbon Coast.

Or for something a little novel, how about visiting Pompeii on Christmas Eve? Join us for Christmas on the Amalfi Coast and see the fascinating collection of ruins frozen in time following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.

For entertainment:

If you’re looking to stay closer to home, Christmas in Oxford will feature competitions, festive sing-a-longs and more to celebrate the occasion.

There’s also our Christmas in Chester option, with the chance to spend Boxing Day observing the iconic Boxing Day dip in Llandudno – observing all the action will be quite the entertainment!

For art:

If you love art in all its forms, try Christmas and New Year in the Costa Brava. In the Monastery of Montserrat you’ll see works by El Greco and Picasso, while Barcelona is of course a living treasure trove of works by Antoni Gaudi.

Meanwhile those who like a little variety with art, history and culture, will love the trip to St John’s Co-Cathedral to see the famous Caravaggio masterpiece as part of the Christmas in Malta tour.

For plenty of free time and good weather (hopefully):

Renowned for its year-round sunshine, you’ll be in your element on the Christmas in Northern Cyprus tour with a fantastic mix of sightseeing and free time.

For festive markets:

Prague is a special city to visit in December with everywhere decked out for the season and plenty of market stalls with tempting local delicacies and beautiful handmade crafts. For a short break try Prague Christmas Market Break or to get away a little longer, view Christmas in Prague.

For pure escapism:

Our Spirit of India adventure should feel a whole world away from home as we discover Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Jaipur and more, while soaking up the unique energy and atmosphere of India.

For keeping some tradition:

A festive dinner with all the trimmings followed by a post-lunch walk to walk it all off ready for more later. If this sounds like the perfect way to spend the main event Christmas in Brighton is the way to go. Enjoy a lovely walk on the promenade and take in the sights that evoke memories of seaside breaks gone by. A wonderful break to dip your toes into a solo festive adventure.

Whatever you find yourself doing this year for the festive season, we hope you are able to find time to enjoy some of the cheer and merriment that December often brings, and if you’re not quite ready to join us, you know where we are for something a little different next year!