Solo travellers are spoilt for choice

Soaring demand from solo travellers has led to a host of new tours in the latest Good Companions brochure from Glenton Holidays. The Scottish tour operator specialises in holidays for mature travellers and its Good Companions programme for solo holidaymakers has gone from strength to strength since it was established more than two years ago. Passenger numbers have risen by 50% year-on-year.

The new 24-page Good Companions brochure is packed with holiday ideas, from day trips and short hops to river cruises and Mediterranean getaways.

Glenton Holidays’ commercial director Steve Turbill said: “Many of our Good Companions trips and holidays are suggested by our customers, who relish the opportunity to visit a wide variety of places in the company of like-minded folk.

“Compared to the general population, a far larger proportion of would-be holidaymakers in the over-55s age bracket are single.

“They aren’t keen on holidays where they’re the only solo traveller but with Good Companions they can travel with a host of other singles and often make many friends.”

More than 2,500 customers have registered with the Good Companions membership scheme, which offers news on forthcoming holidays and special discounts.

Among the new holidays is a five-day ‘Best of Yorkshire Films & TV’ tour, which includes trips to see Holmfirth, home of Last of the Summer Wine, and the Yorkshire Dales, setting for Calendar Girls. It costs from £239 on a half-board basis.

Other five-day tours offer solo travellers the chance to visit destinations in Wales, the Cotswolds, Derbyshire Dales and the Home Counties.

But if you just fancy a day trip, there are plenty of options, including the Falkirk Wheel, Scottish Parliament and Loch Lomond, from £26.

One day trip is even free – an introduction to the internet at the Mitchell Library, after a tour of the famous Glasgow building. Transport is not included but it’s a chance to meet fellow Good Companions and unravel the world wide web.

The ‘Treats’ section of the brochure includes excursions to see top shows such as Cabaret, Jolson & Co and Singin’ in the Rain in Glasgow.

There are opportunities to enjoy entertainment further afield, including ballroom dancing in Blackpool (£199 for five days) or watching Mamma Mia in the West End as part of a five-day holiday to Windsor and Oxford (£239).

As well as a wide variety of UK breaks, there are overseas holidays for those keen to venture further afield.

A Rhine Valley holiday includes a river cruise, and costs just £399 for six days, while the ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ mini-cruise to Amsterdam costs just £149 for three days.

Sunseekers can opt for a full-board 12-day holiday to Benidorm for £799, or half-board eight-day break to Paphos, Cyprus, for £699.

Good Companions holidays feature return coach travel, welcome reception, a Glenton host, holiday insurance and no single supplement.

To book, visit Glentonholidays.com.