Why you should still travel to Greece without a significant other!
The Bad
- When you’re walking through the maze of streets in Santorini or Mykonos, you’ll have to side step the girls in flowing skirts posing for their Instagram husbands.
- For resorts, hotels or spas, almost 100% of offers are targeted for couples.
- A sailboat cruise is portrayed as a romantic ride, which means you’ll likely be added to a cruise with all couples, most on their honeymoon.
- People/waiters/locals will ask multiple times where your S.O. is.
The Good
- There’s plenty to explore. Lots of activities, landmarks and attractions to keep your days busy!
- The Greek islands are safe, relatively speaking. As long as you use common sense, traveling solo is not an issue!
- Sometimes it’s easier to get some R&R by yourself! Head to one of the many beaches and enjoy a good book or bring a picnic.
- Locals who work in Greece love making connections with solo tourists. Sometimes this can lead to friendships or an invite to hang out with a group.
- Couples flock to solo travelers when they want a photo, and it is 99% of the time followed up with an offer to take a photo of you.
- As always, traveling solo has the added benefits of flexibility and doing whatever suits you.
- The potential for an adventure! It’s more likely to lead to new friendships or activities not part of the original plan.
- The one lone bar seat. There’s always one at the bar and it’s the solo traveler that gets the drink.
- Staying at a hostel or going on food/walking tours leads to fun conversations with like-minded people.
- Most people that travel to Greece island hop, so it’s not uncommon to see or plan to meet up with the same people at the next destination.
The Best Advice
Be openminded! I sat at tables and mingled with other guests. I found that even the couples who had been “alone” for more than a week were eager to chat with someone else! On the ferry bus to Mykonos Town, I sat next to someone who looked in similar in age and asked for any suggestions he had while I was on the island. He was a yacht captain and offered to show me the island. We took an ATV and he led me on a tour of the best local beaches. Yes, it was a Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movie moment. I also still keep in touch with people I met on an Athens walking tour and have open invitations to stay with them in their home countries. A bonus!
As you can see, the benefits outweigh the cons. If you’re hesitating, don’t. For a week long itinerary click here!
