Galloping into New York – with the lone rangers
BIG, busy cities are scary places when you’re one little sightseer all on your lonesome. But if you enjoy your independence – you decide what to see, do and eat – traipsing round on a group trip isn’t going to light your fire.
Thankfully, there is now a compromise. Single-holidays specialist Just You allows you to travel in a group but also do your own thing when you like.
It has launched a range of city breaks, including York, Edinburgh, and Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK, and, further afield to Istanbul, Madrid, Rome, Florence and New York.
People who choose a singles holiday aren’t Norman – or Norma – no mates any more, nor are they looking for romance.
On my five-day Just You trip to New York, there were many kinds of travellers, from two women who became friends on a previous holiday to a widow who’d long wanted to visit the city but whose late husband had never wanted to go.
The linchpin for the trip was Brian – our tour guide, troubleshooter and sheepdog. It certainly wasn’t easy trying to herd a group of 20-plus singles through the city crowds.
Our base was the Ameritania, a perfectly nice, boutique-style hotel well positioned for Broadway, Times Square and Fifth Avenue. A first-night welcome dinner allowed us to get to know each other.
This holiday included sightseeing: a morning city tour with a local guide, taking in the 9/11 Memorial; a walk around Central Park, including Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon memorial; and a Circle Line Cruise to see the Statue of Liberty from the water.
Optional excursions at extra cost on offer were New York by night, including a trip up the Empire State Building, and, not to be missed, a 20-minute helicopter tour over the city with Liberty Helicopters – staff went out of their way to make sure one of our party with a gammy leg didn’t miss out.
But there was plenty of opportunity to go off on your own, too. I took Brian’s advice and ate at Ellen’s Stardust Diner where waitresses sing while you chomp on a burger.
I also picked up a ticket for Motown The Musical – always easier when you need only one.
On the way back through Times Square, I made friends with firefighters who posed for a photo without requiring a tip, and assorted costumed cartoon characters who did.
Later I rejoined Brian and a few of the girls in Fifth Avenue, where we urged each other to buy a little something for ourselves in Tiffany. Now that’s what friends really are for…
Just You (justyou.co.uk, 0800 112 3311) offers a five-day trip to New York, staying at the Ameritania Hotel, from £1,399pp, including return flights from Heathrow, a welcome dinner, city sightseeing tour, Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan, and trip to Central Park and Fifth Avenue.