Books in Places
Solo Holidays for Women Who Love Books
Travel somewhere wonderful with a group of people who already have something in common. Our book-inspired holidays are a relaxed way for women to travel alone without having to do everything alone.
Travel on your own
You can arrive alone without feeling like the odd one out
One of the hardest things about booking a solo holiday can be wondering what happens when you arrive. Who will you eat with? Will you have anyone to talk to? Will you feel like everyone else already knows each other?
Books in Places works differently. Most guests travel alone, and the shared love of books gives everyone an easy starting point for conversation.
You might meet over dinner, start talking about the book, discover that you have both wanted to visit the same place, and find that the group feels familiar surprisingly quickly.
A different kind of solo holiday
For women who want company, without giving up independence
Know there will be people to meet
You do not have to spend the first evening wondering where everyone else is. Our trips bring a small group together around a shared interest in books.
Choose how social you want to be
Join the group for dinner, book discussions and exploring, then spend an afternoon reading, wandering or relaxing on your own if that is what you fancy.
Travel with a shared purpose
The book gives the trip a natural focus. You are not simply joining a group holiday. You are travelling somewhere because there is a story you want to experience there.
Have space for yourself
Being part of a group does not mean being with the group every minute. Our trips leave room for independent time and the freedom to make the holiday your own.
What it actually feels like
Come on your own. You won't be on your own.
This is probably the simplest way to describe a Books in Places holiday.
Before you travel
You know what the trip is about, where you are staying and what is planned. You can read the book beforehand and arrive already feeling part of the story.
When you arrive
You will meet other guests who have also chosen the trip because they love books and travel. There is an immediate conversation starter.
During the holiday
There are shared meals, book discussions and experiences connected with the destination, alongside plenty of time when you can do your own thing.
By the end
You may have arrived knowing nobody. By the time you leave, you will have shared stories, meals, conversations and experiences with people who started out as strangers.
The people are part of the experience
Shared interests make meeting people easier
There is something reassuring about arriving somewhere new knowing that everyone has chosen the same book-inspired trip.
You do not need to be particularly outgoing, and you do not have to become best friends with everyone. Sometimes a shared dinner and a good conversation about a book is enough.
That is the atmosphere we try to create: sociable, welcoming and relaxed, without making socialising feel like another activity on the itinerary.
Good to know
These are not women-only holidays
Books in Places trips are open to everyone. In practice, many of our guests are women travelling alone, which means women often find themselves in a group with plenty of other women who have made the same decision to travel independently.
The important thing is the shared interest. Everyone is there because they enjoy books, travel and discovering the places behind great stories.
Travel with a story
The book gives you another reason to go
Our trips are not simply group holidays with a book added afterwards.
Each one starts with a story and a place. You might follow a novel through the streets of Florence, discover an island through a family saga, discuss a classic after a day on safari or simply spend time reading somewhere beautiful.
The book gives you a reason to travel. The destination gives you something to discover.
Discover solo holidays for book lovers
Where could you go?
Find your next book-inspired trip
From European cities and Mediterranean islands to longer journeys further afield, discover somewhere new with a book in your suitcase.
Questions women often ask
Thinking about travelling alone?
Will I be the only person travelling alone?
Very unlikely. Most Books in Places guests travel alone, so joining by yourself is a normal part of the experience.
Will I have to be sociable all the time?
No. Shared meals, discussions and activities are part of the experience, but you also have time to explore independently, read or simply relax.
Do I need to be an experienced solo traveller?
No. Some guests have travelled alone many times, while others are trying it for the first time. The small group gives you the opportunity to meet people without having to organise everything yourself.
Do the trips have to be women-only?
No. Books in Places trips are open to everyone. Many guests happen to be women, particularly on our solo-focused trips.
What if I don't know anyone?
That is very common. The book gives everyone an easy subject to talk about, and shared meals and activities create natural opportunities to get to know one another.
What sort of books and destinations are included?
Every trip is different. The common thread is a strong connection between the book and the place, whether that is a city, island, historic destination or a much longer journey.
Books in Places
Come for the book. Stay for the people and the place.
If you have been thinking about taking a solo holiday but would rather share the experience with other book lovers, this could be the way to do it.
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