Departure Lounge: Take a solo trip to Morocco's Medinas, mountains and coast
Marrakech, Morocco
Solo travellers are finding an increasingly diverse and sophisticated offering for holidays and adventures.
Solos’ new women-only tours for 2026 offer private rooms with no single supplement, small group sizes, female tour leaders, and women-focused experiences designed for mature, independent travellers.
Their 13-day female-only Moroccan Medinas, Mountains & Coast looks great, with Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakesh and Essaouira all on an itinerary mixed with visits to Hassan II Mosque, the Bahia Palace and Yves Saint Laurent’s glorious Majorelle Gardens.
Expect cultural encounters with Berber women in the Atlas Mountains, a Moroccan calligraphy workshop, a cooking class at La Maison Arabe with a local female chef, and visits to embroidery, pottery and argan oil cooperatives run by women.
- Departs March 31 2026, costs £4,399; solosholidays.com
Sailing holidays are on the up, with the Greek Isles and Croatia firm favourites.
For next summer, plan a seven-night Adriatic expedition on a five-star Croatian yacht with just 19 cabins.
Journeying along the Dalmatian coast, you’ll visit historic Split, Makarska, Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Mljet, Šipan and Dubrovnik.
€1,590 including flights from Dublin, pre-stay hotel in Split, all transfers, seven-night cruise in a premium superior cabin with ensuite, welcome reception, breakfast, lunches onboard, captain’s dinner, olive oil and wine tasting and three guided tours.
- Departs May 16 2026; travalue.ie
Aer Lingus revealed three new winter routes last week, with flights from Dublin to Turin (perfect for accessing Italy’s alpine slopes) and from Cork to Prague and Geneva.
Nestled between the Alps and the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland’s second largest city is a scenic and cultural treat, but also ideal for ski trips.
A gateway to Morzine, and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, including the famous Vallée Blanche, flights will operate once a week from Cork Airport to Geneva on a Saturday, from December 20 to March 28, with one-way fares from €49.99.
Experience two sides to Leinster with Fitzpatrick Hotel Collection’s new two-centre escape.
Combining rest and adventure, enjoy one night B&B with dinner at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, with padel courts, an ice bath and Scandinavian sauna and steam room (and just a DART ride from Dublin city).
Explore Killiney Beach, Bray Head and Killiney Hill before high-tailing it to the rolling hills of Wicklow to stay at Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge, Ireland’s oldest hotel for one night’s B&B with dinner.
Overlooking the Aughrim river and enveloped in scenic walking, hiking and cycling routes you can explore, relax or play golf.
Ideal for families or couples, the package can be booked on a non-consecutive basis if desired.
- Available September and October, from €419 midweek and €493 on weekends; fitzpatrickcastle.com
Irish Ferries is offering great deals for 2025 with the added advantage of a 25% discount on your 2026 sailing to Britain or France.
The deal applies to new motorist bookings on the Dublin–Cherbourg route and includes Economy and Flexi fares only.
The award-winning Irish ferry company sails from Dublin to Holyhead and Cherbourg, from Rosslare to Pembroke, as well as from Dover to Calais.
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