Are you about to go on a holiday by yourself? No worries! Whether you enjoy your own company or your friends have stood you up, I hold all the cards to make sure you have a wonderful trip. It’s time for the best ideas to fully enjoy a solo ski trip.
The UCPA
Do you like working out? Then the UCPA is made for you. The Union Nationale des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air will be absolutely delighted to welcome you during your next holiday.
All year round, you’ll be able to choose some of various destinations and programs, depending on your preferences and availability. Downhill skiing or snowboarding, ice skating, backcountry skiing or dog sledding: there’s something for everyone.
Some destinations are intended for young adults over 18, until the age of 40 or even 55, depending on the activities.
With the UCPA, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for. However, you may have to spend a great deal of money if you want to apply for a UCPA program since the fees are a bit high.
You are likely to meet a greater number of youngsters and young adults during your stay. Indeed, the atmosphere resembles that of a summer camp. Nonetheless, people under the age of 55, being with people younger than them doesn’t bother them, can get their satisfaction by meeting nice fellows.
Ski Lessons
Another great means to end your solitude in a ski resort is to sign up for classes.
No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, follow some lessons to learn the basics or discover a new sport. You’ll be able to have a few words with the other students and maybe the opportunity to go skiing with them on the tracks later in the day.
This solution is a good compromise for those who are looking for a little bit of social interaction without being completely overwhelmed.
CLEEC
Your friends can’t take some days off but you still want to leave? Cleec is your solution.
The concept is pretty simple, click on the “activités” tab, then post a message in the forum dedicated to the activity you’ve chosen. Now, you just have to wait for someone to answer favorably. Otherwise, in the “partenaires” tab, you’ll find all the people who are looking for a sports partner. Tell when you’re available and where you work out, then jump right in by sending a message!
The website is particularly useful for people trying to connect with users who share the same sport interest, whether it is winter sports or combat sports. In my opinion, Cleec is one of the best platforms to ask for someone to work out with you or go on a ski trip in the mountains.
The only problems would be the numerous ads and other spams the forum is overflowing with.
Websites to Find a Fellow Traveler
Did you end up alone the day before taking a leave because your friends ditched you? In that case, have a look at the websites dedicated to finding a travel companion.
There are many of them on the internet! All you have to do is post a message on TripTogether, the forum of World Traveler Club or check the website Travel Buddies.
Finally, you can also leave a comment on the forum of a website dedicated to traveling and see who is answering!
On Va Sortir!
The thought of going skiing on your own doesn’t satisfy you? Post a message on On Va Sortir! and see who wants to follow you to the mountains.
You can either go to the “les sorties” tab, then click on “lancer une sortie” to organize your own trip, or click on the “vacances inter OVS” icon to see what the travel agency Soloways already has to offer.
In both cases, On Va Sortir! will allow you to meet new friends near your home and spend some nice time surrounded by pleasant people who share your interests.
The website is intended for adults between 20 and 40, so if you belong to this age group, don’t hesitate to sign up for OVS to enjoy heartwarming moments. However, the site charges fees to have the right to use it.
Knockk
Created by French people, Knockk is an app that promotes the possibility of meeting people near your location.
Thanks to its interactive map, you can see where every planned event takes place. Check them according to your preferences and have a look at those who interest you best.
The app is free as well as easy to use which makes it a great alternative to On Va Sortir! that now charges membership fees.
Anyway, Knockk is an ideal app to meet new people in your hometown or vacation resort. Feel free to organize a ski trip or go downtown, if you’re staying in a ski resort and nothing interesting has happened yet. With Knockk you’ll certainly have fun!
Yepngo
The Yepngo app works in the same way as Knockk. it’s free and easy to use, it’s a great way to make new friends.
You don’t want to go on vacation alone? Set a participative activity on the app or sign up for an outing! Since Yepngo works with geolocation, only the activities near you appear on your screen. All you have to do now is keep an eye on the upcoming outings.
Ladies, you’ll be glad to read that you can organize women-only events to spend peaceful moments. So if you’d like to set a snowshoeing female-only trip in Chamonix, please do.
Yepngo is a great alternative to On Va Sortir! but the application is rather intended for young adults.
Attending Events
Never hesitate to attend the events organized by the ski resort you plan on going to. It’s the best way to get acquainted with other people and have a nice time.
Tartiflette evenings, 1990’s themed party… everything’s an excuse to go meet your future friends.
Travelers are generally in a good mood, open to discussion and inclined to enjoy the present moment. In this way, you can break out of your solitude, if it’s too much, during a congenial lunch.
Meetup
Meetup is the perfect platform to organize events and create groups around a common theme.
Write the activity that you’d like to participate in, choose the city and see the results. You also have the possibility to join a group, depending on which you prefer.
Multiple events are organized by ski resorts on this kind of website, so keep a close eye not to miss anything! No matter where you are, whether you go skiing in France or Switzerland, Meetup will help you meet people that are looking for the same thing as you thanks to nice activities.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is the same as Meetup. The website identifies all the events that take place near your city -your only job is to pick a few one from the list! It is very likely that your ski resort hosts some of these activities, so don’t hesitate to go.
Once you’ve chosen the event that has caught your attention, the place, date, hour, price and description appear on your screen. Click on “sign in” to participate.
You can also organize your own event -a ski trip for example- on Eventbrite. Given the wide range of events, you’ll find something to keep you busy and have you meet new people.
Couchsurfing
One of the most popular accommodation solutions amongst young (and not so young) travelers during a solo trip is definitely couchsurfing. The name of this concept originally comes from the name of the website which has made couchsurfing quite famous.
This solution is not only cost friendly since you sleep at someone’s home for free, but also an opportunity to meet incredible people. The shyest ones will probably be appalled by the idea of being hosted by a complete stranger. However, it can be a good way to get out of your comfort zone.
You just have to enter the name of the city you want to stay in and then start searching for all the people likely to host you in their home. Once you’ve found a trustworthy person, message them!
Several couchsurfing websites exist, among them BeWelcome which I’ve already tried. Now that the original couchsurfing website charges a some money to be used, BeWelcome is a great free solution.
Those websites are easy to use, however, they are better suited for short stays. Indeed, most of the hosts only wish to welcome couchsurfers for a few nights (2 to 3).
So think ahead of your skiing trip if any hosts are inclined to welcome you in their home, since not every city has users of couchsurfing platforms.
Hostels
Who hasn’t heard of hostels? No one, which is exactly the reason why they are included on this list. As they’ve become more and more famous throughout the decades, you absolutely have to try hostels when on a solo trip, whether in France or abroad.
As a matter of fact, young people rather go to hostels because of their affordable prices and the friendly atmosphere that prevails. They are the best way to meet future skiing partners. Indeed, many hostels are located in the mountains, so you’ll necessarily find people to spend time with.
In a dormitory or in a single bedroom, choose what suits you best to enjoy your winter vacation fully.
Partirseul.com
This website is mostly aimed at adults over 40 who don’t wish to travel alone during a holiday and want to meet new people.
Partirseul.com offers to solo people, whether they be single or not, to go on vacation as small groups to the destination of their choice. There are several ski trips, so you can choose the one which most pleases you.
You’ll get to know more about your co-travelers throughout the holiday. Maybe they will become your friends at the end of your stay!
Célivacances
The Célivacances website is similar to partirseul.com. The concept is to offer single people a large choice of trips, whether they are widows, divorced, single parents, unmarried, etc.
The “célivoyages” are made to encourage love encounters or a friendly meeting between travelers. The stays are organized by age groups and aim to welcome as many women as there are men to reach parity. If the gap is too big, a discount is offered to put things back on an even keel.
The website has a wide range of theme stays, some are even tailored for single-parent families. Everybody is welcome!
Sportpartner
Sportpartner works the same way as Cleec. Thanks to this website, you can meet the users who share your passions.
Would you like to break out of your solitude by finding a skiing partner? Then sportpartner is the platform that will help you reach your goal.
When you create your profile, you can indicate your sports preferences, your age, the location where you work out and the type of person you’re looking for. Profiles are carefully investigated to avoid fakes and your personal data is protected, so the website is relatively safe.
Nevertheless, if you want to access interesting options such as “having a conversation”, you have to become a premium member. It means taht you have to pay €5.95 each month over 6 months. Moreover, it’s important to keep in mind that some people on the website are interested in meeting a life partner. So, make sure to clarify your intentions right at the beginning.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
