Another great Holiday with SingleSport

I’m just back from a week at Mark Warner Paleros Beach Resort in western Greece.

One of the greatest challenges of solo travel can be the occasional feeling of loneliness, particularly during meals or evenings. Travelling with a group of solo travellers removes that barrier almost instantly.

At Paleros, breakfast quickly becomes more than just coffee and pastries. Tables fill with animated conversations about the previous day’s adventures, plans for the morning’s sailing conditions or debates over who won the previous evening’s pub quiz. By dinner, friendships deepen over long meals overlooking the Ionian Sea, with groups naturally forming around shared interests and experiences.

There is something deeply reassuring about always having company available — but never feeling obliged to participate every moment of the day.

Shared Adventures Create Fast Friendships

Activity holidays have a natural advantage when it comes to social bonding. Nothing accelerates conversation quite like learning a new skill together or laughing about a capsized dinghy.

At Paleros, the sheer variety of activities means there is always an opportunity to connect with others:

• Sailing across calm turquoise waters
• Early morning sculling sessions along the coast
• Paddle boarding in the warm Mediterranean sea
• Guided cycling routes through olive groves and mountain villages
• Friendly tennis matches under the Greek sun
• Fast-growing social sports like padel and pickleball

These activities create countless natural opportunities to meet people without the awkwardness often associated with traditional social settings. Conversations begin effortlessly when you are rigging a sailboat together or discussing the best technique for returning a difficult serve on the tennis court.

Even complete beginners quickly feel included. In fact, learning alongside others often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the holiday.

Evenings That Bring Everyone Together

As the sun sets over the mountains surrounding Paleros, the resort takes on a different energy. The evenings become a focal point for shared entertainment and relaxed socialising.

The bar often hosts activities that gently encourage interaction without ever feeling forced. Pub quizzes and music quizzes spark plenty of friendly competition, while salsa dancing lessons get people laughing, moving and stepping outside their comfort zones.

These evenings often become the highlight of the trip — not because of elaborate entertainment, but because of the sense of camaraderie they create. It is surprisingly easy to arrive knowing nobody and leave with friendships that continue long after the holiday ends.