female solo travel statistics

Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Solo Travel Statistics, Data 2023 – 2024: Historical Trends, Sources Cited

What's the latest data on the solo travel market? The trend of solo travel continues with year over year growth in the double digits. The trend of company's catering to this market started around 2009 with companies dropping the prohibitive single supplement to fill tours during tough economic times. See more below under the heading of Latest Sources of Solo Travel Statistics and Trends.

2,337 responded to the Solo Traveler's 2023 Reader Survey giving the travel industry current solo travel statistics and data. This is the 11th annual survey and is just one way in which we gather information on this important market niche. We also monitor the copious amount of travel research that is conducted every year to extract solo travel statistics and maintain a list of sources which you'll see below.

Travel industry data looks at solo travelers within the context of all travelers. Our reader survey targets solo travelers specifically, providing a better understanding of the solo travel market. This year our survey was held thanks to the support of Overseas Adventure Travel .

One of the reasons we are so diligent about gathering data on the solo travel market is that Simon , of our team, works with clients who are eager to serve solo travelers well. If you are such a company, you may also be interested in the following pages:

• Reach the Solo Travel Market  explains how we work with the travel industry.
• Our core advertising program for tour and cruise companies includes the Deals  page, the searchable trips page and our Solo Travel Advisory of Deals that is emailed to over 60,000+ subscribers twice a month.
• The blog with over 600 articles for solo travelers.

Table of Contents

Travel Solo Statistics: Demographics

As you can see above, according to Google Analytics data for Solo Traveler, 12% more women read our publication than men. This is a reasonable indicator of the gender split of those who travel solo and reflects most reporting on the subject.

However, there are some sources, like our annual reader survey, that skews results due to who responds to surveys. Our survey respondents were older and more female than our actual readership.

Why, How, Where & What Solo Travelers Spend

The Solo Traveler Reader Survey included 26 questions. The respondents were primarily women, American, and over 55 years of age. Below we show the results from a number of the questions. A few details of interest in the 2023 survey:

• Solo travelers are spending more on travel than in 2022.
• For the first time in years, the United States was the number 2 destination for solo travelers' next destination.
• Even more people than in previous years indicated that they take tours at least some of the time.
• More people identified adventure/nature as their travel style as opposed to urban.
• More than half of respondents plan to take two or more trips in 2024.
• More than half of respondents plan to take trips of 2 to 3 weeks or more in 2024.

Latest Sources of Solo Travel Statistics and Trends

In the section, you will find more data on solo travelers from organizations we trust. We do not publish the results of surveys and analysis that we think has been poorly designed. As we find new research we add to it with the most recent appearing at the top of the list.

• Travel Predictions 2024 from Booking.com (March 2024) “…solo travel is also booming, with 59% looking to venture alone. Even parents are joining the trend, with 58% planning child-free trips, prioritising self-growth. Men, in particular, are embracing solo travel (63% compared to 54% of women). Source
• From personalization to solo travel: Globus reveals its 2024 tour trends (January 2024) More than one-fourth of travellers (27%) said they plan to go solo on their next trip – that’s double previous years. Source
• Married Yet Solo: More Women Are Traveling Without Their Plus-Ones (December 2023). Skift reports on a number of sources identifying solo travel as a major trend. Source
• The Solo Travel Market Report (October 2023). For many years now, the solo travel market has grown significantly year over year, being frequently cited as one of the years major trends. “The Solo Travel Service Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 – 2030.” Source
• Skyscanner data indicates 54% are considering going solo this year. (2023)”Travel search engine  Kayak’s data  shows searches for single-traveler flights are 36 percent higher for 2023 travel than in 2022. While a  survey by Skyscanner , a Kayak rival, indicates one in two travelers (54 percent) are considering escaping solo in 2023, with 65 percent choosing to go their own way because family and friends don’t share their travel interests.” Source
• Over a Third of Brits Prefer to Travel Solo (2023) Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) commissioned research that revealed that over a third of Brits prefer to travel solo. According to the research, over one in three travelers (37 percent) claim they prefer to go it alone, and three in ten (31 percent) have already booked a solo holiday for 2023. Source
• Why more of us are travelling solo . (2022) Google searches for solo travel since April 2020 quadrupled to a new high this month, with demand evident across all age groups. Not only millennial backpackers but solo travellers of all ages joining small tour groups, forcing the travel industry to think differently about this fast growing travel trend. Source
• Post-pandemic travel is going solo . (2022) Statistics from every corner point to a rise in demand for solo trips. Data from Booking.com shows that pre-pandemic, only 14% of travelers were going solo, but by mid-2021 that number had almost doubled to 23%, while Google trend data showed that solo travel had risen by a massive 761.15%. Source
• More Travelers Are Going Solo in 2022 According to new research from MMGY, one in four travelers plans to travel solo in the next six months with Gen-Z and Millennials leading the way. Source
• Solo Travel Service Market Overview and Market Forecast 2028 . (2022) Global Solo Travel Service Market Report is a systematically conducted exhaustive study of the worldwide Solo Travel Service industry. As per the study, the market is expected to acquire notable returns and showcase a healthy growth rate during the forecast period. Source
• Solo travel dominant global leisure market. (2022) Solo segment is anticipated to dominate the global leisure travel market due to various factors such as social media influence, different preferences and interests, psychographic traits. Source
• Solo travelers and group tours (2021) Solo travelers “are joining guided tours at unprecedented rates, say tour organizers, with some companies reporting single bookings up 300 percent over those from couples, families or clusters of friends.” Source
• Booking.com data pre-pandemic (2021) saw only 14% of travelers were planning a trip on their own, whilst nearly double (23%) now say they will be planning a solo trip in the future. Source
• According to Google trend data , (2021) Solo travel is up by 761.15%. Many are now “biting the bullet” and seeking solo travel opportunities to promote their wellbeing and try new experiences. Source
• Post-Covid: Solo travel is the second-most popular category for post-lockdown trips, says Cox & Kings . (2020) A discussion about the solo market between Sue Livsey, senior manager – commercial at Cox & Kings, Sarah Weetman, head of trade sales at Just You, and Claire Brighton, account director for the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers. Source
• Klook concludes that solo travel continues to present promising business opportunities (2020) “We commissioned a global Solo Travel Survey last October … Of the nearly 21,000 people we surveyed around the globe, 76% indicated that they have either traveled alone already or are considering it – regardless of age, gender and nationality.” Source
• Women continue to travel solo more than men (2020) “47% of travelers with Overseas Adventure Travel are registered as ‘solo'. An astounding 85% of these solo travelers are women.”  Source
• Searches for “Solo Women Travel” surge in 2019. “Google searches for ‘solo women travel’ increased by 32% in 2017 and 59% in 2018. The search grew to a jaw-dropping 230% increase in 2019. Source
• Pinterest sees massive growth in interest for solo female travel. “Pinterest has also reported a 350% increase in women pinning articles in ‘solo female travel’.” Source
• Solo travel as a global trend continues to grow.  (2019) “Making up around 18% of global bookings, solo travel is becoming ever more popular and has increased by 7% in the last year alone. Solo travelers typically take longer trips than the other traveler personas at approximately 19 days on average.”  Source
• Gen Z and solo travel . (2019) “…a third say they actually prefer to be alone when traveling and almost 20% say they want to take a solo backpacking trip or gap year.” Source
• Solo travel #1 trend for 2019 according to Klook.  (2018) Solo travel, pop culture influence and the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) effect are among the six driving factors in tours and activities for next year, reveals Hong Kong-based leading travel activities and services booking platform Source .
• 52% of solo travellers say they'd be interested in an escorted holiday . (2018) Mintel’s 2018 Solo Traveller Report revealed that 17% of adults took a holiday on their own in the last five years – a year-on-year rise of two percentage points. The majority of these, 15%, were ‘pure solo’ travellers, not travelling with a group. The study found 60% of respondents said there is a “widespread belief” the travel industry does not cater well enough for solo travellers and that 52% of solo travellers were interested in taking an escorted tour.  Source
• Adventure Travel Trade Association 2018 trends report highlights solo travel (2018) The 20 Adventure Trends to Watch in 2018, indicate solo travel is on the rise. One of their members report that over 80% of their millennial travelers are going solo. Source
• In 2018, 70% of passengers on Intrepid Travel’s US trips travelled on their own . Source
• 2017 Princeton Survey Research Associates study revealed that 58 per cent of millennials worldwide are willing to travel alone, compared to 47 per cent of older generations. The study found 26 percent of millennial women have already travelled solo, while a further 27 percent said they haven't but would consider holidaying by themselves. Source
• Searches for “solo female travel” grew by 52% between 2016 and 2017 . This report not only looks at the trend of solo female travel but also the purchasing power of women. Source
• Travel solo for relaxation . Agoda's ‘Solo Travel Trends 2018' survey, conducted by YouGov, found that relaxation and time to unwind is the number one motivator for solo leisure travel globally (61%), which compares to 48% when traveling with friends. Source
• Tour companies find that the majority of their female travelers are going solo . VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations says that 68 percent of their female travelers in 2016 took a trip without a companion, while Country Walkers says 87 percent of its female participants were single (that’s about 3.3 single women to every male traveler).  Source
• 38% of those who have traveled solo will do so again. Among the top five trips that people have already been on and would like to go on again, as they allow them to experience travel to the fullest solo trip (34%). Source
• Surge in baby boomers traveling solo . A study by Booking.com of 20,500 global travelers that was released in May of 2018 found that there “is also a surge in solo travel … with two fifths (40%) of global Baby Boomers having taken a solo trip in the last year, and a further fifth (21%) planning to take one in the future.”  Source
• Solo is a top trip they'd do again. Again from the Booking.com study, 34% or respondents said that solo travel is among the “top five trips that they have already been on and would like to go on again”.   Source
• Roughly one in four people say they will travel solo in the next year (2018) — and that’s on the rise, according to a survey of 2,300 people by marketing firm MMGY Global. Source
• Between January 1 2015 and December 2017, the number of searches on Google for solo travel  has risen significantly. The graph indicates approximately a 40% increase in searches for solo travel. Source

• 17% indicated that they would try solo travel for the first time in 2016 according to a survey of more than 44,000 travelers by online travel company TripAdvisor. Source
• The popularity of guided tours among solo travelers grew from 21% to 46% between 2013 and 2015. Source
• Between 2013 and 2015 the percentage of people polled who travel on their own grew from 15% to 24% according to the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015. Source
• 72 percent of American women are taking solo journeys
• American women ranked first in frequent solo travel, and are most likely to take three trips or more in a given year.
• 65% of US women polled have vacationed without a partner. Source

Related research on the solo travel market.

• The current western proportions of single-person households (e.g. 31 percent in the UK, 24% in California) are wholly unprecedented historically. Source
• Single-person households in the United States are set to grow steadily over the next 15 years… Source
• Booking.com research found that Australia is the number one international destination for solo travel .  Source
• Travel Agent anecdotal data on selling solo travel. “…solo clients are usually around 41 to 47 years old, have an income in the $150,000 range…  Also, about 85 percent are women.”  Source .
• Women are the ones booking tours and activities 67% of the time Source

Solo Travel Demographics from 2019 Survey

Our 2018 readers survey received 1,340 responses. As you can see below, the results show slightly different demographic information than that of the Solo Travel Society Facebook page with its 162,000+ fans. Combining this with data given from Google Analytics I can safely say that the majority of our readers fall into either the Millennial or Boomer categories and there are more women than men. I usually estimate the gender split as 75% women and 25% men.

Solo Travelers' Travel and Spending Habits – 2018 Survey Results

In 2018 the number of subscribers to Solo Traveler's newsletter grew from 35,000 to 46,000 which is up from 25,500 at the beginning of 2017. That's an 80% increase over two years. Yes, the solo travel market is growing. Many of our subscribers completed our 2018 reader survey. Below is a breakdown by age range of a variety of solo travel statistics we gathered from that survey. Here are a few takeaways:

• Solo travelers are highly educated.   50% of respondents indicated that they have a university or college degree or diploma and 35% have post-graduate degrees.
• Why do solo travelers go solo?  Respondents could choose more than one response. 59% said they want to see more of the world and they're not willing to wait for others. 45% like the freedom to do what they want when they want.
• 54% of respondents like group travel at least some of the time. That's up from 34% in the 2017 survey.
• Solo travelers are frequent travelers. 46% of respondents travel three or more times per year.
• Adventure beats out urban travel . 30% like adventure travel while only 23% favor urban travel
• 24% of readers spend more than $1,500 for one week excluding airfare. Most spend between $500 and $1,500 for the same (2017 result).
• 32% of solo travelers start planning 6 months before departure . 33% start planning 3 months or less before departure.

Sharing is caring!

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

Get Solo Travel News & Deals

• Create Your Advertiser Account
• Login to Your Advertiser Account
• Solo Travel Statistics
• Media & Speaking
• Privacy Policy & Disclosure

The content of Solo Traveler and any resources published by Solo Traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Please note that while we have advertising clients promoting destinations, products, services, trips and tours on Solo Traveler and that we endeavour to only work with companies in which we have confidence, we are not responsible for the delivery or quality of their products or services. Every person and every travel situation is different. Your safety, satisfaction and fun traveling solo are your responsibility alone and not that of Solo Traveler, its publisher, editor and/or writers.

PRIVACY POLICY & DISCLOSURE: In accordance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize links located throughout the content on this site. Additionally, some posts might be sponsored to support this site. Please do the appropriate research before participating in any third party offers. All opinions are my own. Please read our full Privacy Policy here.

80+ Solo Travel Statistics and Trends | 2022

The solo travel trend is growing steadily. Even as uncertainty around the pandemic continued last year, many travelers planned solo trips. Check out the latest statistics to see the latest solo travel trends.

If you are looking for more statistics on travel, find more here:

80+ Female Travel Statistics and Trends | 2022

Why should we care about solo travel statistics.

• Solo women spent $3,000 per week on accommodations pre-pandemic
• The search term “solo travel” increased by 761.15% in the UK during the pandemic
• While group travel is projected to grow, the solo travel segment has the highest growth rate of the forecasted leisure travel market.
• 35.1% of women who travel alone spent more than $1,000 on their trip

As a segment of the travel market, solo travel is on the rise. Internet searches initially fell at the beginning of the pandemic, but are on the rise. And this part of the market spends money. The tourism industry is taking notice in return.

Sources:  journeywoman.com , hrnews.co.uk , astuteanalytica.com , Travelzoo survey

Breakdown by Age Groups & Gender

• 40% of baby boomers took a solo trip in the last year
• 21% of baby boomers are planning to take one in the future
• 86% of solo travelers are over 35
• 20% of female travelers and 20% of male travelers in the US intend to take a solo trip as of July 2021.
• 65% of solo travel customers for Exodus Travels in the UK are women
• 70% of solo travel customers with Overseas Adventure Travel are women
• 86% of solo travelers are women according to one study by solotravlerworld.com
• 57.5% of men have traveled alone
• Women are more likely to travel alone for leisure than men
• 85.7% of women have travelled alone for leisure
• 79.4% of men have travelled alone for leisure

Older generations and females make up a large part of the solo travel market. When men travel solo it is typically for business. Women travel solo for leisure more often than men.

Sources: Statista.com , aarp.org , astuteanalytica.com , travelzoo.com , Travelzoo survey

Solo Travel and the Pandemic

• 38% of women aged 45+ will travel solo in 2022 according to Journeywoman.com
• 51% of women now book closer to their departure date than they did pre-pandemic
• Tour operators report bookings for group trips have increased by 20% since the pandemic, with 29% of the participants solo travelers.
• People are traveling solo in part now because regular travel partners are hesitant to travel
• In 2020 70% of solo travelers wanted no quarantine at their destination
• In 2021 66% of solo travelers wanted high vaccination rates at their destination

The pandemic has rocked our world for the past year or two. As people have tired of the pandemic, they have begun to travel more. The travel industry is seeing a definite uptick of solo bookings. Plus, travelers are wanting to go to destinations that have a high vaccination rate.

Sources:  Journeywoman.com , aarp.org , solotravelerworld.com

Solo Female Travel: How Many Women are Traveling Solo?

• Single women aged 35 and above is increasing and now totals 28 million according to the Census Bureau.
• 32 million single American women traveled at least once in the year 2019.
• American women rank first in solo traveling and are more likely to take three trips or more in a given year.
• One in three single American women took five trips during the year.
• 72% of American women are taking solo vacations.
• 74% of women surveyed in 2015 have traveled alone or are planning to travel alone this year.
• 91% of women surveyed from Germany and France traveled alone or plan to travel alone in 2015.
• 81% of women surveyed from Australia and UK traveled alone or plan to travel alone in 2015.
• 79% of women surveyed from Southeast Asia traveled alone or plan to travel alone in 2015.
• 65% of women surveyed from Russia traveled alone or plan to travel alone in 2015.
• 63% of women surveyed from US traveled alone or plan to travel alone in 2015.

Sources: GutsyTraveler , The Wandering RV , Condor Ferries , Booking.com ,  TripAdvisor

What ages of women are Traveling Solo?

• The average UK solo traveler in 2017 was 57 compared to 2014 which was 54.
• Women over 50 represent the biggest growth area for solo travel.
• 26% of Millennial women have traveled solo before and 27% have not but would consider doing so in the future.
• 81% of solo female travelers are over 45 years old.
• 13% of solo female travelers are between 35-44 years of age
• 6% of solo female travelers are between 25-34 years of age
• 1% of solo female travelers are 18-24 years of age
• 27% of women have said they would consider taking a holiday by themselves.

Women taking a solo trip spans across the generations but is heavily skewed to women over 50. Younger Generations often lack the money or have family obligations that prevent them from being able to travel as much as women who are empty nesters and beyond. You will find women traveling 100% on their own or sometimes taking group tours so they more easily can meet people along the way.

Sources:  The Cashlorette , Condor Ferries ,  Lonely Planet ,

Growth in Solo Female Travel

• Solo female travel companies increased by 230% in recent years.
• ‘Solo female travel’ returns more than 218   million results from Google Searches in Jan 2022.
• Pinterest searches for “solo female travel” increased by 600% in 2018
• The term ‘female solo travel’ increased in search volume by 62% across all search engines over the past few years.
• 73% of travel agents found that female travelers take on more solo trips than males.
• 59% of women solo travelers say that they would go alone again within the next 12 months.
• Solo trip bookings have grown 45% in the last few years in this market.
• Booking.com stated that 54% of British females are more likely to take trips alone than they were five years prior (2014 data).

The solo female travel space is undeniably growing. The data are sparse, but there are some articles online that speculate that the solo travel market will be the first to recover out of the pandemic. Regardless, in years prior to Covid-19, female travel showed solid growth.

Sources: GutsyTraveler , Condor Ferries , Girl Power Marketing , Booking.com  -1,  Booking.com  -2, travelzoo

Solo Travel and Social Media

• 62 percent of female British travelers between 25 and 45 years of age used social media to keep in touch with home
• 75 report that social media help find great places to eat and activities to do.
• Women’s travel group on Facebook called  Solo In Style: Women Over 50 Travelling Solo & Loving It!  has 70.8K members as of 1/2022.
• The oldest women’s solo travel group on Facebook is called  Solo Female Travelers  and has 131K members as of 1/2022.
• A third Facebook group dedicated to solo travel for women over 60 is called
• Over 60 Solo Women Travelers  and has 18K members as of 1/2022.

Social Media is an important part of female solo travel. Women use social media to keep in touch with their loved ones while traveling. And beyond that, social media is an excellent resource to get inspiration of where to go and what to do. Plus, women connect with like-minded travelers on social media and can meet up at home or far away.

Sources:  Skift , Facebook.com

Where Do Women Travel Solo and Why?

• In a search for the safest country, the top 10 safest destinations for women in 2019 were New Zealand, Uruguay, Canada, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland, Japan, Chile, and Austria.
• In a search for the most popular destinations, the top 10 countries for US female solo travellers were Cuba, Macedonia, UAE, Nepal, Egypt, Albania, Finland, Mexico, Guatemala, and Luxembourg.
• 45% of travel agents surveyed say Europe is the most popular destination for female travelers.
• Japan is the top country to visit when solo women travelers consider culture, safety, scenery, women’s rights and adventure. France, Spain, USA, Indonesia, Italy, Australia, Canada, Portugal and the Philippines also ranked high for female solo travelers for these criteria.
• 27% of travel agents surveyed say the most popular reasons for women traveling alone are shopping and sightseeing.
• 46% of women traveling solo said they travel alone for freedom, independence, and the chance to do what they want, when they want.
• 61% of British women polled say they are more energized after solo travel.

International travel is high on the list of female solo travelers. The destinations vary and span the globe. Europe is often high on the list and Japan was at the top. Women appreciate the feeling of independence they get from solo travel and report feeling energized by it afterward.

Sources:  Solo Traveler World , The Wandering RV , Condor Ferries ,  Booking.com

Solo Travel and Safety

• 73% of female travelers express concerns about their safety
• 42% of women who want to travel solo cite safety as why they don’t do it
• Almost 60% of solo female travelers report never feeling unsafe during solo travel
• Before a trip, the top 4 risks that women consider are: pickpocketing/purse snatching (93%), credit card fraud (86%), identity theft (63%), and taxi scams (62%)
• While traveling, women business travelers manage safety by: regularly communicating with office, family or friends (58%), staying only at trusted hotels (56%), sharing itineraries with family and friends (51%)
• Regardless of world events, 86% of women state that they are not afraid to travel. *This stat is pre-pandemic, recent statistics show a difference of attitude when it comes to pandemic travel.

Safety concerns should be at the forefront of any traveler’s mind, and women especially can be targeted on the road. Women do consider safety measures around travel, and the considerations vary based on if they are preparing for, or actually traveling. As travelers consider solo trips, personal safety is a primary concern.

Sources: theflashpacker.com , travelzoo.com, Condor Ferries ,  TravelGuard -1,  TravelGuard -2

Why do people travel solo?

• Flexibility/Freedom
• Personal challenge
• Meet new people
• Tailor the trip to one’s own preferences
• Solitude/escape
• Regular travel partners don’t want to take the trip
• Meet like-minded women when traveling solo in a group trip
• Self Discovery and Self Care
• Mental Health Break
• Spiritual Pilgrimage

People travel solo for a variety of reasons. Many find the benefits of solo travel to be freedom to do what they want, meet new people, solitude after the pandemic.

Sources: theflashpacker.com , Barrons.com , https://www.defianceetfs.com/

Barriers to Solo Travel

• 56.1% of females state Fear of Safety as a reason not to solo travel
• 25.7% of men state Fear of Safety as a reason not to solo travel
• 35.7% of women state that eating alone is the worst part of solo travel
• 27.6% of women state that single supplements are a barrier to solo travel
• 19.6% of men state that the single supplement is a barrier to traveling solo

Sources: Travelzoo survey

These recent solo travel statistics show clearly that the growth in the solo travel segment should not be ignored. The amount of solo travelers is growing. They are increasingly joining group tours, and safety is top of mind for those solo travelers.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

2021 Solo Female Travel Trends Survey Results

5,000 women took part in the 2021 Solo Female Travel Trends Survey (18 November – 9 December 2020) to shed more light on the solo female travel experience. This is the largest, most comprehensive and only global research study on solo female travel trends, preferences and behaviors published . These are the results.

A 2019 non-gender specific study found that 76% of travelers had gone on a solo trip or were considering going. Among women, the interest is even higher and searches for the term “solo female travel” had increased 6 fold during the 4 years preceding the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic (according to Google trends ). Pandemic woes further propelled this type of travel and cemented the interest in independent and individual travel.

These numbers are in stark contrast with the challenges, worries and experiences of women traveling solo. Concerns for safety, misleading advertising or lack of an offer that is sensitive to their needs present relevant opportunities for travel companies who take the lead.

Why solo female travelers should matter to your travel business

The solo female travel segment is large and booming. Women make the overwhelming majority of travel bookings, for themselves, for their families, for their parents, for their colleagues and for their friends, and represent 70% of the hotel website visits . They are the real travel influencers.

Building trust with women offers opportunities to connect at a deeper level with the decision maker in travel beyond the solo trip . A positive experience with a brand as a solo female traveler will open the doors to future purchases as a family, couple, group of friends or even business.

In the travel industry, women occupy the majority of jobs, yet they make up only a small percentage of the executive positions .

Male key decision-makers in tourism cannot understand or relate to the challenges women traveling solo face resulting in the segment being neglected and underserved.

Survey respondent: “Employ more women in executive roles at travel companies so they actually know what it’s like to travel as a woman. Without a seat at the table, decisions are made about us, not with us.”

The narrative in travel is focused on couples and families and does not speak to the solo traveler, let alone the solo female traveler. Therein lies an enormous opportunity for savvy brands to get to know us better and to offer products that understand our challenges.

Run by Solo Female Travelers (FIRST FB group for women who travel solo) , the Solo Female Travel Survey was launched at the end of 2020 to bridge the gap between decision makers, the travel industry and women traveling solo .

It is the largest, most comprehensive and only global research study on solo female travel trends, preferences and behaviors published, and aims to shed more light on the solo female travel experience in an effort to provide a platform for dialogue and a path towards normalizing solo travel as a woman.

The survey will be run annually to track changes in perceptions, attitudes, behaviors and preferences over time.

Participants in the Solo Female Travel Survey

We wanted to compare the preferences and attitudes of solo female travelers versus those of women who had not traveled solo yet but wanted to, in order to better understand perceptions and barriers.

5,000 respondents were split between women who had traveled solo and those who had not traveled solo before but wanted to, and each was asked to fill a unique list of questions, with the objective to:

• Provide the travel industry with accurate, updated and detailed solo travel insights, specifically of the needs, preferences, behaviors and challenges of solo female travelers;
• Shed more light into the attitudes of solo female travelers across the world, globally and by region, age group and experience solo traveling, towards marketing efforts, travel providers and destinations.
• Understand the travel preferences of solo female travelers and help the travel industry make data-based decisions on product launches, product details and pricing with solo travel statistics and facts.

The survey for women who have already traveled solo had 29 questions, which covered socio-demographic indicators, travel preferences, solo travel preferences, behaviors and attitudes. Survey respondents were from all age groups, nationalities, income levels, solo travel experience, marital statuses and profiles.

Details of the participants can be found below.

The survey for women who had not traveled solo yet consisted of 15 questions covering socio-demographic indicators, travel preferences and barriers to solo traveling.

Insights from the survey have been split across three different reports:

1 Motivations and challenges for women traveling solo

Understanding the challenges and motivations of women who travel on their own, particularly around safety, and the sources considered most trustworthy for travel advice.

2 Purchasing behaviors of solo female travelers

The top bucketlist destinations of solo female travelers, how she chooses a destination, and what factors influence her purchasing decisions.

3 Values, Accommodation Preferences and Interest in Retreats

A travel profile of who the Solo Female Traveler is, what she cares about, what she spends money on, and what she wants from the travel industry.

When questions on recent travel were asked, respondents were asked to refer to the 12 months pre-COVID.

Also on this page: Purchase the detailed reports I Learn how you can better serve solo female travelers

Solo Female Travel Survey – Part I: Motivations and challenges for women traveling solo

There are countless stereotypes and misconceptions around women traveling solo. One of our main objectives with this survey was to dispel them and to normalize solo travel for women.

While the solo female travel segment is incredibly diverse, there are common challenges all women traveling solo face and which are unique to the female experience.

Key Findings:

1. 73% of women traveling solo  worry  about their safety, even experienced solo travelers do (64%). This is a universal concern across geography and age groups.

2. Women travel solo for many  reasons , particularly for freedom and flexibility (56%), to challenge themselves (38%), enjoy me-time (23%) and meet new people (22%).

3. Women traveling solo  trust  the advice from solo female travel Facebook groups (73%), blogs (66%), distrust influencers (23%) more than they distrust the travel brands who hire them (16%).

4. Top destinations  for first-time solo travelers: Spain, UK, Thailand, Japan, Italy and Australia.

1. Traveling solo is a choice not necessarily a lifestyle

For 22% of respondents, solo travel is a lifestyle and the only way they traveled in the previous 12 months.

However, for the majority, solo travel is a way to explore the world that is a personal choice and has many advantages, but is not the exclusive way to travel. Sometimes, women prefer to travel solo and other times solo travel is just a means to discovering a destination rather than the goal in itself.

When traveling solo, women have different preferences, worries and motivations than when they travel with someone, and are in a different state of mind.

Ashley: “I would like to see that the ability to travel as a woman becomes a norm rather than something shocking.”

Findings / Key Insights

• 78% of solo female travelers combine various travel styles and companions depending on the destination and type of trip. This means that she is not exclusively a Solo Female Traveler, but she likes to take trips on her own and with others. Women traveling solo may go on a road trip with friends or if they are not available, will head out alone.
• A third of solo female travelers also travel with their spouses . 24% of them traveled with their families and 18% traveled with a group of friends in the same period.
• 17% of solo female travelers also joined a small group trip in the last 12 months. Small group trips are a safe, affordable and convenient way to visit challenging destinations or to test solo travel in a predefined way.

Opportunities for the travel industry

• Launch products tailored at the solo female travel niche, considering her needs and wants and her challenges and worries. Reach out to us to discuss how we can help.
• Offer products that cater to women who like traveling solo, rather than to exclusively solo female travelers and understand that, for 78%, solo travel is a travel style and state of mind but not a type of traveler.
• If your company focuses on the solo niche, understand the motivations behind taking a trip alone and tailor the message accordingly.

2. No partner, no problem .

Sometimes, solo travel is a personal choice over traveling with a companion, other times it is consequence of not having a travel companion for the trip. Either way, solo female travelers are not letting the lack of a travel companion stand in the way of a trip.

• 56% prefer traveling on their own because of the flexibility it affords to explore without having to rely on other opinions and preferences. This is particularly true of women in committed relationships (60%) and for Boomers (58%).
• 38% of respondents travel solo to challenge themselves . Transformative travel is on the rise , and more so when traveling solo. Travel is a way to discover ourselves and step out of our comfort zone. Millennials are twice as likely to travel for this reason than Boomers. 
• 23% travel on their own to relax and get away from it all. Travel is one of the best ways to spend a vacation, re-energize and recharge, and solo travel gives that extra layer of quietness that does not depend on others. This is particularly true of women in the Middle East (22% vs. 13%). 
• 18% travel for self-improvement and self-actualization. Traveling solo is one of the most rewarding ways to discover oneself. This motivation decreases significantly with age from 23% for Millennials to 9% for Boomers.

Anonymous: “Moving away from stereotypes of what women like to do while traveling”

• No partner, no problem! Women are not letting the lack of company stop them from traveling. 20% said they travel solo because their partner is not interested in the trip or because they cannot find a travel companion with a similar vacation schedule.
• 22% travel solo to meet new people . This is especially true for those who are not in a committed relationship (25%) as opposed to those who are (15%).
• Tours focused on solo travelers without single supplement offer a way for women to meet new people, and travel even if their travel companions are not available / interested.
• Solo female travelers would be more likely to join a small group trip that offered flexibility and free time along with pre-programmed activities that save money and facilitate logistics / guides.
• Group tours that have a component of personal fulfilment and personal challenge are particularly appealing to Millennials.

3. Safety is the indisputable worry of solo female travelers.

Women are extremely worried about their safety when traveling solo. Experience traveling solo reduces this fear, however it still remains alarmingly high at 64% for those who have traveled solo more than 10 times.

Concerns over safety are unique to the female experience regardless of how experienced a solo traveler is. Respondents specifically worry about the lack of credible sources on real safety data per destination and the travel industry’s marketing efforts to make a destination look safer than it actually is .

• 73% of solo female travelers worry about their safety . Experience traveling solo reduces this fear from 79% among women who have traveled solo less than 5 times to 64% for those who have traveled more than 10 times on their own.
• Beyond safety, solo female travelers most worry about the higher costs of traveling solo due to single supplements charged (47%), of getting lost (27%) or of feeling lonely (25%).

Cheryl: “Give detailed and very specific info about dangers and incidents, what to do, and where to go if an emergency happens”

• Safety is also a barrier for women to go on a solo trip. 42% of women who haven’t traveled on their own yet cite the fear of something happening to them as the reason for not doing it .
• Removing single supplements is the number one request from solo female travelers to the travel industry. 10% of the respondents mentioned this in an unprompted question.
• Women who have taken between 6 and 10 trips worry about safety, loneliness and getting lost the most . They already have limited experience traveling solo and know what to expect and what can happen, but have not yet build the confidence for safety to be less of a worry.
• The issue of safety is multi-faceted and women traveling solo need: reliable, accurate and actionable safety data from a relevant source and the practical tools to keep themselves safe.
• Our Safety Index for solo female travelers to share their safety advice and experience traveling solo with others. The resource allows any solo female traveler to rate their experience at a destination based on 4 factors: Risk of scam, Risk of theft, Risk of harassment and Attitudes towards women. These are the factors that we know are important in understanding how safe or unsafe a destination is so the solo female traveler can better prepare.
• Solo female travelers now have the opportunity to learn everything they need to stay safe when traveling on their own thanks to Empowerful, a Solo Female Travel Safety, Wellness and Sexual Wellbeing Festival aimed at equipping women with the tools they need to stay safe when traveling.

4. Small group trips are a great solution for solo female travelers

When asking women who haven’t traveled solo yet what is stopping them from embarking on their first solo journey beyond safety concerns, the reasons are varied: 

• 44% said they can’t afford the higher price.
• 30% mentioned the fear of feeling lonely.
• 19% said their partner does not approve of them traveling alone
• 17% indicated they would feel guilty leaving their family or husband behind
• 13% of women are also concerned about racism and discrimination because of race or religion.
• 5% said their society does not approve of them traveling on their own.

Small group trips help women overcome their safety and financial concerns to travel solo.

• Half of the women who have not traveled solo yet would be more likely to do so in a group tour , particularly if it is a women-only group tour (50% vs 40% for mixed gender group tour).
• Small women-only group trips have major potential among women for the safe space they provide and the option to share a room with another traveler and reduce the cost per person. They tackle all concerns and worries of women traveling solo and are a great way for them to dip their toes into the world of solo travel.
• Female-only tours targeted at solo travelers have an additional level of comfort and offer an option to women who want to travel solo to share room costs and meet people without the stigma of being alone.

5. The ideal first-time solo travel destination is your own country or in Europe

Solo female travelers should start off either in Europe or in the travelers country of origin, where the culture shock is lower (same country, language, similar culture and traditions, etc.).

It is also worth noting that, while there are some universally recommended options for the ideal destination a first time solo traveler should start with, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all choice and each traveler should consider their own personal circumstances when deciding.  

• 20% of solo female travelers recommend the travelers country of origin as the best destination for a first time solo trip.
• 44% of solo female travelers recommend Europe as the ideal first time solo travel destination for women.
• They are major tourism destinations (Spain, UK, Italy).
• They enjoy really high levels of safety (Japan, Thailand).
• They have great tourism infrastructure (Spain, Thailand, Italy).
• They are affordable (Thailand, Spain).
• They have friendly locals (Australia, Thailand, Italy, Spain).
• They see a constant stream of solo travelers to beat loneliness and boredom (Spain, Thailand).
• Women who haven’t traveled solo yet consider Italy, Greece, France, Australia and Japan ideal first solo travel destinations while Americans and Canadians prefer their own countries for a first solo trip. 11% of women are not sure what the ideal first time destination would be.
• Provide transparent and reliable safety information at the granular level of the neighbourhood or city with actionable, practical and solo female focused tips to stay safe to complement our Solo Female Travel Safety Index .
• Training hospitality staff members to better cater to solo female travelers. Our experienced team can arm your team with the right resources and mindset to help your business become solo female travel trusted.

6. Friends and Family and SFT online communities are the most trusted sources of advice . Influencers are not trustworthy

When planning a solo trip as a woman, getting trustworthy and relevant advice is critical and can make or break a trip, especially when it comes to safety tips and recommendations for things to do or places to stay.

Recommendations from Friends and family are most trustworthy across age groups, closely followed by recommendations from other solo female travelers in Facebook groups with likeminded individuals.

Context and relatability matter, and solo female travelers want to hear from other women who travel solo within the safe environment of an online community of like minded individuals. This reinforces the previous finding that safety is a multi-faceted issue and women traveling solo demand reliable, accurate and actionable safety data from a relevant source and the practical tools to keep themselves safe.

Anonymous: “Move away from influencers, it is not genuine and influencers are just a different from of advertising”

Recommendations and advice from Influencers are mostly distrusted , especially by Millennials. They remain a source of information but their trustworthiness is almost as high as their untrustworthiness.

• Solo female travelers trust relatable (who have been there), reliable (honest) and relevant (like them) sources. Friends and family, solo female travelers, online review sites and blogs are most trusted .
• Influencers are considered less trustworthy than the brands who hire them . Influencers, Instagrammers, YouTubers and other content creators have very low trust levels with only one quarter of respondents considering them trustworthy or very trustworthy sources, this is a lower level of trust than enjoyed by travel brands’ social media networks (31%). More worrisome is the percentage of respondents who find influencers not trustworthy or very untrustworthy (21%), which is higher than the lack of trust towards travel brands’ social media channels (15%).
• Online and TV ads are not trusted by solo female travelers with over 40% of respondents considering them as untrustworthy sources.
• Trustworthiness of digital marketing / social media channels varies significantly by age group. Millennials trust online channels, particularly Facebook groups, online review sites and blogs the most. However, they are more weary of more traditional channels. On the other hand, Boomers are generally skeptical of any online marketing channels and a relevant percentage have either a neutral opinion or no opinion with regards to their trustworthiness.
• Reconsider the role of each marketing channel when targeting solo female travelers and adapt the strategy to the trustworthiness level and the objectives.
• Add Facebook groups and bloggers to the marketing mix and use them as a trusted source of research insights, product development and sales.
• Use content creators, Instagrammers, YouTubers and other influencer higher up in the sales funnel. They are a go-to resource for content creation (photos, videos) and for awareness but not for advice.
• Reach out to us if you would like a tailored report by geographical region, age group or income level to better understand your target market.

Solo Female Travel Survey – Part II: Preferences and Attitudes of Solo Female Travelers

The second batch of results from the Solo Female Travel Survey focuses on the preferences of women traveling solo and looks at what they like to do when traveling, how they choose a destination and what they would pay more for.

1. Solo Female Travelers dream of going places that are far away . Their bucket list includes Australia, Japan, Italy, Greece, Iceland and New Zealand , although there are age and regional differences.

2. When choosing a destination women look for cultural experiences (82%), safety (69%), the beauty of a place (69%), nature (58%) and the country’s reputation (58%). Having opportunities for Instagram shots, spending time at the spa or shopping are not important.

3. Affordability of a destination is a decision factor for 60% of respondents and single supplements are mentioned as a major barrier to traveling solo.

4. Solo female travelers would spend additional travel budget on better accommodation .

5. Women like to engage in a wide range of activities when traveling solo but culture and nature / wildlife come out on top.

1. Solo Female Travelers dream of places far away and exotic

Women traveling on their own look for places that are far from where they live in or are from . While there is some overlap between the bucket list destinations and the recommendations for first time travelers, there are also some countries that appear on the bucket list probably for the first time.

Dream destinations for 2020 are also influenced by COVID restrictions and the timings when countries opened. Greece is one of the winners from travel during COVID times thanks to the fact that they opened earlier than other countries in Europe and is best visited during the summer months when border restrictions relaxed.

• Top countries on Solo Female Travelers bucket lists include Australia, Japan, Italy, Greece, Iceland and New Zealand . Greece is a newcomer and is particularly appealing to Gen Z travelers as it has everything they look for: Instagram spots, a beautiful destination, the beach, affordability, nightlife and the opportunity to meet people, etc.
• The traveler’s nationality determines the bucket list, with most respondents favoring places that are farther away from home. Australia is particularly appealing to travelers from the US and Canada while Italy or Greece are top choices for everyone but Europeans who prefer Japan, New Zealand or Iceland.
• Age also determines the traveler’s bucket list ; Boomers prefer Australia, Canada and Italy while Millennials and Gen-X favor Greece, Japan or New Zealand.
• Destinations on the bucket list for solo female travelers should view the opportunity of latent demand to launch campaigns PR products targeting the segment , including the preferences by nationality and age group.
• Destinations not on the bucket list who want to attract solo female travelers should design campaigns that speak to the needs and preferences of solo female travelers and address our challenges, worries and barriers.

2. Women traveling solo choose destinations based on their culture , their safety , their beauty and their affordability

When choosing a destination, 82% of women traveling solo find the local culture extremely important or very important while 69% consider safety or the crime rate at the destination. Women also look for destinations that are beautiful.

Affordability is an important aspect of the solo travel experience, for men or women, but is even more relevant for women who may not feel comfortable in shared accommodation such as shared hostels, room vacation rentals, etc. Single supplements in particular were mentioned by 10% of respondents as something they wish the travel industry improved on.

Judy: “Do away with single-person fee supplements. Make it an incentive for companies who advocate and accommodate solo female travelers”

Not having a companion to share accommodation and activity costs with could double the cost of a trip, putting affordability at the forefront of the travel decision for solo female travelers. Respondents also raised the misleading campaigns that focus on prices per person but require a minimum two person booking, thus dismissing solo travelers.

• 82% of women traveling solo find the local culture extremely important or very important when deciding on a trip.
• When choosing a destination, solo female travelers look at several decision factors , from culture to nature, beauty, safety, affordability, food, seasonality, accessibility and friendliness of the locals.
• Safety at the destination or its crime rate comes up again as an important decision factor when choosing a solo travel destination for 69% of respondents.
• A destination’s beauty is another important decision factor for 69% of respondents. This can be the beauty of its landscapes, its architecture, the sights, etc. and means different things to different people.
• 58% of respondents said they care about a country’s reputation , its human and social rights track record and the way it treats women. This shows that solo female travelers are aware of social justice issues and will consider whether a destination aligns with their values when deciding.
• 60% of respondents also care about the affordability of a destination. Traveling solo carries additional costs and the risk of an activity being cancelled because of level of interest. Hostels often charge more for female-only dorms than for mixed ones, even if the service provided is the same.

Carolyn: “Make the cost of staying in a female only dorm the same as in a mixed dorm in hostels. Often it is more expensive to stay in the female only room”

• As would be expected, the lower the disposable income of the respondent, the more important affordability is. While bucket list destinations run the gamut of affordability, with expensive destinations such as New Zealand or Iceland coming up, first time destinations for solo female travelers tend to be more on the affordable side (except for Japan).
• Tourism Boards or travel businesses who want to attract solo female travelers should focus on the aspects that matter the most when choosing a destination : the local culture, safety and affordability. Showing the beauty of a destination is also important as solo female travelers focus on the visual appeal of a place.
• Depending on the type of solo female traveler a business wants to attract and the destination they are in, different aspects will be appealing to women traveling solo . Age groups, nationalities and disposable income are major determining factors when picking a destination and they should be used to convey a marketing message that resonates with the right solo female traveler.
• Accommodation providers have a relevant opportunity to target the solo collective if they offered the option for travelers to share a room , especially travelers of the same gender, this would expand the pool of potential customers and open the doors to solo travelers who can’t afford single supplements.
• Activity providers have an opportunity to address the minimum size of 2 guests for tours to run by partnering with other businesses or specifically attracting solo travelers.

3. Solo female travelers are not interested in shopping or Instagram-worthy spots at the destination

Contrary to common marketing messages and travel brochures, women traveling solo are not choosing a destination based on IG spots, shopping or how iconic a destination is.

This finding may also allude to the fact that traveling solo makes it harder to take lots of staged images for Instagram and solo female travelers are less interested in that. If taking photography or visiting IG worthy spots is a priority, travelers may choose to go with a companion.

Anonymous: “Let’s move away from stereotypes of what women like to do while traveling (it is more than shopping or taking Instagram worthy photos).”

The majority of solo female travelers are adventurous and are not deterred by the distance to get to a place, the language limitation or how developed the tourism infrastructure is. However, a relevant percentage are still concerned about this. The more experienced a solo female traveler is, the less important these elements are.

• Only around 10% of respondents said that Instagram worthy spots or shopping was an important decision factor when choosing a solo destination. Stereotypes of what women like to do when traveling solo are outdated and not relevant to solo female travelers.
• Language barriers only matter to 15% of respondents, while closeness to home is irrelevant for almost all respondents.
• Basic aspects such as the healthcare system or the tourism infrastructure of a destination are not important to solo female travelers either, as they give way to other more relevant decision factors.
• Marketing materials or messaging showing solo travelers taking popular IG photos or women shopping do not resonate with the solo female travel segment . Tourism businesses should refresh their marketing materials if they want to speak to solo female travelers.

4. Women are willing to spend more on accommodation and tours

We asked women traveling solo what they would splurge on if they had extra budget and the responses illustrate what women traveling solo care about the most: accommodation . Beyond accommodation, the next most important aspect of the travel experience are the tours / activities, although significantly behind accommodation in importance.

Upgrading the accommodation choice during a trip is not only a matter of comfort but it is also a way to improve the traveler’s safety , especially in the sense of privacy or location.

Besides accommodation, a higher budget usually means the opportunity to upgrade the tours and activities by switching to personalised experiences, the convenience of VIP access or of skip the line tickets.

Interestingly, women traveling solo are not willing to sacrifice accommodation in favor of spending more on entertainment, spa services or drinks and extra budget is not often spent on these aspects of the travel experience.

• Accommodation is the most important element of the travel experience for solo female travelers. If budget was not an issue, 49% of women traveling solo would upgrade their accommodation, 46% would opt for private accommodation and 43% would seek a better location.
• Around a fifth of respondents indicated that they would devote a higher disposable budget to faster and more convenient access to activities , a better local guide or a personalised tour.
• Activity providers should offer the option of VIP tickets or access, skip the lines tickets or premium experiences that are available to just a few travelers and which provide an upgraded experience .
• Shared accommodation providers should could consider adding private rooms with shared facilities that provide a middle-ground for privacy at an affordable price.

5. Solo Female Travelers are interested in cultural activities and immersion, the outdoors , the beach and adventure activities

Solo travel for women is a growing trend and with that, the types of women traveling solo have also expanded to included women from all walks of live, all age groups, all backgrounds, all nationalities and all ethnicities. This has increased the range of interests, deeming previous ideas around what women like to do when traveling on their own outdated.

Stereotypes around wellness and spa days or shopping are no longer representative of the average solo female traveler who is looking for many different things and travels for a variety of reasons.

Responses to our survey also reflect this diversity and, while culture and nature come up on top, there is then a long list of activities women love doing when traveling on their own . This opens up the space to travel and tourism businesses to offer something unique to each of the subgroups and illustrates that fact that there are not only various sub-segments within the solo female travel niche, but there are also many types of trips women who travel solo embark on.

Anonymous: “Recognizing that we are not a uniform group, that we don’t all want “girly” activities, and that age categories mean less and less. Older women don’t want automatically want knitting circles and younger women don’t automatically want to go clubbing.”

• The segment is not homogeneous and there are a wide range of activities women traveling solo are interested in partaking in.
• Solo female travelers are interested in cultural sightseeing and activities that involve cultural immersion , followed by nature and wildlife.
• Going to the beach, adventurous or culinary activities are all of interest to half of the solo female travelers.
• Volunteering or helping out are an emerging interest for women traveling solo. Younger solo female travelers are most keen on traveling with a purpose.
• Age determines interest in activities when traveling; the younger the respondent the higher the interest in nightlife and adventure activities. The older the respondent the higher the interest in creative workshops, wellness and culinary activities. However, there is always a relevant percentage of respondents interested in activities generally associated with a different age group.
• Understand that not all young women want nightlife and bungee jumping and that there is a large and growing segment of older women interested in those activities too. Inversely, there are younger women interested in wellness, workshops and culinary workshops. Communication and marketing materials should instead focus on the experience and not on age .
• Tailor specific products to the various types of solo female travelers and the various types of trips the segment embarks on. The same way women travel with different companions and formats (independently, on small female-only tours, on mixed group tours, etc.), they also travel for different reasons and engage on different activities.

Solo Female Travel Survey – Part III: Values, Accommodation Preferences and Interest in Retreats

Decision factors when choosing a travel provider have evolved in the last two decades from big international brands, travel agent recommendations and package deals to a more thoughtful and mindful decision process that looks beyond the surface and into the impact a travel company has on the environment, the local community and society.

Women traveling solo are interested in trips which have a positive impact, and they care about a travel provider’s offer beyond just price. In this section, we explore what motivates women to pick a business when planning a trip, their accommodation preferences when traveling solo, and we take a look into the recent trend in themed trips and retreats.

1. Price drives 56% of women when choosing a travel provider .

2. Beyond price, 46% of women traveling solo think that a travel provider’s eco-friendliness and care for the environment is important or very important, 37% care about whether a business is locally owned, and 31% value its social responsibility. 18% of women value female-owned businesses.

2. Women traveling solo prefer to stay at independently or locally owned hotels (47%) and B&Bs (48%). Hostels are popular (43%) especially among those with a lower disposable income or among the Millennial age group.

3. 64% of women are interested in themed travel or retreats . Mindfulness, Active, Mental wellbeing and Yoga retreats are the most popular.

1. Price drives travel decisions, but so does a business’ eco-friendliness, its local or female ownership and its social impact; branding is unimportant

Gone are the days when travelers picked trips based on the brand who delivered them, in such a dispersed and fragmented market, women traveling solo value other elements when choosing a travel provider.

We see an increased interested in eco-friendliness and care for the environment and an awakening and increased interest among women traveling solo to support other female owned or female focused businesses. While this is still only mentioned by 18% as a decision factor when picking a travel provider, we believe that awareness is on the rise and this could become the next relevant trend, especially for solo female travelers and for the trips they may book for their families.

Camila: “I wish the travel industry promoted women owned hostels, hotels, etc.”

• When choosing a travel provider, price is important to 56% of solo female travelers . However, that also means 44% said that price was not that important to their decision.
• Beyond price, women really care about a business’ impact on the environment and its eco-friendliness and 46% said it was important or very important. This is particularly true for Gen X women.
• A business’ ownership is a relevant decision factor for solo female travelers and 37% said they find local ownership important while 18% look for female owned businesses .
• Women also care about about a travel provider’s social impact and whether it participates in projects or contributes to charities that have a positive impact on the society they operate in.
• There are also elements that do not factor into solo female travelers decision and those are whether the brand is recognizable and whether the business has an affinity with them (same religion, same beliefs, same ethnicity).
• We see relevant importance (18%) placed on whether a business is female-owned , and expect this to be a growing trend as more women become aware of the female gap in the travel industry’s senior positions and their ability to have an impact.
• Promote differentiating aspects. Businesses who are already engaged in eco-friendly and social impact initiatives should make them known to potential customers. Those who don’t should start considering the shift in decision factors and reassessing their business focus to engage in a meaningful way.
• Female owned or focused businesses and those who are locally owned should communicate this unique factor in their offering. While there are several certifications that have attempted to provide a seal of approval to eco-friendly and environmentally responsible properties, there is no globally-accepted standard certifying female-owned businesses.
• Travelers care more about a businesses’ purpose and mission than about its brand , this favors smaller players over internationally recognized brands with relevant marketing budgets.

2. Smaller and more personal accommodation options are preferred by solo female travelers

Women traveling solo favor accommodation options that are smaller and cozier. This is because there is value added in being at a small property where you are bound to receive a more personal treatment and where you may be dealing directly with the owner; women also feel an extra layer of safety.

Locally owned businesses have the added perk, as we have seen in the previous finding, of directly benefiting the community rather than an international company headquarters elsewhere. Solo travelers find it easier to make friends in a shared hostel environment frequented by other solo travelers. Hostels with female-only dorms address the safety concerns while providing affordable shared accommodation.

We see vast differences in preferences by age, disposable income and nationality.

Anonymous: “We need more female only dorms at hostels.”

• 48% of women prefer to stay at smaller bed and breakfasts and 47% choose local or independent hotels when traveling on their own.
• Hostels are a favorite type of accommodation for solo travelers, male and female, as they not only offer affordability but also the ability to socialise meet other travelers who are most likely also traveling solo. 43% of respondents said they choose to stay at hostels on their solo travels.
• Hostels are particularly appealing to younger solo travelers , and accommodation preferences vary significantly by nationality; North Americans prefer local / independent hotels whereas Europeans prefer hostels and Asian favor B&Bs.
• Specialty accommodation options like villas, agrotourism, camping or caravaning, and couchsurfing are preferred by a small percentage of solo female travelers.
• Women prefer entire home rentals (23%) instead of rooms in a shared house (12%) for the extra privacy and safety they provide.
• There is a clear correlation between age and the type of accommodation that travelers prefer. Gen Z favor hostels whereas Boomers prefer boutique hotels and independent accommodation options (eg. apartment rentals). Gen X travelers are the most interested in international hotel chains.
• Homogeneous pricing at hostels. Usually, female-only dorms in hostels cost more than mixed dorms and solo female travelers feel discriminated and taken advantage of for being concerned about their personal safety.
• Female-only floors or accommodation options . Hospitality providers could provide a safe space for women inside their properties. While this is less relevant at higher end or international chains, it can be useful at local or independent hotels who could even take the approach of only welcoming women.
• Couchsurfing is relatively popular although a niche type of accommodation. Alternatives that are female-only have a lot of appeal and several companies have tried to replicate the model, including several Facebook groups where members can swap homes, host each other, meet up, etc.

3. 64% of solo female travelers are interested in themed travel or retreats

Women traveling solo are interested in enriching their experience with something more than mere sightseeing, and themed travel is a growing trend.

While traditional themed trips such as yoga retreats and active holidays (climbing, boxing, hiking, etc.) remain some of the most popular options, there are a range of areas women are interested in. We expect this area to continue to develop, especially towards female-focused and female-owned retreats.

Anonymous: “Retreats are a great way to connect and empower women”

• 64% of women are interested in themed trips and retreats. This interest is highest among Millennials and lowest among Boomers.
• Mindfulness retreats and those organized around active holidays such as climbing, hiking, trekking, boxing, etc. are the most popular, however, they are only slightly ahead of other themes.
• Age determines the kind of retreat women are interested in joining solo. Millennials are the most interested in retreats that focus on professional development and entrepreneurial skills, whereas Boomers are not interested in these type of trips at all. On the other hand, older women are most keen on health and wellness retreats, as are Gen X travelers.
• Interest also varies by nationality. Women from Africa and the Middle East are the least interested in themed travel while women from North America, Europe and the Pacific are the most interested.
• Launch themed trips . Offer retreats and trips with a purpose to target solo female travelers. Small, themed trips address all the barriers to solo travel for women (affordability and single supplements, safety, fear of getting lost or bored, etc.) and provide a vehicle for women to meet likeminded travelers and form new connections.
• Understanding what type of trip is of interest to each type of solo traveler is important to tailor the offer, without forgetting that in the averages, there are large audiences that could be underserved (eg. while Boomers are largely uninterested in professional development, there are 9% who are, and this is still a relevant segment).

Purchase the Full Reports (3 Reports Available)

For more detailed insights on the findings shared above, including breakdowns by geography, age, income level and travel experience, as well as actionable recommendations from respondents on how they can be better served, our full reports are available for purchase.

Report Three

How We Can Help You: Our Services

Are you looking to better tailor your offer to Solo Female Travelers? Do you want to better understand this segment to adapt your offer? Are you a hospitality leader who wants to train their team to be more aware of the needs and challenges of women who travel solo?

Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you with in-depth data or with our in-depth expertise.

1 Request a bespoke report Have a query that our published research didn’t cover? Would you like a tailored report looking at a specific solo female traveler segment?

Contact us to request a bespoke report, cutting / segmenting the data in a way that makes a difference to you. Click here to view a list of our variables.

2 Learn how to serve solo female travelers We provide consultancy services on how your business can better serve / cater to Solo Female Travelers, based on our annual survey insights.

Learn how to adapt and enhance your product to perfectly suit the type of solo female traveler you want to target.

3 Staff training for Female Travelers We provide corporate and staff training to equip your employees with the knowledge and skills to properly serve Solo Female Travelers.

We offer a range of learning options and can help you adapt your guest welcome processes or your concierge service.

Copyright Notice & Disclaimer

2021 Solo Female Travel Trends is a publication of Solo Female Travelers . Reproduction of this page / report without express permission is not allowed, except in the case of brief quotation. To quote or reference the survey results, it must be accompanied by a link back to this page as the original source.

This article contains information about Solo Female Travel. The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. There are no representations or warranties , express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information provided. We do not represent, warrant, undertake or guarantee that the use of guidance in the report will lead to any particular outcome or result. The authors do not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption due to use (or misuse) of information, conclusions and insights.

What are you looking for?

45+ female travel statistics (2024).

Female travel is not only increasing in popularity, but it is also becoming the driving force for growth in the travel and tourism sector worldwide.

As more women join in the phenomenon of seeing the entire world, the number of female clientele and solo travellers have only risen.

Did you know that more than 60 thousand women travelled alone between 2018 and 2019 ? 

Or that the number of pins for ‘solo female travel’ on Pinterest have seen a dramatic increase of 350%?

Research also says that females make 80% of all travel-related decisions when planning and booking trips.

‍ And with over $15 trillion of spending power , women are known to spend more than men when they are travelling.

Today, we have compiled some of the most interesting and essential statistics related to female travel. 

From the popularity of solo travel and general demographics, to what inspires women to travel and the top travel destinations .

Sources: I have written the source after each stat, but you can scroll down to the bottom of this post for a full list of the sources and articles that have been used in this roundup.

Travellerspoint

Common questions about female travel

What gender travels the most.

64% of travellers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male.

How common is solo travel?

73% of travel agents agree that women are more likely to travel solo than men. Over 60,000 women have travelled alone between 2018 and 2019.

What is the average income of female travellers?

Women has a spending power of $15 trillion. Plus, 54% of well-to-do travellers who make more than $250,000 are female.

How much do women spend on travel?

The average women spend more when travelling than men, with 15% spending over £200 per day.

Female travel statistics key stats

• Between 2011 and 2024, Google searches for ‘solo female travel’ have grown by more than 11x
• Female travellers make four-fifths of all travel decisions
• More than half of well-to-do travellers (54%) who make more than $250,000 are female
• The majority of women travellers are in the 25 to 39 age bracket. This makes up 46% of all women travellers
• Female shoppers spend an average $295 per year on outdoor equipment
• Women usually spend more when travelling than men, with 15% spending over £200 per day. Only 5% of men agreed with this statement
• Pinterest has seen a massive growth of 350% in women users pinning articles related to ‘solo female travel’
• Three in four travellers taking cultural, natural, and adventure trips are women
• The top 5 safest countries in the world are Iceland , New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal , and Slovenia
• The best destination for solo women travellers would be Japan

Solo female travellers

How popular is solo female travel these days?

1. Solo traveller bookings rose by 42% between 2015 and 2017.

[HostelWorldGroup]

In the past few years, the interest in solo travel has only risen. Online bookings increased by 42% in 2017 compared to the two previous years.

2. This consisted of a 45% increase among solo female bookings, in comparison to just 40% in male bookings.

More portion of this increase came from solo female travellers than men.

3. Women are generally more likely to travel solo than men, as 73% of travel agents have reported.

[Gutsy Traveler]

According to almost three-fourth of travel agents, women are more likely to go on a solo trip than men.

In fact, 26% of millennial women have travelled alone .

4. Over 60,000 women have travelled alone between 2018 and 2019.

In fact, more than 60 thousand women went on a solo trip between 2018 and 2019 alone. A solo trip comes in many forms, including travelling in an RV and backpacking .

5. 47% of travellers at O.A.T. are signed up as solo. Plus, 85% of this figure are women.

6. between 2011 and 2024, google searches for ‘solo female travel’ have grown by more than 11x..

[Google Trends]

The interest in solo female travel had dramatically increased over the last 13 years, with searches for ‘solo female travel’ multiplying by more than 11x .

7. In 2016 alone, 68% of female travellers had taken a trip alone.

[CNTraveler]

8. The demographics of SoloTraveler, an online community for solo travellers, are 55% women and 45% men.

[SoloTraveler]

Female solo travel is becoming so popular that more than half of the readership of an online solo travel community are women.

Female travel demographic

What is the average female traveller like?

9. Experts conclude that female travellers are causing the explosive growth in the industry as they make four-fifths of all decisions.

Women have been a major driver of growth in the travel and tourism industry as they make 80% of all travel decisions, whether for solo female travellers or those travelling with partners, friends, and family .

10. Only about 11% of female business travellers own a business, while 15% of male business travellers are business owners.

[TravelDailyNews]

This shows that there is still a gender discrepancy in the professional or business world.

11. More than half of well-to-do travellers (54%) who make more than $250,000 are female.

[Condor Ferries]

Women with an income of over $250,000 are more likely to go travelling than men who make the same amount.

12. The average age for a female traveller in the UK is 57 years old.

The average UK female traveller is 57 years old .

13. The majority of women travellers are in the 25 to 39 age bracket. This makes up 46% of all women travellers.

The most popular age for a female to be travelling is between 25 and 39 years old.

Female travel spending statistics

How much do female travellers spend?

14. Women have an astounding spending power of $15 trillion.

This means that women collectively have $15 trillion in their pocket to spend, which can be a significant driver in the travel sector.

15. Outdoor Industry Association finds that female shoppers spend an average $295 per year on outdoor equipment.

16. from the 67 million women who would have made travel decisions in 2018, they had a potential of spending $19 trillion..

[GirlPowerMarketing]

17. The International Currency Exchange (ICE) said that women usually spend more when travelling than men. 15% of the female respondents claimed they spend over £200 per day. Meanwhile, only 5% of men agreed with this statement.

The trend is that women usually spend more than men when travelling.

Social media & technology among female travellers

How do female travellers use social media?

18. It’s more common for women to share about their travels on social media than men. In the UK, the statistics is 69.3% for women and just 62% for men.

More women turn to social media when travelling to share their experience, while fewer men do so. The action often includes taking travel photos .

19. Pinterest has seen a massive growth of 350% in women users pinning articles related to ‘solo female travel’.

A huge inspiration source for travellers everywhere, Pinterest saw a surge of 350% in the number of pins for ‘solo female travel’ articles, especially by women users.

20. Meanwhile, the search for ‘solo travel’ on Pinterest in general had increased by 600% in 2018.

21. 70.3% of millennial travellers use mobile apps to book their transport, while only 57.9% of generation x does so..

This shows that millennials tend to incorporate technology more into their lives, including when travelling.

22. At 43%, an ICE research found that women are more likely to research more before their trip. Only 38% of men plan ahead during their travels.

5% more women plan their trip through extensive and detailed research than men.

23. For 58% of women, using social media helps them feel safe when travelling.

Social media can be a massive help in making women feel safer and more secure when they are on a trip alone.

24. 3 in 4 women refer to social media for food and activity recommendations.

Nowadays, getting top-notch recommendations for food and activity ideas is as easy as opening social media. In fact, 3 in 4 women do exactly just this.

25. 62% of women stay in touch with friends and family at home through social media.

More than 3 in 5 women also use social media to keep in touch with loved ones back home when they are travelling.

Female travel inspiration

What inspires female travellers?

26. In general, 87% of female respondents in a survey claim that they go to destinations for the beautiful scenery, while only 72% of men do so.

87% of women are more likely to visit a travel destination for the scenery compared to only 72% of men.

27. Three in four travellers taking cultural, natural, and adventure trips are women.

75% of people going on cultural, adventure, and nature trips are female.

28. 15% of women go on a trip for adventure.

29. 13% of women enjoy going on cruises., 30. the main concern among solo female travellers is safety..

[TrekkSoft]

As a woman who is travelling alone, safety can be a crucial factor to plan and prepare for.

31. From 6,000 Europeans in a travel survey, just 38.1% of people who travel for business were female.

Only 38.1% of European business travelers are female.

Again, this statistic shows that there is still a disparity between male and female in business travel.

32. In 2015, quitting day jobs and travelling the world became a trend among women.

[MappingMegan]

2015 was when the trend to travel and quit jobs became popular for women.

Travel destinations for women

What are the most popular destinations for female travellers?

33. According to the Global Peace Index 2023, Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world as it maintains this reputation since 2008.

[Global Peace Index]

The most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index is Iceland, which has managed to retain this top spot for 13 years. This makes it a very safe place to travel to.

34. The top 5 safest countries in the world also include Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Austria.

In 2023, Ireland sits as the world’s third most peaceful country.

35. In 2023, 7 of the top 10 most peaceful countries on this list are located in Europe.

Meanwhile, an overwhelming majority of the countries on the top 10 of the GPI ranking are located in Europe.

36. On the other side of this index, Afghanistan is 2023’s least peaceful country, with Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Russia following behind.

In terms of the least peaceful countries in the world, there are Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Russia in this order.

37. When talking about the best destination for solo women travellers, the number one country would be Japan.

[AmpersandTravel]

Not only is Japan an incredibly diverse paradise when it comes to culture and natural vistas, it also flaunts an incredibly low crime rate.

38. The next most recommended destinations are France, Spain, the United States, Indonesia, Italy, Australia.

The second best country for solo female travel is France . The ranking had been made by considering factors such as safety, culture and natural scenery.

39. The most popular destinations for solo female American travellers are Cuba, Macedonia and Guatemala.

Favorite destinations for solo female travellers from the U.S. include Cuba, Macedonia and Guatemala, all thanks to their rich cultures. Meanwhile the, UAE and Luxembourg round up the top 5 list.

Female vs male travellers

Which gender travels more?

40. 64% of worldwide travellers are female, while the other 36% are male.

[RV and Playa]

41. 63% of US travellers are female, whereas only 37% of US travellers are male.

63% of travellers from the United States are female.

42. The percentage of male and female travelleres in Las Vegas has been roughly equal since 2016.

[GLS Research]

50% of visitors in Las Vegas in 2021 were female.

43. In 2023, the most common South African travellers booking with Flight Centre were women traveling solo.

The percentage for women travelling solo with Flight Centre in South Africa was even higher than for men. The average age was 52.

44. Out of all the bookings with Flight Centre in 2023, women made 81% of them, as opposed to just 19% of men.

45. interestingly, according to a road scholar report, 60% of their 19 thousand solo travel customers in 2022 were married women who were not travelling with their spouses..

This shows a growing trend in married woman going on vacations alone.

46. The primary reasons for traveling alone without their spouses included their spouse’s lack of interest in travel (42%) and different travel interests (40%).

As time goes on, it is guaranteed that there will only be more women than ever on the road. Female travel will continue to grow in terms of its popularity and normality.

Even recently, there has been a surge in solo female travel and travel among women in general. We’ve seen how women are more likely to use social media, whether to share their experiences, stay in touch with home, or feel safer.

It used to be rare and extremely dangerous for female travellers to roam new places alone, but now solo female travelling has become widespread. Soon, it will not only become very common, but also a normalized trend.

We have tried to cover many different aspects of female travel in this post. So, we hope this roundup could help you understand more about female travel!

Check out our other statistic guides!

• Airbnb Statistics
• Pet Travel Statistics
• SoloTraveler
• GutsyTraveler
• Global Peace Index
• AmpersandTravel
• HostelWorldGroup
• TravelDailyNews
• CondorFerries
• MappingMegan
• RV and Playa
• GLS Research
• Google Trend

Leave a comment

Let us know what you think.

5 million people can't be wrong

Trends in Women’s Solo Travel for 2022

by Carolyn Ray | Jan 13, 2022

• Toggle High Contrast
• Toggle Font size

Last updated on March 27th, 2024

Featured image: Whether we choose to travel at home or abroad, we’re managing a range of emotions / Photo b y   svitlanah on Envato

Latest TravelReady Survey Reveals Optimism and Caution

By Carolyn Ray, Publisher, JourneyWoman

As we look at another year of pandemic travel, predictions abound about what will happen next. In December, we invited women to share their views on 2022 travel in our sixth TravelReady survey of the year. Women are the most influential demographic in travel; we make 80 to 85 per cent of travel decisions and comprise two-thirds of all travellers. The majority (93%) of our survey respondents are 45 and older, with 43% in Canada, 43% in the US and the remaining 14% in over 100 other countries.

Our first question was about the new variant and its impact on 2022 travel plans. Most women (43%) are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach’:  more than one-third (33%) are sticking with their travel plans, whereas only 20% have cancelled or postponed.  While we hear frustration and fear, there is also hope and optimism. One reader said: “I think that we are going to see a lot of different variants come up and this will be our new normal so we just need to ebb and flow and continue living and travelling while being safe.”

There are also those who feel increasing pressure to travel.  We heard: ”I feel hopeless. I don’t think I’ll be travelling next year, and I’ll soon be 70. I feel my time is running out for the kind of trips I had hoped to take!” Another commented: “I lost a year of my life to a pandemic. I want to travel now, before I can’t.” Another said she is “somewhat concerned but I am stubborn and have looked forward to traveling in my retirement for far too long. I turn 70 in 2022 so I have booked several trips and I am going!”

Many solo travellers have a certain comfort with the unknown, but there is also concern about changes in variants. One reader said: “I want to travel but am concerned that I may get “stuck “ due to Covid variants and the changes they may cause me even though I have been vaccinated with a booster.” Another commented:  “Travel is very difficult with all the testing. I do not believe it will change. I am going ahead with my 2022 trips.” Another noted: ”more than anything else it’s the bureaucracy – tests and forms and delays – that really bothers me.”

Those who have travelled feel more confident. One woman said: “I just returned from a trip to Italy with a friend, on our own not on a tour, and I felt very safe. I have three trips booked for 2022.”

Whatever your mindset, it goes without saying that we should avoid traveling to countries with high infection rates, low vaccination rates, and overwhelmed medical infrastructure—all factors that can fluctuate rapidly. The CDC publishes travel recommendations which are updated regularly , and as of today, most of the world is Level 4 (very high), which should be cause for concern for all of us.

1. Women are planning solo travel in 2022

The pandemic hasn’t diminished women’s desire for solo travel. In fact, as of mid-December, 30% of women are still planning to travel internationally from January and June 2022, and 43% are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach, dependent on pandemic guidance and travel advisories.

As we know from previous surveys, group travel is an appealing option for many solo travellers. This year, 37% of women have booked a group tour, and 23% are undecided or considering one. The remainder (38%) will continue to travel solo on their own.

Visit our Women’s Travel Directory to find small, highly personalized tours for women from small businesses that understand your unique needs.  

2. Will spend more on travel

Our previous surveys have shown that pre-pandemic, solo women spent $3,000 a week on travel and accommodation. Women hold the most purchasing power of any demographic, spending an average of $3,000 per week on multiple trips per year, according to our June 2020 study “ Embracing the Unknown: The Risk and Reward of Travel.”

With the additional cost of travel insurance and covid testing, budgeting more for travel is a necessity.  The majority of women (82%) said they will purchase comprehensive insurance and 66% said they will purchase COVID insurance when they travel.

Read more about budget travel in “ 7 Ways to Save Money on Travel from Budget-Savvy Women “

How Women Can Overcome New Travel Fears

Afraid to travel? You’re not alone. Seasoned life coach Debbie Phillips shares her tips for women to overcome travel fears as we look to a post-pandemic world.

3. Ready to discover new places 

While some may claim the pandemic has restricted our opportunities, solo women see opportunity for new adventures. Driven by curiosity, a solo traveller is always ready to step outside her comfort zone.

Our survey showed that 62% of women want to go somewhere new, and 51% said they will book closer to the departure date than before the pandemic.

Twenty-six per cent will stay close to home. For those considering international travel, Europe continues to lead our list of top international destinations where solo travellers will travel first at 32%, followed by the UK and Ireland (15%). Contrasted with our August research, Canada has re-entered the top five, along with the Caribbean and Mexico and the US.

4. Prefer to book their own travel

Almost half (47%) of women said they do not plan to use a travel agent, preferring to plan their own travel, up significantly from 34% in our last survey.

In our August survey, 42% of women said they might consider using a travel agent. This has now dropped significantly to 19% of women who said ‘maybe’ to using a travel agent.

Less than a quarter (24%) said they plan to use a travel agent, which is the same as our previous survey in August.

5. Advocates for vaccination

Although it wasn’t part of this survey, it’s becoming more apparent that proof of vaccination is becoming a de facto standard for those who want to travel, particularly as new variants emerge. While some countries, like Mexico, have no travel restrictions, the EU is considering vaccine passports across Europe, and Canada has mandated that anyone travelling by plane or train must be vaccinated. 

Our August TravelReady survey showed that 98.4% of respondents said they were vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated for travel. (1.6% preferred not to answer, and 0% said they were not planning to get vaccinated). In that same survey, 90% said they agreed with countries asking for proof of vaccination and 94% felt it was appropriate for tour operators and accommodation owners to ask if guests are fully vaccinated.

More Insights from Women on Travel

2024 Women’s Travel Survey: Solo Women, Widows and Multi-Generational Travel Over 50 Growing

by Carolyn Ray | Jan 10, 2024

A new travel survey by JourneyWoman shows the women over 50 market, including solo women, widows and multi-generational travel, is growing.

Women Over 50 Lead Off-Season Travel Trend, New Survey Says

by JourneyWoman Staff | May 24, 2023

JourneyWoman’s latest survey of women over 50 shows a trend to off-season travel, less-travelled places and longer trips.

New Solo Travel Statistics and Data for Women Over 50

by JourneyWoman Staff | Nov 16, 2022

Solo travel Boomer and GenX statistics and studies from JourneyWoman, the original solo travel publication for women over 50.

Carolyn Ray

As the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women's travel and living the life of your dreams. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council and Women's Speaker's Bureau. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Zoomer as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse and was the recipient of a SATW travel writing award in September 2023. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

More Inspiration to Travel to Toronto

Flying to Toronto? Consider Toronto’s “Other” Airport: The Island Airport

For those travelling to or from Toronto, consider Toronto’s ‘other’ airport, Billy Bishop Airport, located on Toronto Island.

Rediscover Toronto with the Honourable David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto

Former Toronto Mayor, the Honourable David Crombie, shares his insider tips to rediscover Toronto’s ravines, waterfront and green spaces.

Women Who Shaped Toronto: the Resilient Women of St John’s Ward

Myseum of Toronto has created a virtual tour to celebrate the Toronto’s history and the resilient women who helped build the city.

We always strive to use real photos from our own adventures, provided by the guest writer or from our personal travels. However, in some cases, due to photo quality, we must use stock photography. If you have any questions about the photography please let us know. Disclaimer: We are so happy that you are checking out this page right now! We only recommend things that are suggested by our community, or through our own experience, that we believe will be helpful and practical for you. Some of our pages contain links, which means we’re part of an affiliate program for the product being mentioned. Should you decide to purchase a product using a link from on our site, JourneyWoman may earn a small commission from the retailer, which helps us maintain our beautiful website. JourneyWoman is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you! We want to hear what you think about this article, and we welcome any updates or changes to improve it. You can comment below, or send an email to us at [email protected] .

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

2023 Solo, Female Travel Trends: How, Why and Where Are Women Traveling Alone?

Bell    |   12 September 23

More and more women are choosing to travel the world solo. From doing the research on where to go to booking the flights and travel tours, female solo travellers are on top of their  travel game in 2023.

With solo, female travel becoming the norm, it’s time to explore women’s travel trends, safest destinations and statistics regarding the growth in female solo travel. 

As a solo, female traveller myself, I am excited to research this topic as I get to see the effects live when I travel. Rooms full of girls excited to go exploring together, beach hangs with a nice cocktail and female travel Facebook groups that make all your travel dreams come true.

Here are just some of the facts that are dominating solo, female travel in 2023:

• Searches on Google for “Solo, Female Travel” is at an all time high, having recovered and  passed pre-pandemic numbers
•   84% of solo travellers are women
•  More and more people are  searching for single-person flights
•  53% of women travel solo completely out of choice
• 59% of solo, female travellers would go on another solo trip within a year

Table of Contents

Search for Solo, Female Travel

As shown in this trend report, solo, female travel searches were growing exponentially until the Covid Pandemic in 2020. Search numbers started recovering in the summer of 2022 when most countries were open to travellers again. They have since reached a peak this summer and are expected to increase even more going forward.

I believe the reason for this search growth is the fact that many new female travellers are looking to go on solo trips. By searching for solo, female travel, they can learn from other travellers as well as find personal experiences and tips.

A reported 84% of solo travellers are female

At first, I was honestly surprised by how high this percentage of solo travellers that are female is. However, I can say from experience that I mostly meet other solo, female travellers when I travel. A lot of guys travel in pairs or groups.  

So ladies, take that trip! You won’t be alone long and meet some incredible other women travellers along the way.

Women travel solo out of choice

53% of women travel solo on their own accord. Reasons given in the Solo Female Travel Trends Survey were flexibility, getting away from everyday life, relaxation and the wish to challenge themselves . 

Honestly, I love all of those reasons. Some I would add for myself are the fact that I always make new friends when travelling solo and I connect so much more with the local community. 

The majority of women are repeat solo travellers

59% of women solo travellers would go on another solo trip within the next 12 months . Once the travel bug has bitten, there is no getting away. 

The first time I went on a solo adventure was 7 years ago to Australia and I have never looked back . 95% of my trips are solo travel adventures. 

Top destinations in 2023 for solo, female travellers

Here is the ultimate list of top destinations for solo, female travellers in 2023. The list is based off the  safest places to visit in 2023 , the  solo travel index ,  Worldpackers  recommendations and countries mentioned in most  solo, female travel lists  for this year, mixed with my own personal experience of all these places:

• The Netherlands 
• Switzerland 
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom 

All of these places are super safe , solo travel friendly and you will meet lots of other women also solo travelling.

My recommendations for first-time solo travellers would be Australia, Canada and the Netherlands . All of these countries are very easy to travel and locals are super friendly and helpful. You will also be able to get around well with just English in all of them. Canada especially is so easy – I made good friends in every hostel I stayed in and finding jobs on the young person visa is a piece of cake as there are tons of seasonal jobs.

If you are a little more advanced, I cannot recommend  Albania  enough. I had the most incredible time there this summer  and it is only looking to get more popular next year, so get there as soon as you can. 

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

Hi, I'm Bell

My blog is here to show you that there isn’t one correct way to travel the world. Together, we can figure out what that means for you. Learn more about me here!

Grab my Ultimate FREE Packing Guide

The Wandering RV

70+ female travel statistics & trends.

• Bill Widmer
• Updated: March 7, 2022

Sponsors help keep our quality content free!

With an astonishing $15 trillion in spending power and an expected $125 billion spent in 2021, female travelers make up a massive portion of the world’s travel spending. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With travel becoming safer and easier than ever, more and more women are option to travel, both alone and with friends.

Women are also more likely to spend money on things they truly want to do, rather than trying to please others.

In today’s report, we share the most impactful female travel statistics and trends of 2022 (so far).

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Essential female travel statistics, what is the age and average income of female travelers, why are so many women traveling solo, how many women travel with friends, how much do women spend on travel, what are the top female-friendly travel destinations, what inspires women to travel, ​how do women use social media when traveling.

• Internet searches for “female solo travel” have increased by 62% between 2016 – 2019.
• Women make 80% of travel decisions when they are with their partners or family members.
• 75% of trips that women took in 2019 were for cultural, natural sightseeing, or adventure purposes.
• 86% of women would still travel alone, despite turbulent global events.
• Among US women in relationships, 65% vacationed without their partners.
• In 2019 alone, 32 million single women in the United States traveled at least once.
• One in three single American women traveled over five times in 2019.
• Among women who traveled in 2019, 59% of them plan on doing so again in 2020.
• Travel agencies that solely cater to female travelers have increased by 250% .
• According to 27% of travel agents, the most popular reasons for women traveling alone are shopping and sightseeing.

Most women like to travel, and they have been doing so for decades. However, since the travel landscape is changing, female travel statistics indicate an increased number of women are becoming frequent travelers. Some go with friends, while others prefer to travel by themselves. Since 2015, a new phenomenon has emerged where women are making it a priority to not only travel but to do it in a way that fulfills them. The surge of travel booking by women has led to an increase in the number of businesses that cater exclusively to them. Women are becoming more financially stable and independent, while travel has become more specialized and convenient. These two factors encourage more travel, and even women in relationships are taking solo vacations more frequently. Contrary to popular belief, women are not afraid to travel by themselves regardless of the tumultuous events happening around the world. As an example, although 2019 was fraught with political tension, millions of women traveled, and more than half of them plan on doing so again this year. The commitment of tourist destinations around the world to ensuring the safety of female travelers has also helped increase the number of solo women travelers. Women spread the word about pleasant experiences, which leads to greater accountability, better safety measures, and repeat visits to safe destinations. 

Quick Links: Navigate Our Statistics

• In 2019, women between the ages of 25 and 39 made up 46% of female travelers.
• Among women who traveled for work-related purposes, 11.2% owned their own business.
• The average age of a female traveler in the United Kingdom is 57 .
• Among travelers who earned  $250,000 or more annually, 54% were women.

According to statistical data, women above the age of 40 travel the most , due to their employment status, their purchasing power, and their reduced familial responsibilities. Their financial stability allows them to spend more time and money on travel compared to younger women. Women are more likely to be part of the affluent traveler segment , who make more than a quarter of a million dollars annually . Mature women who have advanced in their careers have more leisure time, and they opt to use it for travel experiences that cater to them. 

As more countries and agencies accommodate the needs of women, the number of women opting to travel alone increases exponentially every year. A Google search for terms related to solo female travel generates millions of results, all geared towards the growing demand for women-only trips and vacations.

• Markets that cater to female travelers have increased by 88% in 2020.
• Googling “solo female travel” yields as much as 45 million results .
• Women are more likely to travel solo than men, according to 73% of travel agents.
• Female solo travel, in general, has increased by 45% compared to a few years ago.
• 72% of American women indicated that they liked traveling by themselves.
• In the UK, women in London aged 25 to 34 performed 55% of searches related to solo travel.
• 27% of women have considered taking a solo vacation in 2019.
• Among those who travel for business, 1% are female.
• Compared to only five years ago, the rate of British females flying alone has increased by 54% .
• The majority of solo female travelers are 45 years old or above , at 81% .
• Women between the ages of 35 and 44 make up 13% of travelers.
• Women who are between the ages of 25 and 34 make up 6% of female travelers.
• Only 1% of female travelers are between 18 and 24 years old.
• 59% of women who traveled alone last year would do it again in 2020.

Women choose to travel alone because the needs of others don’t restrict them, and they can do the activities that they want. Furthermore, with the advent of technology, travel has become much safer with women able to access the internet, police stations, and even drivers with the touch of a button.Destinations with a high number of female tourists understand their specific needs, enabling them to tailor their services to include activities that appeal to women. When these activities and destinations become widely available and cost-effective, more women find themselves able to afford even a short vacation and will take the opportunity. 

• From 2016-2019, 24% of American women traveled for a “girlfriend getaway” trip.
• Over the next three years, 39% of American women will take a trip with their female friends.
• 91% of women who travel together are friends.
• Women who travel with relatives account for 8% of the total number of female travelers .

Girlfriend getaways with friends make popular travel activities when women don’t travel solo. These getaways are a growing trend , with numbers indicating that up to a quarter of American women in the past three years have taken some kind of “girlfriend getaway” trip. Many American women plan to take a girlfriend getaway in the next three years and their preferred destinations frequently offer group travel packages and deals.Some activities that appeal to female friend groups include wine-tastings, guided tours, pampering spa packages, accommodations, and safe transport. If women are looking for friends to travel with, there are a wealth of websites that have women-only travel groups that visit new places each couple of months. 

• Women have $15 trillion in spending power.
• Female travelers are expected to spend up to  $125 billion in 2020.
• This year, 67 million women will make a decision that relates to travel.

The tourism industry is well aware of women’s substantial purchasing power. Women are more likely to pay for vacations that appeal to them as opposed to standardized, one-size-fits-all options that don’t account for their needs. Since businesses expect women to pump $125 billion into the international travel market in 2020, they will focus on appealing to women. That means customizing their experience and making it memorable and enjoyable so they will return or refer others. 

​Here are the safest and most-popular female travel destinations in the world:

• The top 10 safest destinations for women in 2019 were New Zealand, Uruguay, Canada, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland, Japan, Chile, and Austria.
• The top 10 countries for female solo travelers in the US were Cuba, Macedonia, UAE, Nepal, Egypt, Albania, Finland, Mexico, Guatemala, and Luxembourg.
• Japan is a highly favored destination due to its natural and cultural elements, followed by France, Spain, and the United States.
• Europe is the most popular destination for female travelers according to 45% of agents.

The top concerns reported by women when they travel relate to their safety . Women are not afraid to travel alone, but there are some places where they are discouraged from visiting alone due to safety concerns. However, this only comprises a small minority of destinations.In general, places where women want to visit frequently also have the best reputation when it comes to solo female travel. Women do their research before they travel and are often well aware of what to expect when it comes to visiting a new destination. With their feedback, women not only recommend places to one another but also warn each other if their safety is at risk.One country that has consistently met safety standards and maintains an excellent reputation for female-friendly travel is Japan. Japan is also a popular destination due to its wealth of cultural and natural sightseeing opportunities. The most frequented destination for women in general, however, is Europe.Some countries that women visit may not be considered exceptionally safe for women. Still, they go anyway for the rich cultural experiences that they can’t find anywhere else in the world. As time progresses, there is sure to be an uptick in the number of organizations dedicated to attracting female visitors. This increase in female-friendly environments will take into account women’s concerns and address them in a hassle-free manner when needed. 

• ​17% of female travelers seek educational, cultural or historical experiences.
• ​16% traveled to a beach destination.
• ​15% traveled to adventurous destinations.
• 13% of trips involved cruises.
• ​The majority of women seek trips that promise an experience.
• Travel was a source of inspiration according to 69% of women.
• 87% of women preferred aesthetically pleasing destinations (compared to 72% of men).
• The first trend of women quitting their jobs to embark on a worldwide journey started in 2015.

​Nowadays, women desire to have genuine and authentic experiences while they are traveling. No longer satisfied with cookie-cutter options, they seek to be inspired and to enjoy themselves as much as possible. Beautiful destinations with aesthetically appealing characteristics are important to women, but so is what they will be doing there.Women’s travel destinations are categorized in the travel industry based on the activity that they would like to do. While some women preferred the traditional cruise options and beach getaways, others chose educational trips that focused on culture and learning. More than ever, women are seeking adventure travel destinations and activities to do while abroad , as opposed to staying in one resort with limited activities.

• ​75% of women use social media to find food and activity recommendations while traveling.
• ​One social media group on Facebook called “Solo Female Travelers” has over 27,000 members.
• ​58% of solo female travelers feel safer when they use social media while traveling.
• ​Pinterest has seen a whopping 600% increase in searches for “solo travel” in 2018.
• ​To communicate with friends and family members, 62% of female travelers rely on social media.
• ​Among UK women who traveled, 3% frequently posted about their trip on social media.

​Social media is slowly but surely becoming a necessity in today’s world, and it plays a significant role in women’s travel plans. Due to the information they can readily find on social media channels about places to visit, female travelers use social media for recommendations and ideas . Those ideas can be anything from where to eat to hotel accommodations to spontaneous activities to fill any spare time.Since international phone calls are expensive in many destinations, social media provides a free, instant way to connect with friends and family. Most women who used social media while traveling reported feeling safer while abroad.Based on these statistics, it is evident that female travel trends will become more specialized as time progresses. With a wealth of options to choose from and companies that provide meaningful experiences, women will continue to contribute to the growth of economies through their travel activities. By understanding their habits and characteristics, travel agencies and travel markets are better equipped to satisfy demand with safe, high-quality, and memorable experiences.

Other statistic pages:

• Travel Statistics by Age Group
• U.S. Tourism Statistics
• Solo Travel Statistics
• Female Travel Statistics
• Baby Boomer Travel Statistics
• Millennial Travel Statistics
• Car Accident Statistics
• Best Places to Travel (Poll)
• Digital Marketing Statistics
• Mobile Marketing Statistics

RV Extended Warranties — Are they worth it? Everything you need to know

The wandering rv product review: venustas heated gloves, the bluetti eb55 & pv120 kit: portable power redefined, comprehensive review of the 2024 winnebago ekko.

These help keep our quality content free!

Keep Reading

Related article.

RV Warranties… the part of RVing no traveler wants to think about. It’s protection for the worst-case scenarios, and serves only as peace-of-mind in the

Battling cold hands during those winter adventures can be a real drag. Whether you’re carving up the slopes, cruising on your motorcycle, or venturing out

Introduction: Empowering the Weekend Wanderer Imagine this: The open road calls, and you answer, RV or camper van packed, ready for a weekend of blissful

Our Sponsors

Thanks for reading! Make sure to check our some of our sponsors below, all revenue we get is used to produce quality content for fans of the RV lifestyle like you!

RV Rentals by Type

Sign up for our newsletter.

21+ Solo Travel Statistics for 2024

Welcome to our curated and vetted list of 21+ solo travel statistics for 2024.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we’ll cover:

Top Solo Travel Statistics

Solo travel: demographics, preferences, and trends, economic aspects of solo travel, challenges of solo travel, stacking it all up.

• The #solotravel hashtag has over 6.5B views on TikTok and 9M posts associated with it on Instagram.
• Most people first travel solo at ages 22 to 30 .
• Solo trip expenses typically range from $1,000 to $2,000 .

• First-time solo travelers usually choose trips lasting 7–10 days.
• The #1 reason to travel solo is the desire to see the world without waiting for others at 74% .
• With an index score of 7.45 , Spain is considered the safest country for female solo travelers.

01. Global Google searches for “solo travel” have risen by 74% in the past two years, as per Exploding Topics.

02. The #solotravel hashtag has over 6.5B views on TikTok and 9M posts associated with it on Instagram.

03. Most people first travel solo at ages 22 to 30.

04. The #1 reason to travel solo is the desire to see the world without waiting for others at 74%.

05. US solo travelers typically opt for domestic destinations (41%) for their first solo trip.

06. About 77% of solo female travelers prioritize destinations with cultural and historical attractions.

07. Mountains (18%) are the top destination choice for solo travelers.

08. The primary activities for female solo travelers include cultural sightseeing (74%), exploring nature and wildlife (71%), and cultural immersion (64%).

09. First-time solo travelers usually choose trips lasting 7–10 days.

10. Hotels (17%) are the preferred accommodation choice for most solo travelers, followed by hostels (11%) and vacation rentals (11%).

11. 82% of solo travelers also go on trips with others.

Sources: ePassportPhoto , Exploding Topics , Instagram , Solo Female Travel , Solo Traveler , TikTok Hashtags

12. Cost (61%) is the deciding factor for solo female travelers in selecting a travel provider.

13. Solo trip expenses typically range from $1,000 to $2,000.

14. Solo travelers spend the majority of their budget on food (20%), transportation (19%), and lodging (17%).

Sources: ePassportPhoto , Solo Female Travel

15. Solo travelers’ top concerns are trip planning (15%), higher expenses (14%), and having to stay extra cautious (13%).

16. Concerns over personal safety (65%) deter female travelers from traveling alone.

17. A safer solo travel experience is something 27% of solo female travelers want from the travel industry.

18. The top safety concerns for solo travelers are mugging (15%), road accidents (14%), and scams (13%).

19. About 54% of solo female travelers endorse Europe as the perfect first solo trip destination for women.

20. With an index score of 7.45, Spain is considered the safest country for female solo travelers.

21. Americans prioritize safety (19%) when choosing accommodation for a solo trip.

Sources: Bounce , ePassportPhoto , Solo Female Travel

That concludes our deep dive into solo travel statistics.

If you think this information would benefit your audience, you’re welcome to share it. Just remember to link back to this page as a nod to our efforts.

As a Digital PR specialist and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), I have 5+ years of writing experience. Over the course of my career, my work has garnered significant attention, with features in numerous prominent publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, TechRepublic, Glassdoor, and G2.

Solo Female Travel: Why It's Worthwhile

Tiffany Leigh is a freelance journalist based in Canada. Her work has appeared in Bloomberg Pursuits, Fashion Magazine, HuffPost, Bon Appétit, and more.

Solo female travel is by no means a new phenomenon—for years, women have been hitting the road and booking flights to explore all corners of the world. However, the past few years have seen a steady increase in the number of women taking solo adventures, and in many cases, to less-frequented destinations. A 2018 report by Hostelworld revealed that bookings by solo female travelers had grown 45 percent between 2015 and 2017, and the top three destinations for women traveling alone from the U.S. are Cuba, Macedonia, and Guatemala. Intrepid Travel , a small group adventure travel company, receives bookings from about 75,000 solo travelers per year, and 70 percent of those are from women.

The fact that solo travel is incredibly empowering; the increasingly visible celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women; inspiration from social media (see #solofemaletraveler, #womenwhotravel, #sheisnotlost, and #girlbosstraveler)—these are a few factors behind this growth, and there are no signs of it slowing down.

And if you want to travel alone, as in without friends or families, but not alone alone, that's also becoming easier to do with travel companies creating more trips designed with solo female travelers in mind. "As one of the fastest-growing markets in the travel industry, it’s time we start celebrating these solo travelers, not just accommodating them," Leigh Barnes, Intrepid Travel's regional director of North America, stated in a press release.

Solo Travel: What to Expect

Typical considerations when planning a solo trip are safety, budget, boredom, and loneliness. And of course, by traveling alone, you are the sole decision-maker about these factors. Before booking your getaway, ask yourself how you would handle and whether you would enjoy a few common travel scenarios (sightseeing and eating alone, getting around by yourself, planning your activities and routes, etc.) While solo travel can be a truly fun and enriching (and confidence-boosting!) experience, only you can decide whether traveling alone is something you would enjoy.

If you decide that it is, doing some research before you leave can help you get a better sense of what to expect. Start by connecting with like-minded peers through blogs and networks that allow you to chat with solo female travel veterans and experts—gain insight about a particular destination or culture; ask questions about budgeting, safety, packing, and itinerary planning; and even arrange meet-ups with fellow female travelers if you’re heading to the same place.

Female members of the Solo Travel Society have stated that traveling solo has many benefits, including the following:

• Freedom and independence (the opportunity to do what you want on your own schedule)
• Budget flexibility (You set the amount you want to spend.)
• Opportunities to challenge and surprise yourself (e.g. pushing your boundaries in ways you might not if you were traveling with friends and family, such as chatting up the stranger sitting beside you at a cafe).

Tour Companies for Traveling Alone

For a solo travel trial run, consider signing up with a group—you’re usually still on your own in terms of arranging your own flights, but at the destination, you’re meeting up with other solo female travelers. This is helpful in terms of saving some money with on-the-ground transportation and accommodations (sharing fees for cab rides and lower rates with a shared hotel room). You'll typically have an itinerary on these trips, but they're usually loosely structured, so you have plenty of free time to wander on your own. When purchasing your airline ticket, consider booking a flexible option, so you can extend your stay if you want to keep exploring. 

Intrepid Travel : This company offers expeditions with the mission to “break barriers to traditional travel” and empower females. Their thoughtful approach means that group sizes are small, and they are led by women born and raised in place you're visiting. Travel styles range from casual and comfortable to active and adventurous, with itineraries spanning 8 to 13 days. Destinations include Iran, Morocco, Jordan, Nepal, Turkey, Kenya, and India. 

Adventure Women : Catering to solo women travelers ages 28 to 75, trip itineraries (perhaps implied by the name) are fairly active and physically demanding, with many including hiking, trekking, rafting, biking, or horseback riding. However, there are a few cruising trip options as well for the less adventurous traveler. Trips are organized according to activity level from moderate to challenging, and feature destinations such as Iceland, Antarctica, the Canadian Rockies, Uganda, the Galapagos Islands, Morocco, Oman, Patagonia, Japan, and Tanzania.

Wild Women Expeditions : This Canada-based travel company offers trips for females from all over the world, ages 8 to 86, with specific itineraries based on fitness level, age, and travel goals (e.g. girls that are 8 to 14 years old are provided with more supervision and offered separate adventures from older women). The majority of trips emphasize connection with nature, so think camping or glamping and homestays. Some trips do offer luxury accommodations and yoga retreats as well. Out of more than 30 destinations and nearly 60 itineraries to choose from, popular destinations include Bhutan, Mongolia, Northwest Territories (Canada), the Galapagos Islands, and Tanzania.

Sights and Souls : This is a travel company for solo female travelers that offers trips to popular destinations (Paris or Vienna), as well as less tourist-driven destinations such as Lebanon, and Botswana. The style is more comfortable, less active (light walking), and offers stays in four- and five-star luxury properties. 

Tips and Considerations as a Solo Female Traveler

Beyond the booking and planning process, there are a few other things to keep in mind when traveling alone. Use these tips for your next solo trip—while many of these are helpful for any trip you're planning (whether solo or with others), many are especially essential when you're on your own.

Packing: It never hurts to be (over)protective; and in fact, TSA allows a checked-in pepper spray . (However, this allowance varies from airline to airline so double check with your carrier prior to packing.) You can also consider bringing a whistle or high-pitched security alarm and a mini flashlight (in case your phone dies).

In Your Destination: If going out for the day on your own, leave a note in your room indicating your whereabouts—in case anything happens, staff and police will know how to locate you. Passports should always be left with the hotel concierge or room safe. Money and credit cards should be kept in a pouch close to the body and stored in these handy money belts .

Avoid going out in the evenings on your own, and if you do, consult a local guide who can show you the nightlife and safe places to visit. 

If you’re traveling alone, there’s no need to be on high-anxiety level alert, but always be mindful of your surroundings and listen to your gut; if you're ever uncomfortable, immediately remove yourself from the situation.

For health conditions of a country, check the World Health Organization website before your visit, especially for women who are considering pregnancy or who are currently pregnant. 

Periods can be a drag, but don’t let them hinder your travels. In addition to bringing over-the-counter pain relief for menstrual cramps, consider downloading an app that will monitor your cycle so you’re not caught off-guard. Also, if you’re not keen on bringing bulky products with you, consider a menstrual cup.

Bring with you plenty of napkin packets, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. Oftentimes, water, soap, and toilet paper are luxuries in bathrooms.

Cultures and Customs

As you're visiting other countries, remember that beliefs and cultural norms vary. What is considered harmless here (e.g. public displays of affection) could be deemed offensive in other parts of the world. Therefore, make a conscious effort to find out everything you can about the local culture, customs, and roles of men and women in your destination country prior to your visit. 

Treatment of women varies from culture to culture and country to country. Take a cue from local women and observe their behavior, manner, and way of dressing. 

Behave confidently and act as though you know where you’re going and what you’re doing at all times, even if you’re lost. 

An ideal way to make friends is to locate your nearest international hostel. You’ll likely get great recommendations while you're there!

Transportation and Navigation

Planning: Download offline maps from Google in case you have no cell signal. 

In Your Destination: Don’t pull out a map while out in the street. If you are lost, head to the nearest public transportation system, grocery store, bank or restaurant to ask for directions/assistance. Only opt for public transportation and reputable taxi service. Never hitchhike or accept ride offers from strangers.

Packing Tips

Leave designer duds and jewelry at home. A good plan of action is to bring and wear old (but still-in-good-condition) clothes with you that you can consider donating at the end of your trip. Furthermore, dress to blend in rather than stand-out. And err on the side of modesty. The dress code can be particularly strict if visiting a “male dominated society”, so opt for long pants, shirts and avoid mini shirts, bare shoulders, short pants and reveal attire. 

Always pack a shawl—it is incredibly handy if needing to cover legs, head, or shoulders especially if you’re visiting religious grounds.

Bring a daypack with you when exploring a place and a large backpack for all of your gear (Look for bags that offer lots of side pockets and zippers for ease of access.) And invest in these TSA approved locks so you can secure your content inside rooms that may not offer a safe.

Final Thoughts 

Traveling solo as a female is a life-changing adventure—if done with a little prep work in advance, it’s an opportunity to meet people (especially other women) from all walks of life. If given the opportunity, it’s a privilege to be welcomed into another woman’s home somewhere else in the world and have conversations that broaden education, understanding, and inclusivity.

The Best Women-Only Adventure Travel Companies

Planning an All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacation for Singles and Solo Travelers

Best Tour Companies for Singles

7 Ways to Make Friends While Traveling Solo

Tips for Traveling Solo With a Tour Group

Is It Safe in Colombia?

The Unexpected Perks of Solo Travel

Is It Safe in Egypt?

The Pros and Cons of Solo Travel

Is It Safe in Guatemala?

Is It Safe in Peru?

20 Solo Trips in 2020: I Traveled Solo During COVID-19

Why Cruising Solo Is Worth it

Extreme Adventure Travel Vacations

Is It Safe in Iceland?

REI Adventures Offers Great Active Travel Trips

30+ Solo Travel Statistics and Facts [2023]

Some of us have played with the idea of traveling alone but likely avoided it for one reason or another. Maybe because it’d be too expensive, or we’d just get lonely along the way.

Solo travel is among the most delightful and eye-opening experiences. You get the freedom to do what you want, go wherever you want, and spend your budget however you like.

That’s why at Passport Photo Online, we’ve decided to create a data-driven roundup of the most surprising and up-to-date statistics and facts about solo travel.

Scroll on to see our picks.

Top 10 Solo Travel Facts and Stats to Know in 2023

• Most solo travelers are female (84%), with only 16% being male.
• The starting price for a yearlong solo trip worldwide is $20K per person. 
• 59% of female solo travelers said they’d go on a solo trip again.
• The hashtag #solotravel has over 7.9M posts on Instagram.
• 72% of women in the US have traveled alone.
• Most people (61%) travel solo to relax and unwind.
• The vast majority of independent travelers spend between $2 and $3K weekly on average, excluding airfares.
• 49% of solo travelers are worried about getting lonely.
• Europe is a destination of choice for 50% of independent female travelers.
• 48% of solo travelers say safety is their top concern.

Looking for passport photos? Discover more information:

• US Visa Photo
• Canadian Visa Photo
• Get Your Immaculate 2×2 In. Photo

General Solo Travel Facts & Statistics

• 46% of people choose to travel on their own because they have the freedom to make their own travel itinerary.
• Solo travel has increased by ~23% since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

• 52% of independent travelers want to escape their daily routine.
• 47% of solo travelers want to acquire new cultural experiences. 
• 11% of individual travelers engage in sporting events. 
• At least 21% of travelers prefer to travel solo to urban areas.
• 30% of people worry about having to arrange and pay for the whole vacation out of their own pocket if they want to travel alone.
• 45% of people are worried about getting lost when traveling independently. 

• 36% of female solo travelers are concerned about the language barrier when visiting foreign countries. 
• 34% of female travelers aren’t interested in solo travel because they have other obligations such as family or work. 
• Only 6% of solo travelers splurge over $4K per week.
• 45% of people who travel independently prefer to visit their dream destinations abroad.
• 18% of travelers want to go for a solo trip to reflect on themselves. 
• 17% of people travel alone to pursue a new or existing hobby and/or explore their interests abroad. Another 8% want to explore their passion.
• 12% of solo travelers want to travel to learn something new.
• While only 3% of solo travelers want to make new friends, 7% say they want to meet new people.
• 17% of independent travelers worldwide spend $1K or less weekly.

• 19% of solo travelers enjoy backpacking.
• 12% of independent travelers engage in extreme sports.
• 11% of people like to volunteer for nonprofit organizations when they travel on their own.

Stacking It All Up 

That’s it! 

We hope our statistic roundup on solo travel will come in handy for your future adventures.

If there are more statistics or facts related to solo travel you’d like to see, let us know in the comment section below!

Is solo travel difficult?

Some people are perfectly fine traveling alone, whereas others find it difficult. Thus, 33% of solo travelers worry about getting lonely, and 27% are concerned they might get lost.

Can I travel solo to Europe? 

Europe is a popular destination for solo travelers. A full 50% of female travelers consider it their go-to choice.

How much does it cost for one person to travel solo?

It depends on how much you’re willing to spend. Some people opt for more lavish experiences, whereas others can travel on a budget. Thus, 38% of people spend between $1 and $2K on solo travel each week, and only 6% go over $4K .

What destination is the most popular among solo travelers?

The most popular solo travel destination is Australia, according to 71% of people. ​​Maybe because it offers anything from incredible beaches and adventure activities to world-class dining and nightlife.

How many people travel solo?

In 2022, 25% of people traveled alone. Gen Zers and Millennials led the way, according to new research from MMGY.

Is solo travel trending up?

Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular. According to Booking.com, only 14% of people traveled by themselves pre-pandemic, whereas that number jumped to 23% in mid-2021.

What gender travels solo the most?

Most solo travelers are female ( 84% ). That said, 16% of men also venture out on their own.

Fair Use Statement

Did you like our infographics? If so, feel free to share them with your audience. Just remember to mention the source and link back to this page.

• A Little Drift, “A Little Rtw Budget… How Much Does It Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2022)”
• ABTA, “More Holidaying Alone in Order to Do What They Want”
• Agoda, “Whether for Business, Leisure or ‘Bleisure’, Travelers Are Going Solo”
• Astute Analytica, “Global Leisure Travel Market”
• Ballard J., “What Americans Think of Solo Travel”
• Booking.com, “Do Not Disturb: More Than Half of American Women Travelers Are Going Solo”
• Defiance ETFs, “Is Post-pandemic Travel Going Solo?”
• Elliot A., “Why Are So Many of Us Now Choosing to Travel Alone?”
• Google Trends, “Solo Travel”
• Karantzavelou V., “Solo Travel Soars in Popularity: 42% Increase in Bookings Since 2015”
• Klook, “Unpacking Solo Travel: Klook’s Global Survey Uncovers Our Love-Hate Relationship with Solo Travel”
• Statista, “Main Obstacles for Female Travelers to Go on a Solo Trip Worldwide 2021”
• Statista, “Motivation for Solo Travel Among Older Generations in the US. As of July 2014”
• Statista, “Solo Traveler and All Traveler Activities on Overseas Leisure Trips Worldwide”
• Statista, “Solo Travelers Weekly Spending Worldwide 2021”

Ledjan is a graduate in Business Management and Marketing from Epoka University. His proficiency in French adds an international dimension to his professional skill set, increasing our team’s ability to engage with a diverse, global clientele.

Share with friends

You may also like.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• My Account Login
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• Open access
• Published: 04 January 2023

Do personal values and motivation affect women’s solo travel intentions in Taiwan?

• Yi-Man Teng   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9255-8671 1 ,
• Kun-Shan Wu   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9550-8840 2 &
• Ying-Chieh Lee 2  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  10 , Article number:  8 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

3799 Accesses

4 Citations

11 Altmetric

Metrics details

• Business and management

Female solo travel is experiencing a global increase and specifically, gaining popularity in Asia. This study explores how personal values and female solo travel motivation affect travel behavior. Using a sample comprising 381 single females in Taiwan, partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized to investigate the hypotheses. The results revealed Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 3 are supported, which verifies personal internal values significantly affect female solo travel motivation, and are identified as significant factors influencing female solo travel intention. Additionally, Hypothesis 5 is partially support, indicating the female solo travel motivations of escape/relaxation, relationship, and self-actualization contribute to the formation of positive female solo travel intention. As Hypothesis 2 and Hypothesis 4 are unsupported, external values have no impact on female solo travel motivation or any significant effect on female solo travel intention. This research adds to the vast gap in tourism literature by identifying the personal values and motivations of female solo travel, and benefits the development of the female solo travel market.

Similar content being viewed by others

Worldwide divergence of values

Interviews in the social sciences

Participatory action research

Introduction.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic influenced international travel decisions and changed tourism significantly during 2020 and 2021, French ( 2020 ) revealed the solo traveler market could be the first to return as the tourism sector recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, Wen et al. ( 2020 ) proposed that independent travel will likely increase after the COVID-19 pandemic. Solo travel is an increasingly common tourism option in modern society, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which presents the travel industry with a great opportunity for recovery post-pandemic (Yang et al., 2022 ).

Owing to changes in social and political circumstances, the increasing interest from women to travel solo is evident in many parts of the world, and is a fast-growing segment of the travel industry (Wilson & Little, 2005 ; Dempsey, 2015 ). According to Solo Travel Statistics ( 2019 ), 72% of women in the USA prefer to travel alone and between 2015 and 2017, female solo bookings increased by 45%. Women currently account for almost two-thirds of travelers, particularly Asian women who occupy a growing proportion of contemporary tourism (Yang et al., 2017 ; Tan et al., 2018 ). The Klook poll ( 2019 ) also shows that in 2019, solo travel was more prevalent in Asia, 69% to 93%, compared to 60% to 69% in Western nations. Seow and Brown ( 2018 ) evidence Asian women have a growing interest in solo travel, and similarly, Bond ( 2019 ) states women traveling alone has become commonplace and can be attributed to travelers’ life changes.

Wilson and Little ( 2005 ) define female solo travelers as women traveling alone, without partners, family, or friends, who are in search of adventure, social interaction, education, and self-understanding, and are confident by themselves. McNamara and Prideaux ( 2010 ) consider female solo travelers to be women who travel to a destination alone and not as part of a group or organized tour. Gaining a life-changing experience, empowerment, liberation, identity, personal time, and freedom from domestic roles encourages women to consider traveling alone (Jordan & Gibson, 2005 ; Wilson & Harris, 2006 ). Similarly, Yang et al. ( 2018a ) states female solo travel takes women out of their home environments and into unfamiliar destinations and cultures. In search of freedom, independence, empowerment, and autonomy, women traveling alone demonstrate a new style of travel.

Although there is support for the autonomy and freedom of female solo travelers, they still face danger and harassment, and encounter criticism and restrictions (Elliot, 2015 ). Women traveling alone also experience societal disapproval, unwanted attention, and sexual harassment (Karagöz et al., 2021 ). Furthermore, research evidences female solo travelers fear being attacked, abused, or harassed by men, which limits their use of the recreational spaces provided by their travel destination (Seow & Brown, 2018 ). Asian female solo backpackers encounter and overcome varied real and subjective risks (Wantono & McKercher, 2020 ). Yang et al. ( 2018b ) argues that Asian female solo travelers respond to risk through a variety of gender-specific spatial and physical practices, which highlight tourist risk perception. They also discovered that female solo travelers’ experiences are more susceptible to social risks and psychological pressure.

Female solo travel has risen globally, drawing attention from academics and researchers. There is extensive literature focusing on the concept of perceived gender risks for female solo travelers such as assault, sexual harassment, and personal safety (Wilson & Little, 2005 ; Yang et al., 2018b ; Kour & Gupta, 2019 ; Thomas & Mura, 2019 ; Kaba, 2021 ); travel experiences such as empowerment, surveillance, resistance, and self-discovery (Jordan & Gibson, 2005 ; Yang et al., 2019 ; Nikjoo et al., 2021 ); female solo travelers’ constraints (Nguyen, 2018 ; Schwab, 2019 ; Uatay et al., 2019 ; Ngwira et al., 2020 ; Bernard et al., 2022 ); psychological-social support (Karagöz et al., 2021 ); requirements and preferences of female solo travelers (Sebova et al., 2021 ); and motivations (Chiang & Jogaratnam, 2006 ; Seow & Brown, 2018 ; Breda et al., 2020 ; Terziyska, 2021 ).

There is still insufficient research focusing on the effect of personal values and motivations on female solo travel intention. Considering the importance of identifying value and motivations as key concepts in tourism consumption behavior (Hindley and Font, 2018 ), it is essential to identify the effect of personal values and motivations on female solo travel and the consequences thereof. In marketing and tourism research, personal values and motivations are important factors to better understand consumer behavior (Woosnam et al., 2016 ; Lin & Fu, 2016 ; Kim, 2020 ; Seow & Brown, 2018 ; Khan et al., 2019 ).

Female tourists are inhibited by vulnerability and their perceptions of potential risks, for example, walking alone at night or in isolated spaces (Brown et al., 2020 ). Asian female solo travelers also face other complications such as the influence of Confucianism, meaning they are often perceived as domesticated, dependent, vulnerable, and obedient (Yang et al., 2018a ). Regardless of these perceptions and despite being bound by cultural beliefs and stricter social expectations, more Asian women are breaking stereotypes by preferring to travel alone (Yang et al., 2017 ). In Taiwan, the rise in female solo travel has been greatly influenced by factors such as globalization, economic expansion, and democratic tendencies. In 2019, there were 8,736,907 (51.09%) Taiwanese female outbound travelers, which is higher than the number of males (Taiwan Tourism Bureau, 2020 ). As Taiwanese women become an extensive part of Asian tourists and a significant demographic for outbound tourism, it is crucial the motivations for Taiwanese female solo travelers are studied. Existing relevant studies do not explore this specific demographic in detail (Su & Wu., 2020 ). Thus, the focus of this study is female solo travel intention of women in Taiwan, from the perspective of personal values, motivations, and travel experience. This research aims to show a holistic perspective of female solo travel intention, and explores how personal values and female solo travel motivation affects travel behavior.

The remainder of this study is structured as follows: “the Literature Review and Hypothesis Development” section includes reviews of relevant literature and hypothesis development; the “Research method” section provides sample details, measurements of constructs, and data analysis; the “Results” section explains the sample profile, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) results, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results, and the path coefficient of the structural model; the “Discussion” sections offers a discussion of the empirical results, theoretical and practical implications, limitations and protentional future research suggestions.

Literature review and hypothesis development

Personal values.

According to Schwartz ( 1992 ), the definition of personal values is “the transcending motivating life goals and guiding principles of an individual’s life”. Within the tourism industry, personal values are linked to tourism behavior, including tourists’ decision-making processes, motivations, and activity preference (Lin & Fu, 2016 ). From a theoretical perspective, it is significant to compare the explanatory power of an individual’s personal values on travel behavior. Personal values also provide accurate clarification for travel behavior, as individuals with different personal values exhibit different travel behavior patterns (Mehmetoglu et al., 2010 ). Li and Cai ( 2012 ) and Kim’s ( 2020 ) empirical tourism literatures support the above implications. Academics and practitioners can gain valuable information by exploring the nexus between personal values and travel behavior.

List of values (LOV) (Kahle et al., 1986 ) is the most extensively applied values scale in tourism and leisure consumer studies (Muller, 1991 ; Madrigal & Kahle, 1994 ; Chen & Sasias, 2014 ; Li, Cai, & Qiu, 2016 ; Lindberg et al., 2019 ; Wen & Huang, 2019 ; Li & Cai, 2012 ; Mauri & Nava, 2021 ). There are nine terminal values in the LOV: self-fulfillment, self-respect, sense of accomplishment, security, sense of belonging, warm relationships with others, well-respected, fun and enjoyment, and excitement. The nine values are classified into two categories: external and internal values (Li & Cai, 2012 ). LOV is the prevalent tool applied in value studies and has been used previously to investigate tourist and traveler behavior. Based on the suggestions of Ladhari et al. ( 2011 ), LOV is simpler, more effectively managed and has greater predictive utility in consumer behavior than Values and Lifestyles (Mitchell, 1983 ), and the Rokeach Value Survey (Rokeach, 1973 ). In line with rising interest in personal values and awareness of current tourism literature, this research employs LOV to investigate personal values as the antecedent variables effecting female solo travel motivation and solo travel intention.

Solo travel motivation

Motivation is the predominant catalyst for humans to complete action, move forward, and realize their goals. (Luvsandavaajav & Narantuya, 2021 ). Hsu et al. ( 2017 ) state that when an individual’s need is stimulated, motivation will emerge to guide people to take the required action to satisfy their needs. Simply put, motivation is the tendency to fulfill an individual’s psychological needs (Bromley, 1990 ). Travel motivation is one of the most important contributors toward travelers’ decision-making behavior, thus gaining a greater comprehension of travelers’ motivation is crucial to establishing tourists’ behavioral patterns (Luvsandavaajav & Narantuya, 2021 ).

In tourism academicians, tourists’ motivation to go to a specific destination and the reason they choose to travel are both topics of debate (Keshavarzian & Wu, 2017 ; Wong et al., 2017 ; Pereira et al., 2022 ; Katsikari et al., 2020 ; Luvsandavaajav & Narantuya, 2021 ). Travel motivation causes individuals to participate in tourist activities and compels travelers to take the required actions to satisfy their needs (Fodness, 1994 ; Pizam & Mansfeld ( 1999 )). Yoon and Uysal ( 2005 ) regard travel motivation as an internal power that stimulates and inspires people to choose a specific destination for the purpose of obtaining expected benefits and satisfaction. Mayo and Jarvis ( 1981 ) pointed out travelers are driven by psychological elements, and travelers’ behavior is accounted for by motivation.

The cultural and biological force that provides direction and value to travel patterns, decisions, experiences, and behaviors is commonly referred to as tourism motivation (Pearce, 2005 ). As tourists are from different countries and cultures, and have differing characteristics and tourist product preferences, travel motivation has a heterogeneous structure (Çelik & Dedeoğlu, 2019 ; Kozak, 2002 ). Owing to this heterogeneous structure, there is no global theory that can prove travelers’ motivation. Thus, diverse theories have been researched and developed accordingly (Robinson et al., 2011 ).

Yoon and Uysal ( 2005 ) show that anthropology interprets motivation as moving away from a routine environment to seek authentic experiences, while psychology explains motivation via emotional and cognitive motives, or internal and external motives. Travel motivation is a combination of requirements and attitudes that compel an individual to join in touristic activities (Pizam et al., 1979 ).

Travel Career Ladder was developed based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, which demonstrates people tend to change their travel motivation based on relationships, stimulation, self-esteem and development, and fulfillment of their travel career ladder (Pearce, 1988 ; Pearce & Lee, 2005 ). The Push-Pull Model states that travel decisions are motived by push factors and pull factors in a two-stage process (Uysal et al., 2008 ). Destination features and external motivation are regarded as the pull factors, and internal motivation belongs to the push factors (willingness and needs etc.) of an individual. Both of which are present during the decision-making process.

As women travel alone for a variety of reasons, solo travel motivation is still changeable; however, some studies specifically investigate the motivation for female solo travel. For example, Chiang and Jogaratnam ( 2006 ) identify the four motivations for female solo travel as experience, escape, relaxation, and socialization. Yang et al. ( 2019 ) state the reason for Asian female solo travel is self-discovery, which is constructed by challenging the social expectations for Asian women. Some research shows that female solo travelers, in their search of freedom, embrace the autonomy, independence, and empowerment gained by traveling alone (Yang et al., 2018a , 2018b ). Thus, the intrinsic motivations for female solo travelers are their need to feel challenged, empowered, and autonomous (Bianchi, 2016 ; Wilson & Little, 2005 ).

Other research identifies the motivations for most women who travel alone are a need to find themselves, not having a travel companion, freedom of choice, experience and adventure, and to escape from daily routines (Breda et al., 2020 ). Similarly, women choose solo travel for adventure, independence, personal fulfillment, individuality and escape (Pereira & Silva, 2018 ). Female solo travelers desire an escape from their daily lives and look for active resistance against the gender stereotypes they are used to. Through solo travel, women can reconfigure their identity, and at the same time, change the power relationship that maintains the mainstream social concept.

Existing literature suggests cultural influences and constraints effect female solo travel motivation. Western female travelers from individualist cultures are often characterized as independent and therefore, presumed more likely to embark on solo travel (Yang et al., 2019 ). Research has identified that for women from advanced countries, the key motivations for solo travel in Australia are self-actualization and self-construal (Yang et al., 2022 ). Confronting stereotypes, the motivations of British, Australian, and American female solo travelers are feelings of freedom, autonomy and empowerment, confirmation of their identity, and increased self-esteem (Bianchi, 2016 ).

Although female solo travelers share some commonalities, the interpretation of tourism in developing Muslim countries differs from advanced western countries (Cohen & Cohen, 2015 ). Islam is a religion that permeates many facets of Muslim life, particularly among women and their leisure activities (Moghadam et al., 2009 ). In patriarchal Muslim communities, hegemonic masculinity has degraded the role of women (Hosseini et al., 2022 ). Therefore, women face various restrictions, such as not being allowed to travel alone or requiring permission from their father or husband to travel (Seyfi et al., 2022 ). The severe domination of Islamic laws on cultures in traditional Muslim countries has weakened the effect of female sole travel motivation. However, recent study results indicate that solo travel motivations are independence, self-empowerment, freedom and flexibility, and exploration (Hosseini et al., 2022 ). The discussed literature suggests the differences between the female solo travel motivations of women in developed and developing countries is not that dissimilar.

Hypotheses development

Homer and Kahle ( 1988 ), and Hofstede and Hofstede ( 2005 ) argue that values are the basis of culture and humanity, therefore, human behavior could be predicted and indicated by values. During the motivation development process, values are the guidelines when replying to stimulus (Kahle, 1983 ), and help to assess the tourism environment and destinations of the objects or events. In the perspective of cultural and social factors, values impact an individual’s motivation and are identified as the external environment signals. Previous studies identify two dimensions of values: external and internal (Li & Cai, 2012 ).

Several studies argue personal values significantly impact an individual’s behavior. Ateljevic ( 1997 ) posits that values obtained in daily life are dedicated to the making of motivations, and simultaneously studied the influence of value systems on tourism motivation in order to determine how a situational influence represented by values affects tourists’ motivation. Furthermore, Li and Cai ( 2012 ) empirically tested the impacts of personal values (internal and external values) on motivations and behavioral intention and found they had a direct impact on travel motivation. Woosnam et al. ( 2016 ) argue that tourism literature should investigate the connection between values and motivations on the attendance levels of particular tourist attractions. Their research confirmed that values significantly predict the motivations and potential attendees of the Winnipeg Fringe Theater Festival.

Tourists consider the nexus between personal values and the quality of the leisure and travel activities, and the connection between values and actual tourism behavior important (Pitts & Woodside, 1986 ). In a study on tourism, Hindley and Font ( 2018 ) point out that values and motivations have a complex interrelationship, and argue that values are the underlying psychological determinants of consumers’ purchase intentions, thus stimulating ethical consumption. In line with prior research results, Hede et al. ( 2004 ) demonstrate a connection between personal values, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions of participants in urban hallmark events. More recently, young travelers’ self-transcendence values contain predictive power over motivations and behavioral intention for sustainable tourism among young travelers (Cavagnaro et al., 2021 ).

Travel motivation is essential to predict travel behavioral intention (Jang et al., 2009 ; Li & Cai 2012 ; Khan et al., 2019 ; Hosany et al., 2020 ;), thus many studies focus on the nexus between travel motivation and tourists’ behavioral intention. Yoon and Uysal ( 2005 ) reveal tourist motivations are antecedents for tourist satisfaction and tourists’ behavioral intention, particularly with regard to re-visiting and recommendations to others. Jang and Feng ( 2007 ) state that the motivation for seeking new experiences significantly affects tourists’ intentions to revisit the destination within a three-year period. A study on tourists in France shows that travel motivation significantly positively effects behavioral intention (Prayag, 2012 ). Li and Cai ( 2012 ) empirically test the impacts of travel motivation on behavioral intention, and evidence that the travel motivation of Novelty and Knowledge significantly positively impacts behavioral intention.

Khuong and Ha ( 2014 ) state that push motivations and pull motivations have a positive correlation between travelers’ satisfaction and behavioral intention. Luvsandavaajav and Narantuya ( 2021 ) apply travel push motivations and pull motivations to examine and confirm the correlation between values, perceived benefits, and behavioral intention. Their findings suggest travel motivation (push and pull factors) are significant constructs of behavioral intention. Furthermore, travel motivation as internal sociopsychological drivers, such as novelty-seeking, escape-seeking, assurance-seeking, and interaction-seeking motivations, can influence travel decision formation (Maghrifani et al., 2022 ). Based on this discussion, Hypotheses 1 to 5 (H1-H5) are:

H1: Internal values positively impact on travel motivation.

H2: External values positively impact on travel motivation.

H3: Internal values positively impact on behavioral intention.

H4: External values positively impact on behavioral intention.

H5: Travel motivation positively impact on behavioral intention.

Figure 1 illustrates the conceptual model.

The model examines the relationship between internal values, external values, travel motivation and behavioral intention.

Research methods

A quantitative approach based on structured self-administered questionnaires was used to both assess the conceptual model and test the proposed hypotheses. The snowball sampling method was used to collect data from single females in Taiwan. An online survey was distributed via Line using a Google Forms link. Before the questionnaire was distributed to the participants, they were told the purpose of the survey and once they had agreed to participate, were provided with the questionnaire to complete. In determining the sample size, the rule-of-thumb recommendations from Sekaran and Bougie ( 2010 ) were followed. The sample size should be greater than 30 and less than 500, and several times (preferably more than 10 times) the number of variables in multivariable studies. Based on this consideration and the rule of thumb, the minimum sample size of this study was greater than 35 (35*10) or equal to 350.

Measurements of constructs

The questionnaire comprised four sections: (1) Demographics, including participants’ age, education, and average annual income; (2) Personal Values; (3) Solo Travel Motivation; and (4) Solo Travel Intention. The items in the survey questionnaire were adapted from prior studies (Table 1 ) and measured using a five-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree).

Personal values were measured using a nine-item LOV scale (Kahle, 1983 ). Travel motivation was measured using Pereira and Silva’s ( 2018 ) fifteen-item scale based on Loker-Murphy’s ( 1997 ) modified Travel Career Patterns theory (Pearce, 1988 ). There are four items for Escape/Relaxation, five for Relationship, three for Self-actualization/Development, and three items for Fulfillment. Three items from Reisinger and Mavondo ( 2005 ), and Lam and Hsu’s ( 2006 ) scale were extracted to measure female solo travel intention. An example of one of these items is: “I think traveling alone is worth it.”

Data analysis

SPSS 26.0 and VISUAL PLS 1.04b were utilized to descriptive statistics analysis, Harman’s single-factor test, and assess the structural data. To check for any common method variance issues, Harman’s single-factor test was used. EFA was conducted on female solo travel motivation and personal values to examine the dimensionalities and psychometric properties. In the second stage, the associations among personal values, female solo travel motivation, and solo travel intention were empirically tested using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The research used SEM with partial least square (PLS) for model estimation and hypothesis testing. Social science studies prefer applying PLS-SEM for multivariate analysis (Abid et al., 2020 ; Pan et al., 2021 ).

Descriptive statistics

The survey received 409 responses in total; however, 28 invalid questionnaires were removed, leaving 381 valid questionnaires. The effective sample recovery rate is 93.2%. Table 2 shows the respondents’ basic demographic information. A descriptive analysis of all variables was performed to assess their normality prior to testing the econometric and structural models. The results show the sample skewness is between −0.057 and 0.985, and the kurtosis risk is between −1.269 and 0.816, which does not violate the normality hypothesis.

Common method bias and multicollinearity evaluation

This study tested the common method bias (CMB) using several methods, including Harman’s one-factor test. The variance explained by the first factor loading is only 25.047% of the total variance, which is less than 50%, as suggested by Podsakoff and Organ ( 1986 ). This means CMB is not obvious in the dataset. Furthermore, the results of the full variance inflation factors (VIF) can be utilized to assess CMB and allows for a more conservative test than traditional EFA (Kock, 2013 ). The VIF should be less than 3.3 to exclude CMB (Kock & Lynn, 2012 ). In the model, VIF values are less than five, as stated in recent articles (Farooq et al., 2022 ; Talwar et al., 2020 ). Therefore, the data did not identify any multicollinearity issues within the constructs (Hair et al., 2020 ). As the CMB was tested using the mentioned-above different methods, it can be assumed that CMB is not an issue.

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA)

The EFA procedure helps to reduce the multicollinearity or correlation of error terms among indicators in CFA (Li & Cai, 2012 ), thus EFA is necessary in this study.

Regarding the construction of the personal values, two factors were extracted that were capable of explaining 59.471% of the variance in the variables (Table 3 ). Those two factors were labeled Internal Values and External Values. This result is similar to those of previous studies (Li & Cai, 2012 ), except the statement “fun and enjoyment in life” is included in Internal Values, and the statement “being well-respected” is included in External Values. The reliability test shows the factors are higher than 0.7.

In terms of the construct of female solo travel motivation, 15 items are retained to generate a five-factor solution, explaining 61.761% of the total variance. Furthermore, five items load highly on Factor 1: Relationship; four items load highly on Factor 2: Escape/Relaxation; three items load highly on Factor 3: Self-actualization/Development; and three items load highly on Factor 4: Fulfillment. The reliability coefficients range from 0.632 to 0.803, which indicates satisfactory levels of internal consistency (Table 4 ).

Assessment of the measurement model

CFA was utilized to validate the proposed factor structure and confirm whether modification is required. As proposed by Anderson and Gerbing ( 1988 ), a two-step CFA was conducted to evaluate each construct separately and assess the overall measurement model.

First, the individual reliability of each item is determined by analyzing the simple loadings or correlations of the measures or indicators with their respective construct. To indicate a good fit, the indicators’ external loadings must be higher than 0.7 (Hair et al., 2014 ). The item “warm relationships with others” in Personal Values, was deleted due to the low standardized factor loading, as suggested by Hair et al. ( 2014 ). For Female Solo Travel Motivation, the items “mix with fellow travelers”, “because it is a talked about, well-publicized destination”, and “fulfill a lifelong dream and ambition” were also removed due to the low standardized factor loading (Hair et al., 2014 ).

Second, the Cronbach’s alpha and CR values exceed the minimum requirement of 0.7, suggesting that reliability is satisfactory (Table 5 ) (Nunnally & Bernstein, 1994 ; Hair et al. (2017, 2020 ); Yusof et al., 2012 ). Third, the AVE values are more than the threshold value of 0.50 (Nunnally & Bernstein, 1994 ; Hair et al. (2017, 2020 ); Yusof et al., 2012 ), meaning the convergent validity is satisfactory.

Discriminant validity is assessed using the correlation between variables and constructs, and by comparing the square root of AVE values with the correlations between constructs (Fornell & Larcker, 1981 ). The results of examining the constructs indicate the discriminant validity is satisfactory (Table 6 ).

Hypothesis testing procedure and results

The PLS method is used to test the hypotheses as it focuses on interpreting path coefficients and variances, rather than overall model fit (Pavlou & Fygenson, 2006 ). The advantage of this method is that the assumption of normal distribution required by structural equation models is relaxed, meaning more complex models can be estimated using smaller sample sizes.

The empirical results evidence that internal values have a significant positive effect on the motivations of Escape/Relaxation ( β  = 0.495, t  = 10.304, p  < 0.01), Relationship ( β  = 0.467, t  = 9.822, p  < 0.01), Self-actualization/Development ( β  = 0.111, t  = 1.776, p  < 0.05), and Fulfillment ( β  = 0.337, t  = 5.303, p  < 0.01) (Table 7 ). Thus, H1-1 to H1-4 are supported. However, external values have no significant influence on motivational factors, thus H2-1 to H2-4 are not supported. In addition, internal values significantly positively influence female solo travel intention ( β  = 0.239, t  = 3.802, p  < 0.01), whereas external values significantly negatively affect female solo travel intention ( β  = −0.200, t  = −3.694, p  < 0.01). Thus, H3 is supported, while H4 is not supported.

Furthermore, the results also evidence that the motivations of Escape/Relaxation ( β  = 0.237, t  = 4.037, p  < 0.01), Relationship ( β  = 0.196, t  = 3.779, p  < 0.01), and Self-actualization/Development ( β  = 0.216, t  = 4.941, p  < 0.01) have a significant positive influence on female solo travel intention, but Fulfillment has no impact on female solo travel intention ( β  = −0.015, t  = −0.377, p  > 0.05). Thus, H5-1, H5-2, and H5-3 are supported, whereas H5-4 is not supported. The path graph of the proposed model is presented in Fig. 2 .

Internal values have a significant relationship with travel motivation and solo travel intention. Subsequently, travel motivation had a partially supported effect on solo travel intention.

The number of women embracing the autonomy of traveling independently is growing. Searching for freedom, independence, and empowerment, female solo travelers choose unfrequented or ‘off the beaten track’ destinations (Wilson & Little, 2005 ). Research focusing on the effect of personal values and motivations on female solo travel intention remains insufficient, and has long been neglected in female solo travel literature. This study aims to identify the personal values and motivations that support the increase in female solo tourist behavior to fulfill the current research deficiency in tourism literature. The results of this research both verify the findings of previous studies and elicit new information.

Theoretical implications

Although solo travel is one of the fastest growing areas of the tourism industry, research is still limited, particularly in understanding what motivates female travelers’ desire to travel alone. This study and its findings contribute to existing tourism literature in several ways.

First, based on the research sample, results confirm that personal internal values significantly effect female solo travel motivation. Direct influences from personal internal values and female solo travel intention are also identified. This finding is consistent with the contentions of Woosnam et al. ( 2016 ) and Cavagnaro et al. ( 2021 ), who evidence travelers’ values have a predictive effect on motivations and behavioral intention.

Females who have internal values tend to form positive female solo travel motivation and intention toward a solo trip, which aligns with previous studies that evidence females’ emotionality influences their ability to manage situations (Costa et al., 2017 ). The internal values of sense of self-fulfillment, accomplishment, fun and enjoyment in life, and excitement have a similar influence as emotionality does on female solo travelers’ motivation and intention. This finding concurs with Li et al.’s ( 2016 ) propositions, who indicate that internal values have significant effects on tourist behavioral intention.

A female’s internal values enable them to participate in the process of women’s freedom and empowerment, which supports the findings of prior studies that through female solo travel, women can transcend the system and societal roles, stereotypical traditions, and social expectations (Seow & Brown, 2018 ; Bernard et al., 2022 ). Overall, this study evidences that personal internal values influence female solo travel motivation, with escape/relaxation being the primary contributor.

Second, the results also confirm that external values have no impact on female solo travel intention or any significant effect on female solo travel motivation. The reason for this could be that the construct of female solo travel motivation in this research model comprises the subjective emotions of self-respect, being well-respected, sense of security, and sense of belonging, which are related to emotionally dominant internal values. Hence, predicting the variation effect on the selected sample’s travel motivation and travel intention is arduous when investigating object-directed external values (Prentice, 1987 ; Li et al., 2016 ).

Third, the empirical results confirm the significant effects of solo travel motivation on female solo travel intention. This finding concurs with Hosany et al. ( 2020 ). The motivations for female solo travel in this study are related to seeking escape, relaxation, relationships (meeting new people), and self-actualization/development. These motivations influence female solo travel intention in the future, particularly escape/relaxation as this is the most prominent factor affecting female solo travel motivation. Therefore, escaping from daily duties and life pressures, enjoying freedom, and reflecting on their own lives all have a transformative impact on the intention of women to travel alone.

Managerial/social implications

This study’s findings have crucial implications for the hospitality and tourism industry and its managers. First, the results identify the role of personal values in determining female solo travel behavior. Tourism practitioners and destination marketers should appeal to the primary female internal values of sense of self-fulfillment and accomplishment, fun and enjoyment in life, and excitement to improve the overall travel package and destination features. For example, when proposing a luxury tour, it could be marketed as a spiritual journey to fulfill the pursuit of well-being, self-fulfillment, and accomplishment, and thus ultimately increase the desire for females to travel alone. When proposing an ultimate tour, it could be offered as an in-depth cultural and informative journey that satisfies the personal internal values of fun and accomplishment, conforming to the desires of the female solo traveler.

Second, as identifying female solo travel motivation is significant to determining female solo travel intention, it is suggested the tourist industry markets specifically to this demographic and provides special travel itineraries, packages, tourism products, and attractions aimed at fulfilling the female solo traveler’s desire to escape and/or relax. Traveling that achieves the pursued attributes will assist in the development of a positive attitude and intentions toward female solo travel.

Third, it is also suggested that travel enterprises evaluate the personal values of female travelers according to the LOV (Kahle & Kennedy, 1988 ) to understand individual travel motivations, so as to improve the willingness of women to travel alone. Enterprises should aim to meet the needs of female solo travelers by focusing their advertising strategies on this niche market. Such a strategy could more accurately develop the tourism products required to target the female solo traveler market, and ultimately improve the enterprise’s position and enhance their brand loyalty. Finally, providing tourism marketers with recommendations for development and service enhancement of female solo travel products would be beneficial as this is a fast-growing and lucrative market.

Limitations and future research

Although this study identifies the effect of personal values on female solo travelers’ behavior as well as the influence on female solo travelers’ motivation, it still has some limitations. First, the research sample uses the snowball sampling method to collect data from single females in Taiwan via Line. The generalizability of the study findings is limited as it only presents the viewpoints and personal values of females in Taiwan. The results cannot be generalized for females from different countries and cultures as a whole, thus future research should investigate more diverse countries and cultures.

Tims et al. ( 2013 ) insists only longitudinal research completes the path in the theoretical model, thus the second limitation is the possibility of longitudinal parameters. Third, travel motivation will change dynamically over time, depending on travel experience behaviors. It would be interesting to study past travel experiences as a construct in future research models.

Fourth, several studies raise the issue of safety and security, and suggest greater protection for female solo travelers against male leering and sexual violence (Berdychevsky & Carr, 2022 ; Su & Wu, 2020 ). Future studies should address legal resources, facilities, and policies to promote female solo travel, such as female-only public spaces, subway cars and railways, and the need for female-only floors in hotels and other accommodation.

Fifth, tourist behavior and assessments are significantly influenced by emotions and cognitive processes (Hosany et al., 2021 ). However, the current literature ignores the emotional and cognitive implications of tourist behavior (Lee & Lee, 2021 ). Individual tourists may evaluate the same event differently cognitively and emotionally. Considering this viewpoint, this study encourages future research on female solo travel to examine cognitive and emotional consequences, in order to fill in the gaps in this area. Lastly, future studies should specify whether women are traveling alone domestically or internationally, as this alters the type of limitations that apply.

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abid A, Jie S, Aslam W, Batool S, Lili Y (2020) Application of structural equation modelling to develop a conceptual model for smallholder’s credit access: the mediation of agility and innovativeness in organic food value chain finance. PLoS ONE 15(8):e0235921. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235921

Article   CAS   Google Scholar  

Anderson JC, Gerbing DW (1988) Structural equation modeling in practice: a review and recommended twostep approach. Psychol Bull 103(3):411–423. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411

Article   Google Scholar  

Ateljevic I (1997) Tourist motivation, values and perceptions. Tourist experience. In: Ryan C (ed.). Cassell, London. pp. 193–209

Bernard S, Rahman I, McGehee NG (2022) Breaking barriers for Bangladeshi female solo travelers. Tour Manag Perspect 41:100932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100932

Berdychevsky L, Carr N (eds.) (2022) Innovation and impact of sex as leisure in research and practice. Routledge

Bianchi C (2016) Solo holiday travellers: motivators and drivers of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Int J Tour Res 18(2):197–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2049

Bond M (2019) Women Travel Statistics from Women Travel Expert. Retrieved January 1, 2021, from http://gutsytraveler.com/women-travel-statistics-2/

Breda Z, Santos A, Kliček T, Dinis G (2020) Profile, motivations, and experiences from Portuguese solo female travelers. In: Contemporary management approaches to the global hospitality and tourism industry. IGI Global. pp. 131–150

Bromley DB (1990) Behavioral gerontology: central issues in the psychology of aging. Wiley, New York

Brown L, de Coteau D, Lavrushkina N (2020) Taking a walk: the female tourist experience. Tour Stud 20(3):354–370. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1468797620930036

Cavagnaro E, Staffieri S, Carrieri A, Burns K, Chen N, Fermani A (2021) Profiling for sustainable tourism: young travellers’ self-transcendence values and motivations. Eur J Tour Res 28:2810–2810. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v28i.2261

Çelik S, Dedeoğlu BB (2019) Psychological factors affecting the behavioral intention of the tourist visiting Southeastern Anatolia. J Hosp Tour Insights 2(4):425–450. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-01-2019-0005

Chen HJ, Sasias M (2014) Tourist segmentation in Taiwan’s wineries: a cultural perspective. Soc Behav Pers 42(2):223–236. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2014.42.2.223

Chiang CY, Jogaratnam G (2006) Why do women travel solo for purposes of leisure? J Vacat Mark 12(1):59–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766706059041

Cohen E, Cohen SA (2015) A mobilities approach to tourism from emerging world regions. Curr Issues Tour 18(1):11–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2014.898617

Costa C, Bakas FE, Breda Z, Durão M (2017) ‘Emotional’ female managers: how gendered roles influence tourism management discourse. J Hosp Tour Manag 33:149–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2017.09.011

Dempsey C (2015) Visa Global Travel Intention Study 2015. In PATA Conference.

Elliot M (2015) Solo female travels on the rise in Southeast Asia. Travel Daily Media. http://www.traveldailymedia.com/218965/solo-femaletravel-on-the-rise-in-southeast-asia . Accessed 8 September 2022.

Farooq R, Zhang Z, Talwar S, Dhir A (2022) Do green human resource management and self-efficacy facilitate green creativity? A study of luxury hotels and resorts. J. Sustain Tour 30(4):824–845. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1891239

French L (2020) Solo travel is the second-most popular category for post-lockdown trips, says cox & kings. Travel weekly. Available via https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/378221/solo-travel-is-the-secondmost-popularcategory-for-post-lockdown-trips-says-cox-king . Accessed 8 September 2022.

Fodness D (1994) Measuring tourist motivation. Ann Tour Res 21(3):555–581. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(94)90120-1

Fornell C, Larcker DF (1981) Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. J Mark Res 18(1):39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104

Hair JF, Hult GTM, Ringle C, Sarstedt M (2014) A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). SAGE Publications, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Hair JF, Howard MC, Nitzl C (2020) Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis. J Bus Res 109:101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.11.069

Hede A, Jago L, Deery M (2004) Segmentation of special event attendees using personal values: relationships with satisfaction and behavioral intentions. J Qual Assur Hosp Tour 5(2-4):33–55. https://doi.org/10.1300/J162v05n02_03

Hindley A, Font X (2018) Values and motivations in tourist perceptions of last-chance tourism. Tour Hosp Res 18(1):3–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358415619674

Hofstede G, Hofstede GJ (2005) Cultures and organizations: software of the mind, third millennium. McGraw-Hill, New York

Homer PM, Kahle LR (1988) A structural equation test of the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy. J Pers Soc Psychol 54(4):638–646. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.4.638

Hosany S, Buzova D, Sanz-Blas S (2020) The influence of place attachment, ad-evoked positive affect, and motivation on intention to visit: Imagination proclivity as a moderator. J Travel Res 59(3):477–495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287519830789

Hosany S, Martin D, Woodside AG (2021) Emotions in tourism: theoretical designs, measurements, analytics, and interpretations. J Travel Res 60(7):1391–1407. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520937079

Hsu CY, Lee WH, Chen WY (2017) How to catch their attention? Taiwanese flashpackers inferring their travel motivation from personal development and travel experience. Asia Pacific J Tour Res 22(2):117–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2016.1182038

Hosseini S, Macias RC, Garcia FA (2022) The exploration of Iranian solo female travellers’ experiences. Int J Tourism Res 24(2):256–269. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2498

Jang SS, Feng R (2007) Temporal destination revisit intention: The effects of novelty seeking and satisfaction. Tour Manag 28(2):580–590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2006.04.024

Jang S, Bai B, Hu C, Wu CME (2009) Affect, travel motivation, and travel intention: a senior market. J Hosp Tour Res 33(1):51–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348008329666

Jordan F, Gibson H (2005) “We’re not stupid… But we’ll not stay home either”: experiences of solo women travelers. Tour Rev Int 9(2):195–211. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427205774791663

Kaba B (2021) Foreign Solo Female Travellers’ Perceptions of Risk and Safety in Turkey. In Hidden Geographies (pp. 475–493). Springer, Cham.

Kahle L (1983) Social values and social change: adaptation to life in America. Praeger, New York

Kahle LR, Beatty SE, Homer P (1986) Alternative measurement approaches to consumer values: the List of Values (LOV) and Values and Life Style (VALS. J Consum Res 13(3):405–409. https://doi.org/10.1086/209079

Kahle LR, Kennedy P (1988) Using the list of values (LOV) to understand consumers. Journal of Services Marketing.

Karagöz D, Işık C, Dogru T, Zhang L (2021) Solo female travel risks, anxiety and travel intentions: Examining the moderating role of online psychological-social support. Curr Issues Tour 24(11):1595–1612. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1816929

Katsikari CH, Hatzithomas L, Fotiadis T, Folinas D (2020) Push and pull travel motivation: segmentation of the Greek market for social media. Sustainability 12(11):1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114770

Keshavarzian P, Wu CL (2017) A qualitative research on travellers’ destination choice behaviour. Int J Tour Res 19(5):546–556. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2128

Khan MJ, Chelliah S, Ahmed S (2019) Intention to visit India among potential travellers: Role of travel motivation, perceived travel risks, and travel constraints. Tour Hosp Res 19(3):351–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358417751025

Khuong MN, Ha HTT (2014) The influence of push and pull factors on the international leisure tourists’ return intention to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Int J Trade Econ Finance 5(6):490–496. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJTEF.2014.V5.421

Kim M (2020) A systematic literature review of the personal value orientation construct in hospitality and tourism literature. Int J Hosp Manag 89:102572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102572

Klook (2019) Unpacking Solo Travel: Klook’s global survey uncovers our love-hate relationship with solo travel. Available via https://www.klook.com/newsroom/content/6388?n=0 . Accessed 8 September 2022.

Kock N (2013) WarpPLS 4.0 user manual. ScriptWarp Systems, Laredo

Kock N, Lynn GS (2012) Lateral collinearity and misleading results in variance-based SEM: an illustration and recommendations. J Assoc Inf Syst 13(7):546–580. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00302

Kour P, Gupta S (2019) Analysis of travel risk perception and travel intentions among solo female travellers towards Kashmir as a destination. Int j res commer manag 10 (3):14–16.

Kozak M (2002) Comparative analysis of tourist motivations by nationality and destinations. Tour Manag 23(3):221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(01)00090-5

Ladhari R, Pons F, Bressolles G, Zins M (2011) Culture and personal values: How they influence perceived service quality. J Bus Res 64(9):951–957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2010.11.017

Lam T, Hsu HC (2006) Predicting behavioral intention of choosing a travel destination. Tour Manag 27(4):589–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2005.02.003

Lee KJ, Lee SY (2021) Cognitive appraisal theory, memorable tourism experiences, and family cohesion in rural travel. J Travel Tour Mark 38(4):399–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2021.1921094

Li M, Cai LA (2012) The effects of personal values on travel motivation and behavioral intention. J Travel Res 51(4):473–487. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287511418366

Article   ADS   Google Scholar  

Li M, Cai LA, Qiu S (2016) A value, affective attitude, and tourist behavioral intention model. J China Tour Res 12(2):179–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2016.1225620

Lin CF, Fu CS (2016) Changes in tourist personal values: impact of experiencing tourism products and services. Asia Pacific J Tour Res 22(2):173–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2016.1208670

Lindberg K, Veisten K, Halse AH (2019) Analyzing the deeper motivations for nature-based tourism facility demand: a hybrid choice model of preferences for a reindeer visitor center. Scand J Hosp Tour 19(2):157–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2018.1482565

Loker-Murphy L (1997) Backpackers in Australia: a motivation-based segmentation study. J Travel Tour Mark 5(4):23–45. https://doi.org/10.1300/J073v05n04_02

Luvsandavaajav O, Narantuya G (2021) Understanding of travel motivations of domestic tourists. J Tour Serv 22(12):1–22. https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v12i22.253

Madrigal R, Kahle L (1994) Predicting vacation activity preferences on the basis of value system segmentation. J Travel Res 32(3):22–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728759403200304

Maghrifani D, Liu F, Sneddon J (2022) Understanding potential and repeat visitors’ travel intentions: the roles of travel motivations, destination image, and visitor image congruity. J Travel Res 61(5):1121–1137. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211018508

Mauri C, Nava CR (2021) Do tourists experience boredom in mountain destinations? Ann Tour Res 89:103213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103213

Mayo EJ, Jarvis LP (1981) The psychology of leisure travel. CBI Publishing Inc, Boston

McNamara KE, Prideaux B (2010) A Typology of solo independent women travellers. Int J Tour Res 12(3):253–264. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.751

Mehmetoglu M, Hines K, Graumann C, Greibrokk J (2010) The relationship between personal values and tourism behaviour: a segmentation approach. J. Vacat. Mark 16(1):17–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766709356210

Mitchell A (1983) The Nine American Life Styles: Who We Are and Where We Are Going. Macmillan, New York

Moghadam S, Knudson-Martin C, Mahoney AR (2009) Gendered power in cultural contexts: Part III. Couple relationships in Iran. Fam Process 48(1):41–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01266.x

Muller T (1991) Using personal values to define segments in an international tourism market. Int Mark Rev 8:57–70. https://doi.org/10.1108/02651339110003952

Nikjoo A, Markwell K, Nikbin M, Hernandez-Lara AB (2021) The flag-bearers of change in a patriarchal Muslim society: narratives of Iranian solo female travelers on Instagram. Tour Manag Perspect 38:100817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100817

Nguyen HN (2018) An Investigation into Female Solo Travelers: Solo Travel Exposure and Perceived Constraints, Personal Development, Authentic Personality and Self-Esteem (Doctoral dissertation, Oklahoma State University).

Ngwira C, Tse S, Vongvisitsin T (2020) Negotiation Strategies and Constraints For Solo Female Travelers in Africa. Tour Cult Commun 20(1):35–47. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830420X15859302993081

Nunnally JC, Bernstein IH (1994) Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill, New York, NY

Pan J, Chiu CY, Wu KS (2021) Leader-member exchange fosters nurses’ job and life satisfaction: the mediating effect of job crafting. PLoS ONE 16(4):e0250789. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250789

Pavlou PA, Fygenson M (2006) Understanding and predicting electronic commerce adoption: an extension of the theory of planned behavior. MIS Q 30(1):115–143. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148720

Pearce P (1988) The Ulysses factor: Evaluation visitors in tourist settings. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY

Pearce PL (2005) Developing travel career approach to tourist motivations. J Travel Res 43(3):227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287504272020

Pearce PL, Lee UI (2005) Developing the travel career approach to tourist motivation. J Travel Res 43:226–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287504272020

Pereira V, Gupta JJ, Hussain S (2022) Impact of travel motivation on tourist’s attitude toward destination: evidence of mediating effect of destination image. J Hosp Tour Res 46(5):946–971. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348019887528

Pereira A, Silva C (2018) Women solo travellers: motivations and experiences. Millenium 2(6):99–106. https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0206.09.00165

Pitts R, Woodside A (1986) Personal values and travel decisions. J Travel Res 25:20–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728758602500104

Pizam A, Mansfeld Y (1999) Consumer behaviour in travel and tourism. The Haworth Hospitality Press, London, UK

Pizam A, Neumann Y, Reichel A (1979) Tourist satisfaction: uses and misuses. Ann Tour Res 6(2):195–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(79)90146-4

Podsakoff PM, Organ DW (1986) Self-reports in organizational research: problems and prospects. J Manage 12(4):531–544. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920638601200408

Prayag G (2012) Senior travelers’ motivations and future behavioral intentions: the case of Nice. J Travel Tour Mark 29(7):665–681. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2012.720153

Prentice DA (1987) Psychological correspondence of possessions, attitudes, and values. J Pers Soc Psychol 53(6):993–1003. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.53.6.993

Reisinger Y, Mavondo F (2005) Travel anxiety and intentions to travel internationally: implications of travel risk perception. J Travel Res 42(3):212–224. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287504272017

Robinson P, Heitmann S, Dieke PUC (2011) Research themes for tourism. CABI, London. pp. 31–44. ISBN: 978-184593684

Rokeach M (1973) The nature of human values. The Free Press, New York

Schwartz SH (1992) Universals in the content and structure of values: theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 Countries. Adv Exp Soc Psychol 25:1–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60281-6

Schwab K (2019) “Seriously, shit has to change.” Spatial Constraint Negotiation among Solo Female Travelers" (2019). Travel and Tourism Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally. 96. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/ttra/2019/research_papers/96

Sebova L, Pompurova K, Marcekova R, Albertova A (2021) Solo female travelers as a new trend in tourism destinations. In: Culture and tourism in a smart, globalized, and sustainable world. Springer, Cham. pp. 311–323

Sekaran U, Bougie R, (2010) Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach. 5th ed., John Wiley & Sons: Haddington, UK.

Seow D, Brown L (2018) The solo female Asian tourist. Curr Issues Tour 21(10):1187–1206. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1423283

Seyfi S, Hall CM, Vo-Thanh T (2022) The gendered effects of statecraft on women in tourism: economic sanctions, women’s disempowerment and sustainability? J Sustain Tour 30(7):1736–1753. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1850749

Solo Traveler (2019) Retrieved November 21, 2020, from https://solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statisticsdata/

Su CP, Wu TC (2020) The dark side of solo female travel: negative encounters with male strangers. Leis Sci 42(3-4):375–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1712277

Taiwan Tourism Bureau (2020) Tourism statistics database/outbound travelers. Retrieved from https://admin.taiwan.net.tw/English/infoEN (Accessed on 8 Sept 2022)

Talwar S, Dhir A, Kaur P, M€antym€aki M (2020) Why do people purchase from online travel agencies (OTAs)? A consumption values perspective. Int. J. Hosp. Manag 88:102534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102534

Tan E, Abu Bakar B, Lim T, Nair S (2018) Hijababes travel: Insights from Asian female Muslim millennial travelers.CAUTHE 2018: Get Smart: Paradoxes and Possibilities in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Education and Research, 653.

Terziyska I (2021) Solo female travellers: the underlying motivation. In: Gender and tourism. Emerald Publishing Limited

Thomas TK, Mura P (2019) The ‘normality of unsafety’-foreign solo female travellers in India. Tour Recreat Res 44(1):33–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2018.1494872

Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D (2013) The impact of job crafting on job demands, job resources, and well-being. J Occup Health Psychol 18(2):230–240. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032141 .

Uatay G, Reid EL, Lee HY (2019) The impact of female travelers’ travel constraints on attitude toward solo travel and travel intention. Culin sci hosp res 25(9):102–110. https://doi.org/10.20878/cshr.2019.25.9.013

Uysal M, Li X, Sirakaya-Turk E (2008) Push-pull dynamics in travel decisions. In: Oh H, Pizam A (eds), Handbook of hospitality marketing management. Elsevier, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp. 412–439

Wantono A, McKercher B (2020) Backpacking and risk perception: the case of solo Asian women. Tour Recreat Res 45(1):19–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2019.1636180

Wen J, Huang S (2019) The effects of push and pull travel motivations, personal values, and destination familiarity on tourist loyalty: a study of Chinese cigar tourists to Cuba. Asia Pacific J Tour Res 24(8):805–821. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1635504

Wen J, Kozak M, Yang S, Liu F (2020) COVID-19: potential effects on Chinese citizens’ lifestyle and travel. Tour Rev 76(1):74–87. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-03-2020-0110

Wilson E, Little DE (2005) A “relative escape”? The impact of constraints on women who travel solo. Tour Rev Int 9(2):155–175. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427205774791672

Wilson E, Harris C. (2006) Meaningful travel: Women, independent travel and the search for self and meaning. Tourism 54(2): 161–172. https://hrcak.srce.hr/161466

Wong BKM, Musa G, Taha AZ (2017) Malaysia my second home: the influence of push and pull motivations on satisfaction. Tour Manag 61:394–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.03.003

Woosnam KM, McElroy KE, Van Winkle CM (2016) Using values to predict tourist motivation: An application to special events in cultural tourism at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival. Travel and Tourism Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally, 71. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/ttra/2007/Presented_Papers/71

Yang ECL, Khoo-Lattimore C, Arcodia C (2017) A narrative review of Asian female travellers: Looking into the future through the past. Curr Issues Tour 20(10):1008–1027. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2016.1208741

Yang ECL, Khoo-Lattimore C, Arcodia C (2018a) Power and empowerment: how Asian solo female travellers perceive and negotiate risks. Tour Manag 68:32–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.02.017

Yang ECL, Khoo-Lattimore C, Arcodia C (2018b) Constructing space and self through risk taking: a case of Asian solo female travelers. J Travel Res 57(2):260–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517692447

Yang ECL, Lai MY, Nimri R (2022) Do constraint negotiation and self‐construal affect solo travel intention? The case of Australia. Int J Tour Res 24(3):347–361. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2506

Yang ECL, Yang MJH, Khoo-Lattimore C (2019) The meanings of solo travel for Asian women. Tour Rev 74(5):1047–1057. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-10-2018-0150

Yoon Y, Uysal M (2005) An examination of the effects of motivation and satisfaction on destination loyalty: a structural model. Tour Manag 26(1):45–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2003.08.016

Yusof HM, Mustapha R, Malik Syed Mohamad SA, Bunian MS (2012). Measurement model of employability skills using confirmatory factor analysis. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 56(8): 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.663

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

School of Economics and Management, Yango University, 350015, Fuzhou, China

Yi-Man Teng

Department of Business Administration, Tamkang University, Taipei, 25137, Taiwan

Kun-Shan Wu & Ying-Chieh Lee

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kun-Shan Wu .

Ethics declarations

Competing interests.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The author sought and gained ethical approval from the institution’s Research Ethical Board and the study complied with ethical standards. There was no number attached to the approval.

Informed consent

The researcher sought and gained consent of the participants to take part in the study. Out of the 409 sampled participants, all 409 accepted and voluntarily participated in the study after the researcher assured them of anonymity and that their responses were solely for academic purposes.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Teng, YM., Wu, KS. & Lee, YC. Do personal values and motivation affect women’s solo travel intentions in Taiwan?. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10 , 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01499-5

Download citation

Received : 22 July 2022

Accepted : 23 December 2022

Published : 04 January 2023

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01499-5

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• radicalstorage.com
• Deutsch ( German )
• Italiano ( Italian )

Solo Travel Statistics: 2023 Guide

• Post author By Giacomo Piva
• Post date July 15, 2022

Solo travel is becoming more popular in the tourism industry with a growing number of people choosing to travel the world alone rather than with friends or a partner. But how popular is traveling alone? And what are some of the top places to visit?

We’ve looked into some of the most interesting solo travel statistics, including female solo travel stats, to see how many people are traveling alone, where they go, and how much they spend.

Key Statistics

• 46% of women said that concerns about their safety are the main thing that would stop them from solo traveling.
• Men said their biggest worry about solo traveling was the cost of the trip compared to traveling with another person.
• Online searches for the term ‘solo travel’ increased by 236% from April 2020 to April 2023.
• Over 50% of nights booked on Airbnb during one three-month period were for solo travelers.
• The most popular destination for solo travel is Australia , with 71% of people who travel alone saying they have visited this country at least once.
• In the U.S. 16% of people have taken a vacation by themselves , and 25% said they were thinking of taking a solo trip in the future .
• A person traveling alone pays an average of 47% more than someone traveling as part of a couple.
• Pre-pandemic, 14% of people said they would consider traveling alone, but that figure has now increased to 23%, an 85% increase overall .
• 72% of American women are now planning to go on solo trips instead of traveling with a partner or friends.
• A rough cost for a round-the-world trip for one person a year is $20,000 USD (£16,309.90 GBP).

Global leisure travel statistics

The global leisure travel market was valued at $1,006.5 billion in 2019, and researchers project it to reach $1,737.3 billion by 2027, creating a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.6% from 2021 to 2027. This market is split into two segments: solo travelers and group travelers. Group travelers hold a major share of the market, but solo travelers are expected to see growth at the highest CAGR during the next forecast period. [ 1 ]

The significant increase in people wanting to go solo traveling has encouraged companies in the industry to improve their offering of single-person holidays and trips, rather than catering mainly to groups. 

Online searches for solo travel

Online searches for terms including ‘solo travel’ have increased by more than 236% since April 2020, indicating that more people are taking an interest in this type of travel.

Back in April 2016, the monthly search volume in the U.S. for ‘solo travel’ was 758, this increased by 290% to 2,958 in 2019. Searches for this keyword dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic putting limits on travel, but they rose back up to 4,534 in 2022, and have reduced slightly to 4,246 in April 2023. This is an overall increase of 460% since 2016.

How many people solo travel?

In the United States, 16% of people have taken a vacation by themselves, and 25% said they were thinking of taking a solo trip in the future. Based on 2022 population figures, this means an estimated 41 million American adults have taken a solo vacation already, and a further 65.2 million are planning to do so. [ 2 ]

Other reports produced similar figures, with pre-pandemic data showing that only 14% of people would consider traveling alone, but that figure has now increased to 23% who say they would be planning to take a solo trip in the future. [ 3 ]

Solo travelers by demographic

Around a quarter of people in the U.S. who were planning to go on a trip alone were from the Generation X age group (born between 1965 and 1980), and the average age of all solo travelers is 47. [ 4 ]

Over half (58%) of millennials say they have traveled alone, compared to 47% of people in older generations. The majority (86%) of people who travel solo are over 35 years of age.

The U.S. had the lowest number of women who had been on a solo trip at just 17%, whereas 46% of men in the U.S. had traveled alone. However, findings did show that women who had traveled alone were more likely to have traveled for 6 months or more.

Interest in solo travel by generation

Data also showed that Gen Z was the generation most likely to have an interest in solo travel, with 76%, and millennials were the least likely to be interested in traveling alone, at 58%.

Gen X (73%) and Baby Boomers (71%) came closely in second and third place, with many perhaps wanting to use their retirement to explore alone and visit new places.

Source [ 4 ]

Accommodation stats for single travelers

When it comes to traveling by yourself, accommodation is one of the biggest costs you’re likely to incur. A UK-based study found that, of those who had been on a solo trip, 65% had stayed in hotels, 44% had stayed at an Airbnb property, and 18% had stayed in hostels. 

Source [ 5 ]

Almost three-quarters (74%) of individuals who used Airbnb said they did so to avoid additional charges associated with hotels. Of those who stayed in hostels, 35% said that the communal aspect appealed to them the most, whereas 29% said that they had only used them because of the cheaper costs compared to other options.

Airbnb solo travel statistics

Data from Airbnb shows that 26% of all nights booked on their platform in 2021 were from solo travelers. They also found that over 50% of the nights booked in the first quarter of 2022 for long-term stays were for people traveling solo. [ 6 ]

The considerable proportion of Airbnb customers using their platform for solo accommodation bookings encouraged the company to add new safety features to their app, initially for English-speaking guests. This includes the ability to share their reservation itinerary with a trusted person, get tips for traveling safely in the local area, and get suggestion questions to ask their host during their stay.

As safety is sometimes a concern for people traveling by themselves, this feature could help travelers feel more comfortable booking a solo trip that they’ve been thinking about.

Where do people solo travel to?

Australia is considered the most popular destination for individuals, with 71% of solo travelers saying they have visited the country. Australia is generally considered a safe place to travel alone, and it has plenty of diverse areas and cities to visit. The country also offers a wide variety of group tours to some of the key visitor locations.

Cities solo travelers are interested in

We mentioned earlier that online searches relating to solo travel had increased over the past few years, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s take a look at which destinations Google users in the U.S. are searching for when it comes to solo traveling.

Data from Google search volumes in 2023 shows that the general term ‘best places to solo travel’ had a search volume of 2,900 in the U.S. When it came to specific locations, ‘solo travel USA’ was the most popular search with a monthly average volume of 1,300, though this was down by 23% compared to 2022. This was followed by Italy with 720 monthly searches.

The country with the highest YoY increase in searches by U.S. solo travelers was Germany, with ‘solo travel Brazil’ seeing a 125% increase in searches from 2022 to 2023.

Source: Google Keyword Planner, data sourced by Radical Storage in October 2023

The costs of solo traveling

A rough cost for one person traveling alone for a whole year is $20,000, but this can vary depending on where you go, the type of accommodation you choose, transport, and many other factors. 

Choosing more luxury destinations or hotels could see the cost rise up to $40,000-$50,000. Traveling as a couple won’t necessarily double the costs as things like accommodation and transport can be a shared cost.

One traveler detailed her expenses for a round-the-world trip that lasted 11 months. This involved travel to 15 countries including Australia, Nepal India, Croatia, Italy, and the UK.

The breakdown of costs includes $3,577.40 for flights, $3,130.77 for lodging, and $2,820.11 for food during the trip. Other expenses of the year-long trip were $606 for vaccines required in certain countries and $230 for visas. You can see the full list of costs for this particular trip in the table below.

Source [ 7 ]

Staying in hostels, preparing your own food and using more budget transport options can help cut the costs of a long trip if you’re conscious of money when traveling alone.

Monthly solo travel costs in popular vacation destinations

We’ve looked at some popular vacation spots around the world and put together the average cost of a week’s trip for a solo person, not including flights.

Source [ 8 ]

How much does a solo traveler pay compared to a couple?

A 2023 study analysing package holidays from the UK’s largest package holiday providers, Jet2holidays and Tui, sought to find out how much a solo traveler would pay for a trip compared to two people traveling together.

The data showed that someone traveling solo with Tui would pay, on average, 47% more than someone traveling with another person. The average cost for a person traveling alone came to £1,147, compared with £781 per person for a couple.

What would people spend on solo travel

Most travelers said they would spend between $1,000 and $2,000 per week on a solo trip, excluding the airfare for getting to their destination.

Data shows a difference between the spending of solo travelers over the age of 55 and those under 55. People under 55 were more likely to spend less, with 70% saying they would spend $2,000 or less on a solo trip, compared to 53% of people over 55.

Travelers in the older group were more likely to spend a larger amount of money on their solo trips, with 17% saying they would spend over $3,000, compared to 9% of people in the younger group. Of the over 55s, 6% said they had planned to spend more than $4,000 on traveling by themselves which was twice as much as the under 55s at 3%.

Source [ 9 ]

Reasons people choose to travel alone

A survey by British Airways found that solo travelers’ top motivation for traveling alone was to do what they wanted to do, with 76% saying this was their main reason. Alongside this, almost two-thirds (63%) said that they wanted to take time out for themselves, and 37% said they wanted to explore a new location they had not visited before. [ 11 ]

Some of the other reasons people said they had traveled alone or wanted to include:

• Choosing the destination, what you eat and what you do (55%)
• Meeting new people and having new experiences (50%)
• Getting over a break-up (10%)

It is often very important for solo travelers to think about everything they need to take on the road, and this results in large, bulky bags. To avoid wandering around with weights, it can be helpful to find places to store your luggage near some of the main stations, such as:

• Rome: Termini and Tiburtina
• Milan , also Porta Garibaldi , Duomo
• Paris: Gare du Nord , Gare de l’Est , Gare de Lyon
• Barcelona , also Plaza de Espana
• Valencia: Nord Station and Joaquin Sorolla
• Budapest: Keleti and Nyugati
• Edinburgh: Waverley and Haymarket

Why are Americans planning to travel?

In 2021, Americans were asked whether they were planning to travel, and what the reason for their trip was. Over one-fifth (21%) said that they planned to go on a solo trip. 

The most popular reason for travel was a vacation, with 87% of people, followed by a business trip (52%), and visiting family and friends (42%). Almost a third (32%) of respondents said that they planned to take a trip that they had rescheduled because of COVID-19.

Source [ 10 ]

Female solo travel statistics

Recent data shows that 72% of American women are now choosing to go on solo trips. Online searches for ‘solo female travel’ have increased by 34% since 2019. 

The most common reasons women said they would like to go solo traveling were to do something they hadn’t done before (41%) and to have the freedom to do whatever they want (40%). [ 11 ]

Let’s take a look at some more female solo travel statistics:

• Flying vs road-trips: Over two-thirds (69%) of women said they would prefer to fly for a solo trip, compared to 57% of men. Men were more likely to take a road trip in their own vehicle with 63% of men saying they planned to do this, as opposed to 43% of women.
• Less camping or cabins: Surveys found that women were almost half as likely as men to stay in a cabin or camp outdoors on a solo trip (9% of women vs 19% of men). 
• Friends and family: Women were slightly more likely to want to stay with family or friends on a solo trip, with 25% of women compared to 23% of men saying they would do this.
• Age doesn’t matter: 16% of women take their first solo trip before the age of 25.

Concerns about traveling alone

One study from 2020 asked 2,000 men and women what concerns they had about solo traveling. Almost half (46%) of women said that safety was their biggest worry with regards to traveling alone, compared to 20% of men who cited safety as a concern.

The survey also found that younger women were more likely to worry about their safety, with 62% of women aged 18-24 saying safety was a concern, compared to 39% of women over 55.

The second most common concern for women was spending time alone, which 31% said would stop them from solo traveling. For men, the biggest specific concern was the cost of a solo trip compared to the cost when traveling with another person. 

In fact, 46% of male respondents in the survey said that none of the barriers mentioned would stop them from solo traveling.

Source [ 12 ]

[1] Leisure Travel Market – https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/leisure-travel-market  

[2] Solo Travel: A Growing Trend in 2023, Travel Daily Media – https://www.traveldailymedia.com/solo-travel-a-growing-trend-in-2023/  

[3] Holiday Habits Report – https://www.abta.com/industry-zone/reports-and-publications/abta-holiday-habits-reports/holiday-habits-report-2019

[4] Booking.com Solo Travel – https://news.booking.com/how-to-guide-bookingcom-shares-8-top-tips-for-solo-travel-gb/  

[5] Travel Trends 2020 – https://discover.bedsonline.com/en-na/resources/ebook/travel-trends-2020-travel-agents-guide-travelers-tomorrow  

[6] Solo Travel Accommodation Types – https://www.elitetravelblog.com/revealed-74-solo-travellers-opt-airbnbs-avoid-extra-charges/  

[7] Airbnb Solo Travel – https://news.airbnb.com/new-safety-product-for-solo-travelers/  

[8] Round the World Trip Cost – https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-budget-travel-around-the-world/  

[9] Weekly Cost in a City https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/  

[10] Solo Travel Data – https://solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statistics-data/  

[11] British Airways Travel Survey – https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease/details/86/0/10174  

[12] Americans’ Travel Plans – https://www.tripit.com/web/blog/news-culture/new-tripit-survey-americans-summer-travel-plans.html  

[13] Women’s Solo Travel Survey – https://www.tourlane.co.uk/women-solo-travel-survey/  

By Giacomo Piva

Giacomo Piva, CMO and Co-founder at Radical Storage Giacomo Piva has worked in the travel industry since 2008 across multiple niches including tourist transportation, luxury travel, and ecotourism. He now focuses on growing the global luggage network, Radical Storage , which is currently available in over 500 cities, in the likes of London, Paris, New York, and Rio de Janeiro. Giacomo has a bachelor's degree in Communication Science and an in-depth experience across travel marketing, especially in improving a brand’s digital presence within the industry.

SAILING UPDATES

• Poole to Guernsey
• Portsmouth to Guernsey
• UK to Guernsey
• Jersey to Guernsey
• St Malo to Guernsey
• View all ferries to Guernsey
• Poole to Jersey
• Portsmouth to Jersey
• UK to Jersey
• Guernsey to Jersey
• St Malo to Jersey
• View all ferries to Jersey
• Poole to St Malo
• Jersey to St Malo
• Guernsey to St Malo
• View all ferries to St Malo
• Poole to Cherbourg
• Guernsey to Cherbourg
• Guernsey to the UK
• Jersey to the UK
• St Malo to the UK
• View all ferries to the UK
• Group Travel
• Sailing Updates
• Vehicle size guide
• Travelling with your bike
• Travelling with pets
• Travelling with freight
• Travelling as a foot passenger
• Disabled facilities
• Advanced Passenger Information (API)
• Portsmouth Port
• Guernsey Port
• Jersey Port
• St Malo Port
• Cherbourg Port
• Special Offers
• Luxury 5* Hotels
• St Peter Port Hotels
• St Martin Hotels
• Hotels with pools
• Beach Hotels
• View all Guernsey Hotels
• Short Breaks
• Family Holidays
• Pet-friendly Holidays
• Self-catering
• View all holidays to Guernsey
• St Helier Hotels
• St Brelade Hotels
• St Aubin Hotels
• View all Jersey Hotels
• View all holidays to Jersey
• Guernsey to France
• Guernsey to UK
• Jersey to France
• Jersey to UK
• Jersey to Sark
• Top things to do in Guernsey
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• Attractions
• See more things to do in Guernsey
• Top things to do in Jersey
• See more things to do in Jersey
• Top things to do in St Malo
• See more things to do in St Malo
• Top things to do in the UK
• See more things to do in the UK
• Onboard Seating
• Bars & Dining
• Live Vessel Positions
• Condor Ferries Blog

FERRY + HOTEL

Your return date must be after your departure date.

Maximum of 9 passengers allowed on the outward.

Please select at least one adult to travel.

Please call 0345 609 1024 to book.

If you are travelling on business or in a commercial vehicle please click here for Condor Ferries Freight .

Please note that any person or vehicle travelling for business or commercial venture, carrying commercial goods/samples will need to book via our freight teams and do not qualify for leisure fares. In addition, if the vehicle being taken is designed for the carriage of commercial goods it shall be reserved as freight regardless of its dimensions. For more information please call the Commercial team on 01481 728620 .

Please wait while we find the best fares for you...

Female Travel Statistics 2023

• / Female Travel Statistics

Explore Statistics on Women Who Travel Including Demographics, Destinations, Spend & More!

Female travel has become a major phenomenon over the past few years with travel companies dedicated to woman-only clientele increasing by 230%. 64% of travelers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male.  There has also been a growing desire for females to travel alone and it is expected that $125 billion will be spent by women on travel this year.

As you'll see from the data below, many women have decided to embark on travel alone and this trend is growing fast! The COVID-19 pandemic may have halted travel but post-pandemic, just  16%  of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs.  37%  in 2021.

Traveling as a woman is popular amongst a variety of different ages, both solo and within groups to destinations all over the world. It has been found that Japan is the best place to visit for solo woman travelers when considering a variety of different factors. Social media has become a vital source of information for female travelers, with Instagram and Pinterest becoming the main destination for travel inspiration.

KEY FEMALE TRAVEL STATISTICS:

Post-pandemic  23% of females will travel closer to home.

Post-pandemic  17%  of women will fly only on specific, trusted airlines.

Only  16%  of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs.  37%  in 2021.

Travel companies dedicated to woman-only customers have hugely increased by 230% over the past few years.

32 million single American women went traveling at least once over the past year and 1 in 3 traveled 5 times or more.

It has been found that 80% of all travel decisions are made by women.

The search volume for the term 'female solo travel' across all search engines has increased by 62% over the past three years.

59% of female solo travelers would travel alone again in the next 12 months.

Regardless of what is going on in the world, it has been found that 86% of women state that they are not afraid to travel.

65% of women in the US have vacationed without their partner.

27% of travel agents believe that sightseeing and shopping are the most popular activities when women are booking travel.

It has been found that 75% of those who take adventure, cultural or nature trips are women.

Quick Links: Navigate Our Statistic Topics

• How has Covid-19 changed how women travel?

What is the age and average income of female travellers?

Why are so many women travelling solo, how many women travel with friends, how much do women spend on travel, what are the top female-friendly travel destinations, what inspires women to travel, how do women use social media when travelling, post covid-19 female travel statistics, has covid-19 changed how women travel.

2021 data shows 42% of women are travelling less frequently by any means of transport.

Only 16% of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs. 37% in 2021.

39% of women still worry about changing travel restrictions in 2022.

23% of females will travel closer to home.

4% of women report traveling just as much, just not by air.

17% of women will fly only on specific, trusted airlines.

23% of women will travel by air only if they have to. 

29% of women will travel less frequently by air.

Covid-19 had a huge impact on many different industries, travel being one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. While the travel industry is picking up, it has impacted how women choose to travel.

Sources : Solofemaletravellers ,  Shepackslite , Statista ,

PRE & POST COVID-19 FEMALE BUSINESS TRAVEL TRENDS

How has female business travel changed pre & post covid-19.

38.1% of business travelers pre-Covid were women.

11.2% of European business travelers pre-Covid were women, as opposed to 15% of men.

63.6% of women traveling for business felt somewhat unsafe taking business trips during the pandemic.

43.5% of female business travelers were worried about becoming infected with Covid 19 while travelling.

A study of female business travelers during Covid demonstrates that they felt nervous about business travel during the pandemic and worried about catching Covid 19 while traveling. 

Sources : Shepackslite , Statista ,

DEMOGRAPHIC TRAVEL TRENDS

46%  are aged between 25-39.

57 is the average age for women travellers in the UK.

54% of affluent travellers with incomes of over $250,000 are women.

11.2% of women who travel on business are business owners, in comparison to 15% of men.

When examining women travel statistics , it is obvious that senior citizens are one of the fastest-growing demographics in this sector. Data on those over 50 reveal that older women are leading the way for travel in the UK and is the biggest growth area, as 57 is the average age for women travellers.

Evidently, women over 50 enjoy travelling alone because they are often divorced, single or widowed. These women are also more financially stable as 54% of affluent travellers earn over $250,000 are women.

There is no age limit for women who like to explore as it is also common for millennial women to go abroad. Women taking vacations has recently become synonymous with self-care, it is an opportunity for wellness, freedom and empowerment. Research shows that women enjoy adventure travel and like to immerse themselves in a foreign culture more so than men.

Sources: GutsyTraveler , GirlPowerMarketing , MappingMegan, TravelDailyNews , LonelyPlanet , Vox , BostonGlobe , Squeezepod, Forbes , Solotraveler , Trekksoft , Telegraph

SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL STATS

The greatest increase in solo travel in 2022 came from women aged 65 and older  going from 4% in 2019 to 18% in 2022.

96% of women who have never traveled solo before would be more likely to do so on a group tour.

18% of solo female travelers recommend their country of origin   as the best destination for their first solo trip.

54% of solo female travelers recommend Europe   as the best destination for their first solo trip.

81% of solo female travellers are over 45 years old.

13% are aged between 35-44, 6% between 25-34 & 1% are 18-24.

27% of women have said they would consider taking a holiday by themselves.

‘Solo female travel’ returns more than 45 million results on Google.

72% of American women like to take trips solo.

55% of solo travel searches in the UK are made by women, specifically ages 25-34 who live in London.

73% of travel agents found that female travellers embark on more solo trips than males.

59% of women solo travellers would go alone again within the next 12 months.

Solo bookings have grown 45% in the last few years in this market.

54% of British females are more likely to take trips alone than they were five years ago.

The female travel market has increased by 88% in the last few years demonstrating a massive cultural shift as there has been an increasing desire for females to discover the world alone. Data reveals that women travelling alone has become more common as travel agents noted that 59% of their clients are travelling more by themselves now than 10 years ago.

Why do women vacation solo? Solo female travel statistics demonstrate t raveling alone as a woman  gives them the opportunity to explore new places whilst following their own schedule and ensuing specific interests. Women love to visit different places as it gives them a chance to celebrate, reflect, learn, escape and test boundaries. In fact, it has been found that solo female travellers outnumbered solo male travellers by 67% versus 37%.

Sources:   BBC ,  Vox, GutsyTraveler , SoloTraveler , TravelDailyNews, SqueezePod, HostelWorldGroup , Skift , HostelWorld , Forbes , LonelyPlanet

FEMALE TRAVEL & COMPANION TRENDS

21% of females joined a small group trip in the last 12 months, either alone (17%) or with friends and family, recovering to 2019 pre-pandemic group travel levels.

In 2022, 28% of women were interested in a women-only group travel trip, vs. 65% in 2021.

24% of women in the U.S have gone on a ‘girlfriend getaway’ in the past three years.

39% of women in the US are planning on going on a ‘girlfriend getaway’ in the next three years.

The ‘girlfriend getaway’ market brings in over $200 million a year.

Over 50% of women said they were interested in traveling with a group, either mixed or women-only.

91% of females who book trips with other females are travelling with friends

8% of females who book trips with other females are travelling with relatives.

The ‘girlfriend getaway’ market constitutes over $200 million a year and is evidently popular amongst women travellers. Women often like to take trips with a female friend if they are not travelling solo and is something that 24% of American women have done recently and 39% intend to do in the future.

Female travel companions range from bachelorette parties, trips with female relatives or even a big group getaway with their female friends. Women enjoy travelling with friends as seeing the world is often more fun with others as it is a chance for them to enjoy common interests together. It is also understood that safety comes in numbers when travelling, especially when visiting somewhere known to have a higher crime rate.

Interest in group travel in 2022 has decreased compared to the pandemic’s peak in 2021, but is still important for solo travellers going on their first trip.

Sources:  Solofemaletravelers,   GutsyTraveler, GirlPowerMarketing

FEMALE TRAVEL SPENDING STATISTICS

$125 billion is the expected spend made by women on travel this year.

67 million women will make travel decisions this year. As women control $15 trillion in spending power and are therefore driving an explosive growth in the travel industry.

How much is the women’s travel industry worth? It is expected that $125 billion will be spent by women to take vacations this year and is, therefore, a major market within this industry. It is also apparent that it is women who make decisions when travelling over men. Due to the increase in demand, we can expect to see women spending more money on travel in the future.    

A survey conducted by the International Currency Exchange (ICE) found that women are more likely to spend when they travel in comparison to men. 15% of women stated that they spend more than £200 a day, whereas this is just 5% for men. This is because women see travelling as a chance to reward themselves and see it as an opportunity to escape.

Sources :  GirlPowerMarketing, GutsyTraveler , Bustle

STATISTICS & TOP DESTINATIONS FOR WOMEN

45% of agents found that Europe is the most popular destination for women.

The top 10 destinations for American women travelling solo are: Cuba, Macedonia, Guatemala, UAE, Luxembourg, Egypt, Nepal, Mexico, Albania and Finland.

The top 10 safest destinations are: Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Uruguay, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, Austria, Chile and Japan.

When considering factors such as culture, safety, scenery, women’s rights and adventure for solo female travellers, Japan came out on top. This was followed by France, Spain, USA, Indonesia, Italy, Australia, Canada, Portugal and the Philippines.

Research shows that India is the fastest-growing destination for solo travellers, tour operators have credited this interest to the TV series The Real Marigold Hotel. The fastest-growing female-friendly destinations are then followed by Italy, then Sri Lanka.

Where are the safest places for women to travel?

Post-pandemic, the top 5 safest destinations for women to travel to are:

Safety has a huge influence when females choose their solo female-friendly travel destinations. Travelling alone can be challenging and empowering however being safe is seen as the top priority for women. 

What stops women from traveling alone?

• 69% said safety was their main reason for not travelling alone.
• 50% were concerned about getting lost.
• 46% didn't want to feel lonely.

Sources: BBC ,  GutsyTraveler , HostelWorldGroup , JetSetter , LonelyPlanet , AmperSand

Before a trip, the top 4 risks that women consider are:

Pickpocketing/purse snatching ( 93% )

Credit card fraud ( 86% )

Identity theft ( 63% ),

Taxi scams ( 62% )

While traveling, women business travelers manage safety by:

Regularly communicating with family or friends ( 58% )

Staying only at trusted hotels ( 56% )

Sharing itineraries with family and friends ( 51% )

WOMEN’S TRAVEL STATISTICS - EXPERIENCE & REASONING

In 2021 , 90% of female travellers were motivated to travel alone due to the flexibility it offers.

Getting away from routine and responsibilities was the second leading motive for 86% of females traveling alone.

87% of women travel for beautiful scenery in comparison to 72% of men.

17% of females travel for history, culture and education.

16% of females travel for beach escapes.

15% of females travel for adventure.

13% of females like to travel on cruises.

Most women are looking to have ‘experiences’ when they travel.

2015 started the trend for females to quit their job and travel the world.

69% of females draw their inspiration from travel.

Why do females travel solo? Solo travel for women is focused on freedom, impulsivity as well a chance to meet new people. Women are still interested in luxury vacations and spa holidays , but female travellers are becoming increasingly interested in taking more active adventures. Solo travelling is an opportunity for relaxation but also an opportunity for women to experience new things.

Women are also increasingly bilingual which makes travelling easier and safer, it also allows for more cultural opportunities and a chance for women to feel intellectually stimulated.

Sources: Statista ,  GutsyTraveler , Forbes, MappingMegan

SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS

3% of women in the UK share their experiences on social media.

The ‘Solo Female Travellers’ group on Facebook has more than 27,000 members .

62% of women use social media to keep in touch with home.

75% of women use social media to help them find the best places to eat and the best activities to do.

58% of women say that social media makes them feel safer when they travel.

Searching ‘solo travel’ on Pinterest has surged by 600% in 2018.

These trends demonstrate the significance of social media for female travellers. The platforms act as a destination image library, a safety net, an inspiration guide and a place for recommendations. Social media has everything a female traveller needs!

It allows access to constant information and communication whilst at the same time giving them the chance to relax and enjoy the freedom of travelling. Social media and safety are also particularly important for solo female travellers as 58% of women say that social media makes them feel safer when they travel.

Women sharing beautiful destination photos on Instagram accounts have become a huge phenomenon within the travel industry. There are 500 million active users sharing on Instagram and around 80 million photos being uploaded a day which is why many females look for travelling inspiration on Instagram. With the increase in travel bloggers and the use of hashtags to explore destinations, Instagram is the perfect place to be inspired.

Sources: Skift, FlightNetwork, TravelDailyNews, Trekksoft , NationalGeographic , CNTraveler

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Modern Slavery Act
• Travel & Tourism Statistics
• Frequent Traveller Club
• Travel Trade
• Condor in the Community
• Corporate Hub
• Jersey Holidays & Breaks
• Guernsey Holidays & Breaks
• Condor Breaks Booking Conditions
• Foreign Office Travel Advice

• Condor Ferries
• St. Peter Port
• +443456091024

Copyright © Condor Limited 2024. All rights reserved.

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). A paid subscription is required for full access.

• Main motivations of female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide 2022

Leading motivations of female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide in 2022

• Immediate access to 1m+ statistics
• Incl. source references
• Download as PNG, PDF, XLS, PPT

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

September 2023

approx. 3,000

18 years and older

respondents who have traveled solo before and who answered agree or strongly agree

Panel survey

The source did not specify the date of survey and publication. The release date is the date of access.

Other statistics on the topic Solo travelers

Parks & Outdoors

• Number of U.S. Americans living in recreational vehicles 2020-2022
• Main obstacles for female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide 2022
• Motivations to travel solo worldwide 2023

Leisure Travel

• U.S.-based travelers camping on a solo trip 2021, by gender

To download this statistic in XLS format you need a Statista Account

To download this statistic in PNG format you need a Statista Account

To download this statistic in PDF format you need a Statista Account

To download this statistic in PPT format you need a Statista Account

As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.

As a Premium user you get access to background information and details about the release of this statistic.

As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail.

… to incorporate the statistic into your presentation at any time.

You need at least a Starter Account to use this feature.

• Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
• Usage and publication rights
• Download in various formats

You only have access to basic statistics. This statistic is not included in your account.

• Instant access  to 1m statistics
• Download  in XLS, PDF & PNG format
• Detailed  references

Business Solutions including all features.

Statistics on " Solo travelers "

• Solo travelers future travel plans worldwide 2020-2021
• COVID-19: solo travelers attitudes worldwide 2021
• Solo travelers average travel transaction spend in selected countries 2020
• Solo travelers' weekly spending worldwide 2023
• Solo travelers' destination interests worldwide 2023
• Escorted tours and cruises taken by solo travelers in selected countries 2021
• Non-European continents where British solo travelers want to go 2020
• Barriers to solo holidays in the United Kingdom 2020, by gender
• Main French travel companions for the next year 2021
• U.S.-based travelers planning a solo trip in the next year 2021, by gender
• Main reasons for taking a trip among U.S.-based travelers 2021
• U.S.-based travelers planning a solo trip in the next year 2021, by generation
• Means of transportation for U.S.-based solo travelers 2021, by gender
• Main factors for solo female travelers in choosing a destination worldwide 2022
• Main activities of interest to solo female travelers worldwide 2022
• Main obstacles to travelling alone according to women in France 2020

Other statistics that may interest you Solo travelers

• Premium Statistic Solo travelers future travel plans worldwide 2020-2021
• Premium Statistic COVID-19: solo travelers attitudes worldwide 2021
• Premium Statistic Motivations to travel solo worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Solo travelers average travel transaction spend in selected countries 2020

Travel behavior

• Premium Statistic Solo travelers' weekly spending worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Solo travelers' destination interests worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Escorted tours and cruises taken by solo travelers in selected countries 2021
• Premium Statistic Non-European continents where British solo travelers want to go 2020
• Premium Statistic Barriers to solo holidays in the United Kingdom 2020, by gender
• Premium Statistic Main French travel companions for the next year 2021

American solo travelers

• Premium Statistic U.S.-based travelers planning a solo trip in the next year 2021, by gender
• Premium Statistic Main reasons for taking a trip among U.S.-based travelers 2021
• Premium Statistic U.S.-based travelers planning a solo trip in the next year 2021, by generation
• Premium Statistic Means of transportation for U.S.-based solo travelers 2021, by gender
• Premium Statistic Number of U.S. Americans living in recreational vehicles 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic U.S.-based travelers camping on a solo trip 2021, by gender

Female solo travelers

• Premium Statistic Main motivations of female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Main factors for solo female travelers in choosing a destination worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Main obstacles for female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Main activities of interest to solo female travelers worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Main obstacles to travelling alone according to women in France 2020

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

More From Forbes

How to plan the best solo female trip to milan, italy.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Milan is a smart, safe, and stylish destination for solo female travel in Italy.

Based on post-pandemic tourism data compiled by Italy’s tourist board , planning vacations to the the beloved Mediterranean country has never been more popular. While cities like Rome and Venice will always remain bucket list destinations, what should you do if you’re a solo female traveler looking for an Italian city that’s less crowded, safe, and just as beguiling?

Consider Milan. Italy's second-largest city has long been dismissed as the country’s design and fashion capital, but in reality, there’s far more to Milan’s appeal than Salone del Mobile and Miuccia Prada. From historic attractions to fantastic food, the city is an underrated gem. Plus, getting around is a breeze thanks to inexpensive public transportation, including Milano Centrale—which has several hundred domestic trains departing daily so you can explore even more of Italy.

Here, a handy guide on how to plan a safe and unforgettable solo female trip to Milan.

Where to Stay

Hotel NH Collection Milano CityLife pays homage to the church it occupies, 1934's Chiesa del Cristo ... [+] Re.

Anchored by three architectural masterpieces from Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Libeskind, and Arata Isozaki, CityLife is a mixed-use development that’s home to stylish shops, enticing restaurants, and as of 2022, one of Milan’s buzziest new hotels, Hotel NH Collection Milano CityLife . Spread across two structures including Chiesa del Cristo Re, a 1934 neoclassical-style church, the 185-key hotel offers a stay that’s removed enough from Milan’s city center to ensure peace and quiet, but close enough to access by foot.

WhatsApp Brand New iPhone Feature Just Launched That s Much Easier To Use

Apple’s iphone ai plans confirmed with new software upgrade, packers complete safety overhaul with georgia’s javon bullard.

Hotel NH Collection Milano CityLife's exterior lounge and reception area

The gleaming all-white structure’s original facade, arches, and soaring columns were carefully restored to nod to Chiesa del Cristo Re’s previous life. The design ethos flows indoors to the main lobby, where seven-meter-high bronze elements resembling organ pipes make the mundane act of checking in a grand one.

Religion, however, isn’t the only source of inspiration for Hotel NH Collection Milano CityLife. The city’s fashion legacy is woven into the property’s signature restaurant and lounge Tailors. Lovely for an aperitivo—which in true Italian style arrive with salty nibbles like Taralli and potato chips—a sophisticated dinner of housemade duck ragu paccheri drizzled with Vacche Rosse Parmigiano Reggiano bechamel, or the daily breakfast spread, Tailors celebrates craftsmanship in the kitchen. When the sun’s out, zip up to the roof, where one of only two hotel rooftop pools in Milan and chic al fresco bar await.

NH Collection Milano Citylife has ten duplex suites outfitted with private terraces and hot tubs.

Though the guest rooms skew snug (as do many European hotels), they’re smartly laid out. On top of that: the low-slung beds are dreamy; the branded NH bathroom amenities incorporate sustainable packaging and formulas; and the ceiling-to-floor windows bathe the space in natural light for a more open feel. In the mood to splurge? Then reserve one of the hotel’s ten duplex suites . Cloaked in calming earth tones, they sport one-of-a-kind configurations and come with private terraces and hot tubs.

Federico Vaccari leads unique insider experiences, including one-of-a-kind photoshoots, through his ... [+] hometown Milan in a beautiful restored vintage Fiat 500.

If you’ve been to Milan before, and want to discover a lesser-known side of the city, book a unique insider experience with Federico Vaccari . For two hours, Vaccari will scoot you around in a beautiful restored vintage Fiat 500 and reveal spots travelers rarely get to see, like Via Abramo Lincoln’s candy-colored houses. Since the car can only carry two passengers, it’s especially well-suited for solo female travelers.

For first-timers: no visit would be complete without seeing the Duomo, Milan's most famous cathedral, and enjoying expansive city views from the rooftop. Teatro alla Scala and Santa Maria delle Grazie, home of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Last Supper painting, are other cultural landmarks worth scoping out. For retail therapy, head to Milan’s legendary fashion district Milan's Quadrilatero and Via della Spiga. Reserved for pedestrians, this glamorous strip showcases Italy’s biggest fashion houses such as Prada and Moschino. (Bring your passport to enjoy tax-free shopping.)

Where to Eat

A traditional Puglian snack of fried dough stuffed with cheese and tomatoes, Panzerotti is one of ... [+] Milan's most popular street snacks.

Despite being frequently overshadowed by Naples, Rome, and Bologna, Milan is a worthy dining destination in its own right. As of 2023, it’s home to 17 Michelin-starred restaurants like Rome, which run the gamut from Enrico Bartolini ’s innovating tasting menus to IYO , where modern Japanese fare with European flourishes take center stage.

Bice remains a city stalwart for classic Tuscan fare (Ossobuco alla Milanese, Ribollita) and Federico Delrosso’s timeless design, while Peck has attracted discriminating palates since 1883 with an extensive (and immaculately presented) selection of gourmet meats, prepared foods, cheese, sweets, and wines. Ciacco turns out high-quality, small-batch gelato in classic and experimental flavors like the Robiola-infused “Almost Cheesecake.” For a quick bite to go, Panzo has you covered with made-to-order panzerotti, a traditional Puglian snack of fried dough stuffed with melty cheese and tomatoes.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Things I (should not) have done as a solo female traveller

• Share on Twitter
• Share on WhatsApp
• E-mail this article
• 0 Engagements

It could happen to anyone.

That was one of my first thoughts when reading about the death of Singaporean woman Audrey Fang , who was found dead in Spain with 30 stab wounds.

The news also made me consider how much I take safety for granted even when travelling as a lone female, having lived in Singapore all my life.

I went solo for the first time at the age of 22 and have been hooked since. I spent 12 days in Krabi, Khao Yai and Bangkok – and it remains one of my most unforgettable trips to date. 

Picture snorkelling with fishes in crystal clear waters, climbing more than 1,200 steps to reach one of the most stunning views ever, camping in a forest and falling asleep to the sounds of wild elephants, and feeling like the possibilities are endless.

Because it is such an entirely different experience from travelling with companions, I make it a point to do at least one solo trip every year. Greece, Japan and Vietnam are some of the countries I have checked off my list. It is liberating, to feel so free and untethered. 

6 ways to travel fearlessly as a solo female traveller

Related stories, tourists spotted wearing only trunks and slippers at phuket airport, american on zero-dollar travel budget challenge sneaks onto bus without paying, incurs netizens’ wrath, man rewards himself with ‘simple’ cai fan, kopi peng after epic road trip across 23 countries.

But by no means do I consider myself an expert, which was why I felt so much imposter syndrome when tasked with writing a piece on the topic.

Sure, I can share safety tips like dressing appropriately or not flaunting your valuables – all of which you probably already know or can read anywhere else.

But that would only make me feel like a fraud because to be honest, I am not the most vigilant person. Instead of putting labels on myself, I would say I just do what feels right.

While I count myself lucky that I have not had any unpleasant experiences in my years of travelling solo, recent events have left me contemplating whether I am perhaps too lax when it comes to my own safety.

Not sharing my location with anyone

The consensus is that you should share your itinerary with loved ones at home or regularly update them on your location.

Yet I am a private person and that includes a tendency not to inform anyone of my whereabouts when overseas. After all, the point of a holiday for me is escapism: Getting away from everything (and everyone?) to recharge.

That means I do not post my real-time location on social media either.

In 2019, I lied to my mum that I was going for a leisurely vacation – when in fact I was planning to hike Everest Base Camp – so as to not worry her. Not my wisest decision, but she somehow figured it all out even before I flew. No wonder they say mother knows best.

Walking on the streets in the dark

This sounds like an obvious no-no, but hear me out.

I like milking the most out of my day and that sometimes means staying out later than I probably should. Living in Singapore – undoubtedly one of the safest countries in the world and also incredibly walkable – might have also contributed to my sense of complacency.

Of course, I do my research in advance and avoid areas known for having higher crime rates or being sleazy. So far, I have not had any unsavoury encounters and find that the best way to deal with touts, catcalls or any unwanted attention is to simply ignore them. 

Personally, I love exploring places by foot and seeing how they differ day and night.

Meeting strangers

My mum will probably flip out if she reads this.

While I have not – and probably will never – fly somewhere just to meet someone for the first time, I am not opposed to befriending new people in a foreign land.

A local asked me out when I was in Istanbul last September and I said yes as I thought it would be a fun way to spend my last night in Turkey. Not only did I get to see a side of the city I wouldn’t have otherwise known, I was also introduced to experiences not commonly found on any tourist map.

It was a nice night and I made a new friend. To think that I nearly missed witnessing the streets come alive with music, laughter and a flurry of activities. It was a total transformation from the heat and crowds of Istanbul in the day.

I guess that’s what has me so in love with solo travel: It gets me out of my comfort zone. It makes me realise how resilient human beings are, and that I am capable of so much more than I think.

It is challenging, healing and empowering all at once. It allows me to discover not just memorable experiences, but also a lot about myself.

Sure, you can never be too careful and there are definitely areas I need to work on. At the same time, there are also certain things that have never steered me wrong:

• Always do your research
• Avoid standing out
• Trust your instincts

Now I just need to come clean to my mum about the upcoming solo trips that I have planned.

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store  or Google Play Store now

Cherlynn Ng

• Share on Facebook

Protect Your Trip »

The 13 best solo cruises for 2024 (no supplement fare).

Set sail for a solo adventure at sea.

The Best Solo Cruises

Getty Images

Relax by the pool, attend shows, dine with new friends and more on your next solo cruise.

Whether you're embarking on your first cruise alone or you've been on solo cruises before, single travelers will find more options than ever when it comes to cruising solo. Many cruise lines offer single staterooms with the same amenities as other cabins, at a price similar to what you'd pay with double occupancy fares. You'll also find special promotions where the single supplement fee is reduced or waived, making it more affordable to reserve a spacious stateroom or luxurious suite with even more amenities – including personalized butler service, an added perk of booking with many luxury lines .

If you're ready for a maritime adventure, an extended vacation or simply a quick getaway from home, these top cruise lines offer some of the best options for solo travelers on waterways around the world.

Lines with solo accommodations and waived fees

Norwegian cruise line.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Launched in 2010, Norwegian Epic was the first cruise ship in the industry to feature studio accommodations for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line offers this category on nine of the 19 ships in its fleet, including the newest ship, Norwegian Viva. These cabins, at an average size of 100 square feet, are designed and priced with the solo traveler in mind. They have no single supplements – and studio rooms on board Norwegian Bliss even boast virtual windows.

Guests of the studios get access to the private Studio Lounge. In this exclusive space, you can socialize with other solo travelers and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There are also singles meetups throughout the voyage and plenty of fun-filled onboard activities to mingle with like-minded cruisers. Solo travelers can check out all the fun for singles on Norwegian Viva this winter on a cruise to the Caribbean , or in spring 2024 as the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean .

Book a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers interior and balcony solo cabins for single cruisers on its Meraviglia-class ships: the MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the newest vessel in the fleet, MSC Euribia. The second-newest ship, MSC World Europa, has 28 cabins – 10 Studio Interior and 18 Studio Ocean View staterooms – designed specifically for solo travelers. MSC World America, set to debut in 2025, will also feature the solo studio staterooms.

During voyages with MSC Cruises , single cruisers are invited to a complimentary, hosted cocktail party to mix and mingle with other solo travelers. The daily program is also an excellent source to discover additional activities, entertainment and opportunities to meet other cruisers. You'll have onboard special events like the themed 70s-inspired Flower Party and the White Party, where the ship is decked out in festive white decor and guests don their best white attire. In addition, there are various sports tournaments, or you can show off your culinary expertise during a MasterChef competition.

MSC's Caribbean and Bahamas cruises departing from Miami and New York City feature an overnight visit to Ocean Cay, the line's private island and marine reserve. While there, singles can participate in fun-filled evening activities like a Champagne Sunset Cruise or a glow paddleboarding excursion in the lagoon, then attend the lively Luna Libre Party and the lighthouse show.

Find an MSC Cruises itinerary on GoToSea.

Holland America Line

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Holland America Line

Three of Holland America Line's newest ships each offer 12 solo cabins to accommodate single travelers: the Pinnacle-class Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Konigsdam. These ocean view staterooms range in size from 127 to 172 square feet and feature the same amenities as the double occupancy cabins but with a double bed. The cruise line's Single Staterooms are priced for one person. If a guest chooses to book a different stateroom, single supplements for double occupancy cabins are as much as 100% over the standard fare, depending on the voyage and the cabin category.

Long committed to solo travelers, the line offers many activities where guests can meet other singles such as wine tastings, cocktail mixers, exercise classes, daily quizzes, sports challenges and more. If you're a solo traveler and a member of AARP, Holland America is now the exclusive cruise benefit provider to AARP's members. Solo cruisers will have access to an AARP member-only onboard credit that ranges from $50 to $200, depending on the itinerary and stateroom category.

For itineraries, Holland America's Alaska cruises and cruisetours are perfect for solo travelers, offering many opportunities to connect with fellow cruisers. Another favorite for singles is the line's fall voyages sailing from Boston to Québec City or Montreal.

Explore Holland America Line deals on GoToSea.

Royal Caribbean International

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International features studio staterooms on select ships that range in size from 101 to 199 square feet. These solo accommodations include interior rooms, virtual balcony staterooms and a super studio ocean view stateroom with a balcony. The cabins do not carry the single supplement fee singles encounter when booking other types of staterooms, making them an attractive option when traveling alone.

Once on board the ship, solo cruisers will have countless options to engage and socialize with other travelers. When it comes to dining with Royal Caribbean , make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki for an entertaining meal with new friends, or join fellow foodies for the intimate Chef's Table experience (the dining venues vary by ship). Singles can also participate in onboard activities like trivia contests, drink seminars, escape rooms, dance classes and pool parties.

If you need more thrills to stay busy and to meet people, Royal Caribbean's ships feature world-class shows and entertainment alongside adrenaline-pumping rides and attractions. If you're sailing in the Caribbean, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and chat with other passengers at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Luxury line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers single cruisers 183 square feet of beautifully appointed space in solo accommodations that come without single supplement fees. These ocean view staterooms feature a queen bed, a panoramic picture window, a private spa bathroom with a rain shower and body jets, a stocked minifridge replenished daily with personal favorites, and other luxurious amenities. Single guests can also book other stateroom or suite categories with single supplements starting at 50% of the double occupancy price.

The line's three intimate yacht-style cruise ships – World Navigator, World Traveller and the new World Voyager, whose inaugural season begins in Antarctica in November 2023 – are all-inclusive . Meals at all the dining venues, premium beverages and wines, gratuities, culturally immersive excursions, and more are included in the fare. With fewer than 200 guests on board, there's an atmosphere of conviviality on these ships – especially when exploring remote destinations with like-minded and adventurous travelers during expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Read: The Top Cruises on Small Ships

Celebrity Cruises

Tim Aylen | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships offer some of the best options for solo cruisers. The line's two newest vessels, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent (set to debut in late 2023), each boast 32 single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda. In addition, Celebrity Apex has 24 solo cabins, and Celebrity Edge features 16 staterooms for individual guests. These one-person accommodations offer a minimum of 131 square feet of space and the same upscale amenities you'll find in other category staterooms on their ships. Solo guests can look for special promotions where the single supplement is waived on select Celebrity voyages throughout the year.

Once on board the vessel, check out the daily program for activities conducive to meeting others – like wine tastings, cocktail-making classes and more. You'll also enjoy thrilling top-notch entertainment around the ship in The Theatre, The Club and Eden. A few popular cruises for singles are the line's Caribbean and Mexico itineraries on Celebrity Beyond.

Book a Celebrity Cruise on GoToSea.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The hip vibe on board the adults-only Virgin Voyages ships is ideal for solo cruisers looking to meet other travelers. Its superyacht-style ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady – offer 40 interior cabins ranging in size from 105 to 177 square feet. There are also six Sea View staterooms with portholes boasting between 130 to 190 square feet of space. These Insider and Sea View cabins are designed and priced for single travelers, with amenities like high-tech mood lighting and roomy rain showers. The line also runs promotions where solo cruisers can book double occupancy staterooms without paying a single supplement.

Activities and festival-like entertainment around the ships foster fast friendships. Diners will enjoy the interactive experience at Gunbae, the lively Korean barbecue venue. The "grog walk" is a fun pub stroll where solo sailors can join fellow mates while sipping and snacking their way through all the signature bars. For even more fun, check out the evening shipwide events such as the themed Scarlet Party, which features live music and immersive experiences. The line also hosts meetups for singles throughout each voyage.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways' river and small-ship cruises traverse waterways around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The company waives the single supplement on a selection of staterooms, including its Panorama Suites, on select European and Asia departures. The company recommends booking early as the specially priced cabins do sell out. Solo travelers make up about 10% of the passengers on this river cruise line .

Avalon's fleet of Suite Ships operates in Europe and Southeast Asia and features cabins with a minimum of 172 square feet. About 80% of the staterooms are Panorama Suites, which have 200 feet of living space, beds with a view and the river cruise industry's only open-air balcony. With Avalon excursions, solo cruisers have opportunities to meet like-minded guests during immersive tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, yoga or fitness classes, biking or hiking trips, and more. Single guests can choose to dine at tables for just two people or ones that can accommodate up to eight passengers.

Read: Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Next Cruise

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

Two single occupancy staterooms are available on four of AmaWaterways' river cruise ships: AmaDolce, AmaDante, AmaLyra and AmaCello. These accommodations do not have single supplement fees. Solo cruisers can also book staterooms with a 20% single supplement on select sailings in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that this pricing does not apply to certain stateroom categories and suites.)

With the friendly, small-ship atmosphere, solo cruisers will find it comfortable to socialize with other passengers and the crew. Onboard activities and immersive excursions also create opportunities for fostering friendships, especially among like-minded travelers. Excellent options for solo cruises include themed sailings centered around music and wine or the magical Christmas markets itineraries along the Danube, Rhone and Rhine rivers.

Explore AmaWaterways deals on GoToSea.

Lines with discounted supplement fares

Courtesy of Azamara

Azamara's special offers for solo travelers include reduced single supplements of 25% to 50% of the double occupancy rate on select sailings. The line's four midsized sister ships – carrying no more than 700 passengers – are mostly all-inclusive. Amenities included in the cruise fare include most meals; standard spirits, wines and beers; bottled water, soft drinks, and specialty teas and coffees; shuttle service in port; gratuities; and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings ashore or Destination Celebration experiences on the ship. Dining at the two specialty restaurants is an additional cost unless guests have accommodations in the Club World Owner's Suites, Club Ocean Suite or Club Continent Suite.

Single guests on Azamara cruises will find events during the sailing and venues around the ship where you can mix and mingle with other solo travelers and chat with the friendly crew. Intimate and culturally immersive excursions also create opportunities to meet passengers with similar interests. Azamara Onward, the latest ship, boasts the new Atlas Bar, a great spot to meet other travelers.

For itineraries, Azamara's signature "Country-Intensive Voyages" are a favorite of solo cruisers, including the 10- or 11-night Greece Intensive Voyage. For an extended sailing, check out the festive 12-night Carnival in Rio Voyage, which features a stop in Rio de Janeiro during the city's famed Carnival.

Compare Azamara cruises on GoToSea.

Cunard Line

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line features dedicated solo staterooms on its three ships, priced at approximately 166% to 174% of the equivalent double occupancy cruise fare. Guests can choose between a spacious Britannia Inside or Britannia Oceanview cabin, or opt for a larger stateroom with a single supplement. For a little "me time" pampering while on board, solos will appreciate 24-hour room service, complimentary Penhaligon's toiletries and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Single guests will also be invited to get-togethers. You can either dine alone at venues around the ship such as the main dining room or choose to share a table with other passengers.

With an international mix of travelers, single cruisers will find many opportunities to meet and chat with others, especially during a Transatlantic Crossing. During the sailing, you'll find many enriching and relaxing activities that encourage socializing. According to Cunard , there's a sense of camaraderie and a passion around the voyage – and the unique travel experience of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Find a Cunard Line cruise on GoToSea.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Luxury line Silversea Cruises offers 25% single supplements on various voyages throughout the year, including expedition cruises to destinations like the Galápagos Islands , Antarctica and the Arctic, and Greenland. The line's all-inclusive fares include luxurious ocean view suites, gourmet dining, complimentary wines and spirits, gratuities, onboard enrichment and entertainment, shore excursions, and more. Solo travelers will even have personalized butler service to indulge their every whim.

The line's fleet of a dozen intimate ships, carrying no more than 728 guests, offers a clubby atmosphere perfect for meeting solo and like-minded travelers. Single guests will also have the opportunity to engage with other solo passengers during a welcome reception with Champagne at the beginning of each voyage. Popular itineraries for Silversea's single cruisers include its Transoceanic journeys, a bucket list trip for many cruisers .

Explore Silversea Cruises deals on GoToSea.

Courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn has special offers throughout the year where solo cruisers can take advantage of reduced pricing equal to double occupancy fares or discounts on the single supplement starting at 25% above the double occupancy fares. These rates are available on select voyages, including expedition cruises. Frequent solo cruisers and members of the luxury line's Seabourn Club Diamond Elite will also find reduced single supplements on Diamond Elite Single Supplement Sailings. In addition, club members receive invitations to exclusive events, where they can meet and mingle with fellow cruisers. Solo passengers are also invited to sit with the ship's officers, crew and entertainers at dinner – and there are hosted get-togethers for single travelers.

Solo cruisers will enjoy beautifully designed oceanfront suites and all-inclusive amenities on board Seabourn 's intimate ships. These perks include world-class dining; complimentary premium wine and spirits; a spa and wellness program in partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil; included gratuities; and the line's enrichment series, Seabourn Conversations. Single cruisers looking for an extended holiday will enjoy longer voyages on the line's newest purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Compare Seabourn cruises on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. She used extensive research and experience as a solo cruiser to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Party Cruises
• The Top Transatlantic Cruises
• The Top 3-Day Cruise Itineraries
• Solo Travel for Women: The Best Places and Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

The Best Places to Travel Alone

Tags: Travel , Cruises

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Flight canceled or delayed what to do.

Amanda Norcross April 26, 2024

The Best Beach Hats

Megan Johnson and Sharael Kolberg April 26, 2024

The Best Florence Tours

John Rodwan April 25, 2024

The 9 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours of 2024

John Rodwan April 24, 2024

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Gwen Pratesi April 24, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Cape Cod

Lyn Mettler April 24, 2024

Best Whale Watching Tours in Maine

Marisa Méndez April 23, 2024

The Best Wineries in Napa Valley

April 23, 2024

The Best East Coast Beaches

April 19, 2024

The Best Luggage Brands

Rachael Hood April 17, 2024