Why Solo Travel Is on the Rise

Matt Berna, president, North America, at Intrepid Travel says that they too have detected a global increase in solo travelers, from 40% pre-pandemic to 43% in 2022. Of those people booking alone, 50% identify as women, up from 45% in 2019.

Berna believes the increase stems from a desire for more adventure. “Post-pandemic, there is a pent-up demand to explore all the world has to offer. Intrepid travelers are curious, active, as well as socially, environmentally and culturally aware that they are part of a global community. They want to live life outside their comfort zone, even if that means doing it alone.”

Although designed for our own safety and survival, pandemic-level restrictions made many people feel stifled and controlled. Solo travel can be a chance to exercise autonomy, without having to check in or negotiate options with others. “You can choose your itinerary, go when and where you want at your own pace, be spontaneous and change plans at a moment’s notice,” says Berna.

Deferring to everyone else isn’t healthy. We regret mostly what we do not do instead of what we do, and having adventures and making memories have been shown in scientific research to make people happier than buying things.

Berna says that, far from being a lonely experience, solo travel can actually make you more sociable. Without a built-in friend or partner to share your trip with, traveling solo allows you the opportunity to reach out and make new connections, especially if you select a group tour. “When you travel alone, there is more of an incentive to establish new friendships.”

Far from being a lonely experience, solo travel can actually make you more sociable.

If the pandemic taught us anything it's that none of us knows what the future holds. It was a time of great global fear, which led many to adopt a carpe diem attitude: to seize the day and make their bucket list dreams come true right now rather than waiting for the perfect time or the perfect traveling companion.

“Nothing is ever for certain, and this is something that many people are realizing since the pandemic,” explains Rachel Eddins, a licensed therapist, mental health professional and executive director at Eddins Counseling. “The after-effects of something like this can make us fearful of the future, which we are seeing a lot of. From people quitting their jobs or looking for more flexible hours, to people traveling more and increasing their experiences.”

Those experiences can be life-affirming, as Cintron explains, “The memories that stay with me are the big adventures, a 5-day hike to Machu Picchu, an 8-day cruise through the Galapagos Islands, cycling through Burgundy on a self-guided winery tour and learning to surf in Ericeira. Each of these experiences was a reminder to stop underestimating myself.”

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For women, especially as default caregivers, the pandemic may have felt like a period of sacrifice, where everyone else’s needs came first. As Krengel explains, traveling by yourself can help you re-establish sacred alone time and relearn how to put yourself first. “There’s an element to these life-changing experiences and prioritizing oneself that is not often discussed. When we reconnect with ourselves, our hopes and our dreams, we have to choose to integrate those into our lives. And this will require effort, hard conversations, highlighting repressed desires, spending a little less time mom-ing and more time delving into what makes us feel alive as individuals,” she says.

For women, especially as default caregivers, the pandemic may have felt like a period of sacrifice, where everyone else’s needs came first. Traveling by yourself can help you re-establish sacred alone time and relearn how to put yourself first.

It may seem like a contradiction but, for many solo travelers, having control over their own plans and the confidence boost they get from going it alone comes second to the biggest benefit: connecting with new people along the way.

“It's the impact of the people I meet that stays with me more than anything,” Cintron says. “Whether it's locals or other travelers, expats or nomads, the friends I've made help me learn more about the world than anything I could ever read in a book or see on television. I would never meet these people if I didn't put myself in a position outside of my introverted comfort zone.”

Berna adds, “Making friends with other travelers and with local people in the communities you visit can turn a trip into an unforgettable experience.”

If you’re nervous about making your first solo trip, Cintron recommends practicing stateside or more locally. “I took a weekend solo trip to a city I'd never been to before. After that, I took a bigger leap and traveled to Toronto alone. These trips gave me the confidence I needed to travel to Europe solo.”

Although it’s important to practice streetwise behavior wherever you travel — like keeping valuables hidden, not disclosing your accommodation details to strangers and keeping your friends and family back home updated on your whereabouts — Cintron says to keep safety fears in perspective.

“Trust yourself. Don't let other people's fears, the state of the world, or any self-doubt keep you from solo traveling. Solo travel gets easier with every trip because you learn more about yourself, the type of traveler you are, and what your true needs are.”

Have you ever taken a solo trip? What did you learn? Tell us about it.