Why Solo Journeys Are Reshaping Travel, Beyond Spiritual

“At certain times in life, journeying alone is a means of self-awareness and reflection. Often relationships and routines are revived by time out. There’s also the sense of adventure, the reward that comes with achieving something for yourself and the overwhelming humility of connecting with strangers.”

Solo travel bookings are enjoying an unprecedented leap in popularity, and there’s clearly a spiritual side to the experience. Diving into the numbers behind the trend, Holly Tuppen explores the appeal of travelling alone and unpicks the barriers for luxury brands looking to accommodate a new type of customer.

What used to be perceived as a necessity for some is now the choice of many: solo travel is on the rise and shows no signs of abating. Between 2015 and 2017, searches on Google for solo travel rose by 40 per cent and, according to ABTA's Holiday Habits survey, one in nine holidaymakers took a holiday on their own in the last 12 months – double the number compared to six years previous. Hostelworld says that the number of solo bookings made by Britons increased by 60 per cent in 2017 and over the last five years Intrepid's solo bookings have risen by 40 per cent.

Unlike other travel trends, solo travel spans all age ranges. Baby boomers have the cash to splash and more confidence than ever before; 30-50 year olds are looking for ways to escape the routine and logistics of work and family life; and technology has made travelling alone safer, more accessible and less daunting for under-30-year-olds. A May 2018 study by Booking.com of 20,500 global travellers revealed that 40 per cent of baby boomers had taken a solo trip in the past year. According to ABTA, almost one in eight 18-24 year olds went on holiday alone in 2017, while millennial-focused travel company Under30 Experiences reports more than 80 per cent of its clients also travel on their own.

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