022 TRAVEL
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DAYS INDEPENDENCE
The number of people taking solo holidays is up three-fold since 2011 with many of more of us travelling alone to do things and experience places in exactly the way we choose
cite many reasons for choosing to holiday alone, from simply having no obvious travelling companion to those with partners who have differing interests. According to the Association of British Travel Agents’ (ABTA) latest holiday
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habits report, the trend for solo holidays has been growing in recent years with more than one in six people (15%) choosing to go on holiday by themselves in the past 12 months, that’s almost three times as many as in 2011. Having the opportunity to do what they want is the most common reason people travel alone, with 76% citing this as their motivation.
The surge in solo travel has been attributed to a number of factors. As well as people wanting some ‘me time’, the increasingly widespread availability of wifi and use of smartphones and travel apps makes navigating the world alone less daunting. Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, says: “Going on holiday by yourself means you don’t have to compromise on your choice of destination, itinerary or activities. “Whether they’re single or just want some of that ’me time’, people now have an incredible choice of destinations to choose from and it has become so much easier to explore the world. Travel companies have responded to demand by offering a diverse range of options for people booking by themselves.”
t’s taken a long time and there’s still much to be done when it comes to attitudes but the image of the single traveller as a lonely fi gure sat in a corner with a pizza and glass of Merlot has undergone a serious makeover. And with more than 16 million singletons in the UK and a further 6.7 million divorced or widowed, the travel industry is waking up to the fact this is a market to be ignored at its peril. When asked, people
Going It Alone
Solo travel can be hugely liberating, offering the independence to holiday exactly as you wish as well as meeting like-minded companions. For the beginner though it’s often a daunting prospect. We asked Baldwins Travel’s Jo Britton for a few pointers: “Think about a small group tour as many of these cater well for solo travellers and, if you’re doing something a little more unusual, you’ll probably be with like-minded people,” she says. “If you’ve a passion for music or sport or want
to learn a new skill then start small – book a weekend away to catch a concert or game in a foreign city, or sign-up for a hobby holiday. And some forward-thinking tour operators dispense with the dreaded single room supplement on certain tours and departures. “Safety is often a worry for the solo traveller
but there are simple things you can do to ease the mind,” advises Jo. “Leave full details of your itinerary with family or friends along with copies of travel documents (it’s also worth sending copies to an email account); get to know the tour leader or hotel concierge as they’ll often be only too keen to help.
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Silk Road © Jules Verne
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