Years ago, while checking in at the Reno airport, the airline rep gave me the kind of sad look usually reserved for people flying with an emotional support ferret and asked, “You’re traveling alone today?”
I threw my shoulders back and said, “Yes, of course.”
On another occasion, a different agent asked the same question and received the same answer— but this time, she lit up. She proudly told me she’d just taken her first solo trip. Happily married since the third day of creation, she’d always dreamed of seeing the glittering lights of Las Vegas (something hubby had zero interest in). So, despite her grown children’s dire warnings, she went. Alone. She lounged poolside, ordered what she wanted, and spent the week blissfully free from the question, “Honey, where’s my blue shirt?”
Turns out, she’s not alone in her aloneness.
The Fastest-Growing Boarding Group: Solo Travelers
The travel industry is shifting fast, with solo travelers becoming the fastest-growing demographic — and there’s no sign of slowing down. According to Digital Journal, the Global Solo Travel Service Market is expected to grow at 9.1% annually through 2030.
Led by multiple generations and demographics, this is no longer a niche — it’s a movement. And it’s making the industry rethink everything from hotel layouts to cruise pricing.
And no, we’re not just talking about retirees on river cruises. Our post-pandemic world and a collective “life’s-too-short” attitude have Millennials and Gen Zers ditching the house-with-the-white-picket-fence dream in favor of passports and plane tickets. No surprise, new remote and hybrid career choices are opening doors for more travel and relocation opportunities.
As one local professional immigrant in Portugal told me:
“People ask how we could move abroad with young kids. It’s because we have kids that we wanted to move — to expose them to new languages and cultures.”
Today’s solo travelers come in all forms — mid-career gap-year takers, digital nomads, eco-adventurers, and even solo parents bringing their kids along for the ride.
No More ‘Single Supplement’ Silliness
One happy dance moment: the continued decline of the dreaded “solo surcharge.” Cruise lines, hotels, and tour companies are finally dropping or reducing extra fees for solo guests, especially during shoulder and low seasons.
Companies are promoting more diverse, less cookie-cutter solo travel options: wellness and spiritual retreats, culinary and art tours, small-group hikes that might include forest bathing, or even Arctic expeditions with the northern lights swimming overhead.
Solo travelers are craving authenticity, nostalgia, and simplicity — not another “Instagram moment.”
So, are we becoming more selfish about “me time?” Or (looking at you, USA) are we finally realizing that balance isn’t indulgent — it’s necessary?
I’m voting for balance. With both hands.
The Restaurant Reality Check
Restaurants are catching on, too. The global solo travel market hit $482.5 billion in 2024, and eateries are finally realizing that solo diners deserve more than the “children’s table” — also known as the bar stool.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Just one? Would you like to sit at the bar?”
To which I reply, “No, thank you — I’d like a table like the big boys and girls.”
Yes, I’ve been denied (only in the U.S.). And yes, I’ve politely declined and walked out.
That has never happened in Europe. In fact, the opposite is true. If you ask for the check too soon, there’s a good chance the chef in the kitchen is nursing a bruised ego, wondering what he did wrong. Here, lingering is an art form, not a red flag.
Solo diners deserve just as much respect and care as every other hungry traveler.
Where the Solos Go
According to Atlys, top destinations for solo travelers include India, Italy, Japan, Egypt, Thailand, Australia, Spain, Iceland, France, and New Zealand.
(Sorry, Portugal — you didn’t cut the sardine on this list. But we know better.)
While men make up only 16–32% of solo travelers, they tend to gravitate toward risk-heavy adventures — wilderness treks, camping, and water sports — while 88% of women cite safety as their top concern.
Still, it hasn’t slowed us down. Not even a little.
From budget to luxury, more companies are offering “buddy packages” — share a suite with another traveler for an African safari or a cross-country rail journey. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my list — maybe an Egypt Nile cruise or a glamping expedition on a buddy package.
Because one of the few downers of solo travel (aside from dragging your own luggage up cobblestone hills) is not having someone to recap the day’s adventures with.
Solo… But Never Alone
Here’s what I’ve learned: I’ve never — not once — heard anyone say, “I took my first solo trip, and I’ll never do that again.”
Instead, I hear: “I feel stronger. I stretched myself. I can’t wait to go again.”
A few fun facts from Skyscanner:
Solo travel isn’t just for singles — almost a third of women and over a third of men who travel alone are married.
31% of solo travelers have children back home. (Hello, balance.)
Men show more interest in visiting historical cities (21%) and wine regions (8%) than women (16% and 6%).
75% travel solo for personal benefits like self-care, growth, and the sweet freedom to do what they want, when they want.
So, maybe it’s time to stop waiting for the perfect travel companion — or for your best friend to finally “get their passport.”
The question isn’t why travel alone — it’s why not?
Your Turn: Book It, Baby
Maybe it’s that one city that’s been whispering your name.
Maybe it’s the sunrise hike you promised yourself someday.
Maybe it’s just a long weekend away from doing dishes and answering, “What’s for dinner?”
Whatever your “maybe” is — make it happen.
Pack your courage, your curiosity, and an extra charger. Order dessert for one. Talk to strangers. Sit at the window.
Because the best travel companion you’ll ever find might just be the one with your name on their passport.
Where will you go in 2026?