June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Jamaica
Jamaica;
Solo travel is one of the hottest travel trends of 2023, with women and young adults leading the way. Interest in solo travel has grown steadily over the last eight years or so, but began to soar post-pandemic.
Between 2015 and 2017, Hostel World reported a 42% increase in solo travel bookings. This year, most solo travelers are female, 84%, compared to 16% of men. Over half of millennials, 58%, say they have traveled alone.
While tons of travelers are booking solo trips, many have some hesitations. Nearly half of all solo travelers say they are worried about safety, getting lost, or feeling lonely. Tour groups appeal to people who want the benefits of travel companions, without any of the potential burdens. Since the pandemic, guided group tour operators have been booking far more people going it alone, and many operators have ended or lowered surcharges for single travelers. Some group tour operators have reported that single bookings were up as much as 300% over those from families, friends and couples.
Here’s why solo travelers are opting for guided tour groups and which tour groups may be best for your next solo trip.
As pandemic restrictions began to ease, many people who would normally travel completely alone flocked to group tours because they didn’t want the stress of trip planning. Navigating airports and quarantine and travel rules in foreign countries was intimidating and stressful. Tour operators made everything easier by handling the logistics. And though we are in a post-pandemic world, the appeal of a pre-planned itinerary is still appealing for people who don’t want the stress.
Humans are social creatures, even those who enjoy solitude. Group tours allow you to share meals with like-minded people who are just as excited as you are to be jetsetting. But you don’t have to be tied to someone else’s hip on a group tour. You can choose private quarters or a tour that allocates lots of time for independent sightseeing.
It’s a sad fact that women are more vulnerable to violent crime while traveling, which is why many women say they feel safer on a group tour. The LGBTQIA+ community has similar safety concerns while traveling. And if you’re an adventurer, going out with companions can be a way to safely enjoy activities such as hiking, kayaking and swimming. Group tours can help travelers feel assured.
More people say they are traveling solo because they don’t want to wait on a partner or friend to take the trip of a lifetime. However, it’s nice not to have to completely go it alone. A group tour balances both.
DETOURS Gay Travel - Adventures worldwide caters to gay men who are seeking a safe, and welcoming travel experience. The destinations are wide ranging, with upcoming trips to Portugal, Morocco, Jordan, Italy, and Thailand. DETOURS notes that 60% percent of its travelers go solo and may pair you with a roommate or you can pay a reasonable supplement for a single room. And if you value flexibility and setting out on your own, DETOURS includes plenty of unscheduled time in itineraries.
TOTO Tours Operating since 1990, TOTO provides luxury travel experiences to the LGBTQIA+ community. If you’re traveling solo, TOTO will attempt to pair you with a roommate. If that’s impossible, expect to pay a supplement for rooming alone. Explore Brazil, Bangladesh, Vietnam and more. TOTO encourages travelers to embody the “TOTO Spirit” of “adventure travel,” which means “to be eager and excited to try new things and test new limits.” Are you ready?
Root Adventures Root caters to mostly women travelers with a love of nature, mindfulness and sustainability. The tour group appeals to travelers with a desire to give back to the communities they visit and to leave natural areas pristine. You can choose to go backpacking in BANFF, trekking in Patagonia, or food touring in Oaxaca. Root “encourages” solo travel, noting that “retreats are an incredible way to make great friendships.”
BMTM Adventures Be My Travel Muse offers a variety of adventures in most world regions. Explore with like minded women in a safe and encouraging environment. BMTM says “every woman should travel alone” at some point in her life. “Solo traveling made me the braver, more confident, smarter woman I am today. I would not be who I am without having seen the Milky Way on the other side of the world, alone and enchanted,” writes BMTM founder Kristin Addis.
G Adventures G Adventures offers a multitude of options to cater to your need for adventure. Choose from trips on every continent, including Antarctica. You can also pick activity themes such as 18-Thirtysomethings-tours, active tours, expedition cruises and more. G Adventures has something for every traveler.
Contiki Contiki loves solo travelers and specializes in taking the stress out of the planning so you can just show up and have fun. “You can join Contiki trips as a solo traveler (in fact almost 60% of our travelers do!) Our trips are creatively designed to construct group dynamics fast so you won’t feel solo for very long,” Contiki promises. Cruise Croatia, explore Scandinavia on a multicountry tour, or go on a safari in Botswana.
Road Scholar With Road scholar, you can choose your activity level and interests for a trip that fits you most. You can also pick adventures in the U.S. and worldwide by price range. And if you’d like to bring the grandkids, there’s trips for children of all ages. Or, if you’re up for it, go on a 131-day solo cruise of South America, Hawaii, Japan and beyond.
Adventures Abroad Adventures abroad was named “One of the Best Senior Friendly Travel Companies” by Travel + Leisure, and “One of the Best Adventure Travel Companies” by National Geographic. Expect luxury, small group sizes and unforgettable experiences in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.
Purchasing travel insurance is a good way to protect yourself while traveling with a group tour domestically and abroad. Allianz Global Assistance aims to protect you and your travel plans with benefits such as emergency medical, trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage loss/delay, rental car insurance and more.
Get a quote today to find out how Allianz Global Assistance can make your travels blissfully stress free.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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