Are You Sold On Solo Travel?

Sold On Solo Travel

One morning I woke up and said, “I’m going to Jordan! I always wanted to visit Petra and thought it was no time like the present. So, I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and picked up my iPad to search for travel companies that offered tours to Jordan. Within 30 minutes, I booked my trip, and the single supplement was reasonable. I was excited and felt very independent for choosing to travel abroad without friends and family. I am sold on solo travel. Are you sold on solo travel? Yay or nay?

Solo Travel Statistics

The market for solo travel continues to grow. The fastest-growing market is women.  According to CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs solo tourism is travel undertaken by a solo person. This person can be either single or in a relationship. They can be traveling alone, but also in a group.  Whatever your relationship status, a solo trip is like liberation for the soul. 

Why are people sold on solo travel? The fastest-growing market for solo travel is women travelers. Recently, The Solo Traveler conducted surveys in 2020 and 2021 to gather more information about women who travel alone. For each survey, respondents answered 26 questions. The respondents’ geographical locations were the U.S., Canada, Britain, and Australia. Eighty-three percent of over 2900 respondents were female. 

Why Women Travel Solo

Why are women sold on solo travel? When I finally discovered the joy of traveling alone, I realized that the freedom to do what I wanted and when I wanted was very satisfying. Also, there were times when I tried to plan a trip with friends, and it was more trouble than it was worth. Recently, I posed the question in a post on the Facebook group, Black Girls On the Go. The group has over 28,000 members, and I had many responses. Some of the members responded with these reasons for traveling alone.

1. I don’t want to wait on others to decide whether or not they can afford to go on the trip.
2. I can come and go as I please while touring the trip location.
3. The feeling of independence is what makes solo travel worth it.
4. My taste is different than friends and family members.
5. Some friends or family members do not have the time available to travel.

Indeed, solo travelers have more reasons to share, but many can relate to the above statement.

Planning a Solo Trip

When planning a solo trip, you can go to the destination and tour alone or pay a single supplement with a group tour company. I used Gate 1 Travel as the tour company when I traveled to Jordan. The single supplement was very reasonable. While on the trip, I met three other women who were solo travelers. I also have friends who do not use tour companies and create and plan their excursions. It’s all about your comfort level and taking safety precautions. 

Safety Tips for Solo Travel

If you are sold on solo travel, it is crucial to plan every detail and research every aspect of your destination. Here are a few planning suggestions to consider after deciding to travel alone. Find out necessary information by exploring the destination, tourist spots, time zone, culture, pandemic protocols, currency exchange rates, etc. Search for the latest information about a country, city, hotel, and resort. Another great source is TripAdvisor. It has excellent news and reviews about hotels, tours, restaurants, etc. If you are staying in an Airbnb, read the reviews before booking. Research places to eat for the price points you are willing to pay.

Here are a few safety tips to review.

1. Make copies of your passport and distribute them to a family member or friend. Keep one or two copies of the passport in case it is lost or stolen.
2. If it’s international travel, register with the closest U.S. embassy. You can find the nearest embassy to your travel destination here https://www.usembassy.gov/.
3. Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right. When the hairs on your neck stand up, move out quick! Listen and trust your gut feeling.
4. Get travel insurance and make sure it covers medical expenses—research and review what different companies offer in their policies. Compare the costs and make a decision based on your needs.
5. Inform your credit card companies of your upcoming trip. When you notify the companies, ask about international fees or if there are any restrictions.
6.  Do not keep all of your money in one place. Think about different hiding places where you can stash your cash!
7. I learned to be a light packer. Pack light so you’re not hauling around heavy suitcases. It is not fun trying to carry enormous bags up flights of stairs. Not all hotels or resorts have elevators. Sometimes, bellboy service is slow or non-existent.
8. Use social media or text to inform friends and family where you are or where you’re going. Private message people about your whereabouts on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.
9. If you must take certain medications, take the prescriptions with you. It’s best to take them in the original bottles that show they are prescribed to you. No one wants to be arrested for bringing drugs into a foreign country.

 For more safety tips, check out the video, Solo Travel Safety Tips, by Tiffany Heard on YouTube for some great information and resources.

Tour Companies Embrace Solo Travelers

More and more tour companies are becoming sold on solo travel as a viable market and tailoring trips to meet the demand. Some are making the single supplement more financially feasible and marketing to the niche. Here are three companies that you can look into what they offer.

1. Go Ahead Tours has tours specifically for women who are single travelers. 
2. Trafalgar offers solo travel tours.
3. Classic Journeys offers solo travel tours. 
4. Women Traveling Together offers women-only solo tours. 

Explore New Opportunities

If you want to become sold on solo travel, take some time to research different available options. The market is expanding, so your options and opportunities are growing, too. Like most new opportunities, start small with your first and second solo trip. Get your feet wet by traveling to a nearby state or city. Next, expand your horizons and book with a tour company that supports solo women travelers. Reach out to more experienced solo travelers for advice and encouragement. Once you’ve completed your first solo adventure, let us know about your experience.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, a small commission may be paid.