This article originally appeared in the July issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
The solo travel market has unquestionably come a long way since the days of backpacking trips and hostel stays. Today’s solo travelers are a diverse and discerning group – which is evidenced by the increasing numbers of suppliers catering to the upper end of this market.
With a variety of packages, tours and activities now available, it’s easier than ever for travelers to combine quality time alone with luxurious amenities and services.
A Sizeable Travel Segment
The solo tour market has become a significant travel segment, according to multiple tour operators. Intrepid Travel noted that more than half of its customers are solo travelers – and Classic Journeys says about one-third of its travelers go it alone.
Classic Vacations also reported a significant uptick in demand for personalized, upscale FIT Europe itineraries – especially Florence, Italy, Lisbon, Portugal and multiple cities in Spain – the most popular regions for solo travelers.
Meanwhile, Macs Adventure delivers self-guided, upscale experiences. The company, which said 57% of its customers are solo female travelers, offers coastal hikes along Italy’s AmalfiCoast, immersive cultural treks along Japan’s Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes and bed-and-breakfast stays in the Scottish Highlands.
Other companies featuring solo travel options include Asilia Africa, which waives single supplements in select seasons, and United Kingdom-based Solos, which recently expanded into the U.S., offering everything from golf trips in Turkey to hiking excursions in Poland.
Cruising Solo
River and expedition cruising can be an especially attractive proposal for solo travelers. AmaWaterways publishes interviews with single travelers on its website, highlighting the appeal of solo cruising. Regent Seven Seas Cruises, meanwhile, offers reduced single supplements on some cruises. And Riviera Travel has rolled out 30 solo-dedicated departures for 2025 with no single supplement.
In the Galapagos Islands, Ecoventura is also an option well-suited for independent-minded explorers, with discounts available for solo travelers on select 2025 and 2026 departures. A member of Relais & Châteaux, Ecoventura operates luxury mega-yachts with extensive onboard amenities, daily excursions and educational briefings by certified naturalists.
Hotel Highlights
At Jade Mountain, St. Lucia, the “Singlemoon” package includes private airport transfers, customized dining plans, yoga, spa treatments and hands-on activities like chocolate-making and kayaking. And in Costa Rica, the adults-only Hotel Three Sixty offers a customizable “Solo Serenity” package with transfers, a welcome kit, spa treatments and other amenities.
Hotel Three Sixty offers a customizable “Solo Serenity” package. (Photo Credit: Hotel Three Sixty)
Considering the high percentage of solo female travelers, it’s no surprise that hoteliers are also aiming to attract that audience. London’s Hyatt Place City East, for example, is SHe Travel Club-certified for safety and comfort, while the Other House South Kensington others apartment-style privacy and community spaces that encourage connection for travelers of all genders.
Other hotels are luring solo travelers by offering tranquil environments. In Los Cabos, the Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa now offers a JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) experience that includes spa treatments and in room services. And in the U.S., Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, and Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas, are among the hotels offering a peaceful place for solo vacationers to connect with nature and wellness.
A Focus on Wellbeing
For some, traveling solo is a chance to focus on wellbeing — and there are a generous number of properties that offer deep dives into self-care.
Examples include Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali, where wellness treatments combine Balinese traditions with 21st-century wellness techniques. In South Asia, India’s SOUKYA offers integrative, bespoke wellness regimens grounded in multiple traditions and techniques.
European wellness-focused hotels include two Italian properties: Palace Merano in South Tyrol and L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux in Franciacorta. Both offer a variety of rejuvenation programs that foster wellness in a sumptuous environment.
In the Americas, the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, offers solo travelers innovative spa experiences with amenities like whole-body cryotherapy and electromagnetic and infrared therapies. Last but not least, Harbour Village Bonaire offers rejuvenating spa treatments in a picturesque Caribbean setting.
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