Boutique Travel Public Relations Agency Highlights Top Five Solo Travel Trends

Solo travel enables a person to experience different cultures, to embark on self-discovery, and to grow personally. This year, four key pillars—Me-Mooning (personal growth adventure), community connections, slow and soft travel, and digital nomads—are dominating the solo travel market.

Did you know . . .
​

• “The global solo travel market is expected to grow by US $1508 billion by 2033.” (Source:  Grand View Research)
• “Seventy-six percent of Millennials and Gen Z travelers are going to explore alone this year, which is an indication of a general desire to go out on their own for younger demographics.” (Source: Forbes).
• “Sixty-two percent of survey respondents plan to take between two and five solo trips within the next year.” (Source: Skyscanner)

Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle PR based in New York City, encourages travel brands and destinations to expand their travel experiences to focus on personalized experiences, safety messages, and social opportunities for the solo adventurer. Here are key solo travel trends.

The Rise Of “Me-Mooning”: Personal Growth Through Solo Journeys

“Me-Mooning” is a solo trip focused on individual self-growth and self-reflection. Research shows “a 42 percent year-over-year increase in bookings for solo travel for self-discovery, as travelers look for retreats that merge mindful pursuits, immersive workshops, and cultural deep dives.” (Source: Forbes).

Women are leading this trend in particular. “Females now occupy 71 percent of solo travelers, a reflection of the empowerment and self-confidence that solo travel can travelers.” (Source: Forbes). Solo women’s retreats offer outdoor adventures and women’s interests, as well as writing workshops, eco-volunteering projects, and leadership boot camps.

Community-Oriented Solo Travel: Balancing Independence With Connection

Solo travelers seek socializing and a sense of community. “Solo travel offers a wide variety of group-style experiences, such as curated group tours, staying in the social-focused accommodations, and socializing at "meet-up" events will help build ties on the road.” (Source: Forbes)

Co-working hostels allow travelers to network during the day and commune at night over a meal. There has been “a 90 percent year-over-year growth in solo searches, whereby users have preferred cooking classes, photography walks, and language exchanges, which are activities that promote strangers’ coming together while maintaining solo flexibility.” (Source: Sunset Magazine)

Extended Stays And “Soft Travel”: Embracing Slow Exploration

Soft travel allows an individual to stay longer in a destination and to have immersive experiences. “Solo travelers are, instead, choosing an average of 17 nights to spend in one place—nearly twice the length of a traditional couple/family trip—to allow for local immersion and slow exploration.” (Source: Sunset Magazine)

Women Leading The Revolution Of Solo Travel

Women continue to dominate the solo travel market. Research shows “that about 40 percent of female travelers showed interest in solo traveling in 2025, a significant eight percent compared to the previous year, because women want freedom and new challenges.” (Source: NBC News).

Digital Nomadism: Blending Work With Exploration

Remote work has created such a thin line between business travel and vacation, allowing digital nomads—the tech-savvy solo travelers—to work anywhere in the world. Digital nomads base their headquarters in places with functioning internet, where living costs are reasonable, and that have a lively expat community. “A lot of solo travelers are now blurring the lines between work and leisure, picking accommodations that combine private workstations with shared lounges for post-work days.” (Source: Business Traveller)

Exploring The World Alone

As the scale of the solo travel market industry grows, travel suppliers need to find a balance between affordability and customization for the solo traveler. Single supplement fees have been lowered to take advantage of the growing solo travel market.

Safety is a high priority for solo travelers. In fact, solo travelers, and especially solo women, prefer locations with great reputations for public safety, easy entry requirements, and visible support networks. To cater to this demand, destinations are providing digital assistance apps, 24/7 local helplines, and community ambassadors to ensure peace of mind for the solo travelers.

Our savvy team of travel and lifestyle public relations professionals and social media strategists can help elevate travel brands' services in the solo travel market.

By Joanna Allen, chief executive officer, Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.