Growing Opportunities for Solo Travel: ‘A Journey of Loving Me’

For those interested in solo travel, it is a time to explore and see the world on their own terms. The motivation for these solo travelers is to have more time for themselves as empty nesters, recognize life post-divorce or celebrate retirement. Each reason can be a driving force to dust off the traveling shoes and hit the road.

Older adults do not hesitate to travel alone. In AARP’s 2023 Travel Trends report, 12 percent of international trips in 2023 among international travelers ages 50-plus were intended to be solo trips, while 6 percent of domestic trips in 2023 among domestic travelers were intended to be solo vacations. A recent survey from Road Scholar, an educational travel company, reports that 20-30 percent of the company’s 80,000-100,000 travelers each year choose solo travel, and many are 65 and older. The report surveyed 600 women over the age of 50 who have used Road Scholar’s services in the past two years.

Road Scholar reported that 19,000 older women travel solo with the tour company each year. The survey found that two of the most popular reasons for traveling solo are meeting new friends on the trip and having ultimate control over activities.

For Nina Sowiski, 77, traveling alone has its benefits. “When I travel solo, it is much easier to meet new people and make friends,” says the Pittsburgh resident. “People are more likely to approach you when you’re alone than with a partner.”

Sowiski traveled alone on a yacht tour along the Croatia coast and remains friends with people from that trip. “Although we are scattered from coast to coast, we stay in touch via Zoom and FaceTime calls,” she says. For some older adults, great friendships can be good for their well being.

One finding from Road Scholar’s survey that stood out was that 60 percent of the agency’s solo travelers were married but traveling without their spouse. The reasons were varied, but the top two involved spouses not being interested in travel and travelers having different travel interests than their spouse, according to Road Scholar. The survey found that traveling solo can give you the ability to control what you decide to see and do. 

The desire for Generation X women in their early 50s to venture out independently is driving a generational shift in solo travel.  As Gen Xers approach the empty nest stage and retirement, they bring a greater sense of independence, autonomy and adventure than previous generations. About Generations, a company that researches and reports on all generations, lists the members of Gen X as independent, resourceful and self-sufficient.