A holiday just for one: 8 reasons solo travel is trending

Travel buddies busy?  Your plans don’t have to wait. Solo travel is trending because it gives you freedom, confidence and time to yourself without leaving you on your own, and no, you don’t have to be single. With small group tours, cruises and room-share options, you can be as social as you like.

Solo travel doesn't mean travelling alone 

Solo travel means booking a holiday for yourself, but it doesn't mean you have to spend every moment on your own. You might fly solo and join a small group tour, cruise with meet-and-greets for solo travellers, or plan independent days with a guide on call. Here are four of our most popular ways to travel solo:

• Small group tours: a guide, a set itinerary and a group of usually 10 to 16 people. There are even women-only tours.

• Solo-only departures: everyone on the trip is travelling alone, so strangers quickly become friends.  

• Cruises: single staterooms, meet-and-greets for solo cruisers and some tables set aside for people who'd rather not eat alone. 

• Tailor-made trips: an independent itinerary with a private room waiting at the end of each day.

Kelly-Ann Thomas from House of Travel Lower Hutt shares eight reasons why Kiwis are travelling solo, along with six solo-friendly holidays recommended by House of Travel consultants.

1. Your holidays, your rules

No debates about where to eat, how long to stay or when to head home. You decide. Spend an extra hour at the market, skip the museum, chase the sunset instead of the schedule.Some solo trips even build in a free "me day". The Solo-ish Italy tour has one in Venice.

2. Confidence you didn’t know you had

Ordering dinner in another language, working out the train timetable, finding your own way back to the hotel: every small win adds up. By the end of the trip, the things that felt daunting on day one become second nature, and you take that confidence home with you. For a first solo trip, we recommend choosing an option where the logistics are sorted, like a small group tour or a cruise, then go more independent next time. 

3. Strangers today, friends by dinner

Solo travel doesn't mean travelling alone. Just over 40% of people on group tours are travelling solo, so you won't be the odd one out. Pick a trip built around something you love, like pasta making in Florence or hiking trails in Peru, and the conversation starts itself. On solo-only departures everyone starts as a stranger, so no one feels like the newcomer.

4. Say yes to everything 

Say yes to the local festival, a last-minute day trip or an invitation to join a table of fellow travellers. With no one to check with, you can say yes. Spontaneity is your superpower. On a guided tour, optional activities let you join in without organising everything yourself.

5. Hello, me-time

Without the usual chatter or compromise, you get proper headspace to think, reset and soak up each day exactly how you like. Want to switch off alone? Book your own room or a single stateroom. Happy to share and save? On select tours you can skip the single supplement (the extra charge for a room priced for two) by sharing with a same-gender traveller, and you might even make a new friend along the way.

6. Made to measure 

Almost 60% of our solo travellers are women, and women-only small group tours are really taking off. Let your consultant know how social you want to be, whether you'd like your own room or a share, and whether having a female tour leader matters. Our travel consultants can match you with a women's departure, solo-friendly cruise, or a tailor-made trip with a private room waiting at the end of each day. Not sure which suits you? See our guide to finding your solo travel style.

7. Go local, go deeper 

Traveling on your own sharpens your senses. You notice more, chat more, and find yourself immersed in the rhythm of local life. Look for trips with local experiences built in, like an optional night ride through Gyeongju on Cycle South Korea tour or a pasta-making class in a chef’s home on Solo-ish Italy tour.

8. Come home changed 

A holiday for one is more than a break, it's a reset. You'll come home with new stories, new friends, and a renewed sense of self.

Our consultants give travellers the confidence, tips, and options to make your solo travel dreams happen, on your own terms.

Our consultants top picks for solo holiday experiences

Not sure where to start? Whether you’re craving adventure, a little indulgence or the chance to discover somewhere new, our House of Travel consultants have handpicked six of their favourite solo holiday experiences for 2027.

1. For the beach lover: Sail Croatia and island-hop the Dalmatian Coast with a small group. Sun, sea and new mates.

2. For the culture vulture: The Panama Canal, Inca & South America cruise covers a whole lot of South America without repacking once.

3. For the explorer: Go beyond the highlights and discover Sri Lanka in Depth.

4. For the foodie: The 'Solo-ish' Italy takes you from Florence to Venice via Cinque Terre and Lake Como, with a pasta-making class on day one. Everyone on the trip is travelling solo.

5. For the history buff: Let someone else do the organising on an escorted tour of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands so transfers and sightseeing are sorted.

6. For the active relaxer: Pedal along South Korea’s Four Rivers Bike Path on Cycle South Korea trip with an optional night ride in Gyeongju and a visit to the Demilitarised Zone the border area between North and South Korea. Groups are up to 12, e-bikes available on request at extra cost. 

What solo travel costs and how to avoid the single supplement 

• Choose solo-only departures or tour and cruise companies that don't charge single room surcharges. Ask your consultant which ones. 

• Book a single stateroom on ships that offer them. They're popular, so book early. 

• Check dates. Some suppliers reduce or waive the supplement outside peak periods. 

Ready to make your solo travel plans happen?

Whether you’re dreaming of sailing Croatia, exploring Italy’s food scene or discovering somewhere completely new, there’s a solo-friendly holiday to suit your travel style. Our House of Travel consultants can help you find the right trip, from small group tours and solo-friendly cruises to options that help you avoid the single supplement.

Your next adventure starts with a conversation. Get in touch with your local House of Travel consultant and let’s find the solo holiday that’s right for you.