Solo travel makes a comeback

Traveler woman with backpack standing near big tropical river at sunny day

Aussies are known worldwide for their sense of adventure and their ability to shrug off our deadly native wildlife. But as Booking.com has uncovered, we’re also known for a few other things.

And one of those things is travelling solo, with one in four Aussies planning to jet off on their own for the first time in 2017.

We’re also obsessed with travel (but you already knew that!), and apparently 63 per cent of us remember our first time travelling more fondly and clearly than our first date.

According to Pepijn Rijvers, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com, “Undertaking a new travel experience for the first-time, whether that’s visiting a new place or travelling solo, can be a fruitful, life enhancing and even life changing experience.”

The research from Booking.com found that Australians find the USA, UK, Thailand and Argentina the most alluring destinations, while taking in the local culture and trying local foods were rated the favourite parts of travelling to a new place.

Booking.com research found that Australia is one of hottest destinations in the world, with our fair country listed as the number one international destination for solo travel, and Sydney landing in the top 10 places for first-time travel.

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So about those hot tips. Well, here’s a few winners, according to Travel Market Report:

1. Book suppliers who cater to solo travelers: Look for tour operators and cruise lines that go out of their way to accommodate individual guests.

2. Ease the pain of single supplements: Aim to book trips where the supplements are eliminated or discounted on specific departures.

3. Don’t make assumptions about the market: “Don’t assume solo travel is only for single clients,” Abercrombie & Kent president Phil Otterson told TMR.

“Based on a survey we did a few years back, nearly 40 per cent of A&K’s solo travelers chose a trip because their partner doesn’t share their interest in the destination, or scheduling conflicts prevented family or friends from joining them.”

4. Look for cruise lines that offer cabins designed for individuals: For example, Cunard North America now offers single cabins on all three ships—Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Mary 2, which offers 15 single cabins installed last summer.

5. Choose the right destination and type of trip: Escorted group travel can be appealing for solo travelers, especially first-timers or those who prefer not to be completely on their own, while adventure travel is also a natural fit for solo travelers.

6. Look for pairing options: Per TMR, at Quark Expeditions, guests can choose the Request-Share program, where solo travelers can share accommodations and save the single supplement.

7. Personal passions: Encourage clients to explore a personal passion or something they’ve always wanted to learn more about, such as wine or history, on their own.

 

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