HolidayPirates launches solo travel section based on its new research

More than 1 in 5 Brits now keen to travel solo, according to the data

Brits are now growing bolder when it comes to their travel habits reveals a new piece of research by HolidayPirates.

The poll of 1,003 UK consumers conducted by Censuswide and the online travel deals platform found that more than one in five (21%) now want to embark on solo trips.

In 2024 alone, 1 in 10 of travellers will embark on a solo journey, while 1 in 5 (18%) want to see the world without having to wait for someone to join them.

The deals provider has since launched its first solo travel selection, where its team of travel experts have curated a collection of  deals for one.

It made an informed decision based on its research in which it detailed 17% want full control over their itinerary, and 17% want to have the flexibility to change their plans on a whim. 

For 1 in 10, avoiding potential arguments is a reason for wanting to travel alone. For younger people, however, it seems there are more personal reasons for going it alone with 25% of Gen Zs said they want to travel solo to "find themselves" and find personal growth, and 20% want to push themselves out of their comfort zone.

In particular, millennial solo travellers, aged 25-34, are very clear about what they expect from travel providers if the solo travel trend is to continue. 

Almost a third (29%) would like a 24-hour solo traveller hotline for immediate assistance during the trip, and 28% want providers to offer advice and tips on safe places to travel solo. 

Over a quarter (26%) want offers on discounted rates for solo travellers outside of peak seasons and almost 1 in 4 (23%) want providers to allocate a quota of more affordable single rooms for solo travellers in hotels and other types of accommodation.  

Some are still put off by the prospect of travelling solo though – almost 1 in 4 (23%) are deterred by the 'single supplement' in hotel pricing, showing there is a real need for more options tailored for solo travellers that are fairly priced. 

15% also think there wouldn’t be any single accommodation options available to them and overall, 15% say the travel industry doesn’t cater to solo travellers well enough.

Phil Salcedo, head of market, UK & North America of HolidayPirates, said: "UK travellers are changing, and the growing enthusiasm we’re seeing for solo travel has been a clear trend over the last year. 

"Our research has shown that while there is growing confidence to get out there, there is also a sense of frustration with a travel industry that hasn’t quite caught up with consumer preferences.

"That’s partly why we’ve launched our ‘Solo Travel’ selection, offering the best-value solo deals from around the world, to prove that travelling independently and finding those bucket list solo experiences shouldn’t be beyond reach.

"Whether it's a city break in Europe or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to somewhere further afield, our curated selection of travel deals caters to all types of trips and budgets. Working too with partners such as TUI, which has a fantastic selection of holidays perfectly suited to solo travellers, means we can open up the world of solo travel to all. 

"Ultimately, our aim is for everyone to have the opportunity to travel, explore, and holiday more for less.”

A TUI spokesperson, said: "We absolutely hear the challenges many solo holidaymakers face in finding a good deal they can afford.

“We're committed to securing more single rooms with single occupancy rates to meet customer demand. We also have live codes on our solo travel landing page where customers can save £150 on holidays departing between now and October."