Traveling alone is no longer a niche topic: more and more people are already planning their next break without company, as a recent "Travelzoo" survey shows. Falstaff TRAVEL explains the reasons and presents top destinations.
What used to be considered a niche is increasingly becoming a mega-trend: more and more people are consciously choosing to travel unaccompanied. Between city trips, beach moments and nature experiences, solo travel is all about freedom, peace and inspiration. Many are already planning their next time out alone. This was the result of a recent "Travelzoo" survey.
According to a survey by the market research institute "YouGov", more than half of Germans - 54 percent - were traveling alone at least once in 2024. And with full conviction; those who travel solo do not do so out of embarrassment, but rather as a luxury for the soul. This is also confirmed by a targeted survey by "Travelzoo" among experienced solo globetrotters: 50 percent are already planning their next trip alone in the next six months.
Self-determination, peace, inspiration and the desire for new experiences drive travelers to take a solo trip. It's about freedom in perhaps its purest form: getting up when you want. Stay where it's nice. Move on when the moment demands it. Solo travelers rely on the tried and tested, but interpret it individually. Flexible short trips that are easy to organize and open to spontaneous changes are particularly popular.
40 percent of travelers prefer cities, 36 percent are drawn to the beach and the sun, while 29 percent are looking for nature adventures. This could be an inspiring museum weekend in Paris, enjoying the sound of the sea in the Algarve or a multi-day hike through alpine landscapes. Time out is seen as a kind of reset button, a break from everyday life, where loneliness is usually not an issue when traveling: 60 percent of travelers rarely or never feel lonely on the road and 42 percent explicitly enjoy the peace and quiet.
When it comes to accommodation, there is a clear preference: 76 percent of solo travelers choose hotels. They offer security, service and convenience - without the need for explanation. "Airbnbs and vacation apartments account for 28 percent, while 20 percent stay with friends or privately. However, the classic hotel room remains the number one retreat - perhaps also because it offers the perfect setting for a personal "me-time" feeling.
So much freedom comes at a price. 47 percent of respondents named single room surcharges as the biggest frustration factor, and almost 60 percent felt that these additional costs were unfair. Traveling alone often also means paying alone.
Solo travelers opt for familiar countries that are easy to reach. Germany is the top destination for the next solo trip with 24 percent, followed by Austria (15 percent), Spain (10 percent), France (9 percent) and Italy (8 percent).
But a look at Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2010) shows that the young generation thinks more globally. Brazil was the current solo destination for eleven percent of holidaymakers - a destination that on average only two percent of solo travelers head for. At 31 percent, France is also significantly higher than the average (13 percent) among young travelers.
There are also exciting regional differences: a particularly large number of travelers from Bavaria are drawn to Austria (34 percent). Hamburgers (15 percent) and Saarlanders (14 percent), on the other hand, dream of Costa Rica - only three percent nationwide.
