Solo travel is the new “it” thing. According to the U.S. Travel Association, 23 percent of all leisure trips are taken alone and the trend is expected to escalate—17 percent of 44,000 travelers polled in a TripAdvisor survey plan to embark on a solo trip this year.
Who is going it alone?
Going alone isn’t limited to men; in fact, as demonstrated in the hit films “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Wild,” a significant number of those voyaging on their own are older women, followed by younger female professionals, according to an AARP study.
Among millennials, 25 percent expressed interest in a 2016 solo trip and nowadays, it’s just as likely, if not more likely, for solo travelers to be married or in a committed relationship.
What’s more: AARP reported that 97 percent of 45+ year-old solo travelers are extremely satisfied with their experiences and 81 percent plan on taking another in the next year. And, among affluent travelers, solo travel has more than doubled from since 2013, showed a Visa study.
Homestay to capitalise
Riding on this trend with 80 percent of its half a million nights booked by lone travelers since its 2013 launch, Homestay.com is positioning itself as a good tool for those planning to take the solo plunge while living like—and with—a local. Homestay.com doesn’t charge single supplement fees. Considering the host is always present throughout the guest’s stay with a Homestay, solo travelers can explore independently by day, yet find comfort in having a home base away from home. As a host acts as a travel guide to dispense non-touristy tips, a personal translator, a confidant and more, Homestay claims it can create a more authentic experience.
