As I zoomed down the highway towards Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia – music up and windows down – a smile spread across my face for the first time in weeks.
A devastating break-up had resulted in a cancelled romantic holiday-for-two. So, I’d flown to Halifax on a whim. I didn’t even bother trying to find a friend to join me. I had no interest in compromising: Not on my budget, my timing, or what I would spend my days doing, seeing and eating.
It was my first time travelling solo and, in that moment, I was the main character of my story.
But the feeling faded all-too-quickly faded as I struggled to slather sunscreen on my back at the beach. My camera roll started to fill with a series of awkward holiday selfies. Then, there was my first time eating out at a nice restaurant, when a child at the next table loudly asked, “Mommy, why is that lady alone?”
But that was nearly two decades ago. If I took that same trip today, I doubt anyone – child or adult alike – would take notice of my solo status.
“When I started SoloTraveler.com in 2009, people were finding my site by Googling, ‘Is it weird to travel alone?’” recalls Toronto-based journalist and solo travel expert Janice Waugh, who took her first holiday alone after she became a widow at the age of 49. “You would never get that now because solo travel has become so popular.”
Canadians, in particular, are avid solo travellers – in 2025, 37% of Flight Centre Canada’s bookings were made by solo travellers. Travel search engine SkyScanner reports that hotel bookings using its “solo” filter jumped by 83% year-over-year. And nearly every tour operator we’ve spoken to reports that its solo bookings are growing exponentially. Solo travel isn’t a fad – it’s a category of travel that’s here to stay and one that research shows is being primarily driven by Baby Boomers and Generation X, with women leading the way.
“Is this a trend? Of course not. It’s mainstream,” says Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor of Canada-based JourneyWoman, a solo travel website for women aged 50 and up. “You spend your 30s and 40s having a career and kids and looking after everyone else. Then you hit 50 and think, ‘This is my time.’ Women are living longer than men and they’re looking for meaningful travel experiences.”
Yet, it can still feel like the hospitality and tourism industry is slow to catch up with this growing demographic. Solo supplements (see sidebar) remain industry standard, driving costs up. And while there are small group tours catering specifically to solo travellers, they’re not for everyone or every trip. Independent travel, however, brings with its challenges related to safety and loneliness.
“For first-time solo travellers, the biggest concern is, ‘Am I going to be bored? Am I going to be lonely? Who am I going to talk to?’” says Waugh. And of course safety is a global issue.She recommends trying to find a sense of community through short incidental social interactions – which scientific studies indicate can result in improved well-being, mood and a sense of belonging – whether that’s choosing cafes with communal tables or taking a small group day tour.
Starting out small in a familiar cultural context can also help you build the skills for bigger solo adventures. For me, that first trip in Nova Scotia gave me the confidence to go global, including trips to the Middle East and Russia in the last 10 years. Yes, there have been moments of doubt, but also moments of triumph – like when I get upgraded on a flight (less likely to happen if you’re traveling with someone else) or scored a spot at a trendy restaurant without waiting in line ( it’s easy to squeeze just one person in at the bar).
I’ve also realized I’m only ever alone if I truly want to be. Once, on a trip to Cambodia, I went for dinner with a group of people I’d met in my hotel’s common area. “How do you all know one another?” I asked. It was only as we made introductions that we realized we were all there on our own. Likewise, my interactions with locals – from taxi drivers to tour guides – have been much deeper, driven out of both curiosity and necessity.
The experience is so rich. “You’re able to meet people in a different way than you do when you’re with someone else,” says Waugh. “Because you’re doing everything and making all these decisions yourself, it’s a real confidence-booster. It’s very empowering.”
So, why is the lady alone? Because she wants to be.
What is the solo supplement?
Travellers are most likely to encounter the dreaded “single supplement’ or “solo supplement” when booking package holidays, tours or cruises.
The solo supplement is a fee – sometimes as much at 100% – that is charged to single travellers for taking up space that normally two people could fill. So, for example, a resort may advertise a package for “$1,000 per person” – but when you go to book, it ends up costing $2,000.
With the solo travel community growing, what’s changing?
More companies are starting to recognize the buying power of solo travellers and making accommodations. Cruise and expedition lines are increasingly building ships with staterooms for one, such as Aurora Expeditions’ new Douglas Mawson boat. When it set sail in 2025, it featured cabins with just one twin bed. A favourite of solo travellers, Norwegian Cruise Line also introduced three new solo stateroom categories earlier this year, alongside an exclusive private lounge shared only by solo guests.
However, unscrupulous marketers are also looking to cash-in. Read the fine print carefully. A tour might be marketed as having “no solo supplement” but the reality can be very different.
“Many companies will only waive the solo supplement if you agreed to share a room with a stranger,” explains Lee Mylne, author of 2024’s Solo Travel for Dummies. “I’ve made lifelong friends this way, but it’s not always terribly successful.”
How can I avoid paying the solo supplement?
The good news is that tour operators and cruise lines are committed to filling empty spots. Many travellers report success with calling companies directly to negotiate for better rates.
Websites such as SoloTraveler.com and JourneyWoman.com advertise deals for tour companies and operators who offer low or no solo supplements to single travellers.
Finally, if you’re comfortable waiting until the 11th hour to book (usually around 45 days or less before departure), companies often offer last-minute deals where supplements are discounted or waived entirely.
Going Solo Together
An alternative to truly travelling solo, group tours give you the opportunity to exercise your independence in a safe, supported environment – and the chance to make some new travel buddies along the way.
Wild Women Expeditions
What started in Ontario in 1991 as a canoe tripping company has now turned into an international operation, with tours in 30 countries. While Wild Women Expeditions specializes in the adventures for the active (think: horseback riding in the Azores or kayaking in Georgian Bay, Ontario) it also has more laidback options, including yoga in Bali and cultural tours in Peru. Group sizes are small and intimate, with most travellers aged 50 and up. wildwomenexpeditions.com/
The Centre for Good Travel
This New Zealand-based company is 100 percent owned and operated by women – and it shows in the way it carefully curates and designs its handful of small group tours, with each designed to embody principles related to regenerative tourism. While its trips aren’t exclusive to female-identifying travellers, they do support local women, ensuring the local community, economy and environment benefit from your visit.
Adventures in Good Company
Why do so many women-only tours focus on adventure travel? Maybe it’s because solo travel is the perfect way to test our boundaries and be reminded of our resilience. Or maybe it’s because it’s one of the quickest ways to build connections and bond with your fellow travellers. Whatever the case, Adventures in Good Company is an expert in it, with trips that range from dog-sledding on the shores of Lake Superior to trekking to Everest Basecamp.
Before you Go
Check in with the consulates of the country you are visiting for any travel advisories, pertinent warnings about incidents of violence, theft or health alerts.
