What's better – solo or group travel?

In the past five years, the number of people embarking on solo travel has grown. Between 2015 and 2017, solo travel bookings have increased by 42 percent, and roughly 25 percent of respondents to a travel survey by MMGY Global say they plan to book a solo trip sometime in the future. Women are particularly excited about solo travel, with millennial women are more likely to travel alone than men in their age group

While seeing the world alone and on your own terms is exciting, it can also be daunting. And the adage safety in numbers always applies when adventuring away from home. It’s also wonderful to make memories with friends and family while on adventures. But jet-setting solo grants opportunities for making new connections. 

Here are the pros and cons of solo travel so you can decide what fits your need for adventure.  

You’ll gain confidence in yourself and your ability to handle difficult situations.  

Fifteen percent of solo women travellers say taking trips alone is a way to challenge themselves and gain confidence. Imagine how powerful and capable you will feel after navigating on strange roadways, keeping your cool in busy airports and learning a new language.  

You won’t be on anyone else’s schedule.  

When travelling with family and friends, there’s always compromises to be made. Maybe your girlfriends would rather go for a day of shopping, while you would rather peruse a museum. Perhaps, someone else needs to decompress and wants to have a spa day or soak in the local hot springs. When you’re alone, you can do what you want when you want.  

You’ll learn the language faster. 

Imagine spending weeks or semesters learning the language spoken in your destination. You’ve planned this trip for months and you’ve been quaking with excitement. But when you get there and hear the foreign language you’ve been learning, you freeze. You’re scared to make a mistake. So, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourself in the language, you mostly chat with your travel companions in English and let the strongest speakers in the group do the talking with the locals. But being alone pushes you out of your comfort zone, you’re forced to rise to the challenge of speaking the language of your host country – be brave.  

It’s safer.  

Group travellers are far less of a target. Depending on where you roam, it may be wise to consider travelling with others, particularly if you’re a member of a marginalized group. Also, if you want to participate in your destination’s drinking culture, it’s best for there to be at least one sober person in your party in case things go south, or you’re not relying on alternative transit.  

You’ll save money. 

Particularly when it comes to the cost of accommodation, you can seriously save when you travel with a companion or group. And tour operators often have discounted rates for group travellers. Splitting costs can be the best way to go.  

You won’t be lonely.  

When you’re travelling with your favourite people, you will always have someone to share in the journey. And if there’s hardship on the way, you won’t face it alone.  

Whether you bring travel companions or go it alone, travel insurance by Allianz Global Assistance may help protect you on your journey. Trip Cancellation and Interruption benefits by Allianz Global Insurance may reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you must cancel your trip due to a covered reason. Emergency medical and dental benefits may reimburse you for the cost of eligible medical care if, while travelling, you experience an unexpected, covered medical condition. 

Every year, millions of travellers trust Allianz Global Assistance to keep them safe with straightforward benefits and diligent service. Get a quote today to learn how we can protect you on your travels


Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.

Travel protected with Allianz Global Assistance
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