The idea of exploring
the world alone may be intimidating to some, but research shows that travelling
solo is becoming increasingly popular.
Analysis of 100,000 holiday bookings by travel inspiration
website 101 Holidays shows that holiday
companies which run group tours in the UK
and abroad are reporting that 35% of
their clients are single travellers.
101 Holidays has
launched a new website, 101 Single
Holidays, as a result of the predicted surge.
Solo travelling is most
popular with women, as 58.3% of
single travellers were reported to be female. When broke down by holiday types
those figures rise for more active trips including walking holidays (64%) and African safaris (60%).
“Travelling solo has
lost much of the lonely hearts stigma it once carried. Not everyone holidaying
alone is single, with more women leaving husbands and partners at home as they
tick items off their bucket lists,” says Winston.
To meet the demand for
solo holidays, holiday companies are now offering incentives to attract single
travellers, including dedicated solo travel holidays and the scrapping of the
single supplement, a premium charged to people who take a room alone.
Here
are a few of our top tips to stay safe when travelling solo:
1.
Leave all valuable possessions at
home. Flashy watches and sparkly chains are not needed while catching a bus in
Thailand or even sunbathing by the pool in Tuscany. Keep them in your jewellery
box at home.
2.
Always keep a small emergency stash
of currency (dollars are best as they can be exchanged easily) somewhere that
no one will find. If you do lose your wallet / purse you’ll have something to
get you by.
3.
Avoid arriving somewhere late at night.
If you don’t know the place, get there during daylight hours. Being able to see
your surroundings will make you feel safer.
4.
Leave photocopies of your passport,
visa and travel insurance with people at home and carry your embassy and
insurance company’s number with you. If you lose your passport or insurance
details, you have back up.
5.
Keep a checklist of the important
stuff – money, passport, camera, keys, ticket, etc. And every time you leave a
room, bus or plane you can tick them off.
Whether you are
planning on vacationing solo or with someone else don’t forget to choose
insurance that will allow you to enjoy your holidays without making a dent in
your spending.
Discount
Insurance policies offers a wide range of
different travel insurance options. Get a quick Quote today!
Anethe Carvalho
