March 1st is Nationwide Plan a Solo Trip Day, however vacationers want no devoted day to encourage what’s rapidly changing into probably the most industry-impacting tendencies in journey. Knowledge compiled by Kayak.com exhibits {that a} whopping 50% of American vacationers plan to take a solo journey this 12 months, with Google searches for “solo journey” skyrocketing 223% prior to now decade alone.
Diving into solo journey can really feel intimidating — at the same time as a journey journalist who has traveled solo for over a decade, I nonetheless really feel it typically. Nonetheless, because the panorama shifts from touring accompanied to going it alone, among the greatest manufacturers in aviation and hospitality are opening new avenues designed to make the solo journey expertise a breeze.
Tendencies in Journey
Solo journey is a development that has been rising slowly however steadily for years, however elevated journey among the many youngest generations has despatched it skyrocketing in reputation.
Latest knowledge compiled by United Airways exhibits that Gen Z vacationers are the almost certainly to embrace solo journey, with roughly 70% flying solo. Millennials comply with go well with, with 65% of the cohort embracing the solo journey expertise, as do 57% of vacationers of the Child Boomer technology.
With the spark to journey solo typically comes the daring to discover new locations. Although there’s nothing like a close-to-home journey, knowledge from United reveals that among the hottest spots for solo vacationers are usually extra far-flung, together with Brazil, China, and Korea, for the intrepid traveler not letting the dearth of a journey companion get in the way in which of crossing off a bucket checklist vacation spot.
Routes and Repositioning
United Airways reaches far past compiling knowledge on the development, opening new doorways — and routes — to an enhanced solo journey expertise. One route, specifically, feels fatefully designed for the solo traveler — a brand new day by day flight connecting United’s Houston hub to Medellin, Colombia, which I used to be in a position to expertise final month.
Whereas coastal Cartagena charms and the capital metropolis of Bogotá caters to the enterprise traveler, the Medellín route speaks on to the solo explorers. Hidden amongst wealthy, rugged mountainsides hiding espresso farms and colonial-era villages, Medellín emerges as arguably the largest hub for distant work and the rising “digital nomad” way of life in Latin America. Buzzing with expats and long-term vacationers, Medellín is a straightforward place to attach with others, with a neighborhood inhabitants that emanates immense pleasure at a brand new chapter in its metropolis’s historical past.
Extra than simply an extra flight supplied by “the world’s largest airline,” United’s Houston-Medellín route supplies a gateway to Colombia’s “metropolis of everlasting spring” from the West Coast and heartland of the US. Previous to the introduction of the brand new route on the finish of 2024, the town was solely linked to the U.S. by way of East Coast hubs like Miami.
The brand new flight is so common that even just some months after its debut, it’s already promoting out. After I boarded the flight by myself solo journey to Medellín, a number of of my fellow passengers expressed having already flown the route, in some instances a number of occasions, making solo journey to this trending vacation spot much more hassle-free.
After they disembark, guests can discover espresso plantations like Capilla del Rosario, tour revived neighborhoods like Comuna 13 and the newer Constelaciones undertaking in Comuna 3, and even strive new experiences like classic automobile excursions with native tour operators by way of the town middle and hillsides.
New flight connections to hotspots for solo journey alone aren’t the one approach United is positioning itself to be a best choice for vacationers taking to the skies alone. Instruments to clean the planning and preparation course of from begin to end assist, too. United’s digital journal Hemispheres lately launched a brand new AI-powered trip-planning instrument that includes each vacation spot the airline provides covers.
Whereas the youngest technology of vacationers is perhaps most aware of AI, this can be a instrument anybody can use. A easy search pulls up data-backed suggestions for the place to go to as a solo traveler, jump-starting the method of planning a solo journey. For these already planning their expertise with a vacation spot in thoughts, suggestions for the place to eat, the place to remain, what to do, and bucket checklist experiences assist deliver collectively an itinerary.
One other new characteristic contains seemless AirTag integration by way of the United app. Clients can securely share the placement of AirTag or Discover My equipment with United customer support brokers for quicker bag monitoring.
Factors-counting vacationers may even discover it straightforward to earn miles by way of the free-to-join MileagePlus program and guide worldwide tickets beginning at simply 20,000 miles. The Cash+Miles characteristic permits members to use as little as 1,000 miles towards their journey.
Plan a Solo Journey
All of the planning and preparation on the earth and the benefit of solo journey nonetheless require a leap of religion. Seasoned solo vacationers amongst United staff have suggestions for that. One such worker beneficial soaking all of it in and utilizing the expertise to replicate on life and develop as an individual.
For the report variety of vacationers taking to the skies solo, it’s now simpler than ever to get the planning out of the way in which and on to the enjoyable.
Journey Journalist
Carley Rojas Ávila is a bilingual journalist, editor, and journey advisor. Carley is an professional on all issues Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and labored in 4 totally different international locations within the area. She is the creator of House to Havana and Loosely Native.