Traveling Solo Doesn’t Mean Traveling Alone: Why Women Are Leading the Way

Writer: George Lindsey

Here’s something we see again and again at Lindsey Adventures: women deciding to travel solo—but not alone.

They might board the plane without a spouse, partner, or friend in tow… but when they land, they’re surrounded by a ready-made travel family. Our motto says it best: Traveling solo doesn’t mean traveling alone.

And the numbers back it up.

A new survey from Road Scholar found that nearly 30% of their travelers are flying solo—and 85% of those solo travelers are women. Even more eye-opening? 80% of all travel decisions are made by women. Whether they’re traveling with a group like ours, with friends, or completely on their own, women are leading the charge.

In fact, Condor Ferries estimates women spent $125 billion on travel in 2023 alone. That’s not just a vacation habit—that’s an unstoppable movement.

1. They’re Not Waiting—They’re Going

Many women aren’t putting off travel until schedules align or someone else wants to join. They’re saying yes now.

And here’s an interesting twist: more than 60% of solo female travelers in the study were married but traveling without their spouse. Why? Sometimes their partner isn’t interested in the destination. Sometimes they have different travel styles.

One traveler summed it up perfectly: “It would be an atrocity to not travel just because my spouse doesn’t like it.”

2. The Freedom to Choose—With the Comfort of Community

Solo travel doesn’t have to mean being alone in a strange place. In fact, for many women, joining a group trip like ours offers the best of both worlds:

• Freedom to choose a trip that excites you, even if no one at home is up for it.

• Friendship from like-minded travelers you meet along the way.

• Confidence knowing you have a guide and a group to share the experience.

Road Scholar’s numbers show women travel solo to make new friends (26%), enjoy independence (22%), choose their own destinations (15%), and avoid schedule conflicts (6%).

Our travelers tell us the same thing—except they add, “I also loved knowing I’d have dinner with friends every night and someone to laugh with when we got lost in a Christmas market.”

3. A New Kind of Bucket List

Men are more likely to return to places they’ve been before. Women? They’re chasing new adventures. From cultural deep-dives to nature-based explorations, women are filling their passports with first-time stamps—and often doing it with other “solo” women in a group setting.

It’s no wonder women-only travel has grown by over 230% in recent years.

My Takeaway:If you’ve been dreaming of a trip but waiting for someone to say yes—stop waiting. You don’t need a travel buddy to get started. You just need a group that feels like family from day one.

That’s what we do at Lindsey Adventures. You may start your journey as a “solo traveler,” but you’ll come home with new friends, shared stories, and maybe even your next travel partner.

Because traveling solo doesn’t mean traveling alone.

✈️ Ready to see the world—together? Join one of our upcoming adventures and experience the freedom of solo travel with the comfort of community.

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