Solo
Small-group tours, cruises, city breaks, retreats and journeys for one, planned around you, with the team a message away while you travel.
Photo by Michael McKay on Unsplash
- Ways to go
- Independently, or in a small group for company
- Rooms
- A single room, a double for sole use, or a solo cabin at sea
- Typical length
- From a long weekend to three weeks or more
- While you're away
- The team, by phone or WhatsApp, if you need us
Travelling on your own means going where you want, when you want, at your own pace. Lots of people do it: because friends can't make the dates, because they've always wanted to see somewhere, or because they simply like their own company.
Going alone works best with a little more thought. Where you stay, when you arrive and how you get from the airport matter more when there's no one to share the decisions. A small-group tour or a cruise gives you company when you want it; a city break or a beach hotel gives you time to yourself.
We plan the trip around you: how much company you'd like, how confident you feel, what you'd love to see. We choose central hotels, arrange transfers so you're met on arrival, are honest about what a room for one costs, and are there if you need us while you're away.
Ways to travel solo
From joining a group to having a week entirely to yourself. These are the main kinds.
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Photo by Kristaps Solims on Unsplash Small-group tours
Company is built in: a leader, a group of around 10 to 16, and meals and sightseeing together. Solo travellers are common on these tours, and some companies run departures just for people travelling alone.
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Photo by Patrick Pahlke on Unsplash Escorted tours
A tour manager handles everything from hotels to luggage, which takes the worry out of a first big trip on your own, from Italy and Switzerland to India and China.
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Photo by id23 on Unsplash Cruises
Dining, entertainment and excursions are all on board and easy to join. Some ships have studio cabins designed for one, and many hold get-togethers for solo guests.
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Photo by Pelayo Arbués on Unsplash City breaks
A central hotel within walking distance of the sights, an airport transfer and a plan for the first evening. Lisbon, Rome, Copenhagen and Edinburgh are all easy on your own.
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Photo by Ashutosh Gupta on Unsplash Retreats and special interest
Yoga and wellness retreats, walking holidays, cookery and painting courses, where you share the days with people who like the same things.
Travelling on your own
Rooms for one
Most hotels and tours price rooms for two, so a room to yourself usually costs more. Options include a single room, a double for sole use, a solo cabin on some ships, or, with some small-group companies, sharing a twin room with another solo traveller. We show you the real cost of each before you decide.
Arriving well
A daytime arrival, a driver waiting with your name, and a hotel in a central, well-lit street make the first day easy. We plan flights and transfers with that in mind, and make sure you have the details you need before you leave home.
Company when you want it
A group dinner, a walking tour, a cookery class or a seat at the chef's table: small things that turn a day alone into a sociable one. Just as easily, a book in a café or a quiet beach. We build in both.
Where to go on your own
Places that are easy to get around, welcoming and rewarding to see alone. These are the favourites, and the months they're at their best.
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April to June, September to October
Photo by Sten Ritterfeld on Unsplash Italy
Rome, Florence and Venice joined by fast trains, café tables made for one, and plenty of escorted and small-group tours.
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March to October
Photo by Alex Lian on Unsplash Portugal
Lisbon's trams and viewpoints, Porto and the port lodges, and the vineyards of the Douro Valley.
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September to March for the northern lights
Photo by Jacek Smoter on Unsplash Iceland
Waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs, easily seen on day tours and small-group trips from Reykjavik. June and July bring the midnight sun.
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March to May, October to November
Photo by sun hung on Unsplash Japan
Safe, spotless and easy to travel by train, with temples in Kyoto, Tokyo's neighbourhoods and the food everywhere.
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November to March
Photo by Sumit Chinchane on Unsplash Thailand
Bangkok's temples, the old city of Chiang Mai and the islands, on a well-trodden route with plenty of fellow travellers.
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May to October
Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash Croatia
Dubrovnik, Split and the islands, by small ship or on a tour along the Adriatic coast.
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October to April
Photo by Adam Edgerton on Unsplash New Zealand
Mountains, fjords and lakes, a long way from home but simple to travel, on a small-group tour or at your own pace.
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December to April
Photo by Kevin Calvo on Unsplash Costa Rica
Rainforests, volcanoes and wildlife, with lodges and small groups that make it easy to explore alone.
Destinations we'd suggest
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Thailand Temples and street food in Bangkok, hills in the north, then islands to finish.
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New York Skyline views, Broadway nights and long walks through the city that never seems to stop.
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Bali Rice terraces, temples and surf beaches on an island with a gentle, spiritual heart.
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Rome Two thousand years of history on every corner, best seen with a fork in hand.
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Croatia Walled cities, island harbours and clear Adriatic water along the Dalmatian coast.
How we help
- Planned around you
- Your pace, your interests and how much company you'd like, not a trip designed for two.
- Arriving well
- Flights at sensible times, a driver to meet you and central hotels in safe, easy areas.
- Honest about cost
- The real price of a room or cabin for one, with the options side by side.
- Someone at home
- The team has your itinerary and is a call or a WhatsApp away while you travel.
- Protected
- ABTA protected, and ATOL protected when your trip includes flights.
Questions about solo
Will I pay a single supplement?
Often, yes, when you have a room or cabin to yourself, because most are priced for two. How much varies a lot between hotels, tours, ships and dates, and some have single rooms or solo cabins. We'll show you the options and what each one costs.
Will I be the only person on my own on a tour?
Unlikely. Solo travellers are common on escorted and small-group tours, and some companies run departures just for people travelling alone.
Can I share a room to save money?
Some small-group companies will pair you with another solo traveller of the same sex in a twin room. Whether it's offered, and what happens if there's no one to share with, depends on the company.
Is it safe to travel alone?
Most popular destinations are very safe with a little common sense. Check the FCDO's travel advice on GOV.UK before you go and sign up for its email alerts. We choose hotels in central, well-lit areas and arrange transfers so you're met on arrival.
I'm nervous about eating alone. Any tips?
Choose a tour or cruise with some meals included and shared tables, or a hotel with a good restaurant and a bar to sit at. Cookery classes and food tours are another easy way to share a meal.
Is solo travel for any age?
Yes. Escorted tours with a tour manager suit people who'd like everything looked after, while small-group tours often attract a mix of ages. We can tell you who a tour usually suits.
What if something goes wrong while I'm away?
Contact the team, who have your full itinerary, and your travel insurer's emergency line for anything medical. Keep copies of your passport and booking details on your phone and in your bag.
What insurance do I need?
A travel insurance policy with medical cover and a 24-hour emergency assistance line, covering everything on your itinerary. We can point you to a provider.
Where should we take you?
Tell the team what you have in mind and we'll come back with ideas, usually the same day. The team reads every request.
- 01WhereA place, a few ideas, or a hotel you love
- 02WhenA month or exact dates, and how flexible you are
- 03FlightsWhich airport suits you, or none at all
- 04WhoEveryone going, with children's ages
- 05SpendA rough idea for the whole trip
- 06The detailsBoard, hotel rating, facilities, the kind of place
Photos by Michael McKay, Kristaps Solims, Patrick Pahlke, id23, Pelayo Arbués, Ashutosh Gupta, Erik Mclean, Josh Hild, Johan Mouchet, Sten Ritterfeld, Alex Lian, Jacek Smoter, sun hung, Sumit Chinchane, Matthias Mullie, Adam Edgerton and Kevin Calvo on Unsplash.