Travelers accept solo trips with unfamiliar faces
Solo trips with strangers have become popular as travelers seek freedom, reflection and authentic experiences.
- Solo travel is becoming more and more popular, but intimidating for those who are not used to traveling alone.
- G Adventure’s “Soloish” program offers guided group travel experiences specifically designed for solo travelers.
- The program combines structured itinerary with free time to allow for both sharing and individual exploration.
I can’t remember the names of restaurants I visited during my week in Portugal. All I can say to you is the names, country of origin, occupation and motivation of my 13 travel companions. I didn’t know before I stepped into Europe.
Solo trips are intimidating. As I was on various group trips alone, I can feel isolated as the only person between a couple, family and friend group. It’s always a bit nasty during meals when you need to ask someone to sit down with, suffer from the horrors of the schoolyard, or take the table for yourself and alienate any potential friends.
“The reason I chose to solo is because I live, it’s seasonal, it’s all the people who take vacations during the summer, and there’s no one there,” John O’Hare told USA Today. “I wanted to meet a lot of new people and be exposed to different perspectives, different ideas…and I’m not disappointed.”
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My first meal in Portugal in late July, I sat next to Sidni in California and quickly latched each other. Sidni was home-based, at least for me – and I would like to think that’s the case for her as we explored connections with the rest of the group.
I just had to ride one train to know half of the group. The fact that we were all solo travelers made it, so it’s an experience where everyone was open to each other and explored a new country.
It was my first time traveling with G Adventure on the new program “Solo-Ish.” The concept is simple, but for a group of solo travelers who share itineraries and sometimes rooms, taking a booking plunge seemed like the biggest hurdle for most people. (I myself included.)
“This was my first time traveling solo, and what really appealed was the fact that it was solo-like. So I had left alone and arrived, but I was very nervous about joining the group and seeing if I felt like I was inclusion,” Nataline Hibbs said. “I’m going to take that leap and get involved. It’s very rewarding and the people you meet – coming from all different fields – makes it a really cool experience and there’s a lot of things you’ll come back from there.”
We visited six places (Lisbon, Cascais, Belem, Nazareth, Amarante, Porto) and gave the group a good taste that made them unique. At each stop there were planned activities ranging from nature hiking to city food tours and sightseeing via boat.
Solo Travel is an increasingly popular option, with “Alone” becoming the third most common option for travel dating, according to a Booking.com January survey of 32,106 respondents from 32 countries and regions. Approximately 21% of respondents worldwide and 29% of respondents in the US reported that they had traveled solo in 2024. Among those who traveled solo, freedom to create a itinerary was an important motivation for 38% of respondents worldwide and 30% of Americans. Personal reflection and time to meet people on arrival were also a strong motivation.
“I think the first point is that in general, when it comes to solo travel, it seems like more people want to do it,” David Stone, global sales manager for an unforgettable travel agency, told USA Today. “And I think the stigma that could be attached to solo trips is almost gone now. This is really great.”
What to expect from a solo group trip
You are not alone, don’t worry. (Unless you want to be.)
Our Portuguese itinerary was packed with activities that allowed us to experience much of the country, but every day we allocated downtime for everyone to do our thing, if everyone wanted them.
On the first night, after a walking food tour in Lisbon, half of the group decided to continue and try out the various pasties Is Donnatas (traditional Portuguese pastries), but the other half returned the bus to the hotel. The next day, during our visit to Cascais and Belem, the group spread out into the most fascinating things (views, or hiking), but we were all group solo travelers ready to share the views with you and you, or split up a ridiculously large almond pastry.
The best experience managers (CEOs) that G Adventures calls guides have become useful not only as a group shepherd, but also as an expert in the area, recommending where to eat and what to do on our own based on our interests.
I actually remember one of the restaurants (check it out if you’re in Adega Machado, if you’re in Lisbon). We heard only a few of the most beautiful live music from the table, and we heard voices from Isabelnolon to Pedro Mutinho to Philippavieira overnight. Our G Adventure Guide adjusted the experience and I was very pleased that she did because I didn’t know I wouldn’t.
Solo travel can often be held responsible for a large amount of research on travelers, but as our CEO, I worked with locals to know where to go for a real experience.
Do you look like a tour group when you walk together? Yes, absolutely. But you need to overcome that fear of judgment. From your clothes to your hair style, to your accent, you will always be a tourist outside your home – it’s fine. Being a tourist is essentially not frowning. Being a bad tourist. Having a local guide with us, respecting the places we visited, and spending locally owned businesses and money is everything you need as a responsible traveler.
Are you ready for a solo trip?
Probably not. I don’t think anyone is ready to put themselves in an uncomfortable position. It is not our nature to make ourselves vulnerable. But that’s where growth happens. The unpleasant moments you handle yourself are those that really reveal who you are.
“I think you’ll do it like a solo solo trip you don’t have with the group. You’re not on tour. It’s definitely intimidating and very challenging and can be very lonely,” said another guest, Pavel Orel. “This trip is like a perfect balance with so many structures built in. There are already so many communities here, and there’s enough freedom to do anything.”
I consider myself an introvert. This was the first time I’ve been feeling exhausted after talking to people for hours. It was a completely different experience than anything else. I’m not saying I’m just going to go on a solo group trip now, but in a new environment surrounded by travelers trying to do the same, there’s something I have to say about touching myself.
“I haven’t been group trips for a while and most of the group trips I did feel that most people are pretty immature, and there were people on this trip who really knew themselves and they felt safe.
Visiting new destinations with other solo travelers from different countries, backgrounds, ages and fields will only enhance the experience. I left Portugal and thanked the country for its relaxed culture, and made it a ponderous turn of phrases from South Africans, the kindness of Canadians, the thoughtfulness of the British, the resilience of the Russians, the tenacity of the Americans traveling with me. I wouldn’t have got it myself.
(This story was updated to update the headlines.)
The story’s reporter was accessed by G Adventure. USA Today maintains editing control.
Josh Rivera is a senior consumer travel editor at USA Today. You can contact him at jrivera@usatoday.com
