Solo Travel, Shared Adventures

According to Go2Africa’s Luxury Solo Travel Report, 2026 has seen the largest increase in solo travel ever, with 1.6 million searches of “solo travel” in January alone. At Holiday Vacations, we’ve witnessed an increase in solo bookings, too — and we hope more travelers will give it a try. If you’ve been considering a solo trip, take a little inspiration from someone who did just that.

Susan Blackford, a long-time Holiday Vacations guest, booked her first solo trip back in August 2019 to visit America’s national parks. As an early retiree, she found a lot of her friends were unavailable to travel. Similarly, her children couldn’t join her — they were busy with their careers. And then she found Holiday Vacations. “When traveling with Holiday Vacations, I always feel safe and protected,” Blackford stated. “As a single woman, that's very important to me.” Reflecting on her first solo trip, Blackford said she enjoyed many aspects of it. In particular, she appreciated how Holiday Vacations handles the not-so-fun parts of travel — like flights, accommodations, meals, and more — on your behalf. “I’ve driven several solo road trips around the United States visiting national parks, and it's a lot of hotels and driving long hours,” Blackford revealed. “When I travel with Holiday Vacations, I don't need to worry about the logistics and backup plans.”

Another benefit of solo travel? You get to prioritize your wants and needs. In contrast, if you travel with a family member or a friend, you often need to compromise in order to accommodate their interests. “Solo travel allows you to focus on the facets of the trip that you want to see — and at your own pace,” Blackford explained. However, you don’t need to spend every moment of the trip on your own. Blackford pointed out that traveling solo with a group like Holiday Vacations allows you to balance group activities with time to explore independently. Additionally, “subgroups” often form based on different guests’ interests and paces. Want to kayak in Lake Tahoe? Chances are, someone in your group wants to as well. Want to grab a bite to eat? Someone else probably does, too. “If you are afraid to travel alone, there is safety and companionship in traveling with Holiday Vacations,” Blackford explained. “I have never felt lonely on a Holiday Vacations trip. Everyone is there because they want to explore and enjoy traveling.”

The Welcome Dinner also stood out to Blackford during her trip, as it made her feel more comfortable for the journey ahead. “I greatly enjoy the Welcome Dinner as a way to learn names and common interests,” Blackford said. “I am always amazed at how quickly a Tour Director learns the names of the participants in the tour.”

While our Tour Directors work to ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible, they’re more than just guides; they’re also a steady point of contact and a built-in travel companion. Likewise, our motorcoach drivers and hosts help foster a sense of community among travelers. For those new to hosted tours, a host is a special guest — often a TV or radio personality — who travels with groups on select tours. “As a first solo trip, I would recommend a hosted Holiday Vacations tour with a local TV station anchor,” Blackford offered. “This way, you will meet travelers from your hometown and perhaps find a travel partner.”

Since her first trip with Holiday Vacations, Blackford has gone on 20+ getaways — some solo, and some with travel companions. When asked about her favorite tours, she had a challenging time picking just a few; however, her love for the outdoors made some stand out. “As an animal lover, I would choose the Kenya trip as a favorite,” Blackford reflected. “Africa's vast landscape is teeming with wildlife.”

In addition to Kenya, Blackford mentioned Alaska and Canada as other destinations she loved. In fact, she loved both spots so much that she returned to them on other Holiday Vacations trips in order to explore further. New Zealand made an impression on her as well. “Kiwis. Mirror Lake. Milford Sound [Piopiotahi]. Dunedin. Visiting Hobbiton was on my bucket list!” Blackford added.

One recommendation Blackford has for her fellow travelers? Make the most of your leisure time. While Holiday Vacations takes care of the planning for you, we also know the importance of giving our guests space to pursue individual interests. If you ever feel unsure of what to do, consider an optional excursion or ask your Tour Director for recommendations; they'll know the perfect fit for your interests. “It's useful to ask about free time where you can schedule a separate optional activity,” Blackford shared. “For example: A sunset jeep ride in Moab, horseback riding in Bryce Canyon National Park, white-water rafting in Alaska, or a hot air balloon ride in Kenya.”

As for what Blackford has planned for 2027? More adventures — and this time, she’ll take them with a friend she met while on a trip to Iceland! “Next year, we are traveling to Tanzania, Morocco, Ireland, taking a Danube River cruise, and stargazing in Death Valley National Park,” Blackford answered.

At the end of the day, travel is meaningful whether you travel with friends, family, or by yourself. Solo travel, however, offers something especially rewarding. “After traveling solo, I feel more confident in myself,” Blackford revealed. “Holiday Vacations provides a safety net for traveling solo.”