A Solo Journey This Year Can Alleviate Feelings of Loneliness

Throughout my 17-year tenure as a travel journalist, I’ve often found myself the odd one out during others’ romantic escapades in Africa more times than I can count. I’ve enjoyed intimate dinners for one in candlelit Parisian restaurants. I’ve wandered alone through the jungles of Costa Rica and strolled along sun-soaked, hidden beaches in Southern California. Solo travel has become such a natural part of my life that I never hesitate to book a ticket for my next adventure alone.

That said, I do enjoy traveling with others. I love exploring new places with those I cherish, sharing experiences together. (For instance, my mother will always be my ultimate travel partner in Tokyo.) I also recognize that the realities of solo travel—especially for women—can raise safety concerns (though an increasing number of groups are emerging to help navigate these issues). Nevertheless, not having a travel companion doesn’t deter me from embarking on my adventures.

I’m part of a rapidly growing demographic that embraces solo vacations—even if they have a partner waiting back home. Companies like the luxury custom travel firm Black Tomato reported a 42 percent rise in solo travel in 2022 compared to the previous year, highlighting an increase in destinations such as French Polynesia, which typically attract honeymooners or couples. Paradoxically, in a time when loneliness is so widespread that experts warn it poses health risks comparable to obesity and smoking, I believe solo travel offers a powerful antidote to the loneliness epidemic—and here’s why.

You become more engaged—and more inviting to others.

While I truly enjoy traveling with others, there are certain dynamics that come with having a companion or group, often requiring mental energy that could be better spent connecting with new people. Take dining, for example: conversations frequently revolve around your companions and are typically conducted in a shared language. When I eat alone in a new destination, I’m more inclined to practice the local language with strangers and find common ground, making it easier for others to approach me. I've started conversations with bartenders, fellow train passengers, and seatmates on flights, some of whom I still keep in touch with. As a solo traveler, it's much simpler to join spontaneous activities—like the time I delved into Nairobi’s contemporary art scene thanks to a single connection at the Hemingways Eden, emerging from a whirlwind gallery tour with several new friends who are artists and art enthusiasts. (Read more about how two fellow Dinogo solo travelers forge friendships on the road).

You’re more inclined to bond with others over shared passions.

Increasingly, hotels and travel companies are offering opportunities for guests to connect with one another. In Ibiza, the luxurious Six Senses Ibiza hosts its annual Alma festival, uniting individuals around wellness—an ideal setting for solo travelers to immerse themselves with like-minded people. In 2022, my friend Geetika Agrawal, the founder of Vacation With an Artist, participated in a group surfing camp at the Lapoint camp in El Salvador, meeting others who sought to connect with the ocean through riding the waves. (Check out her company, which pairs travelers with local artisans—a fantastic way to meet creative individuals while traveling.)

Black Tomato’s Get Lost travel series, primarily designed for solo adventurers, showcases off-the-beaten-path destinations you might not initially associate with solo travel, such as Mongolia, Chilean Patagonia, and Namibia. In 2022, bookings for these trips surged by 78 percent compared to the previous year. Depending on individual preferences, the company can arrange communal culinary experiences or connect travelers with informal guides who can also serve as companions.

You might just find love.

And I'm not solely talking about romantic love (though if that's what you're after, keep it in mind!). I'm referring to a passionate connection—perhaps even a lifelong one—with a place or a new hobby that you can immerse yourself in completely, following its lead without needing to check in on a travel companion's enjoyment. One of my greatest passions, the continent of Africa, captivated me as I wandered through its wild landscapes, rich cultures, music, and languages, all while fully open to meeting fellow enthusiasts—some of whom have become my closest friends. Then there’s the Pacific Northwest, where I fell so deeply for its ancient temperate rainforests that I now consider Greater Seattle my second home. And who would have thought I’d develop an interest in paper cutting? After spending a snowy January afternoon with artist Regina Martin of Scherenschnitt Atelier in her historic home in Gstaad, Switzerland, I’m eager to continue this meditative art back home.

Embark on a solo trip this year, and you won’t find yourself looking back, questioning why you waited for someone else to join you on your next big adventure. If you travel alone with an open heart, you’re likely to meet new friends and engage with places so passionately that you’ll feel more connected to the world than ever—flying solo, yet never alone.