With solo travel on the rise – both on land and at sea, and increasingly by women – many travel suppliers are upping the ante with a bevy of offers and experiences that to cater to the growing travel demographic, and bely traditional punitive measures like single supplements. Here are six offers designed for those who content marching to the beat of their own drum.
Solo en España: From museums to restaurants to shopping, there is no shortage of activities in Barcelona to enjoy by oneself – plus an easy-to-use public transportation system for exploring the city. Boasting an unbeatable address just off the Passeig de Gràcia, the Almanac Barcelona serves as an ideal jumping-off point for discovering the Catalonian capital solo. When booking the ‘Almanac Solo’ package, individuals will enjoy three nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, private transfers to and from the airport, a private 60-minute sunrise yoga session on the panoramic rooftop terrace (with unbeatable views of La Sagrada Familia and a guest-only pool), and a welcome basket with a half-bottle champagne, a curated list of shopping recommendations by the concierge, and a Barcelona City Pass.
Guests will also have the choice between a three-hour guided tapas tour to discover the city’s hidden gems and learn more about the city’s culinary history; a half-day, off-the-beaten path hiking trip to explore the Montserrat Trails and Benedictine Monastery, home to La Moreneta (the Black Madonna); or a private shopping experience at La Manual Alpargatera to customize a pair of espadrilles. Rates start at US$645 per night for a three-night stay (price will vary depending on preferred experience).
Aqua Expeditions’ Solo Traveller Special: Singles can take advantage of zero-supplement fares (up to 25% savings!) on select 2024 and 2025 departures aboard Aqua Nera, Aria Amazon, Aqua Blu, and Aqua Mekong. As they sail, guests enjoy tailored five-star itineraries and service, including an exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, cuisine by world-renowned chefs, and small group expert-guided activities and excursions for all ages, with a maximum of 16-40 guests per ship. The intimate scale means plenty of opportunity to connect with fellow travellers on adventures ranging from diving with whale sharks (Indonesia/Aqua Blu) and piranha fishing (Peru/Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera) to temple touring (Cambodia and Vietnam/Aqua Mekong), along with a host of active pursuits (kayaking, jungle walks, paddle-boarding, cycling, snorkelling, diving) and cultural experiences (cooking classes, market tours, and craft demonstrations).
PONANT’s Solo Offer: The French-owned and operated luxury cruise line is offering no single supplement on more than 130 sailings to destinations ranging from Alaska and the Greek isles to Croatia and Canada’s Northwest Passage. The offer includes departures on their legendary Le Commandant Charcot ship, the only luxury icebreaker of its kind to reach the North Pole, featuring a floating research center and laboratory staffed with more than 20 scientists from across the world. (Conducting real research, not citizen science.)
Inner Harmony: Solo travellers looking for a mind-body reset should look no further than Euphoria Retreat’s Inner Emotional Harmony program. Located above the village of Mystras on Greece’s lesser-known Peloponnese peninsula, Euphoria Retreat is a holistic-wellbeing destination spa that blends cutting-edge science with ancient wisdom. The Inner Emotional Harmony program gently guides guests through five to seven days of introspection, reflection, and self-renewal. The itinerary includes wellness and transformation consultations, massage, sound healing, chakra balancing treatments, spa treatments, medication, and more.
Solo Lunar Wellness Retreat: At Nayara Tented Camp, the new Sukha Spa (opened summer 2023) hosts bespoke and set retreats combining wellness rituals like yoga, sound healing, and sunset meditation. During the forthcoming Sukha Rainforest retreat, Oct. 16-20, guests will partake in unique programming timed to the “Full Hunter’s Moon,” a celestial spectacle characterized by a moon that appears larger and more orange than usual. Historically, these early evening moonrises signalled optimal times for harvesting and hunting, but the hunter’s moon can also illuminate a spiritual path toward growth and enlightenment. During the four-night retreat, guests will harness this radiant lunar energy to cultivate greater self-esteem and awareness.
Claim Your Confidence: While Shou Sugi Ban House – the first wellness retreat in the Hamptons – is always a haven for solo travellers, the perfect way to kick off 2025 is with the second ‘Claim Your Confidence’ retreat with best-selling author Lydia Fenet (Jan. 9-12, 2025). The retreat will help participants begin the year with intention. The intimate nature of this program fosters growth, comfort in vulnerability, and confidence in stepping into the next chapter of one’s life. (Lydia Fenet is known for her two best-selling books, Claim Your Confidence and The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You, and for her 20-plus year history as an auctioneer.)