00:00 We've seen a massive increase in the number of people who book solo onto our adventures.
00:07 In fact, now about 63% of our bookings come from solo travellers.
00:12 According to latest figures from the Association of British Travel Agents, the number of solo
00:17 trip bookings have increased three-fold over the last decade.
00:20 So whilst many of us might love a trip away with our family or even a getaway with friends,
00:25 it seems like solo travelling might well be the way to go.
00:29 It's a kind of self-care, self-interest thing.
00:32 People maybe have seen somewhere in a book, in a TV or film or something in their lives
00:38 and they just thought, you know, I really want to cycle around Cuba, for instance.
00:43 And they don't need to then wait for their other half or their sister to do it with them.
00:47 They can just go for it.
00:49 And also Three Quarters said it's nice not having to plan around other people's annual
00:53 leave and other people's plans.
00:56 What kind of tips would you give to female solo travellers in order to just keep themselves
01:03 a little bit safe?
01:05 I'm really lucky.
01:06 I'm really well travelled, but I'm still nervous about doing things completely on my own.
01:11 I want the confidence of someone who knows, a local person who knows what's safe and sensible
01:17 and how to negotiate all of these things there to help me.
01:21 According to data from Travel Company Explore Worldwide, 76% of people asked said they're
01:27 choosing to travel alone to do exactly what they want without having to wait on someone
01:31 to join them.
01:32 And 6 in 10 people said they've found solo travelling to be empowering.
01:36 As many as 39% of travellers found solo travel to be a good remedy for loneliness.
01:41 Yeah, well one of the things, interesting things that people said was that it gives
01:45 them confidence to take more risks generally in life.
01:48 I think it feels like a bit of a risk, doesn't it, booking onto a trip?
01:51 And then if that goes well, it makes you think, wait a minute, there must be other things
01:55 I can do and I can be brave.
01:58 Just makes people a bit braver.
02:00 The most popular trips in 2023 included trips to Turkey, Madeira and Japan.
02:04 Are you wondering where you should start looking when booking your own getaway?
02:08 Well, here's a few tips.
02:10 I think there's a big advantage in joining a group on your own so you can choose to go
02:17 off and do something in the evening yourself or, you know, for half a day do something
02:23 different to the group.
02:24 But not having to sit in Google the whole time trying to work out how to make the logistics
02:29 happen because someone else is resolving all of that for you.
02:33 And there's a ramp to advise you.
02:34 So for instance, if you do want to go off to a restaurant on your own in the evening,
02:38 they can tell you which part of the city is sensible to wander along as a female on your
02:43 own and which part of the city they would advise you stay away from.
02:46 Most people say that they have a fabulous time when they go away solo, but 43% of them
02:51 said it was their best holiday ever.
02:54 It's sometimes the one that was about them and them choosing what they wanted to do that
02:59 really gives them those memories and that motivation for the rest of their life.
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