How many times has the “let’s plan a trip!” message landed in your friends or family group chat, only for a prolonged back-and-forth about dates, destinations and budgets ends up without anyone actually travelling anywhere.
Flying solo just might be the solution, according to a new global poll.
The “Solo Travel Trends 2026: The Year of Travelling Alone with Purpose” survey by Opodo asked 9,000 travellers, including 2,000 from the UK, what drives them to take the journey abroad alone.
Among UK solo travellers, “freedom” was their biggest motivation, with 32% saying it was their main reason for going alone.
According to the research, they relish having the ability to carve out their days abroad around their own interests as well as at their own pace. This allows them to shape each trip from the outset.
