Gone are the days of relying on a plus one, as Brits are increasingly choosing to travel and dine solo.
With search share of solo hotel rooms up by 9% in the past year according to consumer research by PureSpectrum, and solo dining seeing a 14% uplift year-over-year in the UK as revealed by OpenTable data, search engine KAYAK has partnered with restaurant discovery and booking platform, OpenTable, to launch the ultimate guide to solo travel and dining.
Offering solo travellers and diners an insight into the hottest travel destinations, must-visit restaurants and expert tips, this resource helps those choosing to travel and dine on their own.
New consumer data, conducted by both brands supports this seen trend, with 72% of Brits planning to dine solo in the next year and nearly half (42%) are going on a solo trip – and it’s Gen Zs and Millennials who appear to be leading the shift.
The younger generations are no longer waiting around for a plus one to be available before booking their dream trip or eating in their favourite restaurant and are embracing solo experiences instead.
Approximately 80% of Gen Zs and Millennials are planning to dine solo in the next 12 months, compared to 68% of Gen X and 57% of Boomers.
While on the travel side, about 90% of Millennials and Gen Zs are either already planning or desiring taking a solo trip in their lifetime, while older generations showed more modest interest (77% of Gen X’s and 73% of Boomers).
Solo travel has become the perfect opportunity for travellers to challenge themselves and experience something outside of their comfort zone.
Among the reasons people appreciate jetting off without a plus one, 54% of respondents say they love the freedom to explore new places on their own terms and in their own time and over two in five (44%) enjoy the fact they don’t have to align their plans with someone else.
Solo travel also offers over one in four (28%) people a chance to disconnect, recharge and focus on self-care.
Self-care is a common thread across both travel and dining. Nearly two in five Brits (39%) would choose to dine solo when they need a break from socialising, with over a quarter (28%) revealing that their number one reason they appreciate dining alone is because they enjoy their ‘me time’.
Additionally, 21% view solo dining as a part of their regular self-care routine.
“Solo dining is a key dining trend of 2024, with solo diners spending 32% more per person than the average diner.
The rise in solo dining appears to reflect a growing trend of self-investment and valuing ‘me time,” said OpenTable’s Laure Bornet, VP of international growth.
“Restaurants are adapting to this cultural shift by offering countertop seating, kitchen views and varied portion sizes to create the perfect spaces for solo guests to enjoy their dining experience.”
More than half (58%) of solo travellers have formed lasting relationships – whether friendly or romantic – on previous trips, and 44% say they are open to a holiday romance. This may explain why nearly a quarter (24%) of Brits book a double room when travelling solo.
“Solo travel allows people to have autonomy and flexibility over their plans, including their pace of travel. It can be a liberating experience to travel alone, providing travellers with a huge sense of accomplishment” said Rachel Mumford, travel expert of KAYAK UK.
“Travelling independently doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice socialising as 24% reveal they make new friends more easily when travelling alone.”
The survey data found the most common types of trips that appeal to solo travellers are city breaks (71%), outdoor vacations such as hiking (49%) and beach resorts (47%).
The firms analysed a variety of factors such as average flight and accommodation price, perception of safety and hotel ratings, and average meal costs.
They found the top five destinations for those looking to experience solo travel and dining to be Berlin, Paris, Dublin, Dubai, and Sydney.
To accompany KAYAK’s top solo travel picks, OpenTable is dishing out the top 5 solo dining spots in each destination, and launching its inaugural data-backed list of the Top 50 Restaurants for Solo Dining in the UK.
The list features restaurants across the UK, including Upstairs at Landrace in Bath, The Mayfair Chippy in London, ERST in Manchester and The Black Grape in Edinburgh, as well as practical tips to fully enjoy the solo experience.
