I want to talk about a trend that’s been gaining momentum over the past decade: married women traveling solo.
Not with the kids. Not with a spouse. Not with a tour group (though sometimes that too). Just them, their passport, and a plan.
I’ve been reading everything I could find on this trend, and the numbers are fascinating, backed by major travel companies, surveys, and real travel behavior.
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Married—but going solo
If you think solo female travel is primarily about young backpackers seeking adventure before settling down, you’d be completely wrong. More and more, it’s married women (many in their 50s and 60s) booking flights for one.
At first, I thought this was just a niche trend. But the numbers tell a different story. According to Booking.com’s 2024 survey of 27,000 travellers across 33 countries, over 54% of women expressed interest in traveling solo, while 72% of American women have embraced solo travel.
And tour operators are seeing real changes. In 2023, Road Scholar (a Boston-based group tour company for older adults) reported that 60% of its solo travellers were married women going without their spouses. That’s more than half of all women wanting to experience travel on their own terms.
Many of them weren’t new to travel, they were just new to doing it alone. And they had good reasons, as 42% said their spouses just weren’t interested in travel, and 40% said they simply wanted different kinds of trips.
The average age? Between 58 and 68. A demographic that’s typically overlooked by travel marketing but is reshaping the industry.
In fact, Flight Centre reported that in 2023, their most common traveler type was solo women. Their data shows that 56% of bookings for their Contiki youth tours were solo, with 62% of those being women.
Why people are going solo
From the data and the many personal stories I’ve read, it’s rarely just about the destination. Solo travel becomes a reset button. A confidence builder. A chance to do what you want, when you want.
In a 2022 Global Rescue survey of 1,500 seasoned travelers, 70% of women said they’ve traveled solo for leisure at least once. And the reasons? Freedom, clarity, healing, curiosity, connection.
Some just want to prove to themselves they can do it. Others enjoy not having to compromise or coordinate with someone else’s schedule.
A 2022 Road Scholar survey found that 26% of solo female travelers liked meeting new people, 22% appreciated their autonomy, and 15% simply liked choosing the destination themselves.
And while it’s clear that older women are leading the charge, younger women aren’t far behind. A 2025 ASA Luxury Travel Trends report showed that 58% of Gen Z women are interested in solo international travel, and 83% say they’re inspired by what they see on social media.
Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest have become the primary destinations for travel inspiration among female travelers, creating a virtual community that encourages and supports solo travel decisions.
The industry is catching up (sort of)
The irony is that while women, especially older women, are driving this trend, many of them feel ignored by the travel industry.
JourneyWoman found that 70% of women over 50 felt the industry didn’t understand their needs.
They wanted more realistic photography, better accessibility, and content that reflected their lives. I bet not glossy images of 20-somethings in bikinis on a yacht.
But things are shifting. Travel companies are starting to adapt. According to Virtuoso, a global luxury travel network, 71% of solo travelers are now female.
And Pinterest data shows that pins for “solo female travel” are up 350%, and higher in Southeast Asia.
Even Google searches for “solo female travel” jumped 131% in 2023, even as you’re likely to see many women’s solo travel groups and communities on social media.
And then there’s the money. 80% of women are making the majority of travel decisions, and they’re spending.
According to Condor Ferries, women made 64% of all global travel bookings and were projected to spend $125 billion on travel in 2023, and women over 50 will drive $519 billion by 2035 in the U.S. and Canada.
How women are making solo trips safe and functional
What about safety? This is always the biggest question. And yes, it’s valid. But risk isn’t exclusive to solo travel or women. Travel always carries some level of unpredictability. The key is being prepared.
I’ve chatted with solo travellers who’ve told me the same thing: confidence builds over time. Many recommend starting small, maybe a weekend city break, before flying halfway across the world.
From everything I’ve seen, women are doing their homework. They’re joining communities and Facebook groups, such as Women Who Travel Solo by Condé Nast, Girls LOVE Travel, and other support ecosystems to swap tips, get honest advice, connect with travelers, and find support.
Even cruise lines and tour companies have caught on. Some solo female travellers enjoy shared excursions during the day, then dinner with new friends in the evening.
Another tip? Join small-group tours or book part of your trip with a travel agent to help reduce first-timer anxiety. I bet people would like knowing they can be fully independent but still have help nearby.
How I see it is that this rise in solo trips among married women is women carving out space for themselves in a world that often defines them by their roles at home or at work.
And while the luggage I write about is designed to make those journeys easier, it’s these stories that give the trips meaning.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Could I do that?” you probably already have your answer. And if you’ve already taken that trip, I’d love to hear where you went and what it meant to you.
