Party of One: Solo Without Apology
Single? Good news. Statistically, you’ll likely travel more than those trying to survive a couple of fights in Cancun. According to Visa research, 54 percent of travelers are now considering solo trips. Destinations like Merida, Mexico, and Melbourne, Australia, are gaining more single visitors every year. Solo travelers, especially women, are traveling alone in greater numbers. In 2023, 28 percent of solo trips were female-driven. Bali and Thailand work for budgets that don’t have to account for anyone else’s taste in hotels. Think hostels for $20 a night and endless group day tours with actual strangers.
Offbeat places like the Colca Canyon in Peru or the Takasaki Mountains in Vietnam attract more single bookings. Not because singles are braver or more enlightened, but because nobody can veto their choices. Social media doesn’t waste time glamorizing this: TikTok is swamped with #solotravel videos showing that Gen Z would rather see the world alone than wait around for a partner’s permission.
Travel stats, for one, show a spike in shorter, frequent trips. People book at least four trips a year on their own if they have the money and don’t need to convince a partner. And, fun fact, 35 percent of “single travelers” are actually married. Maybe they’ve cracked the code on not annoying each other to death.
Couples: Escapes, Arguments, and Whatever “Reconnection” Means
People in relationships drag each other to places marketed as romantic. The Caribbean sees 54 percent of couples who travel together. Europe is next, with 37 percent. Puerto Rico is another favorite for U.S. couples, probably because it’s easy to get to, and you don’t need a passport.
Couples report the same phrases: “reignites romance,” “brings us closer,” or whatever neighbor heard from their therapist. Studies say travel actually does improve relationship satisfaction, especially when you both pretend the lack of air conditioning is “memorable” rather than miserable. Honeymoons are now less about sitting on a beach and more about Instagramming every meal in Greece, Italy, or whatever eco-hotel you can afford.
“Buddy moons” are also on the rise, that’s couples inviting pals on their romantic trip. Fourteen percent are doing it, so privacy must not be a top concern. More couples fund these trips using wedding registries, which beats getting another blender as a gift. Communication is the make-or-break. If you don’t plan together, data shows you fight more.
Relationship Choices: Who You Go With Changes Everything
Where you vacation depends a lot on your relationship setup. Some might book a cozy cabin with a long-term partner, others plan a city trip with a new fling, and some go wild with group getaways or friend-cations instead. You also see people taking off on solo holidays or those trying out more modern setups, like open relationships or even dating a sugar daddy, picking flashy destinations that match the vibe. Everyone draws the line in a different place, but trips always get shaped by whoever is coming along.
It’s not only about marital status anymore. Your choice of company, casual, serious, experimental, or unconventional, can make a city like Paris feel totally different. A honeymoon in Greece, a solo retreat in Bali, or a friend group in Vegas all show that relationship labels can change everything from your hotel to your itinerary. Even younger people are blending romance with friendship or picking spots based on what works for new types of dating. Every choice makes for a new kind of trip, and you can see it in the vacation photos.
Divorce or “Freshly Unattached”: Start-Anew-Moon
People fresh out of a marriage head for full resets. Post-divorce travel is a thing. Forty to fifty percent of U.S. marriages end this way, so businesses are ready to pounce. Popular destinations include all-inclusive Mexico, Las Vegas, and New York City. Most pick trips with either close friends or alone, the goal being self-discovery, but with cocktails. Liberty Travel notes more “start-anew-moon” trips, meaning someone is cashing in on heartbreak.
According to consumer surveys, 72 percent of divorcees name “self-discovery” as their intention for travel. Nearly half opt for adventures like hiking in Peru instead of spa trips. TikTok is stacked with advice videos for solo female travelers on a $30 daily allowance, showing off places in Iceland or New Zealand where staring blankly at waterfalls apparently heals the soul.
Traveling with Family: Bonding or Budget Panic
Families mostly go to beaches, city attractions, or visit relatives who didn’t move far enough away. In the U.S., that means California, Florida, and Hawaii. Internationally, Albania pops up as an affordable option according to rental search trends.
Family spending is about half what childless couples drop on travel, with an average monthly travel outlay of $326 compared to $620. Those numbers show families hate wasting money on rooms their kids won’t remember. Planning revolves around school schedules and snack logistics, so destinations cater to children under 12 with theme parks and cultural activities that double as educational to keep parents feeling productive.
Reality over Romance: What the Numbers Prove
Travel studies keep pointing to the same hard facts. Couples who actually talk to each other before booking argue less and enjoy trips more. Interest in “eco-friendly” stays keeps growing, with 42 percent of couples and 38 percent of families picking these places, probably because guilt makes people spend extra.
Who you travel with shapes how much you’ll spend, how many times you’ll complain, and which places get your money. Relationship status says more about your next trip than any glossy travel magazine. If you don’t know where to go, start by looking at your own life. It doesn’t lie.