Solo travel becoming more popular — and seniors, particularly older women, are getting in on the trend

More people are discovering the joys of hitting the road (or skies) alone — and seniors, particularly older women, are getting in on the trend.

Nearly 70% of those surveyed for American Express Travel’s 2024 Global Travel Trends Report said they planned to take at least one solo trip this year. And the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s 2024 Industry Outlook said a surge in interest in solo travel is expected this year, especially for women traveling alone.

In interviews, older Long Islanders said they now have the time, and many have the money, for globetrotting. For varied reasons, they may find themselves alone — perhaps they lost a spouse or partner to death or divorce, or their loved one’s health is declining. Other seniors said they preferred to travel solo because they want to try something new or immerse themselves in an activity or locale that may not be of interest to their spouse or friends.

“We’ve seen an increase in solo travelers ages 55 to 70. Many are women who have gone through a major life event and want to get back out there to reaffirm their independence and autonomy through wellness and adventure travel,” said Rebecca Alesia, an Oyster Bay travel adviser with SmartFlyer.

“I also have clients, single men in their 70s, who are triathletes and Ironmen who adore doing Backroads and other group travel on their own.”

While it can sometimes be more expensive to travel solo, that’s changing. “Many cruise lines and tour operators have reduced or waived the dreaded single-occupancy surcharge, which has helped get more people out there,” Alesia added.

Freeport travel agent Marietta Cleckley said some cruise lines are incorporating more single rooms on their ships, as well as offering special get-togethers for solo travelers.

While safety is a concern, there are benefits to being a party of one.

“Traveling solo is incredibly empowering. It’s a clear signal to yourself that you’re the captain of your own ship,” said Olivia Dreizen Howell, chief executive of Fresh Starts Registry and a certified life and success coach in Huntington.

Here are the stories of six Long Island seniors who have ventured out on their own:

Women-only tours

Nan Toelstedt

Toelstedt’s first solo trip, to St. Lucia in 2018, happened by accident. There was a major pipe leak at her Massapequa home, and the repairs weren’t done, so her husband stayed home to oversee them.

Then, a few months later, she again left by herself on a two-week Caribbean cruise when her husband got pneumonia. “The trip was great, but mostly couples. I felt somewhat isolated,” Toelstedt, 73, recalled. “That said, it didn’t deter me from future solo travel.”

When her husband’s mobility declined during the pandemic, she said he no longer enjoyed traveling. Last year, the part-time registered nurse discovered Sisterhood Travels, and she now travels with the women-only group. “I’ve developed friendships and shared great experiences with like-minded women. Finding this group made the challenge of isolation and other logistical elements nonexistent,” she said.

Toelstadt noted that she loves the freedom and independence of solo travel. “I can be as busy or as relaxed as I want.”  

Adventure travel

Roberta Perry

Perry, 62, of Plainview, said her husband doesn’t love travel like she does. So 20 years ago, the avid inline skater said she found an adventure tour company and booked a trip to Colorado. “It was the first time I traveled without my family or husband. It felt strange, but exciting,” she said.

While her husband occasionally accompanies her, Perry said she has gone alone to the Netherlands and Northern Spain for hiking, biking and inline skating. The grandmother of three said she went to London last year and explored the city by herself for a few days before meeting up with friends.

There are downsides to traveling alone, she said. “If problems arise, you have to deal with them by yourself. You also don’t have anyone to share expenses like a car rental or hotel.”

But, she said, the positives outweigh the negatives.

Be ‘situationally aware’

Andrea Cherry

As a flight attendant, Cherry, 60, of Baldwin, said she can take advantage of discounts on travel. She has trekked to Bogota, Colombia; Panama; the Bahamas; Jamaica; and Barcelona, Spain. “I love that I do what I want without any restrictions,” said Cherry, who is divorced with two grown children.

Cherry said she researches locations before visiting and advises others to do the same. For example, she said, are there neighborhoods you should avoid? What kind of public transportation is available?

“My only real concern is security. I am always situationally aware,” she said. Her advice: “Try not to go out and about at night, and do group tours when you can, rather than being completely on your own. Be aware of your surroundings and ask for a hotel room that isn’t at the back of the resort.”

One of Cherry’s best solo adventures was a trip to Panama, she said. “I relaxed, met new people and enjoyed the area. I found peace and serenity.”

Learn about yourself

Betsy Lepera

Lepera, 65, of Westhampton Beach, said she has been traveling solo since her 20s. The registered nurse said she was fascinated by all things Irish, but no one she knew wanted to go to Ireland. “I didn’t let that stop me,” she said. “I figured they spoke English, it was a small country, how hard could it be? It was wonderful.”

Lepera, who is single, said trips to U.S. national parks, the Amazon and Africa have been “amazing.” She has traveled on her own and with the tour company Country Walkers.

She admits that traveling solo as a woman has its challenges. “I’ve been lucky as I’ve not had any harrowing experiences. The worst that happened was getting totally lost on a hike with no one nearby and it was getting dark out,” she said, recalling a trip to Grand Teton National Park. “Luckily, after about an hour, a couple of hikers came by and got me on track.”

Lepera said she usually asks hotel staff for places to go and what locations she should avoid. Another tip, she said: “Always act and look like you know what you’re doing and where you’re going, even if you don’t.”

Her favorite trip was to Tanzania a few years ago. Lepera said she was booked with a tour group of five others who cancelled at the last minute. “It could have gone badly but didn’t,” she said. “My guide brought me lunches that he made when I asked what he was eating. We traded recipes and ate while watching the Great Migration” — an annual journey of millions of wildebeests, zebras and other animals in search of food and water.

“The country was beautiful, the people warm and welcoming, the wildlife breathtaking,” she said. “I hope to go back.”

To those shy about venturing out on their own, she advised, “You’ll meet wonderful people, learn about different cultures and a lot about yourself. It’s the best education you can get.”

Follow your own path

Regina Raab

For Raab, 74, solo travel is ideal: “It’s easier than asking friends and waiting for answers. Also, many times they are not interested in the same things, short on funds or are physically unable to do what is required on the trip.”

The Lake Ronkonkoma resident, a retired teacher who’s single, said her first trip alone was to El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize in 2010. “We went whitewater rafting, horseback riding and in pyramids to see drawings,” she said.

Since then, she’s taken many trips alone or booked with the Overseas Adventure Travel tour company. She said she’s visited the Galapagos, the Grand Canyon, Morocco, Australia and New Zealand, and gone on safari in Kenya.

Raab loves flying solo. “I don’t have to worry about what someone else wants to do. I know how much money I have to spend and don’t have to think about someone else’s pocket,” she said. “If I just feel like staying in bed, I am not inconveniencing anyone.”

Eating at the bar

Jack Libert

While older women in particular explore solo travel, men are also packing their bags.

Libert said he started traveling solo in 2014 after his divorce. His first trip was to South Beach in Miami. He has since traveled to Japan, India, Italy, Morocco and Austria. “It took some time to get comfortable traveling alone, but it was well worth it,” the Oyster Bay resident said.

Libert, a retired state Supreme Court justice who is now chief of staff for Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, said he loves the freedom to easily make changes, be it to his itinerary, where he will sightsee or where to eat. One thing he’s learned, he said, is that “dining at the bar almost always scores you a seat at a fully booked restaurant and is a great way to meet other solo travelers.”

To others debating whether to venture out on their own, he said, “Just do it.”