BELLEVUE, Wash., July 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Traveling
alone is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience, and it is one of the
fastest growing travel categories. When you're traveling alone you
are the master of your time, exploring the world on your own terms.
Data from Expedia's first Solo Travel Report reveals 60% of
travelers plan to take a solo trip within the next two
years, proving people want more flexibility, convenience, and
autonomy from their vacations. What's even more interesting is how
the desire for a digital connection is starting to rival the need
of human connection on trips.
Buddymoons and babymoons better step aside, because the
"mobilemoon" is the newest travel trend on the scene: When given
the ultimatum to choose between their mobile phone or a travel
companion to bring on their next trip, one-third (33%) of Americans
said they would choose to travel solo with just their
device.
Travel expert and frequent solo traveler Courtney Scott comments on the new trend:
"Having traveled to over a dozen countries alone I can attest that
solo travel gives you the ultimate freedom. It pushes you to
explore with no limitations and it's a beautifully introspective
adventure too. Mobile devices are an essential resource for
travelers, helping us feel more informed and more confident on the
road, so it doesn't surprise me that many people would rather
travel with their phone than with a friend. Use your travel app to
manage your itinerary, research your destination and stay connected
to friends and family ─ but don't forget to put your phone away and
fully immerse yourself in your surroundings, too!"
The Expedia mobile app already makes it easy to plan a trip,
save money, and explore a destination to the fullest. Plus, the
app's helpful in-destination features like trip reminders,
itinerary access offline, and Taxi Card, which translates driving
directions to your hotel based on local language, truly make it the
ultimate travel companion for your next – or first – solo trip.
"We recognize there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to
solo travel preferences, but that doesn't mean solo travelers can't
have it all in the one device they're most reliant on during
their trip," said Alexis Tiacoh, PR Manager for Brand Expedia.
"From exclusive discounts and perks to the ability to book local
activities on the go, our app has everything solo travelers need
for an epic 'mobilemoon.'"
The Solo Travel Report serves as a resource to discover
destinations, helpful planning tips and cool new insights on
navigating solo trips from start to finish. Here's a deeper look at
the findings:
- What Drives Solo Travel: Overall, solo travelers most
often say they take solo trips to meet new people and explore new
places, disconnect from work and life, and improve their
independence and confidence. And while the simple desire to get
away is the biggest motivator for going it alone over any movie,
book or celebrity influencer – it's no surprise that the
best-selling novel turned feature film "Eat Pray Love" was the top
source of inspiration for the 5% of travelers who said a movie
prompted them to take a solo trip.
- Solo Travel is Becoming the Preferred Travel Category:
Two-thirds of respondents agree they prefer the freedom of
traveling alone and meeting new people over the desire to have a
vacation companion. Younger travelers (83% of Gen Z and 80% of
Millennials) are especially likely to agree. Less than 40% of the
respondents Expedia surveyed identified themselves as parents, and
of those, nearly all of them (82%) agree they too would prefer to
travel alone.
- The Ideal Solo Trip: While some might want to spend
their summer backpacking across Europe, the most popular solo trip is the
'Weekend Break' – a quick couple days in a new city or off the grid
(30%). Americans are more likely to want to experience an 'Island
Getaway' – cruise to a tropical destination or visit a beach (23%),
'Foodie Trip' – eat their way through a region known for delicious
cuisine (16%), or 'Event Travel' – visiting a place specifically to
attend a music festival or sporting event (14%).
- Solo Travel Destinations: Domestic travel continues to
be the foundation of how most Americans choose to vacation – and
solo travel is no exception. US travelers are more likely to choose
new or familiar places within their own country, and 69% said their
last solo trip was in the USA.
When it comes to future solo trips, roughly 3 out of 4 Americans
(74%) say their ideal location is in the USA followed by Canada (45%) and Europe (42%).
- Solo Trip Advice is Practical: When it comes to planning
your solo getaway, experienced solo travelers emphasize preparation
and a positive attitude. Stick to a budget, know which travel
documents you'll need and always have a plan B. Americans mostly
feel that it's good to be mindful of fears but to not let them stop
you (20%).
- This Is When Things Get Awkward: Generally, solo
travelers feel most uncomfortable when they are lost and need
directions (42%), or when they are lost in translation (38%). US
travelers also dread having their phone battery die or eating alone
(29%).
For even more insights and findings from Expedia's 2019 Solo
Travel Report, visit the Solo Travel hub on the Viewfinder blog. To
experience all the benefits of the award-winning Expedia app
on your next solo trip, download it for free on iOS in
the App Store and on
Android devices through Google Play.
About the Solo Travel Report
CITE Research (www.citeresearch.com), on behalf of Expedia,
conducted an online survey among 2,521 respondents – 1516 in the US
and 1005 in Mexico. Respondents
screened were aged 18 years or older, had taken a trip by
themselves in the past or planned to take a one in the future.
Expedia defined solo travel as doing any form of travel – taking a
flight, boat, train, driving themselves, staying in a hotel or
vacation rental, etc. in which the person is by themselves.
About Expedia
Expedia.com® is one of the world's largest full
service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month
easily plan and book
travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/,
1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest
selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel
deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and
in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. ©
2019 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane
logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia,
Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners. CST# 2029030-50. Visit our
web site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our mobile app
to book cheap flights and hotels.
Contact: Alexis Tiacoh,
press@expedia.com
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/could-mobilemoons-be-the-newest-trend-in-travel-one-third-of-americans-would-choose-a-solo-trip-with-only-their-phone-instead-of-taking-a-travel-companion-300894044.html
SOURCE Expedia.com