TORONTO — It was a crazy notion, travelling to Europe on my own. But as a wide-eyed 22-year-old with barely a stamp in her passport, I was determined to have the summer of my life before adulting began in earnest.
My six-week jaunt through Western Europe more than 20 years ago ended up being just that – the summer of my life – and I credit the countries I visited for delivering incredible experiences. When choosing where to travel to, the decision was an easy one – France, Spain and Portugal, all destinations that were known for being culturally rich, beautiful and, most importantly, safe.
Not much has changed in the twenty-plus years since, with all three countries making the ‘Best Countries for Female Solo Travellers’ list by Sports Insurance provider SportsCover Direct. Determined by a survey launched in 2020, before the whole world shut down due to COVID-19, the list scored the 50 most populated countries in the world on their women’s safety scores, the number of solo tours, the percentage of five-star hotels and the number of five-star activities according to TripAdvisor.
Coming in at number one was Spain with an overall score of 47.4 out of 50, followed by Ireland (46.65), Austria (45.05), Portugal (44.45) and Croatia (44.15). Rounding out the top 10 were Switzerland (43.6), Canada (43.3), Singapore (42.85), Norway (42.55) and France (41.6).
Not surprisingly, nearly 50% of women cited safety concerns as their top factor in choosing a destination. This is perhaps why so many opt to join a small group tour, says Ben Hall, CEO of AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys.
“Safety and a sense of well-being are their top concern. Our guests benefit in seeing all the local sights and travel with the knowledge of safety in numbers, along with the expert knowledge of the Travel Director who is with them throughout the entire trip. They will feel safe in the knowledge that every detail of their trip will be taken care of for a worry-free adventure,” says Hall.
.
A good 10% of AAT Kings bookings come from solo female travellers, and that number is expected to rise, thanks in large part to the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, some people felt isolated due to social distancing,” adds Hall. “Solo female travellers are seeking to make positive social connections and the opportunity to connect with other like-minded travellers. The initial assumption with travelling solo is that it will be hard to make friends and meet people, but often being a solo traveller has the opposite effect whereby they get to actually meet more people on our guided tours.”
The same can be said for G Adventures, which is also seeing an uptick in solo bookings. According to David Green, managing director, more than half of the tour operator’s bookings globally (51%) come from solo travellers. In 2019 (the company’s last normal year prior to the pandemic), 68% of these solos were female, with that number rising to 70% in 2022.
“All regions have seen their proportion of solo travellers increase in line with this trend. No region specifically leaps out so this is a global trend we are seeing,” says Green.
From Canada, solo travellers are also on the rise, going up from 42% to 46% between 2019 and 2022, Green adds. In 2019, 49% and 31% of Canadian solo travellers who booked with G Adventures were in the 35-55 and 55-69 age groups, respectively. These numbers increased to 53% and 37%, respectively, in 2022.
As for the top 10 list of ‘Best Countries for Female Travellers,’ there’s one destination that Hall at AAT Kings thinks was notably absent – Australia. Calling it a “wonderful destination for solo female travellers,” Hall says that Australia should not be overlooked for its incredible landscapes and stunning destinations.
“Our 15-day Outback Adventure guided vacation is our most popular trip for solo females, which showcases the best of South Australia and the Northern Territory,” says Hall, adding that solo females can book twin share to match with another female traveller or opt for a single room supplement to enjoy a room to themselves. “Our First Choice and Best Buys Australia and New Zealand Guided Holidays give clients the flexibility to choose a fully curated experience with plenty of local connections or a flexible itinerary with more time for themselves.”
For more information about AAT Kings and G Adventures itineraries, go to https://www.aatkings.com/ and https://www.gadventures.com/.
