Top 10 Solo Travel Destinations, According to Airbnb
A lack of travel companion should never be a reason for passing up a once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad. As long as you exercise caution when traveling solo, the experience of backpacking through Europe or touring exotic locales in Thailand will reward you with countless memories (and Instagram photos). In fact, more people are traveling solo than ever, according to a new report from Airbnb.
Emerging hotspots include destinations like Buenos Aires, Toronto and Oslo with solo travelers booking anywhere from 14% to 27% of available Airbnbs. At the top of the list is Cancun, typically known more as a party hub than a destination for people traveling alone, which has led the most growth for solo bookings with an increase of 170% in 2016. Independent travelers are also drawn to cities in the southern hemisphere like Auckland, New Zealand and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Trekking alone can be an empowering experience that elicits a sense of independence. There are other perks too, like operating on your own schedule; here's to eating breakfast for dinner and snapping pictures without any judgement and creating your own itinerary. Spent a week in Paris and are now in the mood for Budapest? Not a problem — go ahead and book that same-day flight.
Airbnb also revealed which "Experiences" — a feature that's available for travelers to navigate new cities with help from locals — solo travelers were booking on the app. Some of the most popular included kitesurfing in Los Angeles to learning how to make paella in Spain and biking through Parisian streets, exploring local markets. If you haven't already — and we highly suggest jetting off alone in the future — check out the list below and plan ahead. Here, Airbnb's trending solo travel destinations based on growth (%) in single-person home bookings in 2016:
| Rank | Destination | Growth |
|---|---|---|
1. | Cancun, Mexico | 170% |
2. | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | 146% |
3. | Cologne, Germany | 142% |
4. | Playa Del Carmen, Mexico | 141% |
5. | Johannesburg, South Africa | 135% |
6. | São Paulo, Brazil | 128% |
7. | Auckland, New Zealand | 114% |
8. | Mexico City, Mexico | 109% |
9. | Charlotte, North Carolina | 106% |
10. | Busan, South Korea | 103% |
Are you traveling solo anytime soon? Let us know in the comments, below!
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app