Solo holidays vs singles holidays over 50: they're not actually the same thing

Let's clear something up.

Travelling solo does not mean you're single.

It sounds obvious when you say it, but search for holidays aimed at people travelling alone and you'll quickly find the words solo, single and singles holidays used almost interchangeably.

They aren't quite the same thing.

And if you're looking at solo holidays or singles holidays over 50, knowing the difference can save you from booking something that isn't remotely the experience you had in mind.

What is a singles holiday?

Traditionally, a singles holiday is marketed specifically towards people who are single.

Exactly what that means varies enormously from one company to another.

Some are simply ordinary group holidays where everyone happens to be travelling without a partner. Others lean more heavily into social events and the fact that guests are single.

And, naturally, some people will read the phrase “singles holiday” and immediately assume dating.

That might be exactly what you're looking for.

It might also make you want to close the browser tab immediately.

Neither reaction is wrong.

You just need to know what you're booking.

A solo holiday is about how you're travelling, not your relationship status

You can be married and travel solo.

Your partner might hate flying.

They might have no interest whatsoever in Thailand.

They may still be working while you have more annual leave.

You could be in a relationship and simply enjoy having separate adventures occasionally.

Likewise, you might be single and have absolutely no interest in meeting a romantic partner while you're away.

A solo traveller is simply somebody travelling without a companion.

That's it.

Your relationship status doesn't need to come into it.

Then there is completely independent solo travel

This is the version most people picture when they hear “solo travel”.

You choose the destination, book the flight and accommodation, arrange your transport and spend the trip entirely on your own terms.

For some people, that is heaven.

Nobody else's alarm going off.

Nobody wanting breakfast when you're not hungry.

Nobody asking whether you're nearly ready.

Complete freedom.

But the freedom comes with everything else too.

You need to plan the itinerary, organise transport and make decisions as you go. You might also eat alone, explore alone and spend evenings alone unless you happen to meet people.

Again, that may be exactly what you want.

The important thing is recognising that wanting to travel without your usual companion and wanting an entirely solitary holiday are two different things.

What is a solo-traveller group holiday?

This is where things get interesting.

A group holiday for solo travellers brings together people who have all booked independently.

You might arrive by yourself, but once the trip begins, you have people around you to share it with.

Good versions of these trips still leave room for independence.

You can have your own room.

You can have free time.

You aren't expected to become best friends with everybody within twenty minutes.

You simply don't have to choose between waiting until somebody can come with you and spending your entire holiday alone.

For a lot of travellers in their 40s, 50s and 60s, that is the bit they were actually looking for all along.

“Is it going to feel like a dating holiday?”

This is one of those questions people often think without actually asking.

So we'll answer it.

Our Flying Solo Thailand trip is not a singles or dating holiday.

Some guests may be single.

Some may not be.

It is completely irrelevant.

What everyone has in common is that they are coming without a travel companion.

There are no couples arriving together and no established friendship groups. That means you don't get the awkward dynamic of being the only person who has come alone.

The purpose isn't to pair people off.

It's to go to Thailand.

Why would somebody in a relationship travel alone?

Lots of reasons.

Maybe you've always wanted to see Thailand and your partner genuinely hasn't.

Perhaps they prefer skiing and you would rather be on a beach.

Maybe you've reached a stage in life where doing everything as a pair no longer feels necessary.

Or perhaps one of you simply has the opportunity to travel and the other doesn't.

Healthy relationships do not necessarily require identical bucket lists.

The same goes for friendships.

You can adore your friends and still reach the conclusion that waiting five years for everybody to be free in the same week is getting a little silly.

And why might a single person choose this instead of a singles holiday?

Because being single might have absolutely nothing to do with why you're travelling.

You might want a holiday, not a matchmaking exercise.

You might want new friends, interesting conversations and people to explore with without any expectation attached.

You might simply want to spend a week with a collection of people who all made the decision to get on the plane independently.

That shared starting point is enough.

This is exactly why Flying Solo exists

Flying Solo runs from 3–10 March 2027, beginning in Phuket before heading to Koh Lanta.

Everyone joins without an established companion, and everyone has their own private, air-conditioned accommodation. The week is built around exploring Thailand together, with island adventures, beach time, good food and enough space to still have your own holiday.

It isn't a dating trip.

It isn't a yoga retreat.

And it isn't a week where you're expected to spend every waking minute with twenty other people.

It's for people who want to go to Thailand and don't currently have the right person to go with.

Which is actually a very different thing.

The question to ask before you book

Forget the labels for a moment.

Ask yourself what you actually want.

Do you want complete independence and lots of time alone?

Do you specifically want to meet other single people?

Or do you simply want to see somewhere new, have your own space and know there will be people there to share the experience with?

Once you've answered that, choosing the right kind of holiday becomes much easier.

And if your answer is:

“I want to travel independently. I just don't want to wait for someone else before I do it.”

Well.

We made a trip for that.

Discover Flying Solo: Thailand · 3–10 March 2027 ·