Shakeemah Smith is choosing adventure over staying home this Valentine’s Day, embracing her single status.

“I’m treating myself to a weekend getaway in Dubai,” shared Smith, a solo travel guru known as The Passport Abuser online. “I’m ready to live my best life.”

According to a survey conducted last year with 2,000 Americans, travel search engine Skyscanner revealed that over 60% plan to embark on two to five solo trips this year.

Like Smith, many are not waiting for travel partners to explore new places. She’s traveled alone to 84 countries and has guided 12,000 aspiring solo travelers through her Travel Like a Bawse courses.

“My annual Valentine’s Day gift to myself involves looking in the mirror and smiling, acknowledging that I had the bravery to do something for myself that nobody else could give me,” she affirmed.

However, just because you’re traveling alone doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely. Here’s how solo travelers can forge connections this Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Group travel opportunities for solo adventurers

There are group travel options tailored specifically for solo adventurers provided by companies like Flash Pack, Intrepid, and Group G.

Skyscanner’s survey pointed out that Millennials and Gen Z are the most likely to choose solo trips, while Millennials and Gen X often participate in group travel as solo travelers.

Lee Thompson, co-founder of Flash Pack, mentioned that the typical age of their customers is 39, many of whom have focused on careers over relationships, but are now eager to travel and form new friendships.

“Our goal is to foster friendships because travel is a fantastic avenue for meeting like-minded solo travelers. Sharing meals and experiences accelerates the friendship-building process,” he explained. “Instead of spending Valentine’s Day alone, you might capture stunning photos with new friends at breathtaking locations.”

So far this year, popular destinations booked through Flash Pack include Chile, Finland, Greece, Japan, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia. Last year’s favorites were Portugal, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Morocco, Costa Rica, Belize, Argentina, and South Africa, which Thompson described as a mix of bucket list locations and spots often deemed challenging for solo travelers.

“It’s about those trips that perhaps in the past, like Tanzania, you might have reserved for a honeymoon or a partner. But our demographic is now saying, ‘I’m ready to experience it all,’” he shared.

How to meet new people while traveling

Solo travelers can make connections in numerous ways.

“I always joke about finding potential friends, maybe even my next ex-husband, in different cities,” said Ravi Roth, an award-winning LGBTQIA+ travel content creator recognized as Ravi Round the World. “I’ve met numerous amazing friends while traveling.”

This outgoing traveler connects easily, even on rideshares, but particularly enjoys discovering dive bars and chatting with locals in new cities.

“I’m not suggesting you need to frequent bars to meet new people,” Roth noted. “Many destinations, especially in the US, host community events. For instance, I visited Columbia, South Carolina—a mostly conservative state—and found queer-owned cafes, LGBT centers, and non-alcoholic events that helped me connect with the community.”

Roth and Smith also recommend engaging in group tours or activities offered by platforms like Airbnb and Viator to meet fellow solo explorers.

“I participated in a perfume-making workshop in Paris, which was wonderful. In South Africa, I joined a Zulu head wrap class where I met other solo travelers visiting Cape Town,” Smith recalled. “If you’re on a museum tour and strike up a conversation with another solo traveler, why not arrange to have a coffee afterward?”

Top destinations for solo travel

Roth, with 12 years of solo travel experience, recommends Puerto Rico, Dallas, Palm Springs, and New Orleans as excellent solo travel destinations.

“New Orleans is particularly welcoming, allowing you to find community easily,” he expressed. “It’s a place where you can truly be yourself.”

Smith suggests Paris, Bali, and Antigua and Barbuda, where she currently resides, as prime spots for solo adventurers.

“We are 11 miles long, 18 miles wide, and boast 365 beautiful beaches,” she described the Caribbean paradise as safe, stunning, and just a few hours away from the East Coast. “If you’re apprehensive about your first solo travel experience, start somewhere nearby, ensuring it’s an English-speaking destination or a place accustomed to tourists so communication isn’t an issue.”

By occupancy rates, Orlando, the Florida Keys, and Austin, Texas, rank among the top spots for solo travelers this Valentine’s weekend, according to Beyond, a vacation rental revenue management platform. A report from Allianz Partners USA indicates a 42% increase in travel bookings compared to last year’s Valentine’s Day.

Roth plans to explore Quebec and Montreal shortly after Valentine’s Day, encouraging all travelers by stating, “Just take that chance. Step beyond your comfort zone. It might feel intimidating and a bit scary, but it’s also exhilarating. You discover so much about yourself when you travel, tapping into your patience, desires, and willpower, and tailoring your experiences to your liking.”