New research commissioned by Airbnb and internal booking data show that solo travel among women has increased sharply over the past year. For instance, the number of domestic solo bookings by women on the platform in the Netherlands rose by nearly a fifth. At the same time, safety remains a determining factor in how women plan their trips: more than two-thirds choose a destination based on the expected sense of safety.
Whether it involves trying a new restaurant, going hiking alone, or taking a new gym class: solo activities have become part of daily life for many women. And travel is no exception. Internal Airbnb data1 shows that the number of domestic solo bookings by Dutch women increased by 17% over the past year.
Looking at the bigger picture, the number of bookings by Dutch women grew faster than that of men (13% versus 7% year-on-year)2. As women's need to explore independently grows, the research also shows that safety continues to play an important role in where and how women travel.
Solo travel taps into the sense of freedom
Additional research among Dutch women shows that solo travel is now widely embraced. Four out of ten women have traveled alone at least once. Among women under 35, this rises to nearly half. Additionally, one in four women indicates having taken multiple solo trips.
This trend is clearly continuing. Almost half of women with solo travel experience (47%) took a solo trip in the past two years. Among younger women, that percentage is even higher at 82% in the past three years.
Moreover, the need appears to be structural. Approximately two-thirds of women indicate that they want to travel alone again; among experienced solo travelers, this rises to nearly three-quarters.
For many women, solo travel is primarily about freedom. Almost half (45%) cite the ability to decide entirely for themselves where, when, and at what pace they travel as the main attraction.
Safety remains an important factor when planning a trip
At the same time, the research shows that safety continues to play an important role in how women plan their trips. More than two-thirds (69%) of female solo travelers choose a destination based on the expected sense of safety. Safety also weighs heavily when booking accommodation: 64% cite this as an important factor in their choice of where to stay.
In addition, many women indicate that they consciously adjust their behavior while traveling, for example in the routes they take or places they avoid, to feel more confident and in control. This behavior is also visible on Airbnb. In more than one in ten (12%) solo bookings by Dutch women, accommodations were booked where safety aspects were explicitly mentioned in reviews. This points to an increasing need for practical information and transparency prior to a trip.
Contact with locals contributes to a sense of trust
In addition to practical information, personal contact also appears to play an important role in how safe women feel during a trip. Almost nine out of ten women (88%) indicate that they feel safer when a host is reachable during their stay. Among younger female travelers, nearly two-thirds (63%) furthermore say they find it valuable to have contact with a host in advance.
Local knowledge is also considered important: more than four out of five women (84%) appreciate tips on safe neighborhoods, while 83% find local safety information essential when traveling alone.
Source: www.airbnb.nl