Senior Solo Travel Sees a Boost in 2021
Boston, MA
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December 08, 2021 02:10 PM Eastern Standard Time
When COVID-19 vaccines became available in early 2021, older adults over 50 wasted no time getting vaccinated and back on the road again to travel and experience the world after isolating for months in quarantine. First among that group of older adult travelers were single women – those intrepid solo travelers who yearned to be back out in the world enjoying life.
The percentage of solo Road Scholars has been trending up over the past ten years, but the organization has seen an increase in the percentage of solo travelers in 2021.
Road Scholar — the not-for-profit leader in educational travel for “baby boomers and beyond” — typically sees about a quarter of its participants traveling independently, but so far for 2021, the percentage of solo travelers is up to almost 30%.
“Road Scholar participants love the adventure of learning about and discovering the people and cultures of this great wide world,” said Road Scholar President James Moses. “So, for our community, being isolated at home during quarantine was frustrating and difficult. But none were more affected than those who live alone.”
A study published by The Gerontological Society of America showed older adults who live alone were less likely to see others in person early in the pandemic. Sixty-eight-year-old teacher Paula Wooters from Rochester, N.Y. lives alone and was isolated from her family during the lockdown. “My son and sisters each live over a thousand miles away in states that had a high number of Covid cases,” said Paula, “so visiting them was problematic.”
After a year of distance teaching, Wooters journeyed to Paris with Road Scholar as a solo traveler in September 2021. “I decided that if I waited for someone I knew to travel with, I would miss out on exciting opportunities,” she said. “I chose to travel with Road Scholar because, not only does Road Scholar take care of all the details of the trip, the journey is an educational experience.”
Though 67-year-old solo traveler Catharine Fowle was living with family during the shutdown, she, too, felt disconnected with the world. “During the pandemic, I felt that I had lost a year because we weren’t able to go out and have any new experiences,” said Fowle, who traveled to Costa Rica in August of 2021. “Although there was a bit of anxiety about going abroad, I found that going on this trip was liberating. After seeing the care that Road Scholar took to keep us safe, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip without any worries.”
Solo traveler Catharine Fowle, 67, in Costa Rica
Road Scholar caters to solo travelers with a selection of programs with no single supplement and a unique roommate matching option for those who want to share a room. But perhaps the greatest benefits of traveling with a Road Scholar rather than independently is the sense of security that comes with it, especially during a pandemic.
“Road Scholar helped me feel confident as a solo traveler,” said Wooters. “They let us know in advance what we would need for traveling overseas and arranged for the required COVID testing for re-entry into the United States. I felt safe and well cared for, and it was easy to make new friends.”
President Moses said that Road Scholar’s focus on educational travel attracts adults who all have one thing in common: a love of learning. “This shared passion creates a sense of camaraderie among all of our participants, whether couples, solo travelers or friends traveling together,” said Moses.
Solo traveler Peggy Tardy, 72, from Merritt Island, Fla. hiked Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks with Road Scholar in September 2021. She said she felt very welcome by her fellow participants and was enriched by her interactions with other lifelong learners.
“I not only learned from our Group Leaders, but I gained a wealth of information from my fellow travelers by listening to their experiences,” she said . “I would encourage anyone with any doubts about traveling solo: you are always one of the group.” Tardy enjoyed her program so much that she has already enrolled in two more Road Scholar programs to Mount Rushmore and Paris in 2022.
Learn more about solo travel with Road Scholar at www.roadscholar.org/solo.
About Road Scholar
Road Scholar is the nation’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for adults – a true university of the world. They offer thousands of programs in more than 100 countries and 50 states. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the world leader in educational travel since 1975. Learn more at press.roadscholar.org.
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