Britons are heading to the beach alone in growing numbers this summer, with solo bookings to short-haul sunshine destinations up by a fifth, according to new research from online travel agent loveholidays.
The company’s Recharge report shows solo summer holidays to popular beach destinations including mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and Portugal have risen 19% year on year. For UK business travellers, many of whom are already comfortable navigating airports, hotels and restaurants on their own, the findings confirm that travelling solo has moved firmly into the mainstream, and that rest rather than adventure is driving the trend.
Benidorm leads the solo pack
The standout performer is Benidorm. The Costa Blanca resort tops the loveholidays ranking of destinations for single holidaymakers this summer, with bookings up 80% on last year.
The appeal is not hard to explain. Alongside its golden beaches and famously sociable atmosphere, Benidorm offers a quieter side suited to travellers who want to switch off completely. Its Old Town is filled with authentic restaurants and wine bars that welcome walk-ins, while regular karaoke, cabaret and comedy nights make it easy for those travelling alone to meet people if they choose to.
Playa de las Americas in Tenerife and San Antonio in Ibiza take second and third place respectively. Both are best known for nightlife, yet each has calmer corners for holidaymakers focused on recovery. Playa del Camisón and nearby Playa de El Bobo offer relaxed swimming in calm waters, while San Antonio Bay has quiet beaches well suited to a swim or an afternoon with a book.
Agadir and Albufeira round out the most popular picks. The Moroccan city pairs a marina and sunbathing beaches with a walkable centre full of casual cafés that suit solo diners, while Albufeira offers wine-tasting tours, sandy beaches and beach volleyball on Praia dos Pescadores.
Commenting on the analysis, Al Murray, Chief Marketing Officer at loveholidays, said: “Solo travel is taking off this summer, with our customers choosing to jet off to fly-and-flop favourites including Benidorm, Playa de las Americas and San Antonio for their well-earned breaks. These beachside resorts offer the perfect blend of relaxation and bustling nightlife, offering something for every type of solo traveller.”
What it means for business travellers
The figures sit alongside a broader solo travel surge that has reshaped the leisure market over the past two years, and the overlap with the working population is significant. Frequent business travellers are natural solo holidaymakers; they already have the habits, the loyalty points and the confidence to travel independently.
The trend also feeds the bleisure boom. With 60% of UK workers now extending business trips into holidays, a solo fly-and-flop weekend tacked on to a client visit in Spain or Portugal is an increasingly realistic option, particularly given how well served these resorts are by regional UK airports.
A planning point for SMEs
For small business owners, the data is a useful early warning. As UK SMEs increase their travel spend, demand for single rooms and solo-friendly fares in peak season is rising too, so employees combining work trips with solo downtime should book early. Employers may also want to reflect the trend in travel policies, since recharged staff who return from a proper break are a business asset in their own right.
