LV= reveals boom in holidaymakers flying solo

LV=, the travel insurer, has announced that the number of Brits holidaying alone has doubled in the past two years* according to its research. The trend which was first identified by ABTA** last year is set to see more than two million Brits jet off on holiday on their own over the coming three months*** and a further 3.5 million people over the next year****.

According to the research by LV= travel insurance, a third of all British adults have holidayed alone at some point. Out of these solo holidaymakers 41% were in a relationship when they went, with one in four (27%) actually married.

Common reasons for holidaying alone include one in five (20%) saying they wanted an adventure, 19% wanting to broaden their horizons, 16% saying they preferred their own company and one in fifteen (7%) going it alone due to their friends or partner not being able to afford the trip.

France tops the list for the most regularly visited destination to go it alone, followed by Spain, with the USA, Germany and Australia making up the top five.

Challenging traditional views, the ’backpacker’ holiday makes up just 8% of solo breaks with city breaks (22%) the most popular type of holiday for individual travellers, followed by beach holidays (17%), and then cultural retreats.

Despite nearly a quarter (24%) of solo holidaymakers admitting they felt nervous before they went, the majority said they had a great time (60%), one in ten said it was the best holiday they had ever had and just 3% said they didn’t enjoy it.

LV= travel insurance has put together a safety guide for ’solo holiday-makers’ this autumn and a list of recommended destinations for single holidaymakers.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= travel insurance, commented: “Holidaying abroad alone offers the opportunity to meet new people and get a whole new outlook on life. However it’s also sensible to consider carefully where you visit and also take a few additional security steps to ensure you can relax and enjoy the trip. We’d advise all solo travellers to ensure they follow an itinerary and stay in contact with home if they go off the beaten track – and always ensure they have valid travel insurance in case of an emergency.”

Notes to editors
Research was undertaken by Opinium from 1 – 5 October 2010 via an online survey. Total sample size was 3013 adults. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.

* According to the Opinium research, in the past twelve months 13% of Brits have holidayed alone. Between one and two years previously 6% holidayed alone. This equates to a 7 percentage points rise or more than double.
** ’Solo holidays’ are referenced as a developing trend in the ABTA travel trends 2010 forecast, available at www.abta.com/resources/publications_and_research
*** According to ONS 2009 UK population statistics, there are 48,676,000 adults in the United Kingdom. Opinium research shows that one in twenty (5%) Brits are planning to holiday alone in the next three months – or 2,433,800 people.
**** 7% of UK adults are planning to go away over between five and 12 months time = 3,407,320.

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

PR contact:
Sally Silver
LV=
County Gates
Bournemouth
BH1 2NF
0208 256 6896
www.lv.com

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