Travelling solo has never been more popular. Google searches for “solo travel” and “travel alone” were the highest ever at the start of this year, while one in nine people took a solo holiday in the previous year, according to ABTA’s Holiday Habits report 2017.

And with another survey by solo travel website 101 Singles Holidays finding that the numbers booking solo trips rose 14% last year, the trend shows no sign of stopping. That goes double if you’re a women, with female solo travellers taking 63% of solo trips last year, according to research.

It’s not just gap year students skewing the results either: the average age of all single holidaymakers was 57. You needn’t even be single, growing numbers are leaving partners behind to fulfil their own travel dreams.

Best of all, tour operators and travel companies are responding to the growing demand with more trips aimed at solo travellers, and helping those travelling alone to avoid single supplements. India, Italy and Sri Lanka were the three fastest growing destinations for solo travellers, with Greece and Spain joining Italy as the most popular overall.

So wherever you’d like to go, whether it’s your first solo trip or your fiftieth, and whatever style of holiday suits you, there’s a perfect solo break out there. We’ve picked out some of the options and the best companies to try.

Singles-only trips

If you’re wary of being the odd one out, guarantee plenty of other company from other solo travellers with a singles-only holiday. Specialists Friendship Travel, Solos Holidays and Travel One all offer trips exclusively for singles so you’re also certain to have your own room.

Many have a house party feel to them – a host makes sure no-one gets left out, and can help organise excursions and days out, but there’s no regimented timetable. But you can also book anything from a UK walking holiday to a skiing break to island hopping in the Mediterranean or long-haul destinations such as Cuba.

There are even golfing holidays and dinner-dance breaks if you’re looking for an escape with other people who share your interest.

Escorted tours

Perfect if you’d rather travel as part of a group, they’re also ideal if you’re heading off the beaten track.

With so much choice, it’s worth doing some research to find the perfect fit. Some offer singles-only itineraries such as Solo Travellers, others have no supplement if you’re happy to share a room (and if they can’t find another solo traveller of the same sex, you don’t have to pay the supplement either) while some cater to specific age ranges. If you’re a single parent travelling with kids, there are family-friendly itineraries too.

Explore and On The Go Tours have a wide range of small group tours, many with no compulsory single supplement – ranging from the chance to discover the Highlights of Portugal to two weeks exploring Thailand and its Temples & Tribes.

Cox & Kings has dedicated solo traveller tours as well, popular with over-50s, including long-haul destinations such as India, Costa Rica and South Africa, while Saga Holidays singles-only tours are exclusively for the over 50s, with short-haul and long-haul options.

Or look for specialist companies, such as InsideAsia Tours, American Sky and Australian Sky.

Cruise

There’s a good reason cruises are often so popular with solo travellers – not only an easy way to see the world, the friendly atmosphere makes it simple to strike up conversation, plus there are port tours to join if you don’t want to explore solo.

Despite this, cruise lines haven’t always catered well for single cruisers, until recently. Norwegian Cruise Lines was one of the first to create proper studio staterooms designed for single passengers, avoiding high supplements, as well as a social lounge exclusively for those travelling solo. There’s also flexible dining on board.

If you prefer the more formal approach, Fred Olsen has the traditional group tables in the main restaurant and can pair single travellers together, or provide dinner hosts and companions for on-shore excursions.

As well as activities to help single cruisers meet up, they also have single cabins, no supplement on selected sailings and reduced supplements if you’d like your own twin cabin. Sites such as Iglu.com have regular early booking deals and last-minute discounts for solo cruisers, including both cruise lines.

There’s more than ocean cruising too – getting to know people is easy on smaller ships, from all-inclusive luxury barge holidays in Europe with European Waterways, whose special offers include no single supplement, or single cabins on St Hilda Sea Adventures cruises around Scotland’s western Isles.

Beach holiday

Sometimes all you want from a holiday is the chance to lie on a sunlounger and relax – and there’s no reason single travellers should pay over the odds to do so.

Mercury Holidays has hotels with no single supplement worldwide whether you’re looking for a Mediterranean escape, the chance to sunbathe by the Indian Ocean or winter sun deals.

Bigger resorts can be a great option too, with plenty of facilities for those travelling alone.

Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic has a virtual guest chatroom, for example, so you can get to know people before you check in as well as finding company once you arrive – there are also communal tables in some of the 11 restaurants and low single supplements.

The BodyHoliday in St Lucia has a string of single rooms, and its all-inclusive stays don’t just cover food and drink; you’ll get activities, watersports and even spa treatments included. There’s a special September Solos month focused around single guests, with extra deals too.

Fancy some me time on a white sand beach with its own house reef? The Maldives aren’t just for honeymooners. At four-star Bandos Island Resort, there’s no single supplement at selected times if you book with Barefoot Traveller.

Themed holidays

A singles holiday based around a particular activity or hobby is another great option – a shared interest ensures everyone has something in common and it’s a perfect ice-breaker if you’re new to solo travel.

If it’s art, music and culture that you love, there are themed tours galore from several specialist companies. The Cultural Travel Company has low single supplements for many trips, while Martin Randall Travel has new solo-only tours for 2018.

Travel with an expert guide on a holiday from the award-winning Peter Sommer Travels, focused on the archaeology and history of the Mediterranean, including gulet cruises around Croatia, Greece and Italy.

Kirker Holidays also has no single supplements on some trips; its focus is on classical music, including their own music festivals, as well as art.

Or write your own novel, on a creative writing break in Greece with Skyros, along with creative and personal development courses in Spain at Cortijo Romero.

If you prefer a more active escape, Inghams has summer lakes and mountains holidays, trekking and walking through some of Europe’s loveliest scenery – and no single supplement. Ramblers Walking Holidays has no supplement on an increasing number of its walking holidays too, including short breaks in the UK.

There are also yoga holidays for singles as well as spa and detox breaks among other healthy holiday ideas for solo travellers.

Like this? Sign up for more with our JC Life newsletter https://www.thejc.com/subscribe

From fabulous recipes, to parenting tips;  travel and West End entertainment; insightful interviews and much more: there’s more to  the JC than news