New study reveals Gen Z ditching friends for popular new travel trend

Booking a holiday can be much easier said than done - especially when it involves organising a group of friends that could be scattered across the country. Colliding work schedules, varying finances and different ideas of where to go can all be an absolute nightmare to try to bring together. The rise of holidays never making it out of the group chat has caused a new travel trend in a UK generation who are willing to be much more spontaneous, ditching the group altogether and going solo.

There's something uniquely liberating about packing a bag, boarding a plane, and stepping out into a completely different corner of the world, and that's elevated to a new level when you go out alone. For many Brits, holidays are still the ultimate escape from routine, a chance to swap the harsh prison lighting of an office for long sunsets overlooking the sea.

But when plans fall apart, it's only normal to still be craving some time tucking into real Spanish tapas or even a bowl of Roman carbonara.

With last-minute trips now cheaper and more affordable than ever, new data suggest the solo trip revolution has been slowly reshaping the industry.

A study by travel experts at easyJet has noticed the change, while social media is brimming with people sharing their experiences of it. Their data suggests that more than half of Brits (57%) would now consider taking a trip alone.

Although Gen-X initially kick-started the type of trip, the trend seems to have been passed down and adopted by millennials and Gen Z, with the study finding the cost efficiency (60%), ease of booking (56%) and peace of mind (38%) as their top reasons for booking.

It's a movement that's proving especially popular among younger generations, who see it as an opportunity for personal growth as much as relaxation.

City breaks have risen sharply in popularity in recent years, and therefore hotels are now brimming with young people looking to meet new people to go travelling with, whether it's South East Asia, South America or Europe. The trend has made it more affordable to see more exotic destinations.

The spontaneous last-minute solo trip idea matches the results found by easyJet, too, which found that the younger you are, the later you book your next trip away.

The data shows that Gen Z typically book 11.5 weeks in advance, while Millennials stick to 3 months, Gen X 5 months and Baby Boomers 4 months before.

Paul Bixby, Chief Commercial Officer at easyJet Holidays, said: "This latest research highlights a fascinating shift in how people are choosing to travel.

"More Brits than ever are opting for package holidays because of their convenience and reliability, but we're seeing generational habits vary more than ever - from early planners to spontaneous adventurers."