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Research conducted by AARP reveals that Americans age 45 and above don't fret traveling alone, but rather enjoy solo leisure travel.
According to the recent AARP Travel survey, 97 percent of solo travelers age 45 and up were satisfied with their experience. What's more, 81 percent of those respondents said they plan on taking another solo trip within the next year.
The survey also found that among routine leisure travelers age 45 and up, a whopping 37 percent have vacationed by themselves with an average of four solo trips.
"Most solo travel takes place domestically and we found that it gives people 45+ the opportunity to get out of town and enjoy new experiences without the restrictions that come when traveling with others," said AARP member value vice president Stephanie Miles.
AARP's research also reveals that simply getting out of town is the top reason why Americans age 45 and up enjoy solo trips, with 46 percent of respondents in agreement.
Seeing something new (31 percent) and food (25 percent) are other significant factors.
However, there's also motivation to try something new. Meeting new people (22 percent), being somewhere new (22 percent) and learning something new (20 percent) are three other key benefits of solo trips noted by survey respondents.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62 percent) said taking solo trips allowed them to treat themselves, while 11 percent said the solitary journey allowed them to reach a personal goal.
Seven percent said solo trips provided them an opportunity to check something off of their bucket list.
While coordinating transportation and figuring out what to do at a destination pose significant challenges to solo travelers, budgeting (eight percent) and sticking to that budget (12 percent) were cited as the biggest challenges when planning a solo trip.
As far as destinations are concerned, AARP's research shows that roughly two-thirds (68 percent) of Americans age 45 and up opt for solo travel within the U.S. as opposed to international destinations.
California, Florida, Las Vegas, New York and Texas have been the top domestic destinations for solo trip takers over the past two years, while the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Mexico have been the top spots among international solo travelers.
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