Tue 7 Apr 2026 • Sara Balaban
Solo But Not Alone: Why Group Travel Is Perfect For Singles
SHARE THIS POST
In a society that prioritizes couples, navigating the world as a single person can be challenging. But with group travel, it doesn't have to be. From personal growth to unexpected adventures, there are tons of perks to embracing the single status, proving that being single can be just as rewarding as any relationship.
Who said being single meant having to do things...solo?
As a seven-time repeat SurfYogaBeer traveler and a single gal myself, I've learned that being single isn't a setback. It's an opportunity to build a life that's already pretty amazing on your own terms.
If you've been waiting for the right person before booking the trip, consider this your sign to stop waiting! Some of the best adventures begin when you show up solo, and that's exactly why group travel is the perfect plus-one.
Island-hopping in Palawan on Valentine's Day
As I write this, I'm 36, single, and living in New York City (🙌🏻). While I don't see my single status as a setback, there's a weight that comes with being a single 36-year-old woman, and I often can hear the ringing of a million questions about why or how I'm single ricocheting between my ears.
With this single status comes an invisible pressure (usually a static buzz from society), translating one's singledom to inadequacy, incompleteness, inferiority, or failure. But the reality is that none of that's true, and there's something extraordinary about being single and fully embracing all that comes with that special status. Call it a choice, a gift, circumstance, luck, or a position of power; being single is not a setback, and there are perks to embracing the single status and living the beautiful life you've curated for yourself by yourself.
Understanding why we're drawn to romantic relationships
Before celebrating the single life and all its perks, it's important to understand that, as humans, we are inherently social beings wired for connection, and the desire for romantic connections has deep evolutionary roots beyond the influence of society. According to psychological and evolutionary theories, romantic relationships are more than companionship, providing crucial emotional and physical benefits. Early human societies relied on strong pair bonds for survival, as these bonds helped with procreation and resource sharing. So, through evolution and a bit of societal reinforcement, we've basically been programmed this way—to grow up and start searching for that prince(ss) charming.
While we may appreciate a good love story, like the ones we see in fairy tales and movies, life has to be about more than growing up in pursuit of a romantic partner. (And it is.) In a society where romantic relationships often seem like the ultimate goal, it's unsurprising that many singles grapple with navigating a world that celebrates couples and subsequently places singles on the back burner.
Navigating the single status in a couple-centric world
"Since it's just you, you can sleep on the pull-out couch in the living room."
If you've been fed this line during a friend's weekend full of couples and yourself, I'm sorry you've also endured this. The world isn't exactly built for single people. Dinner reservations, vacation packages, wedding invitations without a plus-one, and even tax benefits all seem to favor couples. There's also the endless stream of questions like, "Why are you still single?" or "HoW iS sOmEoNe LiKe YoU sInGlE?!" (🙄) Questions that no single person wants to answer continuously, but inevitably they are faced with them anyway. Imagine asking coupled people these questions in reverse—strange thought, right?
These are just a few examples of the societal pressures that can make being single challenging and downright frustrating. Despite these challenges, I've seen single people gracefully glide through them, proving that being single is not a setback. To be single is to thrive despite the obstacles that come with that status and to embrace it as part of a lifestyle that's as fulfilling and exciting as any relationship.
Single is not a setback
The pressures of finding that "other half" can sometimes feel daunting and exhausting, especially in today's grim dating world. Social media and movies perpetuate the idea that life doesn't really begin until we meet that special someone. While that may be true for some, waiting for someone else to "complete" your life is time that could have been spent *living it.* (Like leaning into a group travel adventure). It's okay to want romantic companionship—or not, and still shine as an iconic party of one.
In a piece featured by the HuffPost, Bella DePaulo, Ph.D from Harvard University and a social psychologist, shares, "I found that we who are single at heart are flourishing because we are single, not despite it. Single people can thrive even if they wish they were coupled. Among the keys to our fulfillment are our freedom, our love of solitude, and our openhearted approach to friends, family, and love."
The perks of being single
Personal growth
Regardless of relationship status, nothing compares to the relationship each of us has with ourselves. Unattached and without a partner's influence or demand, this period of self-discovery can be a significant time in a single person's life, allowing us to recognize and understand our values, strengths, interests, and desires on a deeper level.
Healthy selfishness
Selfishness often gets a bad rap, but it's not just about being self-centered or lacking empathy. There's also a positive form of healthy selfishness centered on self-care and boundary-setting. As single people, we can define what this looks like. Whether it's choosing how we spend our time, money, or energy, being single allows us to prioritize our own well-being without compromise. This kind of selfishness isn't about shutting others out; it's about valuing and nurturing ourselves so we can show up fully in all areas of our lives.
Embracing the I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T you
Do you know what that means? Throwback lyrics aside, embracing the single life means fully taking advantage of our single days as a unique and potentially rare opportunity to make decisions based solely on what we want without having to consider someone else's needs or opinions. This kind of autonomy helps build the confidence to see our single status as an empowering position to full-send our lives to do whatever the F we want, however the F we want.
Exploration & adventure
On quoting Bella DePaulo, PhD, UC Santa Barbara adds, "One critical advantage to embracing single life is that the single at heart have the freedom to travel and live how and where they want. They also typically experience stronger friendships that have been prioritized over the years, report lower rates of loneliness at all ages, and more often commit to their communities and causes." Whether traveling to new destinations, enjoying spontaneous adventures, or being open to whatever may come up, there's beauty and freedom in not waiting to do that thing or take that trip because we're single.
The benefits of group travel when you're single
If there's one thing I've learned about being single, it's that it's prettyyyyy awesome to show up solo and let life unfold without the buffer of a friend or partner. Group travel, especially with the right kind of people, can completely change the way you experience being single and experiencing the world. You have the freedom to try new things on a whim, book a trip last-minute, or join adventures you wouldn’t normally attempt. Hiking in the Dolomites? Uh, yes, please!
You get to meet people from all over the world, dive into conversations that remind you you are so not alone, and discover friendships that form faster than you’d expect. Being single in a group setting also gives you space to reflect, take in the scenery, and savor the little moments you might otherwise overlook when traveling with a plus-one. Showing up solo means opening the door to experiences, connections, and memories you might never have imagined. And who knows, you might even stumble into love or lifelong friends on a future trip, or deepen an already stellar connection with yourself.
The single status isn't a problem to be fixed
Recognizing the single status is about understanding the beautiful opportunities that come with it and learning that it's not a problem that needs fixing. It's an invitation to focus on personal growth, pursue passions, build strong, supportive networks, fly across the world on a whim because we can, and perhaps fall in love with the lives we've created for ourselves by ourselves. It's time to flip the script on societal expectations and challenge the pressures that come with it. After all, they don't reflect our worth, and one's relationship status (single or not) doesn't define who we are.
We're not too picky. Though we can, we don't need to use apps or change our profile photos again. We have every right to be irritated when told, "It'll happen when you least expect it." We're not too much of this or too little of that. We don't need to lower our standards, and there's nothing wrong with us. We don't need to change our looks because someone has expressed their opinion. We don't need to explain why we're single, defend our single status, or be considered weird for feeling content being single. Being single is not an issue to be solved but a position to be admired. To all my incredible, intelligent, talented, confident, beautiful, adventurous, brave, bold single friends, I hear you, I am you, and I celebrate you because one is anything but the loneliest number.
And, if you're finally ready to book the trip or do that thing, as a fab party of one, join a SurfYogaBeer group travel adventure. Come solo and be prepared to leave with new friends and a whole bunch of unbelievable memories.
SurfYogaBeer is an active and social travel company focused on global, local, and private adventures, offering group trips for people of all ages and fitness levels. We're all looking for adventure. Travel with us–change your life.
Disclaimer: This piece is intended to highlight the common experiences of being single in a society that often tries to "fix it." The purpose of this piece is not to criticize couples or those in romantic relationships but rather to celebrate singlehood and recognize that our single friends are pretty amazing, and even though we're having a hell of a good time as singles, living with that status isn't always easy. All views and opinions in this piece are my own, and the views expressed in this piece belong solely to me.
Who said being single meant having to do things...solo?
As a seven-time repeat SurfYogaBeer traveler and a single gal myself, I've learned that being single isn't a setback. It's an opportunity to build a life that's already pretty amazing on your own terms.
If you've been waiting for the right person before booking the trip, consider this your sign to stop waiting! Some of the best adventures begin when you show up solo, and that's exactly why group travel is the perfect plus-one.
Island-hopping in Palawan on Valentine's Day
As I write this, I'm 36, single, and living in New York City (🙌🏻). While I don't see my single status as a setback, there's a weight that comes with being a single 36-year-old woman, and I often can hear the ringing of a million questions about why or how I'm single ricocheting between my ears.
With this single status comes an invisible pressure (usually a static buzz from society), translating one's singledom to inadequacy, incompleteness, inferiority, or failure. But the reality is that none of that's true, and there's something extraordinary about being single and fully embracing all that comes with that special status. Call it a choice, a gift, circumstance, luck, or a position of power; being single is not a setback, and there are perks to embracing the single status and living the beautiful life you've curated for yourself by yourself.
Understanding why we're drawn to romantic relationships
Before celebrating the single life and all its perks, it's important to understand that, as humans, we are inherently social beings wired for connection, and the desire for romantic connections has deep evolutionary roots beyond the influence of society. According to psychological and evolutionary theories, romantic relationships are more than companionship, providing crucial emotional and physical benefits. Early human societies relied on strong pair bonds for survival, as these bonds helped with procreation and resource sharing. So, through evolution and a bit of societal reinforcement, we've basically been programmed this way—to grow up and start searching for that prince(ss) charming.
While we may appreciate a good love story, like the ones we see in fairy tales and movies, life has to be about more than growing up in pursuit of a romantic partner. (And it is.) In a society where romantic relationships often seem like the ultimate goal, it's unsurprising that many singles grapple with navigating a world that celebrates couples and subsequently places singles on the back burner.
Navigating the single status in a couple-centric world
"Since it's just you, you can sleep on the pull-out couch in the living room."
If you've been fed this line during a friend's weekend full of couples and yourself, I'm sorry you've also endured this. The world isn't exactly built for single people. Dinner reservations, vacation packages, wedding invitations without a plus-one, and even tax benefits all seem to favor couples. There's also the endless stream of questions like, "Why are you still single?" or "HoW iS sOmEoNe LiKe YoU sInGlE?!" (🙄) Questions that no single person wants to answer continuously, but inevitably they are faced with them anyway. Imagine asking coupled people these questions in reverse—strange thought, right?
These are just a few examples of the societal pressures that can make being single challenging and downright frustrating. Despite these challenges, I've seen single people gracefully glide through them, proving that being single is not a setback. To be single is to thrive despite the obstacles that come with that status and to embrace it as part of a lifestyle that's as fulfilling and exciting as any relationship.
Single is not a setback
The pressures of finding that "other half" can sometimes feel daunting and exhausting, especially in today's grim dating world. Social media and movies perpetuate the idea that life doesn't really begin until we meet that special someone. While that may be true for some, waiting for someone else to "complete" your life is time that could have been spent *living it.* (Like leaning into a group travel adventure). It's okay to want romantic companionship—or not, and still shine as an iconic party of one.
In a piece featured by the HuffPost, Bella DePaulo, Ph.D from Harvard University and a social psychologist, shares, "I found that we who are single at heart are flourishing because we are single, not despite it. Single people can thrive even if they wish they were coupled. Among the keys to our fulfillment are our freedom, our love of solitude, and our openhearted approach to friends, family, and love."
The perks of being single
Personal growth
Regardless of relationship status, nothing compares to the relationship each of us has with ourselves. Unattached and without a partner's influence or demand, this period of self-discovery can be a significant time in a single person's life, allowing us to recognize and understand our values, strengths, interests, and desires on a deeper level.
Healthy selfishness
Selfishness often gets a bad rap, but it's not just about being self-centered or lacking empathy. There's also a positive form of healthy selfishness centered on self-care and boundary-setting. As single people, we can define what this looks like. Whether it's choosing how we spend our time, money, or energy, being single allows us to prioritize our own well-being without compromise. This kind of selfishness isn't about shutting others out; it's about valuing and nurturing ourselves so we can show up fully in all areas of our lives.
Embracing the I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T you
Do you know what that means? Throwback lyrics aside, embracing the single life means fully taking advantage of our single days as a unique and potentially rare opportunity to make decisions based solely on what we want without having to consider someone else's needs or opinions. This kind of autonomy helps build the confidence to see our single status as an empowering position to full-send our lives to do whatever the F we want, however the F we want.
Exploration & adventure
On quoting Bella DePaulo, PhD, UC Santa Barbara adds, "One critical advantage to embracing single life is that the single at heart have the freedom to travel and live how and where they want. They also typically experience stronger friendships that have been prioritized over the years, report lower rates of loneliness at all ages, and more often commit to their communities and causes." Whether traveling to new destinations, enjoying spontaneous adventures, or being open to whatever may come up, there's beauty and freedom in not waiting to do that thing or take that trip because we're single.
The benefits of group travel when you're single
If there's one thing I've learned about being single, it's that it's prettyyyyy awesome to show up solo and let life unfold without the buffer of a friend or partner. Group travel, especially with the right kind of people, can completely change the way you experience being single and experiencing the world. You have the freedom to try new things on a whim, book a trip last-minute, or join adventures you wouldn’t normally attempt. Hiking in the Dolomites? Uh, yes, please!
You get to meet people from all over the world, dive into conversations that remind you you are so not alone, and discover friendships that form faster than you’d expect. Being single in a group setting also gives you space to reflect, take in the scenery, and savor the little moments you might otherwise overlook when traveling with a plus-one. Showing up solo means opening the door to experiences, connections, and memories you might never have imagined. And who knows, you might even stumble into love or lifelong friends on a future trip, or deepen an already stellar connection with yourself.
The single status isn't a problem to be fixed
Recognizing the single status is about understanding the beautiful opportunities that come with it and learning that it's not a problem that needs fixing. It's an invitation to focus on personal growth, pursue passions, build strong, supportive networks, fly across the world on a whim because we can, and perhaps fall in love with the lives we've created for ourselves by ourselves. It's time to flip the script on societal expectations and challenge the pressures that come with it. After all, they don't reflect our worth, and one's relationship status (single or not) doesn't define who we are.
We're not too picky. Though we can, we don't need to use apps or change our profile photos again. We have every right to be irritated when told, "It'll happen when you least expect it." We're not too much of this or too little of that. We don't need to lower our standards, and there's nothing wrong with us. We don't need to change our looks because someone has expressed their opinion. We don't need to explain why we're single, defend our single status, or be considered weird for feeling content being single. Being single is not an issue to be solved but a position to be admired. To all my incredible, intelligent, talented, confident, beautiful, adventurous, brave, bold single friends, I hear you, I am you, and I celebrate you because one is anything but the loneliest number.
And, if you're finally ready to book the trip or do that thing, as a fab party of one, join a SurfYogaBeer group travel adventure. Come solo and be prepared to leave with new friends and a whole bunch of unbelievable memories.
SurfYogaBeer is an active and social travel company focused on global, local, and private adventures, offering group trips for people of all ages and fitness levels. We're all looking for adventure. Travel with us–change your life.
Disclaimer: This piece is intended to highlight the common experiences of being single in a society that often tries to "fix it." The purpose of this piece is not to criticize couples or those in romantic relationships but rather to celebrate singlehood and recognize that our single friends are pretty amazing, and even though we're having a hell of a good time as singles, living with that status isn't always easy. All views and opinions in this piece are my own, and the views expressed in this piece belong solely to me.
