The hidden price of travelling alone
If you've ever booked a holiday solo and felt a quiet sting at checkout, you've met the solo surcharge — the extra you pay simply because hotel rooms, packages and resort deals are priced around two people sharing. It's sometimes called the 'solo tax', and depending on where you're headed, it can push your per-person cost up by anywhere from 20% to a painful 84%.
Research by UK-based travel comparison platform TravelSupermarket looked at the solo surcharges across popular international destinations, comparing seven-night holiday costs for one traveller versus two adults sharing. The findings are a useful reference point for anyone — including the growing wave of solo travellers from India — who wants to stretch their budget without abandoning the idea of a trip entirely.
Where the numbers actually land
Thailand sweeps the top of the list in the most reassuring way possible. Khao Lak, a quieter resort stretch on the Andaman coast, carries the lowest solo premium of the lot — just 21%. A seven-night stay there costs around £1,400 (roughly ₹1.61 lakh) for a solo traveller. Phuket follows at a 23% surcharge, and Pattaya and Bangkok both appear on the list as well, making Thailand arguably the most solo-friendly country for a beach-or-city break where your wallet isn't being punished for your independence.
Outside Asia, Bulgaria's Bourgas Area on the Black Sea coast offers a seven-night trip for around £777 (roughly ₹89,000) solo, with a 31% premium — one of the more affordable European options on the list. Dubai also sits at 31%, which might seem surprising for a destination with its reputation for luxury, but TravelSupermarket points out that long-haul spots often carry lower solo surcharges because flights — split equally regardless of company — make up a bigger chunk of the total cost. Athens rounds out the list at a 33% premium, with a week there costing around £1,274 (roughly ₹1.47 lakh) solo.
At the other end of the scale: Barcelona hits solo travellers with an 84% surcharge, with Corfu (81%) and Ibiza (80%) not far behind. If a Mediterranean summer is on your wish list, the numbers are a useful reality check.
Why this matters for a solo travel audience in India
For Indian solo travellers, Thailand has long been a first port of call — easy visa access, affordable day-to-day costs, and a well-worn backpacker and luxury circuit alike. The fact that Khao Lak, Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok all appear in the lower-surcharge bracket adds a data-backed reason to what many already choose by instinct.
Dubai is also a significant destination for Indian travellers — short flying time, familiar food, and a huge Indian diaspora — so its relatively contained solo premium (31%) is worth knowing before you assume a solo Dubai trip will be prohibitively expensive.
The broader takeaway is structural: the solo surcharge isn't uniform, and destination choice itself is a lever you can pull. If you're planning a trip alone — whether it's your first or your fifteenth — running a quick cost comparison between destinations before you commit to a location can save a meaningful amount. The 'solo tax' is real, but it's not the same everywhere, and in some places it's a lot easier to absorb than the headlines suggest.