Only six percent of German vacationers traveled alone last year. The "single wave" in the vacation market, touted just a few years ago, has become obsolete. Even among singles aged 25 to 49, two-thirds only embarked on their trip after finding suitable travel companions before departure. Vacations without a partner or social group are no longer in demand for either men or women. This is the finding of a representative survey conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute among 2,000 people over the age of 14.
The 1.4 million solo travelers were predominantly widowed and divorced individuals for whom traveling without a companion was apparently more involuntary than by choice. For most Germans today, the prevailing sentiment is: better to travel together than alone. Thus, the "vacation from marriage" remains a myth. Only 3 percent of married people traveled without a partner or family in 1987. Shared experiences on vacation are just as important for single people as they are for married couples. This also explains the popularity of dating platforms and specialized travel services for solo travelers, which help fulfill the desire for companionship during vacations.

Holidays with partner, friends, groups and clubs

Family is an important, but by no means the only, reference group on vacation. Only one in three vacationers traveled with family in 1987. And even among these 6.7 million traditional family vacationers, the whole family wasn't always together: almost 1 million traveled with only their mother or father, or with children but without their spouse.
9.7 million travelers went on vacation as a couple – with their spouse or partner. 2.3 million traveled with a boyfriend or girlfriend. 1.6 million traveled with a group of friends or acquaintances. And 0.7 million Germans traveled with their club or association.

Holiday group as a „second family“ – A new trend?

Partners, friends, cliques, and clubs are increasingly replacing family on vacation, becoming a "second family." One in two young people traveled with peers—as a couple (19%), with friends (22%), or as part of a club (15%). The BAT Institute notes that vacations can only reflect everyday leisure activities. If family members pursue their own paths at home, even in their free time, family harmony won't automatically materialize on vacation. "Vacations can't be a magic bullet for dysfunctional families," says Prof. Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski, the institute's scientific director. "But a shared vacation is certainly an opportunity: some focus on their relationship, while others try to recreate a real family life.".