The cheapest holiday destinations for solo travellers in 2026

Travelling solo can be one of the most liberating ways to see the world – but there’s one less glamorous companion that often comes along for the ride: the single supplement. From hotel rooms priced for two to holiday packages built around sharing, solo travellers often find themselves paying over the odds for the same escape as the couples lounging by the pool.

New research from TravelSupermarket has revealed the destinations where that so-called ‘solo tax’ is lowest, with Thailand emerging as the standout choice for travellers heading away alone this autumn.

Khao Lak, on Thailand’s Andaman coast, has the lowest solo surcharge of all the destinations analysed. A seven-night holiday costs solo travellers an average of £1,400, compared with £1,155 per person for two adults sharing – a difference of 21 per cent. Phuket follows at 23 per cent, while Pattaya and Bangkok also make the top ten, meaning Thailand claims four of the most solo-friendly spots around the world.

Long-haul destinations feature prominently in the list, partly because flights help narrow the gap between solo and shared holidays: everyone needs their own seat on a long-haul flight, meaning accommodation accounts for a smaller proportion of the overall cost. Dubai has a solo tax of 31 per cent, while Barbados, Las Vegas and Mauritius come in at 33, 37 and 39 per cent respectively.

Closer to home, the Bourgas Area in Bulgaria and Athens are among the best-value European options, with solo supplements of 31 and 33 per cent. A week in Bourgas costs an average of £777 for one traveller, while Athens comes in at £1,274.