National Single Week Research Reveals All...

o 89% of single people believe that travelling alone boosts their confidence

o 82% of single people believe that being single is an amazing opportunity to try new life experiences

o 71% find the fear of doing something on their own is barrier to trying new things

o 65%, find the most daunting thing to do alone is going on holiday

Research undertaken by Solo�s Holidays, sponsors of the UK�s first ever National Singles Week (8-12 August), discovered attitudes to remaining single are altering at a rapid rate. The survey found that being single opens up a whole new world of exciting opportunities with 89% of single people believing that travelling alone is a fantastic way of boosting their confidence.

However, that is not the whole picture. The survey, which polled over 1000 single people found that 82% think that being single is an amazing opportunity to try new life experiences.

The problem is, however, in a society heavily geared towards couples, despite single person dominance (with 48% of the population currently single), 71% find that the fear of doing something on their own is a barrier to trying new things; and going on holiday comes out on top with 65% finding it the most daunting thing to do alone, compared to just 19% finding going to the cinema alone difficult.

Although 65% of respondents registered some fear about going on holiday alone, the benefits reaped by those who did it were also clearly defined. 82% of those polled liked the freedom of travelling without friends and family, allowing them to do what they wanted when they wanted to; 59% felt it was an ideal opportunity to meet new friends; 57% liked only having themselves to worry about; 51% commented on spontaneity and 42% felt they could be more adventurous when travelling solo.

The barriers to travelling alone revealed some interesting facts. 55 % were concerned about personal safety (although this was clearly more of an issue for women, with 65% of women showing concern, versus just 18% of men); 58% simply felt awkward about being alone, 45% were worried they would not meet people similar to themselves (though the fear of meeting new people was clearly not an issue, with only 10% expressing this fear).

�We know that once we get people on our holidays, all the positives our survey showed come to the fore, and the negatives soon disappear,� comments Gill Harvey, MD of leading singles operator Solo�s Holidays. �Through our years of experience, we know exactly how to put together our groups and how best to encourage people to try new things. Our reservations team has the expert knowledge at their finger tips, to guide someone through booking their solo holiday.� So what advice can we offer single people who find the fear of travelling alone a daunting prospect? Gill Harvey, MD of Solo�s Holidays offers some top tips and advice:

1. Make sure you take a holiday! Many single people are not aware that companies such as Solo�s Holidays exist who can cater for their holiday choices 2. Find activities and join groups that allow you to meet like minded people 3. Try to travel outside school holidays, when single supplements do not always apply 4. Use it as an opportunity to do what you want. Many people travelling with partners and friends often have to compromise on their choice of holiday. 5. Advice: Let someone know where you are staying and how long for Book with a reputable travel company Take full travel insurance with health cover Take the same sensible precautions over your personal safety and property as you would at home.

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For more information or the full executive summary please contact Clare Corry on 020 7886 8450 or respond via e-mail - clare.corry@flagshipgroup.co.uk

Notes to Editor: National Singles Week: The new poll, commissioned by Solo�s Holidays, coincides with National Singles Week 8-12 August (www.nationalsinglesweek.co.uk) sponsored by Solo�s, which aims to raise awareness of single people and ensure that they are seen as a standalone demographic, and not just as people who are missing a partner. Over 1000 (1050) people were polled via a web-based questionnaire posted on www.solosholidays.co.uk during July 2005. Solo�s Holidays: For reservations contact 0870 499 2299 or visit www.solosholidays.co.uk Solo�s Holidays is the UK�s largest operator of quality escorted group holidays and tours for unattached single people and travels to over 100 UK and worldwide destinations. All Solo�s Holidays prices are based on sole room occupancy, with no single supplement on many holidays. For press visitors the Solo�s website offers a dedicated press section where journalists can register their details to receive access to the latest Solo�s press information.