How to Handle Solo Travel as a Recent Widow or Widower

Travel was something many couples planned together for years. Now that your spouse is gone, the idea of going anywhere alone may feel impossible, sad, or somehow disloyal to your partner. These feelings are completely natural and very common among surviving spouses. Many widows and widowers spend the first year after a loss avoiding the trips they had planned, the cruises that were already paid for, and the family visits that now feel one-sided. There is no rule that says you have to travel right away. There is also no rule that says you cannot.

When you do feel ready — whether that is six months or six years after your loss — solo travel can become one of the most meaningful and healing experiences of widowhood. Many surviving spouses describe their first solo trip as a turning point: a chance to rediscover who they are without their partner, to meet new people, to honor a place that was meaningful to the marriage, or to finally do something they always wanted to do. In 2026, solo travel for adults over 60 is booming. According to AARP and the US Travel Association, the number of solo travelers over age 65 has more than doubled in the past decade, and the travel industry has responded with tours, cruises, and resorts specifically designed for older solo travelers.

This guide walks through how to choose your first trip, how to stay safe, how to handle the single-supplement charge that hotels and cruises often add, how to find group tours that welcome solo travelers, what to pack, and how to manage the emotions that may come up while you are away. The goal is to help you feel prepared, not pressured. If you are not ready, set the guide aside and come back to it later. If you are ready, take it one step at a time — pick a destination, pick a dates, pick a tour or hotel, and book one piece at a time over several weeks.

The biggest worry most newly widowed travelers have is the emotional side: what if I cry in public, what if I feel lonely in a restaurant, what if I see something my spouse would have loved and break down? These moments will happen, and that is okay. Bring tissues, give yourself permission to feel what you feel, and know that other travelers and hotel staff have seen it all and respond with kindness more often than not. Many solo travelers carry a small photo of their late spouse or a piece of jewelry they wore. Some leave a small token at a meaningful spot. There is no right way to do this.