Mediaboss Marketing

Ah, the holidays. The perfect time of year to be with the one you love the most -- yourself.

If you are unmarried, divorced, widowed or simply apart from friends and family this holiday season, no need to wallow. Because while others are stuck in traffic on the way to Grandma's house, you, dear reader, have the opportunity to be cosseted in a Venice cafe. Or learning Spanish on a Costa Rican beach.

And chances are, you won't be the only one. Although no data exists that show precisely how many people travel alone during the holidays, solo travel overall is a growing trend, say travel professionals. Internet searches for "solo travel ideas" are up by more than 50 percent, and searches for "solo travel destinations" are up by more than 60 percent year over year, according to Google.

Tour operators like Abercrombie & Kent are seeing more interest from solo travelers. The company, whose group luxury tours have traditionally attracted couples and families, has had a 29 percent increase in the number of solo travelers this year compared with last year.

Some travelers are striking out on their own. Others are meeting up with friends. Those looking for romance are joining singles tours or, for company minus the come-ons, group tours open to all.

Peggy Goldman, president of Friendly Planet Travel, said the number of unmarried travelers seeking general group tours, as opposed to strictly singles tours, is on the rise, especially around the holidays.

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When planning a tour, keep in mind that the phrase "solo traveler" typically refers to people traveling on their own, be they married or unmarried. That means tours for solo travelers draw not only eligible singles but also people with no romantic ambitions. Singles tours, on the other hand, are generally just for those seeking love connections.

Not sure where to go? Maybe the following ideas, culled from conversations with a variety of travel experts, tour companies and friends, can help you decide. No list like this can include everything, but perhaps it will spark an idea or two. Whether you want to ski moguls in Vail or ease into geothermal seawater in the Blue Lagoon, there's a trip that will make you glad you aren't home for the holidays.

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Vacationing with the one you love the most: you