Article Highlights:

  • Men are leading the travel rebound in 2025, with more trips, more spending and greater destination flexibility than women.
  • Women are more cautious, with higher rates of postponed trips, increased concern over travel costs and avoidance of perceived unsafe destinations.
  • Safety drives female travel behavior, with 79% using security gear and nearly half avoiding certain countries when traveling solo.
  • Men report significantly higher confidence when traveling alone, with 74% saying they usually feel safe, compared to 51% of women.
  • Global perception matters, with over 70% of all travelers expecting Americans to be viewed more negatively abroad in 2025.

 

Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey findings reveal significant gender-based differences in how Americans plan to travel in the year ahead. While overall travel enthusiasm is high, men and women are approaching their journeys with distinctly different priorities and comfort levels. From destination selection and spending to solo travel safety and geopolitical sensitivity, gender plays a defining role in 2025 travel behavior.

According to the survey of more than 1,100 current and former Global Rescue members conducted April 8–12, men are leading the rebound in active travel. 54% of male respondents reported they plan to take more trips in 2025 than in 2024, compared to 43% of women. The gap suggests that men are more eager to return to regular or increased travel routines.

 

Travel Trends

Spending patterns reinforce this trend: 31% of men said they plan to increase their travel budgets this year, compared to 21% of women. Whether for business, leisure or both, men are more willing to invest financially in travel, pointing to higher confidence levels or differing lifestyle goals.

Yet, while men may accelerate their travel, women are more cautious. Forty-four percent of women are postponing international trips this year, versus 32% of men. The data points to a stronger hesitation among female travelers, likely influenced by safety concerns, evolving geopolitical risks or travel infrastructure challenges.

 

Travel in Canada and the Welcome Wagon

One of the clearest gender divides emerged around the perception of being welcome abroad. When asked which countries they were avoiding due to being unwelcome as Americans, 25% of women listed Canada — more than eight times the number of men who said the same (3%). In contrast, 35% of men said they were avoiding Taiwan, compared to 19% of women.

The reasons behind these divergences are complex. While Canada has traditionally been seen as a friendly and accessible destination, women may perceive recent cross-border political tensions, healthcare limitations or social friction as reasons to reconsider travel. Men’s avoidance of Taiwan may reflect concerns about ongoing regional tensions and related media narratives.

Men also appear more fluid in their destination choices overall. Fifty-nine percent said they are changing the countries they plan to visit this year, compared to 42% of women. This suggests that men are more flexible in response to world events or more inclined to pursue new or less traditional destinations.

 

Travel Costs

Another point of division concerns travel cost expectations. Women are significantly more likely to believe that travel prices will rise dramatically in 2025: 56% say they “definitely” expect increases, compared to 42% of men. Conversely, men are more likely to express skepticism; 17% of men said they don’t really expect costs to rise, compared to only 5% of women.

Overall, both genders agree that travel prices are increasing, but women appear more resigned to, or aware of, those increases, perhaps reflecting more active budgeting or trip-planning habits.

 

A man walks outside of a train, pulling his suitcase. The sun is low and casts long shadows on the walkway.
Embarking on a solo adventure.

Solo Travel and Personal Safety

While spending and destination trends show sharp divides, none are as pronounced as the differences in solo travel confidence and safety practices. The survey highlights a gender gap not only in perception but also in preparation.

Seventy-nine percent of women use cross-body bags or fanny packs while traveling, compared to just 31% of men. This indicates a nearly 50-point gap in personal security habits, with women being far more proactive about preventing theft and safeguarding belongings.

When asked whether they feel safe traveling alone, 74% of men responded positively. Among women, only 51% said the same. Despite rising interest and participation in solo adventures, the 23-point gap underscores that solo travel still feels riskier for women.

Nearly half of women (49%) said they have avoided certain countries due to safety concerns while traveling alone, compared to 39% of men. In contrast, 57% of men said they have not avoided any destinations, versus just 39% of women. The difference reflects not just travel interest but real or perceived vulnerability.

“Solo travel is on the rise, but the experience is not equal for everyone,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member at the US Department of Commerce. “Our findings highlight that while women are committed to exploring the world, they are far more likely to make deliberate safety decisions and avoid destinations they perceive as risky.”

 

Travel Trends Beyond Gender Preferences

The gender distinctions revealed by the survey occur against the backdrop of a global travel environment shaped by political shifts, economic uncertainty and surging wanderlust. More than 70% of survey respondents across all genders said they expect Americans to be perceived more negatively abroad in 2025 due to US international policy decisions.

As travel demand continues to rebound, perceptions of safety, welcome and political neutrality will play an even greater role in shaping where people go. The survey unveils a unique view of how those concerns play out differently between men and women.

The Spring 2025 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey paints a picture of a traveler population eager to continue world travel but on different terms, depending on gender. Whether through financial planning, destination flexibility or enhanced personal safety, travelers make intentional choices that reflect optimism and caution.

And as the year unfolds, those choices will shape not only travel trends but the very fabric of global tourism.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

The Spring 2025 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey findings confirm that while wanderlust remains strong, concerns about rising costs, regional tensions and personal safety are reshaping how and where people choose to travel.

With 56% of women and 42% of men expecting significant price increases, and nearly half of women actively avoiding destinations they consider unsafe, there is a renewed emphasis on preparation. Securing travel protection that includes medical and security evacuation services, monitoring destination-specific risk alerts and selecting reputable accommodations are becoming standard parts of the travel planning process.

“In today’s unpredictable environment, having access to safety advisory, security extraction and medical evacuation services is more than a precaution, it’s essential,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Travelers should expect the unexpected and make risk awareness a core element of their journey.”

Whether driven by gender-specific concerns or broader global events, the message is clear: informed, protected and prepared travel is the new normal.