Sometimes, the best trip is the one you take with yourself. When you’re traveling solo, you get to explore a destination on your own terms with no compromise — and to fully engage with the destination. Here are just six places that we think are great for one.
For Seclusion: Selva Negra Ecolodge (Nicaragua)
If you’re looking for utter peace and quiet — and don’t want to break the bank — venture into the mountains of Nicaragua, one of our top budget destinations of the year. Selva Negra Ecolodge, set in the country’s Matagalpa region about a two-hour drive from Granada, offers private hotel rooms from $4, and one-bedroom bungalows for $85. On property, wind through more than 12 miles of trails and find solace among the 200+ species of birds, the howler monkeys, and other creatures that inhabit the cloud forest. For $10-$15, you can also join a nature tour, coffee farm tour, sustainable farm tour, and a night tour when you feel up to a little human interaction.
For City Lovers: Big Hotel Singapore (Singapore)
If nothing makes you lonelier than having a big, vast bed to yourself, check into one of Big Hotel’s industrial chic single rooms. It’s pretty tiny at around 115 square feet, but it’s got the rainshower and organic tea that larger pads would have. More importantly, it costs just $121 SGF (around $90 USD) per night and puts you in the center of one of Asia’s hottest cities. Everything about this hotel makes life easy for the solo traveler, from the free WiFi to connect with those at home to the universal plugs that let you avoid pesky things like converters. But our favorite perk of all are the free-to-loan Nexus 7 phones, which you can load up with five days of data for $18 SGD at the front desk — meaning you can roam the city, tuck into the street food, and shop to your heart’s desire completely fearlessly. As a country, Singapore is one of the safest in Asia, and everyone speaks English to some degree. (If you’re looking for a bit more room, New Majestic Hotel offers funky rooms and suites between 205 and 538 square feet in size, starting from $209-$359 SGD.)
For Foodies: Tuscookany Cooking Vacations (Tuscany, Italy)
Tuscany is a classic destination for foodie travelers. If you’re shy about venturing into market on your own — or just want to pick up some real skills — we love the way Tuscookany Cooking Vacations melds expert culinary instruction with luxurious all-inclusive villa retreats. Native Italian chefs will teach you (in English) to cook authentic Italian and Mediterranean dishes, in a way that feels like you’re in your friend’s kitchen rather than a formal, impersonal class. Each program includes a full-day culinary excursion in the countryside, plus one less on each of the remaining days. You’ll have time, too, to lounge in your villa, take a dip into the pool, go hiking, and do some sightseeing of your own.
Three-day holidays start from $2,000, covering all accommodations, meals and fine wine, classes and excursion, and transfers.
For the Spiritual: L’Auberge de Sedona (Sedona, AZ)
While you’ll find lots of couples at this gorgeous property, there’s no place like Sedona to get in touch with your spiritual side. With vortexes sprinkled all around and mystic energy winding all throughout town, it’s the place for spiritual travelers to reflect and meditate without the pesky companions. At the AAA Four-Diamond L’Auberge, a deluxe room with a patio or balcony starts from $265, and a private cottage with a front porch starts from $378. While you’re here, morning yoga, duck feedings, astronomy sessions, geology lectures, and more are all covered. The onsite spa and restaurant are top notch, and it’s also just a short walk to town for galleries, shops, more restaurants, and, yes, psychic readings.
For an All-Inclusive Experience: Sandos Caracol Eco Resort (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Centered in the Mayan jungle with more than 60 animal species and 25 tree species, this resort embraces its natural environment and invites travelers to do the same. For days, you’ll be able to bike, hike, or sail among the resort’s jungle, cenote springs, mangrove path, and Mayan river. And after deer encounters in a natural jungle habitat, a trip to the bird sanctuary, or a chat with the freshwater turtles in the lagoons, you can take an active part in rainforest conservation by planting a tree at the resort. The best part is that the all-inclusive rate covers all meals, drinks, and activities. We found rates from $284 for a deluxe room and $318 for an adults-only club section room for one in the fall.
For Making Friends: Castlemartyr Resort (Cork, Ireland)
Anyone can travel solo to Ireland and make new friends over a pint of Guinness. While Dublin is a lively city with endless sights and great food, you’ll find beautiful landscapes of green hills — ripe for exploring via bicycle or drive by — in Cork. We suggest making your base at the five-star Castlemartyr Resort, where epic nature walks await and where there are even estate dogs on loan to enjoy the trails with you. It’s a reasonable price, too: a deluxe room with daily breakfast starts from €150 (currently around $163) this summer. For an additional fee, there’s horse riding, fishing and flycasting, archery, and laser shooting all onsite. And if any whiskey fans are venturing off-property? Don’t miss The Jameson Experience one-hour tour and tasting (€13.50) at the Old Jameson Midleton Distillery.