Took myself on solo trip to Alvados (Portugal ( where I stayed in Cookinghotel.com), went hiking, explored Nazare, had a massage, took a pottery class, read and wrote and slept.
The area and the people there are simply lovely.
Other than that, I love solo city trips as I get to explore what I want at my rhythm and usually meet interesting people.
I do tend to book cabins in the middle of nowhere alone sometimes too. Just to read and write and hike.
I go to concerts solo too (next one is Bruce Springsteen).
I went on my first ever true solo trip to Montreal a couple of years ago in May and loved it to bits!! The food was phenomenal (Les street monkeys for Cambodian, fleur et cadeaux for Japanese, endless bakeries) and it had enough parks, museums, and shops to keep me busy without feeling TOO pressured to “do it all”
Have you been to the Costa Brava in Spain, the coastline to the east of Barcelona? Small towns, magical beaches, gorgeous hikes, Girona is a short trip inland, and Salvador Dali's hometown, Figueres too. It's safer than Barcelona.
Sounds crazy far but I went to Kumarakom in Kerala, India and it was the best first solo trip experience for me. Stayed in a resort with access to close by town via rickshaw, felt safe as a black woman (south India generally more safe for women and darker skinned people), language barrier wasn’t bad (I guess thank colonisation for that)
I've started traveling by myself in the last year and each time it has been transformational (not trying to be exaggerative here but it's true!). Most of my friends are partnered up or have children, and frankly I was tired of not going on the trips I wanted to go on just because I didn't have a built-in travel buddy. It's certainly more costly (I'm with you on the staying at hotels over hostels thing) but so worth it to walk and explore and be free to do whatever you want.
Last year I went to Berlin and Hamburg for a week before meeting up with friends to go to the Eras tour and Amsterdam for a long weekend. I also went to London, Cambridge, and Bath for 10 days. Both trips were great and I loved sticking in one country and visiting cities/towns of different sizes and seeing how each was different from the other.
This year, I'm headed to Mexico City for a week. I was planning to go solo but a few friends decided to join in. I have a few friends who have gone solo there before, and it's supposed to be filled with tons of travelers and expats and makes a great spot to visit alone. Endless museums, amazing food, tons of history, walkable... perfect!
I have a bachelorette party in Miami and a wedding in Palm Springs in the upcoming months, so am tacking on a few days before each to go down by myself and do my own thing. In Miami: eating my way through Little Havana, a trip through the Vizcaya gardens, and a walking Art Deco tour. In Palm Springs: mostly just chilling in the mineral pools at Two Bunch Palms.
I'm hoping to go to Paris in early June for a week, then spend a weekend at Abbey des Vaux de Cernay before spending 2-3 days each in Bordeaux and Cap Ferret. A few pals have been invited, but I'm prepared to go solo if no one commits!
Additionally thinking Spain in late September/October shoulder season but... we shall see!
High on my list for future trips are Edinburgh, northern Italy (Venice, Milan, Turin, Alba), Switzerland and Austria in the summer, Portugal, and Japan.
This is a great and thoughtful list, thanks so much! You'll love Mexico City, it's one of my favorite cities on earth, Let me know if you want recs. Northern Italy would make a gorgeous solo trip too!
Took myself on solo trip to Alvados (Portugal ( where I stayed in Cookinghotel.com), went hiking, explored Nazare, had a massage, took a pottery class, read and wrote and slept.
The area and the people there are simply lovely.
Other than that, I love solo city trips as I get to explore what I want at my rhythm and usually meet interesting people.
I do tend to book cabins in the middle of nowhere alone sometimes too. Just to read and write and hike.
I go to concerts solo too (next one is Bruce Springsteen).
I went on my first ever true solo trip to Montreal a couple of years ago in May and loved it to bits!! The food was phenomenal (Les street monkeys for Cambodian, fleur et cadeaux for Japanese, endless bakeries) and it had enough parks, museums, and shops to keep me busy without feeling TOO pressured to “do it all”
I would recommend Les Calanques close to Marseille. Beautiful sea, hiking, French cute villages and excellent wines
Cinque terre in Liguria is also a good option
I went to Les Calanques and Cassis last summer. Heaven on earth!
I went to Greece on my own for 10 days last spring. Highly recommend solo island hopping!
Copenhagen! If you want some more nature you can jump straight in the harbor in the warm months or take a train up to Louisiana museum :)
Lovely rec! I'm actually already going to Copenhagen this summer (although not alone). will add the Louisiana museum to my list xx
Not at all solo travel related, but I’m blown away by your film photography! Absolutely gorgeous shots ✨
Aw, thanks so much!!
Mallorca! I did a solo trip there and loved it 💫
Ugh great suggestion
Have you been to the Costa Brava in Spain, the coastline to the east of Barcelona? Small towns, magical beaches, gorgeous hikes, Girona is a short trip inland, and Salvador Dali's hometown, Figueres too. It's safer than Barcelona.
I haven’t but it’s been on my list! Will highly consider, thanks!
portugal on film HITS
Everything on film just HITS
Sounds crazy far but I went to Kumarakom in Kerala, India and it was the best first solo trip experience for me. Stayed in a resort with access to close by town via rickshaw, felt safe as a black woman (south India generally more safe for women and darker skinned people), language barrier wasn’t bad (I guess thank colonisation for that)
I've started traveling by myself in the last year and each time it has been transformational (not trying to be exaggerative here but it's true!). Most of my friends are partnered up or have children, and frankly I was tired of not going on the trips I wanted to go on just because I didn't have a built-in travel buddy. It's certainly more costly (I'm with you on the staying at hotels over hostels thing) but so worth it to walk and explore and be free to do whatever you want.
Last year I went to Berlin and Hamburg for a week before meeting up with friends to go to the Eras tour and Amsterdam for a long weekend. I also went to London, Cambridge, and Bath for 10 days. Both trips were great and I loved sticking in one country and visiting cities/towns of different sizes and seeing how each was different from the other.
This year, I'm headed to Mexico City for a week. I was planning to go solo but a few friends decided to join in. I have a few friends who have gone solo there before, and it's supposed to be filled with tons of travelers and expats and makes a great spot to visit alone. Endless museums, amazing food, tons of history, walkable... perfect!
I have a bachelorette party in Miami and a wedding in Palm Springs in the upcoming months, so am tacking on a few days before each to go down by myself and do my own thing. In Miami: eating my way through Little Havana, a trip through the Vizcaya gardens, and a walking Art Deco tour. In Palm Springs: mostly just chilling in the mineral pools at Two Bunch Palms.
I'm hoping to go to Paris in early June for a week, then spend a weekend at Abbey des Vaux de Cernay before spending 2-3 days each in Bordeaux and Cap Ferret. A few pals have been invited, but I'm prepared to go solo if no one commits!
Additionally thinking Spain in late September/October shoulder season but... we shall see!
High on my list for future trips are Edinburgh, northern Italy (Venice, Milan, Turin, Alba), Switzerland and Austria in the summer, Portugal, and Japan.
This is a great and thoughtful list, thanks so much! You'll love Mexico City, it's one of my favorite cities on earth, Let me know if you want recs. Northern Italy would make a gorgeous solo trip too!