6 Best Destinations for Solo Travel
When I go on a solo adventure, it’s usually either because I have a spur of the moment kind of idea and no one can or wants to accompany me at the last minute, or it’s because I’m sick of hearing excuses. “Ouch, next weekend doesn’t work for me” and “Something came up last minute, sorry” are just some of my favorites. Organizing something as small as a weekend trip with a friend doesn’t always go as smoothly as I’d like. That’s why I’ve decided to talk about the 6 best destinations for solo travel. When you travel alone, you don’t have to adapt to anyone’s schedule or specific needs. Do things when you want and how you want them done. For me, travel has always been about freedom, and nothing exemplifies that more than being able to spontaneously make decisions on a whim – which is much more challenging when you’re with someone else.
- Iceland
Seeing the Northern Lights always sounded so intimidating. Probably due to poor planning, rather than a fear of glimmering lights in the sky, I went to Iceland during the summer. In case you didn’t know, there’s the so-called midnight sun, meaning that there’s light for the whole day. I kept wondering if I’d be able to sleep at night and what effect constant daylight would have on my travel-weary brain. It turns out that the hotels have heavy drapes, so that wasn’t a big issue for me. I was amazed that most locals speak pretty good English, so getting around wasn’t a problem. Folks are also really laid back and pretty much don’t care what you are up to, as long as you aren’t bothering them. The nature is amazing, and there is heaps of stuff to explore if you’re the outdoorsy type; just bring proper walking shoes with a hard sole. You can even set off on an adventure in a cozy little camper van, which providers like Rent.is almost always have available. There are caves, volcanoes, and glaciers, and much of the nature is untouched by modern civilization.
- Chile
I had some reservations about visiting Chile, but it turned out to be one of the safest countries in South America, and I had zero issues during my stay there. Santiago was amazing, and the entire city life has a relaxed neighborhood backyard kind of feel to it. But the nature is what really blew me away, the fjords and national parks that are excellent for hiking, and beaches for swimming and sunbathing. There were also plenty of folks on bicycles. Long stretches of road and the beautiful countryside mean that it’s perfect for cycling. That wasn’t my cup of tea, but I had no problem hitching a ride. Sometimes it took a while for anyone to drive by, but everyone was willing to give me a lift. That often meant riding in the back of pickup trucks, which seemed to be popular here for some reason. I guess my main takeaway was that everyone was super friendly, even though I had some trouble communicating since not everyone knows English. If you are willing to use your hands and gesture a lot, you’ll fit in just fine.
- Singapore
This is a bit of a cheat answer as it’s a two-in-one:
- You can catch flights to wherever from Singapore because it’s also one of the world’s largest airport hubs. That’s how I actually got to explore the city. I had a long layover and didn’t plan to spend the entire day at the airport. I was trying to connect a bunch of cheap flights, and Changi Airport connects to more than 300 cities. My plan was to go to Singapore, spend some time there, and then plan the rest of my trip as inspiration strikes.
- Singapore itself is a city-state that really decided to cater to tourists. Since so many people are flying through, it makes sense to offer something more than just an airport. I’d recommend grabbing a meal on one of the beautiful gardens and rooftop pools that are on top of the tallest buildings. That will give you a hell of a view while you sip cheap cocktails and dip your toes in a pool.
- Berlin
If you are the kind of person who thinks of travel as an excuse to party – Berlin is the place for you. The nightlife scene is insane, and you can go club-hopping for days. I ended up spending a bit more than I planned for that leg of my journey, but when you start drinking and paying for cabs and entrances to clubs, you are going to burn through your budget pretty quickly. It’s not to say that Berlin is expensive per se; I think I just got caught up in the hype of partying as hard as I could while I was there. Even if you aren’t a barfly, Berlin still has a lot to offer, and there’s a lot of rich history to explore as well. While I was there, I wasn’t really in the mood to see the Holocaust Memorial. I chose to do something more cheerful and dropped by Munich for the Oktoberfest. Can you guess which month it takes place? Mid-September – bet you guessed wrong.
- New Zealand
I had three things I wanted to do while in New Zealand. Go bungee jumping, skydive, and visit Hobbiton. No regrets on any of those, would do again, both alone and with mates. It was a bit of a strange mix now that I think about it-the adrenaline rush from jumping out of a plane compared to the touristy vibe of the Shire. My trips are usually one or the other, so I guess that’s what I liked about NZ; I did a bit of everything. The tourist infrastructure is good with highly-rated hostels and transport options, so you could plan any type of visit.
- The good old USA
I did most of my solo traveling around the US by car. That was the easiest to do without having a concrete plan. Just blast your favorite tunes and hit the open road. Traversing the States has become more popular than before due to the outbreak. You can pretty much know what to expect in regards to the pandemic measures. Trips are easy to organize, and you don’t need any special preparations or research.
What if you fall in love with the destination and decide to stay
Have you ever visited a place and thought, “You know what, I could see myself living here?” Well, you wouldn’t be the first one. First, you need to check out the required paperwork and stay permits for Americans, because different countries will have different rules regarding stay. But there is another issue that you won’t find on many embassy and consulate websites, and that’s getting your stuff there. You might want to hire a moving company if you decide you want to stay for good. International movers can pack your possessions and ship them to you from the US, so you wouldn’t even need to come back home.
That’s the list
If you’ve got any comments or ideas on our list of 6 best destinations for solo travel, you can contact us and drop us a line on how you plan your solo trips. Stay safe, and see you on the road!
Meta description: Are you a bit of a loner, but still have the need to travel? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of the 6 best destinations for solo travel.
Images used:
https://pixabay.com/photos/backpacker-mountains-panorama-772991/
https://pixabay.com/photos/cycling-poppy-leisure-bike-5178398/