Traveling by yourself isn’t for everyone — for instance, if you have limited vacation days and you’re more concerned about spending your time off with friends and family than visiting new places.
But if you are open to traveling solo, it has a number of perks, including:
- Doing whatever you want, whenever you want.
- Avoiding sometimes tricky group trip dynamics.
- Being able to book the exact flights and hotels that you want.
- Being completely in control of the budget and spend on the trip.
If you’re wondering where to visit on your first solo trip, below are five destinations to consider.
Switzerland
Switzerland is an amazing destination in general, but it’s an especially wonderful solo trip destination for a number of reasons, including safety, availability and ease of public transit, diversity of cities and outdoor activities, and because English is commonly spoken, particularly in areas that tourists frequent.
If you pack light, buy a Swiss rail pass, and bring a sense of adventure, a week (or more) in Switzerland alone should fly by.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a wonderful destination for your first solo trip for a number of reasons, including a broad range of cultural, culinary, and outdoor activities, a wonderful public transportation system that includes directions in English, and safety.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Hong Kong — both alone and with friends — and can’t remember ever being bored in the city. Even just a casual stroll through Hong Kong is full of so many different sights, sounds, and smells, that you can easily spend hours just walking around without getting bored.
Hong Kong can be a bit overwhelming even for a seasoned traveler — it’s one of the most densely-populated cities in the world, so you’ll constantly be surrounded by people. But if you’re the type of traveler who enjoys large cities, then Hong Kong would make for a great first solo trip.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
If you’re looking for a destination that’s a bit closer to the United States for your first solo trip, consider Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cabo has a wide-range of hotels and Airbnbs to choose from, including high-end luxury hotels, all-inclusive hotels (including some that have “party” vibes), casual beach hotels, and Airbnbs with pools that overlook the ocean. On top of having a plethora of different options for where you’re staying, Cabo has a number of activities that can easily keep you occupied including boat rides, ATVing, fishing, and whale watching (if you go during whale season). Additionally, you can venture out from Cabo and take day trips to places like Todos Santos and La Paz.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile is a wonderful destination for your first solo trip due to the city’s beautiful landscape with lots of outdoor activities, near year-round pleasant weather, interesting and attractive architecture, the friendliness of the people, and safety. One of my favorite activities as a solo traveler in Santiago was taking a group tour to a winery about an hour or two outside of the city.
Santiago is also a wonderful place to visit for a few days before venturing off to a new adventure in Chile, like the Atacama Desert, Chilean Patagonia, Valparaíso, or Easter Island. With so many adventures inside and around Santiago, it’s definitely worth considering visiting for your first solo trip.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
If you’re looking for a solo Caribbean getaway, consider visiting Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands on your first solo trip. Grand Cayman is a fantastic choice for your first solo destination given the island’s safety (the Cayman Islands are consistently named one of the safest islands in the Caribbean), beautiful beaches, plethora of activates, and delicious food.
If you’re visiting Grand Cayman alone, I’d recommend staying near or on Seven Mile Beach, as it’s the main tourist area and there are a lot of activities within walking distance including restaurants, movie theaters, and watersports that are easily accessible from the beach.
What are some destinations that you’d recommend for someone’s first solo trips?
