Japan
Safe, efficient and endlessly interesting, with counter seating made for dining alone.
- Best months
- March to May, October to November
- Typical length
- 10 to 14 nights
- Best for
- First solo trips, food lovers
Solo travel
Your trip, your pace, and someone at home looking out for you.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Typical length
- 5 to 14 days
- Best time
- Any time; spring and fall are easiest
- Travel style
- Independent, small group or a mix
- Single supplements
- We look for reduced or waived fees
- What we arrange
- Everything, plus support while you’re away
- Great for
- First-timers and seasoned solo travelers
Why traveling solo is so rewarding
You choose every museum, every meal and every lazy afternoon. And you’re never really on your own when we’re a phone call away.
More of our travelers are going on their own, whether their partner doesn’t love to travel, their friends can’t get away, or they simply want the trip to be all theirs.
We plan solo trips with extra care: hotels in central, walkable neighborhoods, private transfers so you’re never figuring out the airport alone, and small-group experiences when you’d like some company.
Where to go
Places that are easy, welcoming and especially rewarding on your own.
Portugal
Walkable, friendly Lisbon and Porto, with the Douro Valley an easy day away.
- Best months
- April to June, September to October
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Easy, welcoming cities
Iceland
Small-group day tours to waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs make it effortless.
- Best months
- June to August; September to March for aurora
- Typical length
- 5 to 7 nights
- Best for
- Nature, short flights
Ireland & Scotland
Friendly pubs, history around every corner and no language barrier.
- Best months
- May to September
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Warm welcomes, history
Italy
Cooking classes, art and small-group tours, plus aperitivo at the bar each evening.
- Best months
- April to June, September to October
- Typical length
- 8 to 12 nights
- Best for
- Food, art and culture
Costa Rica
Nature lodges, guided days and yoga retreats where solo guests feel right at home.
- Best months
- December to April
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Nature, wellness
Australia & New Zealand
English-speaking, outdoorsy and made for a big adventure.
- Best months
- October to April
- Typical length
- 14 to 21 nights
- Best for
- Once-in-a-lifetime trips
River cruises
Social, easy and everything handled, with fellow travelers at every meal if you’d like.
- Best months
- April to October, and December
- Typical length
- 7 to 10 nights
- Best for
- Social travelers
Wellness retreats
Communal tables, daily classes and a calm atmosphere that welcomes solo guests.
- Best months
- Year-round
- Typical length
- 4 to 7 nights
- Best for
- Rest and reset
When to go
Shoulder seasons are a solo traveler’s best friend. Here’s when each place shines.
DestinationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JapanJan: Off seasonFeb: Off seasonMar: BestApr: BestMay: BestJun: Off seasonJul: Off seasonAug: Off seasonSep: GoodOct: BestNov: BestDec: Good
PortugalJan: Off seasonFeb: Off seasonMar: GoodApr: BestMay: BestJun: BestJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: BestOct: BestNov: GoodDec: Off season
IcelandJan: GoodFeb: GoodMar: GoodApr: Off seasonMay: GoodJun: BestJul: BestAug: BestSep: GoodOct: GoodNov: GoodDec: Good
Ireland & ScotlandJan: Off seasonFeb: Off seasonMar: Off seasonApr: GoodMay: BestJun: BestJul: BestAug: BestSep: BestOct: GoodNov: Off seasonDec: Off season
ItalyJan: Off seasonFeb: Off seasonMar: GoodApr: BestMay: BestJun: BestJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: BestOct: BestNov: GoodDec: Off season
Costa RicaJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: BestMay: GoodJun: GoodJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: Off seasonOct: Off seasonNov: GoodDec: Best
Australia & NZJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: GoodMay: Off seasonJun: Off seasonJul: Off seasonAug: Off seasonSep: Off seasonOct: GoodNov: BestDec: Best
River cruisesJan: Off seasonFeb: Off seasonMar: GoodApr: BestMay: BestJun: BestJul: GoodAug: GoodSep: BestOct: BestNov: GoodDec: Best
Wellness retreatsJan: BestFeb: BestMar: BestApr: BestMay: BestJun: BestJul: BestAug: BestSep: BestOct: BestNov: BestDec: Best
Best Good Off season
Spring and fall
The easiest seasons to travel alone, with fewer crowds, better rates and more space on small-group tours.
Summer
Long days in Iceland, Ireland and Scotland make it easy to see a lot on your own.
Winter
Costa Rica, wellness retreats and the Southern Hemisphere make wonderful escapes.
The holidays
Christmas market river cruises are a festive, social way to spend the season.
Find your solo style
There’s no single way to travel solo. Most of our travelers mix a few of these.
Independent, with a safety net
Your own itinerary, private transfers and a local contact, with us a call away.
Small-group touring
Join a small group for a few days or the whole trip, and enjoy built-in company.
Hosted vacations
Sail with a Global Escapes advisor and a group of fellow travelers. Many guests come on their own.
River and small-ship cruises
Social, easy and fully planned. Some sailings offer reduced single supplements.
Retreats and classes
Wellness resorts, cooking schools and photography trips, where everyone arrives curious.
A day on your own terms
- Morning
Coffee at your own pace
No one to negotiate the plan with.
- Late morning
A small-group tour
A guided walk or tasting with a handful of fellow travelers.
- Afternoon
Whatever you like
A museum, a nap or a long walk with no destination.
- Early evening
A seat at the bar
Where conversations start easily.
- Evening
Dinner, your way
A chef’s counter, a table with new friends or room service.
What we arrange
- Central, walkable hotels in well-loved neighborhoods
- Private airport transfers
- Small-group or private tours
- Restaurant reservations, including counter seats
- Support from us while you travel
Good to know
- Most rooms and cabins are priced for two, so a single supplement usually applies
- Some cruises and tours offer solo cabins or reduced supplements
- Travel insurance
- Flexible days to rest
Hosted vacations
Travel solo, not alone
A few times a year, a Global Escapes advisor hosts a sailing and invites a small group along. Many of our guests come on their own and leave with new friends.
See hosted vacationsGood to know
The small things that make a big difference.
Ask about single supplements
We look for sailings and hotels that reduce or waive them, and solo cabins where they exist.
Stay central
A walkable, well-located hotel makes evenings out easy and relaxed.
Share your plans
Leave your itinerary with family, and we’ll keep a copy too.
Arrive in daylight
Daytime arrivals and private transfers make the first few hours stress-free.
Keep digital copies
Store photos of your passport and documents somewhere secure on your phone.
Eat at the counter
Chef’s counters and bars are the friendliest seats in the house for solo diners.
Questions we hear a lot
What is a single supplement?
Most hotel rooms and cruise cabins are priced for two people, so solo travelers usually pay an extra fee. Some cruises and tours reduce or waive it on certain dates, and some ships have solo cabins.
Is solo travel safe?
Many destinations are very welcoming to solo travelers. We choose central hotels, arrange private transfers and stay reachable while you’re away, so you always have support.
Where should I go on my first solo trip?
Japan, Portugal, Ireland and a river cruise are all wonderful first solo trips: easy to navigate, friendly and full of things to do.
Will I get lonely?
Most solo travelers mix independent days with small-group tours, cooking classes or a cruise, so there’s company whenever you want it.
Do you have trips for women traveling solo?
Yes. Many small-group and wellness trips are especially popular with women traveling on their own, and we’re happy to suggest a few.
Let’s plan your solo trip
Tell us where you’ve been wanting to go. An advisor will take it from there.