Where should I go for my next solo vacation?
May 25, 2018 10:02 AM Subscribe
I'm having a ridiculously hard time figuring out where to go on my next trip, and could use some recommendations. My usual travel M.O. involves a schedule packed with visits to sites of historical or cultural value (e.g. UNESCO World Hertiage sites). I dislike the ideas of tours so I generally do all my own planning.
The thing is, my last two trips were major ones that burned me out planning and activity-wise (a 2 week vacation where I saw 4 places in Spain, Gibraltar, and 2 cities in Morocco; another 2 week trip to 3 places in Australia). I'd like to take it easier this time with one short trip to somewhere that has little to do, and therefore requires minimal planning. Other relevant info:
-Budget: Around $3,000 (could potentially go a little higher)
-Spending style: I tend to splurge on hotels (4/5 stars) and experiences (e.g. zip lining); I'm not a foodie (though I do like to try items unique to wherever I'm visiting), nor am I big on shopping beyond picking up a quality souvenir or two.
-Travel details: I'd be flying out of NYC and would like to avoid attempting to sleep on a plane, so shorter flights would be better; the trip would ideally be timed around a 3 day weekend or some federal holiday.
-Other requirements: Safe (very important!), no extreme temperatures/weather while I'm visiting, does not require I drive to get around, and is somewhere I haven't been before (in addition to those previously mentioned, I've gone to Argentina, Belize, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Venezuela, and the U.K.).
Any help will be much appreciated!
The thing is, my last two trips were major ones that burned me out planning and activity-wise (a 2 week vacation where I saw 4 places in Spain, Gibraltar, and 2 cities in Morocco; another 2 week trip to 3 places in Australia). I'd like to take it easier this time with one short trip to somewhere that has little to do, and therefore requires minimal planning. Other relevant info:
-Budget: Around $3,000 (could potentially go a little higher)
-Spending style: I tend to splurge on hotels (4/5 stars) and experiences (e.g. zip lining); I'm not a foodie (though I do like to try items unique to wherever I'm visiting), nor am I big on shopping beyond picking up a quality souvenir or two.
-Travel details: I'd be flying out of NYC and would like to avoid attempting to sleep on a plane, so shorter flights would be better; the trip would ideally be timed around a 3 day weekend or some federal holiday.
-Other requirements: Safe (very important!), no extreme temperatures/weather while I'm visiting, does not require I drive to get around, and is somewhere I haven't been before (in addition to those previously mentioned, I've gone to Argentina, Belize, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Venezuela, and the U.K.).
Any help will be much appreciated!
How long are you thinking of going and within which months?
posted by seemoorglass at 10:59 AM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by seemoorglass at 10:59 AM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: How long are you thinking of going and within which months?
I was thinking somewhere around 5 days; didn't have a specific idea for a month, though I've tended to default to September in the past.
posted by Sakura3210 at 11:03 AM on May 25, 2018
I was thinking somewhere around 5 days; didn't have a specific idea for a month, though I've tended to default to September in the past.
posted by Sakura3210 at 11:03 AM on May 25, 2018
downtown Santa Fe, NM. September appears to be temperate weather wise. Gorgeous, quiet, great food reasonably priced, lots of culture, history and art, and if you splurged on a nice hotel downtown I'm sure concierge could help you find hiking/spa options that wouldn't require you to drive.
posted by seemoorglass at 11:44 AM on May 25, 2018
posted by seemoorglass at 11:44 AM on May 25, 2018
Iceland? Shows as a six hour flight from NYC, with enough to do in Reykjavik without a car and tour companies if you wanted to see things outside the city.
posted by stellaluna at 11:58 AM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by stellaluna at 11:58 AM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
International only? If so, I (also usually a packed-schedule traveler) would go to Lisbon for Labor Day, including very short and easy day trips to Sintra+Cascais and Belem, via a direct 8ish-hr flight if that’s not too long. That budget should be plenty. If in US, lots more city options.
posted by eyeball at 12:32 PM on May 25, 2018
posted by eyeball at 12:32 PM on May 25, 2018
Response by poster: Should have mentioned international only, sorry about that! One of my life goals is to visit as many countries as I can, so I try to go to a new one every time I have a chance to travel.
posted by Sakura3210 at 1:48 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Sakura3210 at 1:48 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Peru! Very safe outside of Lima, tons of amazing stuff to see, short flight
posted by genmonster at 1:52 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by genmonster at 1:52 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Nordics - Copenhagen, Stockholm or Helsinki would all fit the bill
posted by Middlemarch at 2:05 PM on May 25, 2018
posted by Middlemarch at 2:05 PM on May 25, 2018
Costa Rica. Super safe. You could just book a resort in Arenal, tell them to arrange a driver to bring you to and from the airport, and book awesome stuff through your concierge every day -- rafting, lake sports, waterfall hike, volcano ascent, zip line, whatever. Everyone speaks English and is set up to make things easy. Plenty of cabs too. I know a lot of people rent cars there but there's no need especially if your hotel is in the town.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:33 PM on May 25, 2018
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:33 PM on May 25, 2018
Sintra, outside Lisboa, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I loved it!
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:10 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:10 PM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bermuda is a very short trip from New York. St. George's is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I've had friends complain that there's nothing to do in Bermuda*, so that might appeal. You cannot rent a car, so, no driving!
For an experience splurge, you could do a helmet dive (or a real dive, if you do that, on a shipwreck). Or find the cliff-diving spots.
*I disagree with them, but I swim and snorkel and hike, and they don't.
posted by jgirl at 6:21 PM on May 25, 2018
I've had friends complain that there's nothing to do in Bermuda*, so that might appeal. You cannot rent a car, so, no driving!
For an experience splurge, you could do a helmet dive (or a real dive, if you do that, on a shipwreck). Or find the cliff-diving spots.
*I disagree with them, but I swim and snorkel and hike, and they don't.
posted by jgirl at 6:21 PM on May 25, 2018
One of my favorite places on earth to relax is Lago Atitlan in Guatemala, which is also stunningly beautiful. It's a volcano-ringed lake that was formed when a really massive volcano erupted.
You can take a bus/transfer there directly from the airport, and then you take a boat to one of the little villages around the lake. I recommend San Marcos or Santa Cruz for optimal lakeside relaxation. While there, you can just hang out or you can take water taxis to the other villages and ... hang out. It's very rustic and very chill. If you've ever heard the new age woo about vortices, Lago Atitlan is supposed to be on a vortex. I don't really believe in that but it is an incredibly beautiful and relaxing place.
When I was there, I stayed at the Iguana Perdida, which is a ramshackle but clean/well-run and friendly hostel with private rooms. If you want something more upscale, there are good options for that too. At really good prices. I'd avoid San Pedro, though, except maybe for an afternoon visit. It's your typical backpacker schlocky tourist town.
posted by lunasol at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2018
You can take a bus/transfer there directly from the airport, and then you take a boat to one of the little villages around the lake. I recommend San Marcos or Santa Cruz for optimal lakeside relaxation. While there, you can just hang out or you can take water taxis to the other villages and ... hang out. It's very rustic and very chill. If you've ever heard the new age woo about vortices, Lago Atitlan is supposed to be on a vortex. I don't really believe in that but it is an incredibly beautiful and relaxing place.
When I was there, I stayed at the Iguana Perdida, which is a ramshackle but clean/well-run and friendly hostel with private rooms. If you want something more upscale, there are good options for that too. At really good prices. I'd avoid San Pedro, though, except maybe for an afternoon visit. It's your typical backpacker schlocky tourist town.
posted by lunasol at 11:43 AM on May 26, 2018
St. Pierre and Miquelon.
posted by KazamaSmokers at 4:20 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by KazamaSmokers at 4:20 PM on May 26, 2018
I agree with Short Attention Sp - we just came back from Portugal, spent several days in Lisbon and a day trip to Sintra.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 10:49 AM on May 29, 2018
posted by Ms Vegetable at 10:49 AM on May 29, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
You can go anywhere in the world and do minimal planning. Just because there's a museum doesn't mean you have to go to it.
Anyway, how about Cuba.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:32 AM on May 25, 2018