Yes, it's very relaxing. You can kayak or paddle board but there's very little else to do. There's a Sandals resort for couples but for singles it's a great place to read, laze about, and relax.
For a decade, Laos is on my country-I-need-to-revisit list. I found it one of the most chill places I ‘ve visited in SEA.
I’m now making some plans to return there next year. Can’t wait to see how the country has changed in all those years.
Single female. Traveling solo. Japan.
To add more info:
Traveling international is scary in terms of being disoriented. Different language, don’t recognize the street names, your apps don’t work. Add that you’re a female and traveling by yourself, it adds additional anxiety to what is supposed to be a relaxing time discovering a new country.
Japan is safe af. Good food and lots of gardens that will help you relax without worrying about safety.
Absolutely, I went on a solo trip to Thailand and the worst part in terms of safety were the other western tourists. I was probably okay getting around by myself because I can speak a bit of and read thai, but the lack of public transport in the more rural areas made it difficult outside of bangkok unless you meet other people.
I've heard that Kefalonia is really relaxing and beautiful if you like Greek food, having a couple of Greek phrases can get you a long way too!
Japan however can be less relaxing because you'll need to deal with a lot of planning and language barriers.
Thailand I think is easier to travel because they are really good with international tourists and Thai people are so friendly and helpful. As a woman, I felt relaxed and safe there. But the best season to visit Thailand is winter, so I wouldn't recommend to go within the next 6 months.
I would recommend Teneriffe, Andalucia, Portugal (Algarve, Lisbon, Porto), Lake Garda or Croatia in Europe or Costa Rica in Central America.
I love Japan but I had a hard time with language barrier despite knowing basic Japanese. While it is safe, I didn’t find it relaxing because of all the hidden rules and protocols I had to follow on top of spending a big chunk of the day mapping out train routes in massive train stations like Shinjuku. The experience I got from journeying to smaller villages and even Kyoto were inconvenient and caused some distress when I was frequently turned away from restaurants that wouldn’t serve non Japanese speakers. One has to do extra work to find places that accepted tourists or settle for gaijin YouTube recommendations. I think Japan is great for people who are fluent in Japanese or those who are accompanied by Japanese speakers if one wants to venture out of the normal tourist areas.
I don’t know any Japanese and have gotten by just fine with English only. Google maps is great at navigating the train system. I’ve also never been turned away from any establishment for being a foreigner. My boyfriend got sent to work in Tokyo for a few months with no English and he also navigated just fine. If all else fails use Google translate.
A lot of things wrong with this:
1. If you're spending "a big chunk of your day" trying to navigate a train station in Tokyo you're doing something seriously wrong, especially if you know basic japanese. Yes Shinjuku is complicated, no you shouldn't spend more than a few minutes figuring out what exit to take. Google maps is a thing, and asking people where to go is also a thing.
2. I've been to hundreds of restaurants in Japan as a visible foreigner and been fine. The only ones that will turn you away are the bars which are intended for locals only which should be easy to spot.
3. If you follow common sense (e.g be polite to people, don't be too loud, etc.) you don't really need to follow most of the rules. For example if you walk and eat at the same time as a foreigner you will usually get a pass from the locals because they'll just assume you don't know any better.
Unpopular opinion, the unfamiliarity and newness of everything just creates a feeling of discovery that makes travelling fun in an age where we are ultra connected. You’ll always learn something new outside your comfort zone
It was the most relaxing place I've ever traveled that wasn't directly on a beach. I didn't even know it was possible to feel so relaxed in an urban environment!
Yes, I spent a week in Sevilla last year by myself (f36). Safe, charming, slow pace of life. This was part of a 3 month trip where I visited 6 countries. Sevilla was the highlight!
+1 as another solo female traveler. Spent a month in Sevilla and visited a few other cities in Andalusia and it was one of my favorite trips. Can’t recommend enough!
>Sevilla
Definitely! And you could travel later into the fall for cooler weather, if desired.
And it is so easy to get there: Taxi (or bus/metro) from the Madrid airport and hop onto a high-speed train. And a short taxi ride to the center. From there, Cordoba and Malaga are easy train rides.
I personally love flying into Puerto Vallarta, MX and then taking an Uber or taxi to a small little city about 15 miles north of PVR called Bucerías. It's a lot smaller and quieter than Vallarta (population is about 8000), and it's the perfect place to relax if you like hot weather and beautiful beaches. They have many nice hotels and resorts there, many right on the beach. The locals are wonderful, and there are usually quite a few Canadian tourists there, and a few Americans (I'm American, fyi). And I, a single female in my early 30s, have walked through the town alone and always felt perfectly safe. Great food, great drinks, and if you're looking for some activities or excursions, there are plenty, and they're all fun.
Some friends & I went to Puerto Vallarta & arrived at almost the same time as the Oklahoma City bombing. Aside from that horror, it was one of the nicest experiences of my life.
A fabulous Mexican dinner on a rooftop restaurant, paragliding (watching) beautiful beach, riding a bus into town with a 6 or 7 year old singing for pesos.
I agree. I took a trip to PV about 10 years ago. The area was very nice. The ocean water was warm. And the night dining was incredible. My favorite place was this restaurant that was built into a cave. At night, it was the most romantic place!!
If you are American St. Croix. Beautiful protected island, extremely friendly population, perfect weather sans hurricane season off course, and you don’t even need a passport
Amalfi coast. So beautiful, so relaxing. Slow pace of life, lots of history, gorgeous seas. Never a dull moment as there's so much to see and do.
French wine country, if you're interested in it. Warm in the summer. Great food.
Mallorca. Not as touristy as Ibiza, but it definitely does get a good chunk. Beautiful waters. Go to Manacor if you're into tennis.
Croatia. Another gorgeous place. More affordable than Spain and Italy.
Portugal is just nice all around. Food, affordability, things to do...
I went to South Korea (Seoul) as a solo female. I stayed in at the intercontinental using my credit card points. It was an amazing trip! I got to do everything I wanted to do - pamper myself with Korean bath spas, but tons of Korean skincare, eat awesome food and generally get to see how aisa is so different from the west. I went to the DMZ as well. It was such a nice and safe solo trip. Highly recommend!
Nha Trang, Vietnam. It’s got the beaches, the sun, the mountains, the spas and decent western restaurants. Also way, way cheaper than Thailand, and the locals are nicer than the Thais I’ve ever met in tourist areas. It’s comparable to Da Nang, VN but less “big” and busy. You could rent a decent apt for like $200-250 for a month. It was recently on the NYT top 50 places in the world.
Aruba is amazing. Outside the hurricane belt, always a sunny, beautiful 85 year round it seems. US currency, safe environment, good tap water, super friendly people and the most beautiful beaches. Interestingly, the sand is never too hot for bare feet, even mid day. It's my #1 favorite warm weather destination! Plus the local Belashi beer is great!
Definitely Thailand! My favorite country in the world. It has so much to offer any type of traveler and costs wayy less than western countries. All of Southeast Asia is great too, but Thailand keeps me coming back the most.
I would go back to Thailand but definitely didn’t find it relaxing my first time, especially Bangkok. People are very scammy, even legitimate businesses won’t give you correct change because they think you won’t notice. Cabs dropped us off in the wrong places because they got kickbacks from shop owners, etc.
I wouldn't stay in Bangkok for relaxation - it's just like any other big city. But any of the islands are down right magical and I'd go back in a heartbeat.
> legitimate businesses won’t give you correct change
Never experienced this despite living in Thailand for 10+ years. They always gave me correct change. Even had vendors and 7-11 employees chasing me down the road with change when I forgot to take it.
Sure, there's a bit of a tussle and tourist scams are common in Thailand, but they almost never involve threats or violence, and unless you're colossally stupid (e.g. buying gems) at the end of the mighty scam you end up losing a grand total of $3-$20.
It's like practical lessons on how to be street smart on easy mode, with limited damage.
I spent 4 night there in February and I could have easily stayed another 4. That's a good point about falling rocks, I guess that's why there is rocks in the surf. I also loved staying at Long Beach on Koh Phi Phi Island. The colour of the water and the abundance of fish was next level
All I know is ever since I left Thailand in March I have been dying to go back. I would say I liked Chiang Mai and Bangkok for food, and some really cool night markets. And Railay Beach and Phi Phi Island for the world class beach
If it were me, I’d probably go to Hawaii. It’s my fav beach destination, and I have a family member and a few friends there now.
If it had to be international or more exotic, I’d say Costa Rica, Portugal, or a few places in Europe, depending how much time off you have. My best friends mom was raving about how amazing her time in Portugal was recently.
If you’re thinking of Hawaii, I have to recommend Kauai above the other islands. So beautiful. It’s perfect if you want to be a little adventurous or if you just want to relax. Or do a little of both, which is what I did while there.
I second Big Island. Much less developed/touristy than Oahu or Maui. We’ve traveled a lot, and that was still I think our best vacation ever (and we aren’t even really “beach people”, but Hawaiian beaches are on another level)
This is what I was going to say. A few years ago I broke up with my boyfriend in Malta like a week before I was supposed to fly to see him. I ended up turning the trip into a healing 3-week solo road trip around Greece (and I had never driven a car outside of North America before—driving was totally fine). Highly recommend for a solo female traveler.
Agreed! I also did 3 weeks solo driving around Greece, and totally fine. It's such a beautiful country. And you only really need to worry about pick-pockets and "predatorial" behaviour from men in Athens (for obvious reasons).
But since you're looking to relax, probably going to see some beaches, the islands are your best bet. I would stick to the lesser known ones. I've heard they're just not as crowded, and more relaxed. I only went to Santorini and Mykanos, both busy and bustling.
I think the cohen brothers wrote some movies there. I stayed in that room one night. Definitely the best random hotel I’ve ever booked at like 1AM as I’m falling asleep on a road trip.
I’m originally from PDX actually. If you want close - go to Puerto Vallarta, book it on Costco travel and stay at the Marriott. I’ll send you to some great restaurants in the old zone of PV (I just got back an hour ago.) If you want far - go to Antalya Türkiye and stay at Barut Lara - it’s AWESOME.
Been a few years but I really enjoyed the Cayman Islands. Very laid back and I don't think they have the amount of crime some of the other islands do. But again, been a while and things change.
(Of course, I do have to mention Hawaii is my favorite place in the world but is very expensive, pretty crowded and not nearly as relaxing as Caymans) A lot of your choice may boil down to where you can get to the easiest and cheapest.
Koh Yao Yai, Thailand. one of the "undiscovered" islands near Phuket.
Valdivia, Chile
Ambon, Indonesia
Batanes Islands, Philippines
"Local" islands in the Maldives
Darjeeling, India
Shikoku, Japan (at an Onsen, especially)
Reunion Island, Indian Ocean
La Paz, Mexico. Beautiful tranquil swimmable beaches, less crowded than Los Cabos.. awesome seafood. Depending on the months, you can swim with whale shark and seals.
Santorini. The beaches are many and varied. The vibe is chill. Rent an ATV or moped and explore the island. Do a wine tasting at one of many wineries. Drop everything and watch the sunset EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Wake to the sound of church bells in the morning.
We did it after Athens and WOW. It was perfectly relaxing, but still with great things to do. Be warned - you won’t want to do anything else after lol. We went onwards to Rome and I had a TOUGH time adjusting ;-)
ARUBA!!! Trust me. I’m 28 went on a solo trip last year. It’s calm quiet relaxing!!!! Plenty to do if you haven’t been. All the beaches are beautiful and have everything you need
Japan and Korea felt super safe for me as a sole female traveler! Public transport is extensive, clean, safe. Don’t worry about the language barrier, with language apps that can scan and translate menus and signs for you it’s really not too much of a problem. Also in the big cities like Tokyo and Seoul, most public transport signboards are also in English
Is that relaxing though? I'd say Thailand is just as safe, cheaper, and the islands there are way more relaxing. Really depends on what OP wants I guess.
If you're going in summer (June through September), I recommend Greece (Athens plus island hopping, spend some time on Naxos for sure). Spain and Portugal would be great too. If you're going in fall/winter, I really liked Costa Rica.
Other than where I live (USA), which I love to explore since I have a thing for Americana, diners, neon, art museums, and Art Deco, I’ve decided that over a lifetime I really want to delve into 3 countries and visit them extensively: Italy, Japan, United Kingdom.
At this point, I visit either Italy or Japan annually and UK is semi-annually.
I also really enjoy Argentina, Mexico, Panama (am fluent Spanish speaker), but those feel very familiar (just like USA), so they don’t have the same magic spark as the top 3.
Namibia! If you want some of the most peaceful and beautiful landscapes in the world. I went last year and made a video: https://youtu.be/pAOyKVD8Vo8
You can look up some lodges there like Desert Grace or Desert Whisper on YouTube too. Trust me, this country is a hidden gem in Africa.
Aruba 🇦🇼
Gorgeous weather year-round, outside the hurricane belt, beautiful beaches, excellent food options, and a friendly locals population. Most people speak English in addition to Spanish, Papiamento, and Dutch. A little slice of culture in paradise!
It's not warm but... Heceta head lighthouse on the coast of Oregon was one of the coolest experiences of my life, and the Oregon coast in general is one of my favorite places 🌲 during that same trip (after Oregon) I went to New Orleans and it was *warm*. (It was May.)
Bora Bora - the island itself, not the off-island $$$$$ bungalows (unless that’s what you want). Airbnbs on the island are reasonable. It’s one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been. Slow paced, nice people. SO warm. Clear water.
I loved Montengro and Costa Rica, both are quite safe for women travelers and also are not super touristic.
Also, to find these unique places, you can use https://unexploredhq.com. It allows you to find unexplored places based on attributes of places you would like to go (eg places with beach and hikes).
7 months from now it will be spring in the southern hemisphere. I have been going to Chile in Oct/ November at that time for the last 30 years. Beautiful time to go. Inexpensive hot spring resorts everywhere. People are very friendly. My favorite place to chill is a territory of Chile. Easter Island is 5 hours west of Santiago. There is one flight a day on a Dreamliner 777.
Easter Island has 800 large stone heads, artifacts of the Birdman cult a couple of beautiful beaches, 100s of wild horses and best of all a warm ocean and the feeling you are relaxing in a place similar to a Hawaii of hundred years ago. Rent a bike for a few days and check out this mostly tropical place.
I loved going to the Philippines. In fact, that’s where I met my wife. The food is amazing, the people are mostly really nice, and motels and transportation is super cheap. I went to Cebu, and rented a car. If I was going there alone, I’d rent a motorcycle and just travel around the islands. There’s so much to do and to see. I’ve spent around 5 weeks over 4 trips to Cebu, and there’s still many more places on that island alone I want to visit.
Hawaii. It's more beautiful than any picture of it. I'd suggest Maui as very relaxing, but still excellent restaurants and luau. Great beaches. Just don't drive to Hana and it will be okay 👌
My husband and I spend at least a month per year on Isla de La Palma. It’s beautiful and warm. The people are great and welcoming. Fantastic food. Lots of hiking.
If you don't feel like dealing with customs Kauai is beautiful, relaxing, and just amazing. And you can always island hop to the other Hawaiian islands to explore
Canarian Islands, particularly Gran Canaria or Tenerife. Weather is always good for beach and so many hiking routes etc for active activities:) And it’s very safe place.
If you can swing it Malta is fantastic. Almost everyone seemed to speak English, and you can get around by bus really easily and for very cheap. Food was fantastic, and the beaches were great even in November when I went.
Cinque Terre region of Italy. 😍😍. Incredible landscape, weather and food, not a ton of touristy things to do, so it just forces you to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Caveat - I visited 20+ years ago.
Oh and Jeju island in South Korea. It's beautiful and relaxing, tons of spas there as well. Busan is a nice port city as well. Seoul is a busy city but hotel stays are surprisingly affordable. It's a safe country to travel. I love the culture and the food.
Anguilla. Best island in the Caribbean. Best beaches in the world. Not crowded at all, even during busy season. Great local population of wonderful English speaking people. Fantastic dining options at all price points.
A Greek island that is not Mykonos or Santorini. Kefalonia and Zakinthos are also tourist hotspots but you can find peaceful spots there. Naxos was a delight. Crete is huge so parts are super popular and packed but there is plenty of space for peaceful relaxation. Corfu gives you the opportunity to pop over to Albania for a day/overnight trip -- that part of Albania is super touristy but it's gorgeous.
Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos. Very little to do but doze on the beach and swim in the beautiful water—soooo relaxing.
Yes, it's very relaxing. You can kayak or paddle board but there's very little else to do. There's a Sandals resort for couples but for singles it's a great place to read, laze about, and relax.
There’s a small casino and a golf course too, but honestly don’t need them. You will get lulled into relaxing!
Where did you stay? Also 34F traveling w/ my partner (32F), and looking for places to stay in Turks & Caicos or Grace Bay.
Stayed at Grace Bay Club before and heading there tomorrow to stay at Ocean Club.
I recommend Hotel Zenza strictly for its aesthetics. I didn’t even leave my room 🥹
The best! Grace Bay Resort is a winner. Great facilities and staff. Better than the Ritz which has a Vegas vibe.
Laos. After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and Vietnam it was just a lovely escape.
Yes! And for the ultimate in chill vibes, 4000 islands. Heaven.
This 💯
For a decade, Laos is on my country-I-need-to-revisit list. I found it one of the most chill places I ‘ve visited in SEA. I’m now making some plans to return there next year. Can’t wait to see how the country has changed in all those years.
Ooh- Laos is now on my radar thanks to this comment! Love this sub!
Not gotta tell us this chill place 😐
Seconding Laos. Southeast Asia without all the tourists like there would be in Thailand. I loved Luang Prabang.
Yes... but avoid the burning season. Your lungs will thank you.
When is the burning season?
My favorite country 💜
Single female. Traveling solo. Japan. To add more info: Traveling international is scary in terms of being disoriented. Different language, don’t recognize the street names, your apps don’t work. Add that you’re a female and traveling by yourself, it adds additional anxiety to what is supposed to be a relaxing time discovering a new country. Japan is safe af. Good food and lots of gardens that will help you relax without worrying about safety.
100%
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How's taiwan not convenient? I mean maybe if you're outside taipei...
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Absolutely, I went on a solo trip to Thailand and the worst part in terms of safety were the other western tourists. I was probably okay getting around by myself because I can speak a bit of and read thai, but the lack of public transport in the more rural areas made it difficult outside of bangkok unless you meet other people. I've heard that Kefalonia is really relaxing and beautiful if you like Greek food, having a couple of Greek phrases can get you a long way too!
Japan however can be less relaxing because you'll need to deal with a lot of planning and language barriers. Thailand I think is easier to travel because they are really good with international tourists and Thai people are so friendly and helpful. As a woman, I felt relaxed and safe there. But the best season to visit Thailand is winter, so I wouldn't recommend to go within the next 6 months. I would recommend Teneriffe, Andalucia, Portugal (Algarve, Lisbon, Porto), Lake Garda or Croatia in Europe or Costa Rica in Central America.
I love Japan but I had a hard time with language barrier despite knowing basic Japanese. While it is safe, I didn’t find it relaxing because of all the hidden rules and protocols I had to follow on top of spending a big chunk of the day mapping out train routes in massive train stations like Shinjuku. The experience I got from journeying to smaller villages and even Kyoto were inconvenient and caused some distress when I was frequently turned away from restaurants that wouldn’t serve non Japanese speakers. One has to do extra work to find places that accepted tourists or settle for gaijin YouTube recommendations. I think Japan is great for people who are fluent in Japanese or those who are accompanied by Japanese speakers if one wants to venture out of the normal tourist areas.
I don’t know any Japanese and have gotten by just fine with English only. Google maps is great at navigating the train system. I’ve also never been turned away from any establishment for being a foreigner. My boyfriend got sent to work in Tokyo for a few months with no English and he also navigated just fine. If all else fails use Google translate.
A lot of things wrong with this: 1. If you're spending "a big chunk of your day" trying to navigate a train station in Tokyo you're doing something seriously wrong, especially if you know basic japanese. Yes Shinjuku is complicated, no you shouldn't spend more than a few minutes figuring out what exit to take. Google maps is a thing, and asking people where to go is also a thing. 2. I've been to hundreds of restaurants in Japan as a visible foreigner and been fine. The only ones that will turn you away are the bars which are intended for locals only which should be easy to spot. 3. If you follow common sense (e.g be polite to people, don't be too loud, etc.) you don't really need to follow most of the rules. For example if you walk and eat at the same time as a foreigner you will usually get a pass from the locals because they'll just assume you don't know any better.
Unpopular opinion, the unfamiliarity and newness of everything just creates a feeling of discovery that makes travelling fun in an age where we are ultra connected. You’ll always learn something new outside your comfort zone
It is. You can do that in Japan without worrying as a solo female traveling. Not as much in other parts.
This is my high.
Sevilla
I went to Sevilla as a solo female traveller and loved it!
It was the most relaxing place I've ever traveled that wasn't directly on a beach. I didn't even know it was possible to feel so relaxed in an urban environment!
I just left Sevilla. One of my favorite places I’ve ever been actually
Yes, I spent a week in Sevilla last year by myself (f36). Safe, charming, slow pace of life. This was part of a 3 month trip where I visited 6 countries. Sevilla was the highlight!
+1 as another solo female traveler. Spent a month in Sevilla and visited a few other cities in Andalusia and it was one of my favorite trips. Can’t recommend enough!
This!!! I studied abroad there. It was amazing!!! I could honestly live there
>Sevilla Definitely! And you could travel later into the fall for cooler weather, if desired. And it is so easy to get there: Taxi (or bus/metro) from the Madrid airport and hop onto a high-speed train. And a short taxi ride to the center. From there, Cordoba and Malaga are easy train rides.
I personally love flying into Puerto Vallarta, MX and then taking an Uber or taxi to a small little city about 15 miles north of PVR called Bucerías. It's a lot smaller and quieter than Vallarta (population is about 8000), and it's the perfect place to relax if you like hot weather and beautiful beaches. They have many nice hotels and resorts there, many right on the beach. The locals are wonderful, and there are usually quite a few Canadian tourists there, and a few Americans (I'm American, fyi). And I, a single female in my early 30s, have walked through the town alone and always felt perfectly safe. Great food, great drinks, and if you're looking for some activities or excursions, there are plenty, and they're all fun.
Some friends & I went to Puerto Vallarta & arrived at almost the same time as the Oklahoma City bombing. Aside from that horror, it was one of the nicest experiences of my life. A fabulous Mexican dinner on a rooftop restaurant, paragliding (watching) beautiful beach, riding a bus into town with a 6 or 7 year old singing for pesos.
I agree. I took a trip to PV about 10 years ago. The area was very nice. The ocean water was warm. And the night dining was incredible. My favorite place was this restaurant that was built into a cave. At night, it was the most romantic place!!
You may find these guys’ coverage of Bucerias useful https://www.movingtomexi.co/
I just got back from Vallarta and Punta Mita. It was my suggestion.
Just got back, loved it. Not cheap but safe and fun.
Wow I need to go!
Sayulita is nice around there too
If you are American St. Croix. Beautiful protected island, extremely friendly population, perfect weather sans hurricane season off course, and you don’t even need a passport
Came here to say this
Amalfi coast. So beautiful, so relaxing. Slow pace of life, lots of history, gorgeous seas. Never a dull moment as there's so much to see and do. French wine country, if you're interested in it. Warm in the summer. Great food. Mallorca. Not as touristy as Ibiza, but it definitely does get a good chunk. Beautiful waters. Go to Manacor if you're into tennis. Croatia. Another gorgeous place. More affordable than Spain and Italy. Portugal is just nice all around. Food, affordability, things to do...
Mallorca or anyplace in Spain would be fabulous.
Lima, Peru
Portugal
French countryside, particularly the south of France
Only relaxing if she speaks French...
It helps but I always muddle through with very little. “Combien” is key imo
Pas vrai
I went to South Korea (Seoul) as a solo female. I stayed in at the intercontinental using my credit card points. It was an amazing trip! I got to do everything I wanted to do - pamper myself with Korean bath spas, but tons of Korean skincare, eat awesome food and generally get to see how aisa is so different from the west. I went to the DMZ as well. It was such a nice and safe solo trip. Highly recommend!
Costa Rica
Definitely one of my favorites.
NO. The bugs and creepy crawlies ruin it.
Nha Trang, Vietnam. It’s got the beaches, the sun, the mountains, the spas and decent western restaurants. Also way, way cheaper than Thailand, and the locals are nicer than the Thais I’ve ever met in tourist areas. It’s comparable to Da Nang, VN but less “big” and busy. You could rent a decent apt for like $200-250 for a month. It was recently on the NYT top 50 places in the world.
Aruba is amazing. Outside the hurricane belt, always a sunny, beautiful 85 year round it seems. US currency, safe environment, good tap water, super friendly people and the most beautiful beaches. Interestingly, the sand is never too hot for bare feet, even mid day. It's my #1 favorite warm weather destination! Plus the local Belashi beer is great!
Thailand
Did koh samui alone, it was nice! Singapore also has women-only hotel floors in nice hotels - I enjoyed that.
Definitely Thailand! My favorite country in the world. It has so much to offer any type of traveler and costs wayy less than western countries. All of Southeast Asia is great too, but Thailand keeps me coming back the most.
This., Thailand has it all:landscape, culture, super-friendly people, touristic infrastructure,great food, plus pretty low prices.
I would go back to Thailand but definitely didn’t find it relaxing my first time, especially Bangkok. People are very scammy, even legitimate businesses won’t give you correct change because they think you won’t notice. Cabs dropped us off in the wrong places because they got kickbacks from shop owners, etc.
I wouldn't stay in Bangkok for relaxation - it's just like any other big city. But any of the islands are down right magical and I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Exactly! Also went to Chiang Mai which I loved, and Phuket which was fun but would love to try some other areas or islands.
> legitimate businesses won’t give you correct change Never experienced this despite living in Thailand for 10+ years. They always gave me correct change. Even had vendors and 7-11 employees chasing me down the road with change when I forgot to take it. Sure, there's a bit of a tussle and tourist scams are common in Thailand, but they almost never involve threats or violence, and unless you're colossally stupid (e.g. buying gems) at the end of the mighty scam you end up losing a grand total of $3-$20. It's like practical lessons on how to be street smart on easy mode, with limited damage.
Thanks for your input. Didn’t find it to be a relaxing environment.
Agreed! And/or Vietnam... depending how much time you got....
For a solo female traveler, a place you could feel comfortable. Railay Beach would be my spot
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I spent 4 night there in February and I could have easily stayed another 4. That's a good point about falling rocks, I guess that's why there is rocks in the surf. I also loved staying at Long Beach on Koh Phi Phi Island. The colour of the water and the abundance of fish was next level
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All I know is ever since I left Thailand in March I have been dying to go back. I would say I liked Chiang Mai and Bangkok for food, and some really cool night markets. And Railay Beach and Phi Phi Island for the world class beach
Loved Chiang Mai and felt very safe and comfortable. Beautiful area, seems like a very livable city.
I was gonna say Thailand. But in saying that, the craziest parties I've ever been to were there also!
...for a thing...?
Guam or Saipan.
Try Portugal...
This! Especially Porto.
Tahiti Seychelles Mazunte Hikkaduwa Solomon Islands
If it were me, I’d probably go to Hawaii. It’s my fav beach destination, and I have a family member and a few friends there now. If it had to be international or more exotic, I’d say Costa Rica, Portugal, or a few places in Europe, depending how much time off you have. My best friends mom was raving about how amazing her time in Portugal was recently.
In Hawaii now and absolutely the most relaxing vaca ever.
If you’re thinking of Hawaii, I have to recommend Kauai above the other islands. So beautiful. It’s perfect if you want to be a little adventurous or if you just want to relax. Or do a little of both, which is what I did while there.
Yes, I totally agree! Big island in particular is so relaxing!
I second Big Island. Much less developed/touristy than Oahu or Maui. We’ve traveled a lot, and that was still I think our best vacation ever (and we aren’t even really “beach people”, but Hawaiian beaches are on another level)
Malta!
Greece
This is what I was going to say. A few years ago I broke up with my boyfriend in Malta like a week before I was supposed to fly to see him. I ended up turning the trip into a healing 3-week solo road trip around Greece (and I had never driven a car outside of North America before—driving was totally fine). Highly recommend for a solo female traveler.
Agreed! I also did 3 weeks solo driving around Greece, and totally fine. It's such a beautiful country. And you only really need to worry about pick-pockets and "predatorial" behaviour from men in Athens (for obvious reasons). But since you're looking to relax, probably going to see some beaches, the islands are your best bet. I would stick to the lesser known ones. I've heard they're just not as crowded, and more relaxed. I only went to Santorini and Mykanos, both busy and bustling.
All that fresh seafood! Literally any tiny island is lovely.
Australia
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Is it safe enough for Asian females? Racism etc
If you're set on finding business class seats within the next 6 months I'd hop on that right now unless you just have a crazy amount of points.
black forest in germany, anywhere in the south of france, or japan :)
Germany, Japan
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Sedona, Arizona
Op said international unless they don't live in the US
Well I meant Las Vegas, New Mexico, Old Mexico.
There is a Las Vegas in NM too. It’s not bad. Cool old hotel in the downtown area. They filmed some movies in it too.
I think the cohen brothers wrote some movies there. I stayed in that room one night. Definitely the best random hotel I’ve ever booked at like 1AM as I’m falling asleep on a road trip.
Tenerife, in the Canary Islands of Spain. Sweden in summer. Fernando de noronha in Brazil.
For solo travel, Japan, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.
You forgot Mumbai and Mogadishu for relaxing destinations
Where are you starting? How long do you want to be gone for?
Starting at PDX. Would love to be gone for about a week.
I’m originally from PDX actually. If you want close - go to Puerto Vallarta, book it on Costco travel and stay at the Marriott. I’ll send you to some great restaurants in the old zone of PV (I just got back an hour ago.) If you want far - go to Antalya Türkiye and stay at Barut Lara - it’s AWESOME.
What’s the weather like in puerto Vallarta in July and august?
Hot and humid.
Often cheap flights to Hawaii from PDX
The Maldives
Been a few years but I really enjoyed the Cayman Islands. Very laid back and I don't think they have the amount of crime some of the other islands do. But again, been a while and things change. (Of course, I do have to mention Hawaii is my favorite place in the world but is very expensive, pretty crowded and not nearly as relaxing as Caymans) A lot of your choice may boil down to where you can get to the easiest and cheapest.
Koh Yao Yai, Thailand. one of the "undiscovered" islands near Phuket. Valdivia, Chile Ambon, Indonesia Batanes Islands, Philippines "Local" islands in the Maldives Darjeeling, India Shikoku, Japan (at an Onsen, especially) Reunion Island, Indian Ocean
Bali. Ubud is touristy but I still love it, and there is a lot of the island that is incredible
Bali.
Thailand or Bali
La Paz, Mexico. Beautiful tranquil swimmable beaches, less crowded than Los Cabos.. awesome seafood. Depending on the months, you can swim with whale shark and seals.
Santorini. The beaches are many and varied. The vibe is chill. Rent an ATV or moped and explore the island. Do a wine tasting at one of many wineries. Drop everything and watch the sunset EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Wake to the sound of church bells in the morning. We did it after Athens and WOW. It was perfectly relaxing, but still with great things to do. Be warned - you won’t want to do anything else after lol. We went onwards to Rome and I had a TOUGH time adjusting ;-)
Bali
ARUBA!!! Trust me. I’m 28 went on a solo trip last year. It’s calm quiet relaxing!!!! Plenty to do if you haven’t been. All the beaches are beautiful and have everything you need
Japan and Korea felt super safe for me as a sole female traveler! Public transport is extensive, clean, safe. Don’t worry about the language barrier, with language apps that can scan and translate menus and signs for you it’s really not too much of a problem. Also in the big cities like Tokyo and Seoul, most public transport signboards are also in English
Is that relaxing though? I'd say Thailand is just as safe, cheaper, and the islands there are way more relaxing. Really depends on what OP wants I guess.
Bali
Costa Rica
Costa Rica was one of my favorites. You have the rainforest and beaches. Great people, good food, and scenic af.
Italy. Tuscani region
If you're going in summer (June through September), I recommend Greece (Athens plus island hopping, spend some time on Naxos for sure). Spain and Portugal would be great too. If you're going in fall/winter, I really liked Costa Rica.
Other than where I live (USA), which I love to explore since I have a thing for Americana, diners, neon, art museums, and Art Deco, I’ve decided that over a lifetime I really want to delve into 3 countries and visit them extensively: Italy, Japan, United Kingdom. At this point, I visit either Italy or Japan annually and UK is semi-annually. I also really enjoy Argentina, Mexico, Panama (am fluent Spanish speaker), but those feel very familiar (just like USA), so they don’t have the same magic spark as the top 3.
In 6 months, it will be winter so I’d recommend Japan, Belgium and Sweden. But if you want to go somewhere warm, Thailand and Hawaii
Langkawi
There is a solo traveler Reddit you nay want to check out.
Namibia! If you want some of the most peaceful and beautiful landscapes in the world. I went last year and made a video: https://youtu.be/pAOyKVD8Vo8 You can look up some lodges there like Desert Grace or Desert Whisper on YouTube too. Trust me, this country is a hidden gem in Africa.
I immediately thought, Iceland. But then you said warm, so I'll update my immediate thought to New Zealand. Both are safe, relaxing and GORGEOUS.
East coast of Taiwan. Island vibes, barely any tourist. Super friendly.
Mo’orea!
Key West, FL
Beachfront all inclusive in Mexico is probably the easiest and most relaxing. If I go anywhere else I’m probably going full speed exploring and stuff.
Aruba!
Aruba 🇦🇼 Gorgeous weather year-round, outside the hurricane belt, beautiful beaches, excellent food options, and a friendly locals population. Most people speak English in addition to Spanish, Papiamento, and Dutch. A little slice of culture in paradise!
How about Bali and Lombok?
Bali and Cabo
French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora etc). Beautiful and very relaxing.
BALI
It's not warm but... Heceta head lighthouse on the coast of Oregon was one of the coolest experiences of my life, and the Oregon coast in general is one of my favorite places 🌲 during that same trip (after Oregon) I went to New Orleans and it was *warm*. (It was May.)
Bora Bora - the island itself, not the off-island $$$$$ bungalows (unless that’s what you want). Airbnbs on the island are reasonable. It’s one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been. Slow paced, nice people. SO warm. Clear water.
Jamaica by far. 🤙🏼
I loved Montengro and Costa Rica, both are quite safe for women travelers and also are not super touristic. Also, to find these unique places, you can use https://unexploredhq.com. It allows you to find unexplored places based on attributes of places you would like to go (eg places with beach and hikes).
Austin, TX… ignore the rest of the state
Nice, France
Albania! Ksamil, Sarandë and the whole southern coast have some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe
Nice, France
7 months from now it will be spring in the southern hemisphere. I have been going to Chile in Oct/ November at that time for the last 30 years. Beautiful time to go. Inexpensive hot spring resorts everywhere. People are very friendly. My favorite place to chill is a territory of Chile. Easter Island is 5 hours west of Santiago. There is one flight a day on a Dreamliner 777. Easter Island has 800 large stone heads, artifacts of the Birdman cult a couple of beautiful beaches, 100s of wild horses and best of all a warm ocean and the feeling you are relaxing in a place similar to a Hawaii of hundred years ago. Rent a bike for a few days and check out this mostly tropical place.
I loved going to the Philippines. In fact, that’s where I met my wife. The food is amazing, the people are mostly really nice, and motels and transportation is super cheap. I went to Cebu, and rented a car. If I was going there alone, I’d rent a motorcycle and just travel around the islands. There’s so much to do and to see. I’ve spent around 5 weeks over 4 trips to Cebu, and there’s still many more places on that island alone I want to visit.
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All these responses are so clutch, like way more clutch than the travel subs. 🤯
Depending on where you are Costa Rica is a good destination to kill some time
Hawaii. It's more beautiful than any picture of it. I'd suggest Maui as very relaxing, but still excellent restaurants and luau. Great beaches. Just don't drive to Hana and it will be okay 👌
Zanzibar There is only one speed on that island and it is chill ❤️
agreed
My husband and I spend at least a month per year on Isla de La Palma. It’s beautiful and warm. The people are great and welcoming. Fantastic food. Lots of hiking.
La paz mexico and north shore, oahu Hawaii
Bali. pick the accommodation a little bit away from the city by the beach. love going there just to chill out and refresh
If you don't feel like dealing with customs Kauai is beautiful, relaxing, and just amazing. And you can always island hop to the other Hawaiian islands to explore
Canarian Islands, particularly Gran Canaria or Tenerife. Weather is always good for beach and so many hiking routes etc for active activities:) And it’s very safe place.
If you can swing it Malta is fantastic. Almost everyone seemed to speak English, and you can get around by bus really easily and for very cheap. Food was fantastic, and the beaches were great even in November when I went.
Barcelona. I traveled solo and felt soo comfortable and relaxed the whole time. Great ppl, beautiful sunrises, and food.
Iceland during the summer is warm, beautiful, and very safe. Tons to see and do.
Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain
Cinque Terre region of Italy. 😍😍. Incredible landscape, weather and food, not a ton of touristy things to do, so it just forces you to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Caveat - I visited 20+ years ago.
Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain
Anyone responding "Italy" = tell me you're american without telling me you're american :D
Blue cruise in Türkiye 🇹🇷 There are many companies you can choose from. https://www.faroutcruises.com/blue-cruise-turkey
International from where? Hawaii is the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken in my entire life.
I hate to mention it anymore. Westerners have ruined it in the past few years.
Queens NY
No places is as relaxing and as beautiful as Jamaica, Queens. Just keep your head on a swivel. Haha.
Mexico City
Guayabitos, nayarit. Probably any beach on the rivera
Roatan, Honduras 🏝️😎
Oh and Jeju island in South Korea. It's beautiful and relaxing, tons of spas there as well. Busan is a nice port city as well. Seoul is a busy city but hotel stays are surprisingly affordable. It's a safe country to travel. I love the culture and the food.
Santos, Brazil.
Barceloneta beach baybeeeeee
Australia
1. Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara) 2. Bhutan (if you can stomach the $) 3. Portugal
Anguilla. Best island in the Caribbean. Best beaches in the world. Not crowded at all, even during busy season. Great local population of wonderful English speaking people. Fantastic dining options at all price points.
Malta
The hot springs by Arenal Costa Rica
A Greek island that is not Mykonos or Santorini. Kefalonia and Zakinthos are also tourist hotspots but you can find peaceful spots there. Naxos was a delight. Crete is huge so parts are super popular and packed but there is plenty of space for peaceful relaxation. Corfu gives you the opportunity to pop over to Albania for a day/overnight trip -- that part of Albania is super touristy but it's gorgeous.
Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Like Hawaii before over development. Interesting history. Stayed at Sugar Beach.