MY FAVORITE SOLO TRIPS

There is something that happens when you travel alone. Nobody to compromise with. Nobody to check in with. Just you, a city you have never seen, and a version of yourself you did not know was waiting. These are the five trips that showed me who I am when nobody is watching — and why I will never be afraid to go alone.

I am a certified Fora travel advisor — I handle the planning so you just show up. Visit shanicarter.com/travel to get started.

---

TULUM, MEXICO

The gritty, local version nobody talks about

WHO

The traveler who is about that life and doesn't want the curated, overly photographed version of Tulum. Who wants to actually feel the place. This one is for the traveler who wants local vibes and doesn't need an all-inclusive to feel like they're on vacation.

WHAT

I did Tulum the way it was before it blew up on IG and the prices tripled. I rented a bike. I practiced yoga in a neighborhood studio with locals. I ate at spots where the menu was handwritten and the food was extraordinary. Tulum has a spiritual energy that is almost impossible to explain — it either gets into your bones or it does not, and for me it absolutely did. The jungle, the cenotes, the ruins above the water. It is unlike anywhere else on earth.

WHERE

I stayed outside the hotel zone in the City Cento — and saved money and actually lived in the town. Rent a bike or scooter and go down to the beach. Eat at local taquerias on the main strip. Find a cenote that is not on every tourist list — ask your host or a local. Practice yoga somewhere that feels like it belongs to the neighborhood. Get a day pass at one of the larger resorts to get that vibe one day.

HOW

Best time to go: November through April. Plan anywhere from 2 nights to a full week. You can now fly directly into Tulum's airport instead of Cancun. Use the ADO bus to get into the City Centro for as low as $15 one way. Budget travel here is very doable — you can have an incredible experience for $50–$150/day all in if you stay local and eat local.

I biked home alone one evening as the sun was going down over the jungle and thought — this is exactly who I want to be. That moment still lives in me.

---

ST THOMAS, USVI

My boutique hotel era

WHO

The solo woman who wants beauty and ease in equal measure. No roughing it. No compromise. Just a gorgeous property, stunning water, and the quiet luxury of doing absolutely whatever you want with your day.

WHAT

St Thomas is where I leaned into the boutique hotel experience and did not apologize for one second of it. The kind of place where the room is so beautiful you do not want to leave it, but the view from the beach pulls you out anyway. The water in the USVI is an unreasonable shade of blue. Charlotte Amalie is charming and walkable. The energy is relaxed and unhurried in a way that forces you to match it.

WHERE

Choose your hotel carefully — this is a destination where the property makes the trip. Look for boutique spots with ocean views rather than large resort chains. Magens Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches you will ever stand on. Take the ferry to St John for a day — the national park there is breathtaking. Duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie is worth an afternoon.

HOW

Best time to go: January through April. Plan 2 to 4 nights. No passport needed — St Thomas is a US territory. Direct flights available from several East Coast cities. Mid-range boutique hotels run $200–$400/night. It is not necessarily a budget trip but it is absolutely worth every dollar for the right solo traveler moment.

I sat on my hotel balcony with a glass of wine and watched the sun set over the water and thought — I did not need anyone to bring me here. I brought myself. That felt like everything.

---

ARUBA

One happy island and exactly what that means

WHO

The solo traveler who needs to completely exhale. No agenda. No itinerary pressure. Just warmth, water, and permission to do absolutely nothing for a few days.

WHAT

Aruba calls itself One Happy Island and it is not lying. The weather is almost insultingly perfect — low humidity, constant breeze, virtually no rain. The water on Eagle Beach is clear and calm and so warm you forget you are in the ocean. Aruba is safe, easy, and genuinely welcoming. For a solo woman traveler, it checks every box. You can be as social or as solitary as you want and the island will meet you wherever you are.

WHERE

Stay near Eagle Beach rather than Palm Beach if you want a quieter, more local experience. Eagle Beach is less crowded and just as beautiful. Eat at Gasparito for a local Aruban meal in a historic cunucu house — it is a special experience. Rent a UTV or jeep for a day and explore the rugged northeastern side of the island. The natural pool and the Arikok National Park are worth the adventure.

HOW

Best time to go: Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt so it is genuinely a year-round destination — one of the few in the Caribbean. Plan five to seven nights to fully decompress. Direct flights from several US cities. Hotels range widely — you can find solid options at $200/night or go all-inclusive for predictable budgeting.

I spent an entire afternoon on Eagle Beach with a book I barely read because I kept putting it down to just look at the water. That is Aruba. It makes you stop.

---

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Women's sports travel — a whole niche I'll need to talk more about separately

WHO

The woman who loves women's sports and has not yet realized that traveling for games is one of the most electric, communal, joyful experiences available to her. This post is for you specifically.

WHAT

I went to Phoenix for the NCAA Women's National Championship and it rewired something in me. The energy of thousands of fans gathered around something they love — screaming, celebrating, fully present — is a feeling I want to chase for the rest of my life. Phoenix itself surprised me. It is vibrant and warm and has far more to offer than people give it credit for. The desert landscape alone is worth the flight. But the game? The game was the whole point and it delivered every single thing.

WHERE

Stay downtown or near the arena so you are in the center of the energy. Eat at Pizzeria Bianco — it is legendary and worth the wait. Explore the Roosevelt Row arts district. If you have an extra day, drive out toward the desert — the landscape is stunning and unlike anything on the East Coast.

HOW

Best time to go: Phoenix is a year-round destination but see if there are any game specific events happening. Spring and fall are ideal weather-wise — summers are extreme. Plan three to four nights around the game. Flights and hotels tend to book fast during major sporting events so move early. Budget $200–$350/night for a solid downtown hotel.

I looked around the arena at thousands of fans who had all chosen to be in that room together and thought — women's basketball is really UP.

---

ST MARTIN

A full week, a laptop, and a local beach

WHO

The entrepreneur or the remote worker who wants to prove to herself that she can work from paradise and actually get things done — and then close the laptop and live. This one is for you.

WHAT

I spent a full week in St Martin working remotely and it completely redefined what I thought work-life integration could look like. St Martin is split between French and Dutch sides, each with its own energy and flavor. The beaches are world class. The food — especially on the French side — is extraordinary. I found a rhythm there that I have been chasing ever since: morning work sessions, afternoons at a local beach that barely anyone else knew about, evenings with food and wine that felt like a reward I had actually earned.

WHERE

Stay on the French side (Saint-Martin) for a more local, quieter feel. Grand Case is a small village with some of the best restaurant dining in the entire Caribbean — do not skip it. Find the local beaches that are not on the resort maps. Orient Beach is beautiful but crowded — the hidden spots are better. Day trip to St Barts by ferry if you want a taste of something even more elevated.

HOW

Best time to go: December through April. Plan a full week if you are working remotely and want to actually settle in. Flights often are direct or connect through San Juan or Miami. Accommodations range from boutique hotels to private villas. Budget $250–$450/night for a solid property with the space and wifi you need to actually work.

On my last morning I sat with coffee on the terrace watching the water and realized I had been fully present for an entire week. No anxiety. No spiraling. Just me and the work and the island. I did not know I was capable of that until St Martin showed me.

Ready to book your next trip?

I am a certified Fora travel advisor — I handle the planning so you just show up. Visit shanicarter.com/travel to get started.