In a shift in global mobility rankings, Singapore has claimed the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday, granting its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries.
26.07.2024 - 17:04 / thepointsguy.com
Whether you are on a journey of self-discovery, or just need some vacation time to yourself, solo travel can afford the most rewarding adventures. If you've never traveled alone before, the thought can be intimidating. But once you hit the road, you might just find your own company to be the best.
Among the benefits solo travel offers is the freedom to do as you please on your own schedule. It can also let you step out of your comfort zone to try new things and even form new friendships on the road.
Solo travel is also more accessible than ever thanks to new tour companies offering group trips geared toward single travelers.
No matter what your reason or goal for traveling solo, though, there are destinations and experiences out there just waiting to be discovered. Here are our top picks for solo destinations around the world.
Best for: Well-rounded adventurers who want to explore a well-trod destination.
If this is your first solo travel experience, Thailand is a great starter locale. The tourism industry runs like a well-oiled machine, and you'll never really be alone as it is one of the world's most popular travel destinations, hosting more than 40 million visitors annually. Once the backbone of the backpacker travel scene for its mix of affordability, delicious food, stunning beaches, vibrant cities and both natural and cultural attractions, today Thailand attracts a wide swath of travelers, including those on solo stints.
You'll want to begin and end with a few days in Bangkok, which has a fantastic food scene and great nightlife. Jay Fai is a Michelin-starred street food eatery famed for its crab omelets, drunken noodles and hard-to-get tables. They don't take reservations, and there is often a line before the doors open at 9 a.m., but solo travelers may have an advantage squeezing into available counter seats.
Fly south and spend a week exploring the Gulf of Thailand, home to tropical islands like Koh Samui (parts of "The White Lotus" season three were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui) and Koh Tao (where there is excellent diving). Hop across to the Andaman Sea coastline afterward, where you'll find beach resorts for all budgets in Phuket, Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands.
You'll also want to spend some time in northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, which is home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples and a famed night market. It also serves as a jumping-off point for multiday treks through jungle and waterfall-dotted landscapes.
In one of Bangkok's tallest skyscrapers, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon is a playful, hip boutique with eye-catching art and design and a celebrity scene. Rates start at $154 per night.
"The White Lotus" set-jetters will want to book the Four Seasons
In a shift in global mobility rankings, Singapore has claimed the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday, granting its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries.
A few places immediately come to mind when it comes to LGBTQ+ travel—whether it’s New York’s historic Greenwich Village or Buenos Aires’ bustling Palermo District, Berlin’s underground Schöneberg or London’s nightclub-packed Soho. But Asia is featuring more frequently on travel itineraries that engage with queer communities around the world, thanks to a rising global visibility of what’s at the forefront of queer entertainment and culture on the continent. From the electrifying drag scene in Manila to the societal recognition of trans identities in Kathmandu, these Asian cities give dimension to celebrating queerness in all its global forms.
Paris is expected to welcome 11.3 million visitors during the Olympic Games, significantly increasing its population density. This surge in visitors is spurring travel demand to international destinations, such as Italy and the United States, that harness this desire to leave crowds behind, also benefiting United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece, as well as farther destinations, such as Thailand or Japan.
I graduated from college two years ago and set a goal for myself to visit at least 50 countries before I turn 30.
“Welcome back,” says the Watsu therapist as I open my eyes. We’re in a dimly lit room, under a domed ceiling freckled with LED lights that mimic constellations. As we emerge out of the circular pool, I feel like I’ve truly been transported out of the space. I'm at JOALI Being, a pampering wellness resort in the Maldives. It might seem an unlikely spot to experience a mind-body epiphany, and yet Watsu—a trademarked, massage-like treatment that takes place in water—has revealed to me much more than a massage (or even a therapy session, to be honest) ever has.
Jul 22, 2024 • 6 min read
Friday's IT outage caused widespread disruptions after Microsoft reported problems with its online services, linked to an issue at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
Well, here I am again, back in Bangkok, sitting on the same old wobbly plastic stool, outside the same old Chinatown food shop, eating the same old oyster omelet. But there's nothing everyday about this particular dish. Nai Mong Hoi Thod may look like little more than a white-tiled hole in the wall, with a few tables and a fearsome charcoal wok that sizzles and sparks and roars. But appearances can be deceiving. Michelin has designated the restaurant as Bib Gourmand, and its famous omelet—golden, gooey, and studded with sweet-salty bivalves—is a dish of frazzled majesty. As scavenging cats wind between our legs and as tuk-tuks, scooters, and bicycles whiz through air so thick and hot you could scoop it with a spoon, I look at my dining companion, the chef, restaurateur, and writer David Thompson, and grin with sweaty glee. It really is good to be back.
When settling on a place to live, cost of living is certainly a factor. But so is the recreation opportunities.
Los Angeles has the most sleep-friendly airport in the United States thanks to an overabundance of lounges open day and night.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is aiming to increase tourism revenue in the country by 7.5% next year.
International air travel from China is recovering, but set to remain at a fraction of what it was in 2019, according to data platform OAG.