Solo travel can seem intimidating at first, but many find it uniquely gratifying.
In a 2024 Skyscanner survey, 43% of the 2,000 American respondents said they took a solo trip that year with plans to do it again. Their top reasons for traveling by themselves were for self-care, personal growth and having the freedom to follow their own schedule.
As many solo travelers know firsthand, where you go can make all the difference in your trip. Heading to a far-off destination that's tricky to navigate can be stressful for first-time solo travelers.
Tripadvisor recently dropped its Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026, including a list of the top solo travel destinations, based on millions of reviews and ratings from real-life travelers made between October 2024 and September 2025.
Why solo travelers should cruise: I felt safe and sociable on this expedition, as a solo female traveler
