Checking In: Solo travel

It’s indulgent. It’s relaxing. It’s quite possibly the best way to experience a new place. Travel by yourself and see the world from the greatest perspective – your own.

Catering to a younger crowd, PLUS Hostels are a favorite stop for solo female travelers backpacking through Europe. Three of its locations, including PLUS Prague, have a PLUS Girls program with women-only floors. The four-, six- or eight-bed dorms come complete with large in-suite bathrooms, wellness packs and hair products, including dryers and straighteners. At PLUS Prague, there’s a late-night bar and restaurant, swimming pool and sauna, and a “chill out” zone with oversized couches, pool table and big-screen TV. The PLUS concierge also is available for tips and suggestions on the best tours, events and must-sees for women traveling on their own.

All-inclusive, female-friendly yoga retreats at Retreat in the Pines start at just $339, so they’re perfect if you need to get away but don’t have a big-time budget. Located just a two-hour drive from the Dallas- Fort Worth airport, the East Texas escape is great for people of all ages and fitness levels. Besides the relaxing yoga classes, you’ll also take part in wine tasting courses, hiking excursions and art workshops. Visit nearby Mineola, a charming and historic small town, for antique shopping and a glimpse of the oldest operating theater in Texas, or head out to Lake Hawkins for some swimming and boating fun.

Whether you’re toasting new beginnings or just need some quality downtime away from the everyday grind, San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino in Puerto Rico could be your ideal solo vacation. The hotel’s Celebrate Your Independence package, based on single occupancy, starts at $435 per night and features a wine and cheese welcome gift, $100 Visa gift card, daily breakfast and round-trip airport transfer. You’ll stay in a deluxe room and spend your days lounging by the oceanfront pool or trying your luck at the on-site casino. The deal also comes with a 20-minute Swedish massage and a zip-lining tour.

Want to travel by yourself but don’t like the idea of total isolation? The Anacaona Boutique Hotel’s new Anguilla Single Travelers Adventure is a good mix of “me” time and group activity. Meet new friends and make fresh connections on the retreat Nov. 2-9, which is being led by solo globetrotter Trudy Nixon. Activities take you around the island on catamaran adventures, tasty dine-arounds and let-your-hair-down beach bar tours. During your seven-night stay at Anacaona, you’ll stay in a superior room and enjoy daily breakfast, welcome drinks, group cocktail and dinner parties, and a special performance by a local folklore group.

Lakeview at Fontana’s Solo Retreat Package helps women travelers rediscover their spirit with a three-night spa getaway. Near Bryson City in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains, Lakeview at Fontana is quaint and casual, with a Mediterranean-inspired design. Hike a stretch of the surrounding 800 miles of wooded trails, relish that book you’ve been meaning to read in the coffeehouse or just soak in the feeling of total relaxation in the hotel’s charming courtyard — you’ll even receive a complimentary “gratitude journal” for jotting down your musings. Plus, enjoy free access to morning yoga classes and three 50-minute treatments of your choice.

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