Traveling alone can be one of the most rewarding trips you’ll ever take, as the adventures unfold entirely on your own schedule. With more people than ever striving to travel alone, more and more hotels are catering to the needs of solo travelers, whether through dedicated social and coworking spaces, rooms with extra security, or the option of per-person rates (as opposed to double occupancy). Read on to discover some of the best hotels for solo travelers—and then don’t wait for anyone before booking your stay.
Moxy Athens City
The lobby of Moxy Athens City
Courtesy of Moxy Athens City
- Location: Athens, Greece
- Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
- Out of: 127 $
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Described by parent company Marriott as “stylish and playful,” Moxy’s 125+ hotels around the world place as much emphasis on public spaces as they do on private ones. At the Moxy Athens City, check-in is at the bar, which means you get a free drink made to order at reception. It’s also a great way to socialize, as many guests gather at the bar stools. If the main bar gets too busy, the more traditional lobby has several sofas and plenty of poufs – furniture that can be easily moved around the room. The next room is a co-working area with cafe tables; laptops are a common sight here.
Located in the historic center of the city, the Moxy Athens City makes it relatively easy to get around the capital, whether by metro or on foot. The hidden gem of this hotel, however, is the Moxyfied Suite. By any other name, it would be considered a presidential suite: it spans the entire top floor, complete with an almost 360-degree wraparound private garden with views of the Acropolis. Two large outdoor terraces provide the perfect space to relax (or take the party back to your room). It’s both spacious and cozy.
Virgin Hotels New York
A Chamber King guestroom at Virgin Hotels New York
Courtesy of Virgin Hotels New York
- Location: New York City
- Out of: $650
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Like everything Sir Richard Branson does, the 39-story Virgin Hotels New York is marked by a certain cheekiness. From the bathroom signs that read “unisexy” with line drawings of people crossing their legs to the Sugar Daddy-branded candy in each of the 460 guest rooms, including 39 suites and two penthouses, innuendo abounds.
The layout of the standard rooms, referred to as “chambers,” is very well thought out. The entrance is a sort of hallway that meets a dressing room, with a vanity table and two flexible closet spaces for luggage. A sliding door separates this space from the bedroom, which has a custom-made king-size bed with padded headboard that extends into an alcove with a marble side table for working or dining. There are two peepholes: the first is on the room door and the second on the inner barn door, ideal for solo travelers who want more privacy or security when letting staff or other visitors into their room.
The Pool Club at the Virgin Hotel New York, one of the few hotels in Manhattan with an outdoor pool, is a fourth-floor scene with the Empire State Building in the background and a trendy cocktail bar in the foreground. In between, a large terrace with sun loungers and cabanas invites you to socialize.
We maintain spa
The We Care Spa grounds feature winding paths and plenty of greenery.
- Location: Desert Hot Springs, California
- Out of: From $1,773 for two nights
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Since 1986, We Care Spa has tailored its liquid nutrition, guided fasting, detoxification programs and more than 40 treatments to individuals seeking desert retreat and self-improvement. What began as founder Susana Belen’s private home has expanded to 29 rooms, complete with seven-stage air purification, oversized soaking tubs, trampolines and circadian light systems.
Programs are available in two- to eight-day variations and can be private (uninterrupted walk from room to treatment, from labyrinth to infrared sauna) or communal (there is always a different person at the lobby tea bar, poolside juice station or gym). While some guests come in pairs, most come alone.
The experience begins as you step over an underground cluster of healing crystals. From there, it’s a bit like choosing your own adventure. Aside from a timed list of drinks to consume and scheduled treatments, the days and nights are flexible. Some enjoy yoga, nutrition or breathing exercises classes in the morning, while others simply relax by the pool, visit the medicine wheel or retreat to their room.
The twin fin
Twin Fin’s Coconut Club Lounge overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
- Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Out of: $239
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Overlooking Waikīkī Beach, Twin Fin is committed to setting itself apart from the other more family- or honeymoon-focused hotels along Waikīkī’s main drag, Kalākaua Avenue. From its quarterly artist-in-residence program to a quartet of ongoing local partnerships, including a live talk series with Parley for the Oceans, the hotel draws tourists and locals alike with interactive events where socializing around a passion facilitates conversation. An extensive events calendar includes hula, ukulele and flower le’i lessons, with at least one class daily.
Although the ocean is right across the street, Twin Fin partners with Wai Kai, a West O’ahu destination that offers a deep wave pool that simulates river surfing. Whether you’re looking to learn to surf or hone a skill, Wai Kai offers something the ocean can’t: consistency without currents or sand. A shuttle picks up guests right across the street from the hotel for lessons, which can be with or without coaching.
Located 1.7 km from Pamushana Beach, Singita Pamushana Lodge provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking
The swimming pool at Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe
- Location: Malilangwe, Zimbabwe
- Out of: $2,180
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A safari with a plunge pool is certainly one way to immerse yourself in nature. At Singita Pamushana Lodge, all eight suites have their own plunge pool and cliff-top fire pit. Everything in the camp overlooks the Malilangwe Dam, and where there is water, there is abundant wildlife, particularly in the 115,000-hectare Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in remote southeastern Zimbabwe.
Singita, an ecotourism and conservation brand, believes in wholeness rather than wellness, a holistic approach that makes a safari inspiring but also calming. Think twice-daily game drives, as well as guided yoga and meditation sessions. There are also wine tastings and nightcaps by the fire. While many safaris recommend double occupancy, each of Singita’s 16 lodges rents per person per night.
