Traveling solo to the world's most romantic destinations

I was never one of those little girls who fantasized about their wedding day, but I absolutely fantasized about my honeymoon. I spent hours daydreaming about where I’d go, whether that be an epic voyage in the Mediterranean like my parents, or an ancestral homegoing journey through West Africa. But I never really thought about the fact that a honeymoon is a trip couples take to celebrate their nuptials. The emphasis was always on the destination, my future partner a distant afterthought.

In my late twenties, as my friends began to get married, I realized I simply wasn’t on the same life schedule. I wasn’t necessarily worried about finding my future partner, but after getting sober at 25 and embracing life as part of the recovery community, I was still very much finding and falling in love with myself. My newfound self-love and my quest to re-establish my relationship with the world as a sober person extended to my travels. I no longer felt like I had to wait until a someday honeymoon to take a trip of a lifetime; I could take an epic journey on my own now.

In addition to bringing a deeper love for myself, these solo trips in some of the world’s most romantic destinations—from Paris to Fiji—have brought me to a deeper love of humanity. Although traveling alone can feel isolating at times, the below tips have helped me learn how to both romance myself and meaningfully connect with others along the way.

One of the biggest complaints I get from my family and friends when I travel alone is that I never come back with photos of myself. Like many solo travelers, I easily fall into the trap of photographing everything I see instead of myself actually experiencing the landmarks. I used to feel awkward asking strangers to take my picture, but now I’m a pro.

On a solo trip to Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world, I wanted to document myself walking near the Louvre Museum on a sunny, windy day, so I asked an elderly monsieur to take my photo. Man, did he accept. Apparently deciding that my position wasn’t chic enough, he reposed me, adjusted my scarf, zhuzhed my hair, and thrust his shoulders back with his hands on his hips as inspo, then called me “une petite coquette” before snapping the photo. To this day, it’s one of my favorite photos anyone has ever taken of me. A simple “excuse me?” (or in this case “pardon?”) with a smile as I hold out my camera goes a long way.

Unsurprisingly, I found myself surrounded by honeymooners at the Royal Davui Island Resort, an adults-only private island resort in Fiji. Surprisingly, I found myself talking to said couples. It was so interesting to learn about why they chose Fiji, why that particular resort, and where they traveled from. The peacefulness of the private island was relaxing as a solo person, and the welcoming nature of the Fijian staff made me feel like I was never alone.

I’ve met honeymooners in dreamy places like Cancún and St. Barthelemy, and I’ve found that they often have the best advice about traveling with a partner and how to avoid the pressures that can often come with it (plan for time apart; don’t pack every minute with activities). Their lived experiences have also given me a sense of hope about my own future coupled-up travels, serving as a practical “toolkit,” of sorts, to help things go smoothly.

There’s something about a solo trip that makes you feel like you have to do all the things, especially since you don’t have to abide by anyone else’s schedule. When I first began traveling alone, I followed strict itineraries and made sure I hit all the must-see sites. And every night I felt cranky, exhausted, and unfulfilled. Now, I luxuriate when I travel alone. I sleep in, eat nourishing foods, and move my body in ways that help me feel my best.

On a trip to Honolulu (a 12-hour journey from my home in Washington, D.C.), instead of trying to fight the jetlag by pushing myself to do more, I booked a deep-tissue massage at Amar Waikiki Massage & Spa immediately after checking into my hotel. Though the day spa was no-frills, the massage was excellent and worked out all of the knots and kinks I developed on my flight. Throughout my trip, I relished in local fruit, snacking on acai bowls and fresh pineapple from the KCC Farmers Market. When I wanted a little more action, I reserved a private stand-up paddleboard lesson with Waikiki Beach Services at the Royal Hawaiian. That intentionality allowed me to feel my best, physically and mentally, on the trip.

This advice can apply to any solo trip, but I find it to be particularly helpful during moments when I feel bummed out about being single in a super-romantic destination. Don’t be fooled: Single people are everywhere. So even when you think you may be all alone, you absolutely are not. Before any solo trip I love to check out different Meetup groups and Couchsurfing events in the destination. I’ve taken community yoga classes in Madrid, met up with then-strangers for dinner in Stockholm, and enjoyed a free walking tour in Barcelona. Activities like these around the world prove, yet again, that solo travelers are never really alone.