Plenty of options can give the single traveler incentive to pack his or her bag. Be it by yourself or with a group of friends, adventure, relaxation and indulgence await.
BUDGET
Music cruises
The volume of music-themed cruises rocking the seas these days continues with perpetual encores and new offerings. What better way to meet fellow music fanatics? Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Live series, featuring familiar acts performing intimate on-board concerts, returns in the spring with more acts to be announced later in the year. Journey performs in mid-March; contemporary country's Little Big Town hits the water in late March; late April finds Motown legend Smokey Robinson cruising; honky-tonkers Rascal Flatts play in early May; and classic rockers Styx make a splash in mid- and late June. The vacations range from three- to seven-day treks visiting either the Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean. Ships set sail from Charleston, S.C., Galveston, Texas, and Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla. The best part? You can pump your fist to the beat without draining the budget. Jaunts start as low as $249 per person, depending on the length of cruise. Cruisers pay extra for show tickets, which range from $35 to $60 per person. VIP tickets ($125-$250) offer rock star treatment, including choice seats, an artist meet-and-greet, and photo ops with the performers.
You can plan ahead to break out the Jams bathing suits and pastel tank tops for the I Want My '80s cruise sailing in late February 2016. Some of the original MTV VJs host this seven-day event on Holland America's Eurodam with concerts packed tighter than a Velcro wallet. A total of 10 acts hop aboard including Huey Lewis and the News, Kool and the Gang, A Flock of Seagulls and more. An '80s film fest, leg-warming aerobics, a classic arcade, "Top Gun" Karaoke and a neon beach party simply scratch the surface. Discount prices starting at $1,700 per person will be available until March 15, and cruisers can make smaller monthly payments in advance. Awesome, totally awesome.
800-764-7419, carnival.com, @CarnivalCruise
844-384-8080, the80scruise.com, @The80sCruise
Florida Keys
Channeling your inner Buffett and venturing to the Keys may mean dropping serious cash for accommodations. Look closer and you might land deals at certain spots. The Key West Bed and Breakfast (415 William St., Key West, Fla., 800-438-6155, keywestbandb.com), otherwise known as the historic William Russell House, offers easy access to Duval Street, the Seaport and Mallory Square. Single travelers may opt for the Nun's Room and its twin bed.
Parmer's Resort (565 Barry Ave., Little Torch Key, Fla., 305-872-2157, parmersresort.com) keeps the old-school Keys flavor alive in 1950s fashion. Consider bunking in its lagoon cottage nestled on the waterfront.
Snag an affordable one-room efficiency or a campsite at Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge (33000 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, Fla., 305-872-2351, bpkfl.com). Boating, fishing and lobstering remain big-time pastimes.
Save funds on cheap and free activities such as visiting the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center (33 E. Quay Road, Key West, Fla., 305-809-4750, floridakeys.noaa.gov/eco_discovery.html). Exhibits flow throughout, including its 2,500-gallon saltwater reef tank with tropical fish, corals and sea anemones.
The country's first undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (102601 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Fla., 305-451-6300, pennekamppark.com), has fishing, swimming, picnicking and camping. Snorkel the crystal blue waters of Cannon Beach, and you'll come across an early Spanish shipwreck. You can rent snorkel equipment on-site, pay for a guided snorkel tour or stay dry by ponying up for a trip on a glass bottom boat.
Volunteer tourism
If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves in the midst of a getaway, volunteering while on a vacation can save bucks and help you give back in the process.
Have you ever fantasized about surfing the waves of Lobitos, Peru, with the locals? WAVES for Development (wavesfordevelopment.org, @WAVES4dev) makes it easier through its volunteer program. Visitors might teach English, encourage and advise local entrepreneurs, and help improve someone's living conditions. Volunteering surfers get accommodations, three meals each day, time in the water with access to WAVES' surfboards, and more.
Hikers can explore New Hampshire's White Mountains and help maintain trails by hooking up with the Appalachian Mountain Club (603-466-2727, outdoors.org, @AppMtnClub). Its Lonesome Lake Hut Adult Volunteer Vacation in May will have you soaking up mountain views while putting your best foot forward and helping maintain area trails. They strive to keep erosion at bay so the trails don't wash away. This means creating better drainage, building bog bridges and cleaning the corridor. Downtime gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the surroundings, or take a serious journey along the Kinsman Ridge Trail with its attractive scenery, including a few pools and cascades, and towering surrounding mountains. Meals and hut accommodations come with the territory.
MODERATE
Yoga in Costa Rica
Imagine doing your yoga poses in the middle of a lush rain forest. Stephanie McKenzie, a Southern belle yogini now living in Costa Rica, leads her Yoga for Solo Travelers Retreat across seven days and six nights in May. It all takes place at the Samasati Retreat & Rainforest Sanctuary nestled in the dense jungle on the side of a mountain in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
With rich tangles of flora as your backdrop, McKenzie leads morning and evening yoga sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to get to know the folks on the yoga mats around you during shared buffet-style meals at Samasati’s open-air restaurant. Nosh in your rain forest perch while overlooking nearby beaches.
Join the group for a waterfall trekking tour, beach trips to Cahuita National Park and Punta Uva, and a tour of Samasati Biological Reserve. While on the latter, don’t be surprised if you see a toucan or sloth chilling in the forest. With all that yoga and exploration, the included massage proves to be a welcome amenity.
800-563-9643, samasati.com/retreats, @Samasati
Chicago
If you’re working with a midrange budget, the Windy City can easily be your kind of town.
In 2010, hotel mogul Ian Schrager sunk a reported $35 million into the iconic Ambassador East Hotel. Now having a second coming as Public (1301 N. State Parkway, Chicago, 312-787-3700, publichotels.com/chicago/home, @PublicHotels), the hotel provides posh digs at moderate rates.
Tucked in the Loop, you'll find Hotel Burnham (1 W. Washington St., Chicago, 312-782-1111, burnhamhotel.com, @KimptonCHI), a boutique establishment in the historic Reliance Building. Classic touches abound with floor-to-ceiling windows and metal elevator grilles.
Not quite ready to make like the Obamas and splurge for a high-dollar meal at Spiaggia? A less expensive alternative can be had at Bar Toma (110 E. Pearson St., Chicago, 312-266-3110, bartomachicago.com, @BarToma), a pizzeria owned and operated by Tony Mantuano, a chef and partner at Spiaggia. Mantuano wood-fires pizza made with 48-hour aged dough and chars the crust Italian style, a technique called leoparding.
Chicago continues to have strong comedy cred. The Second City (1616 N. Wells St., Chicago, 312-337-3992, secondcity.com, @TheSecondCity) lays claim as the training ground to most big "Saturday Night Live" alum from John Belushi to Amy Poehler. Comedic plays, improv, touring stand-up performances and more go for guffaws.
The musical blood of the city still runs blue with its rich and storied history in the world of blues music. Legendary genre fret master Buddy Guy has his own well-respected joint, Buddy Guy's Legends (700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 312-427-1190, buddyguy.com, @BuddyGuys). Although he takes the stage 16 times each January, Guy often hangs out at the club when he's not on the road.
Oakland, Calif.
Oakland earns its nickname "Brooklyn by the Bay" honestly. Its hipster scene continues to grow quicker than a handlebar mustache. See it for yourself by staking claim at the Waterfront Hotel (10 Washington St., Oakland, Calif., 510-836-3800, jdvhotels.com, @JDVWaterfront). This Joie de Vivre boutique hotel with its nautical theme sits within the lively Jack London Square, a tourist haven booming with shopping, dining and entertainment.
Hop on the free B Shuttle for a quick zip to downtown and uptown, the latter being the city’s hipster epicenter. Try to schedule a visit to uptown on or around the first Friday of a month for Art Murmur. That’s when gallery owners open their doors, and guests hop from venue to venue, some lacing their stroll with cocktails and foodie delights.
Uptown's main drag sprawls along Broadway and Telegraph between 17th and 25th streets. Consider snagging a burger at Plum Bar and Restaurant (2216 Broadway, Oakland, Calif., 510-444-7586, plumbaroakland.com, @PLUMBAR1); tipping back a Greyhound cocktail while catching live music at Cafe Van Kleef (1621 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, Calif., 510-763-7711, cafevankleef.com, @xCafeVanKleefx); or soothing your sugar fix at Sweet Bar Bakery (2355 Broadway, Oakland, Calif., 510-788-4997, sweetbarbakery.com). Live music and other entertainment drop at two deco-infused classic venues: Fox Theater (1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, Calif., 510-302-2250, thefoxoakland.com, @foxoakland) and Paramount Theatre of the Arts (2025 Broadway, Oakland, Calif., 510-465-6400, paramounttheatre.com, @OakParamount).
Farther north, you'll find Temescal Alleys, a U-shaped pair of alleys that once served as horse stables. Today the area scores high on the hip meter with more than a dozen shops and boutiques.
Venture to nearby Lake Merritt for an authentic gondola ride. The folks at Gondola Servizio (1520 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, Calif., 510-663-6603, gondolaservizio.com, @GondolaServizio) take singles and groups on the water. The gondoliers might even burst into song.
Want to see nearby San Francisco? A 12-minute ride on the BART or a 20-minute ferry ride will get you there.
SPLURGE
Norway and Iceland cruises
With success as bountiful as falling snowflakes for Disney’s 2013 animated blockbuster “Frozen,” it makes sense Disney Cruise Line would find its way to Norway, the setting and inspiration for the film. Sure, tiny Annas and Elsas might be mesmerized by the sights and culture, but singles or grown-up groups can get just as giddy.
Adults will certainly appreciate the up-close-and-personal view of the surroundings while sailing upon and weaving along the Norwegian fjords. These narrow inlets flow between rocky cliffs and mountains, some snuggled in blankets of green. Eyes stay wide for gargantuan glaciers and gurgling geysers. Guests choose from a seven-night cruise departing June 6; a nine-night cruise sailing June 20; and an 11-night trek beginning June 29, which also hits Iceland, Scotland and England. Each cruise departs from Copenhagen, Denmark.
All three cruises stop in Stavanger, Norway. The sculpture of a towering trio of Viking swords, a monument known as Swords in Rock, stands near the edge of the water just walking distance from downtown Stavanger. Cruise the cafes and shops on Ovre Holmegate, one of Stavanger's streets lined with vibrantly painted buildings.
When you're not exploring ports, including an overnight stay in Reykjavik on the Iceland cruise, the Disney Magic, the flagship of Disney's fleet, offers more entertainment options than a sorcerer's apprentice could conjure. Late 2013 saw the Magic re-emerge with a sparkling makeover and update. Kids escape into heavily tricked-out, drop-off play areas and catch thrills on the AquaDunk, a three-story body slide with a free-fall sensation.
Grown-ups have oodles of options on board, including a pool and bar area to themselves, and activities and events catered specifically for them. Some break away to the adults-only fine dining of Palo, the After Hours nightclub section of the ship and the pampering found in the Senses Spa. And that’s just the tip of the glacier.
800-951-3532, disneycruise.disney.go.com, @DisneyCruise
South African safaris
Kensington Tours knows a thing or two about around-the-world adventure, guiding guests through nearly 100 countries. Its custom tours have roped in a herd of awards from the likes of Fodor’s, National Geographic and Travel + Leisure. So if you’ve ever longed for a South African safari, these pros can take you on that dream excursion where wildlife rules the savannah. Leave it to the local guides, who’ll cater the trip to your interests and who know the area like a well-worn map.
The company offers several South African safari experiences. Its seven-day South Africa Cape and Kruger Safari trip mixes discerning posh and wild animals. The journey begins in Cape Town and includes a private tour of the lush Stellenbosch Vineyards in the heart of South Africa's wine country. Yet the star attraction remains Kruger National Park. Reportedly home to nearly 150 different wildlife species, Kruger is known for what savvy safari trekkers call the big five: African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and rhinos. Take in the natural eye candy by day and crash in the exotic swank of the Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge by night.
Other options run the safari gamut, but the ultra splurge comes in the form of the South Africa Grand Journey. This exhaustive 16-day trip not only takes you on wild safaris and an interactive visit to a cheetah sanctuary, but spotlights the country’s greatest hits and hidden gems. This includes visiting Nelson Mandela’s home, stopping at the Apartheid Museum and exploring a Zulu village. Throw in beach hopping, boat cruises, Table Mountain and more, and your bucket might be overflowing off of the list. It includes a private guide, a driver and internal flights.
888-903-2001, kensingtontours.com, @KensingtonTours
Breckenridge, Colo.
Snow skiing enthusiasts know the powder-white magic found in Breckenridge, Colo. With a base elevation of 9,600 feet, the mountain at Breckenridge Ski Resort has a variety of options for both newbies and white-knuckle slope veterans. Some say it lays claim to some of the best beginner terrain in the state. Main Street in Breckenridge beams with classic charm. Its century-old buildings offer a blizzard’s worth of restaurants, shops and nightspots for everyone from laid-back solo travelers to party-hearty groups.
If the sky's the limit, plush accommodations can be found, although a bulk of the nicer hotels live in Vail and Aspen. The Atlanta office of the New York-based SmartFlyer travel agency (smartflyer.com) often pairs clients with luxury homes and condos in Breckenridge.
Another option is the relatively new One Ski Hill Place, A RockResort. This luxury getaway sits at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort's Peak 8 with lodging options ranging from studios to four-bedroom condos. Want ski-in/ski-out resort capabilities? You'll find easy access to a quartet of lifts, which haul visitors to Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10. Those taking a break from the slopes can take a short walk to the BreckConnect Gondola and hop aboard for a zip to historic downtown.
After a day of skiing, some soak their bones in the two indoor pools or hot tubs. Others indulge in a massage at the Rejuvenation Center or simply catch a flick in one of the media rooms. Replenish the burned calories at one of three on-site restaurants. The T-Bar, an apres ski bar with food service, serves a killer view of the slopes from the bottom of Peak 8. A surprise retreat comes in the form of the Mine Shaft, a private two-lane bowling alley designed in rustic hip.
One Ski Hill Place, 1521 Ski Hill Road, Breckenridge, Colo., 970-547-8800, oneskihill.rockresorts.com, @OneSkiHillPlace
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