Solo travel is incredibly liberating. You gain this overwhelming sense of self and accomplishment. You navigate the pressures of an airport or a lengthy drive to bring your dreams to life. You protect your safety (and sanity) all on your own – and make it all the way back home with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
Solo traveling to an all-inclusive resort is a wonderful treat and takes things to new heights. All your food and activities are centralized in one beautiful setting and all you have to do is think about healing and relaxation. Savor a spa service. Luxuriate beside a pool. Walk to a decent dinner. Or, if you’re in love with the plush furnishings in your room, order dinner to your suite so you can enjoy the view from your balcony.
All in all, solo travel to an all-inclusive resort delivers all the bells and whistles you can dream up. Together, let’s take a tour through 12 of the best in the world.
Triple Creek Ranch | Montana
Let’s start with a few stateside selections. When we think of all-inclusive resorts, we might think of tropical locales. But we can’t overlook the wonder of a mountain retreat. Triple Creek Ranch proudly bills itself as a hideaway, making it the perfect escape from the rigors of everyday life.
Nestled into an astonishing four million acres of the Bitterroot National Forest, every last luxury will be at your fingertips here. Plenty of invigorating activities like horseback riding, mountain biking, and fly fishing are included in your rate. Then, there are oodles of activities that garner a wonderful sense of accomplishment, like hand-crafting your own cowboy hat.
With standalone cottages, you’ll enjoy a deep sense of privacy, and when you’re ready to mix and mingle, simply head down to the lodge for a delicious meal, some fine wine, and a brand-new friendship.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
While Triple Creek bills itself as a hideaway, Lake Austin’s tagline is wellness on the water. Prettily perched along the misty shorelines of Lake Austin, you’ll find award-winning luxury in a setting designed for healing.
Their talented team of wellness experts will make you feel like you’ve come home the moment you arrive. All their wellness activities, pools, steam rooms, saunas, events, smoothies, juices, meals, and snacks are included in your stay. You can easily take to the water on a paddleboard, as well. With a host of events like exercise classes, wellness experiences, educational sessions, and motivational talks, there’s ample opportunity to enrich your body, mind, and soul throughout your stay.
Lido Beach Resort | Florida
Lido Key is a barrier island off the sumptuous shorelines of Sarasota. Nature lovers unite here to hike, bike, kayak, and relax under the healing rays of the sun. Although it’s not frequently required in Florida, you’ll find heated-only pools onsite, adults-only spaces if you’re looking for quiet, and some lovely dining experiences.
With insatiable views of the Gulf of Mexico, there are plenty of places to perch yourself for an afternoon. And perhaps one of the best perks of this resort is that it’s dog-friendly! Having Fido by our side always makes solo travel a little more enjoyable.
Here, relaxation is the only directive. You can cruise the Gulf on a sailboat, sip on an umbrella drink at their tiki bar, go scuba diving, and cap it all off with a meal at Drift Kitchen & Bar, taking in the glorious display of vibrant colors that only a Gulf Coast sunset can serve.
Alila Ventana Big Sur | California
Like Belize, Big Sur is heaven all on its own. You can travel to nearly any part of it and feel an immense sense of peace. With everything from redwoods to sunny shorelines, it’s basically like stepping into one of Grimm’s fairy tales. As an adults-only escape, you’ll be well cared for at Alila Ventana Big Sur.
Cozy up beside the fireplace in your room after you’ve taken a dip in their hot tubs or washed the day away in an outdoor shower. Start the day with any number of offerings, from Tai Chi to yoga to meditation – all of which are included in your rate. The concierge will also be happy to help you plan an afternoon filled with a peaceful hike and a satiating picnic.
Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa | Massachusetts
Like Lake Austin, the staff at Miraval Berkshires is here to bring rest to your system. Their offerings go above and beyond group yoga or Tai Chi classes. We’re talking Tibetan singing bowls in your room for private meditation before (or after) partaking in their wide range of offerings.
Included in your rate are gourmet meals, snacks, non-alcoholic refreshments, and free range within their luxurious spa. In addition to this, you can partake in any number of workshops and classes, including equine therapy and culinary classes. With views out over the Berkshires, you can’t go wrong no matter which corner of the resort you claim as yours for the day.
Dream Valley Belize
Doesn’t it seem like the entire country offers wave upon wave of relaxation and healing? With the Caribbean Sea to the east and lush forests to the west, you have your pick of soothing settings.
Dream Valley delivers a deep retreat into the jungle, complete with swimming pools, a full menu of spa services, and even a library if you’d like to catch up on your reading. When you’re ready to unleash your wild side, the staff will be happy to help you arrange a jungle hike or a tour through ancient Mayan ruins. Here, you’re free to be yourself and make an array of new discoveries.
Paradisus Cancun
From Belize, let’s head north to Mexico. Paradisus Cancun is the place to dive into Mexican culture and savor all its eccentricities. Even the architecture is infused with Mayan influences. You can spend the day exploring coral reefs and then return to the property for a full-body massage before making a reservation for some of the finest cuisine at their onsite restaurant, Sal Steak Cave.
For your slower days, you can book mindfulness and yoga sessions, tastings, and craft workshops. The sunsets from your room, equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, or the pool is a sight that will stay with you forever. Indeed, you will leave here fully relaxed and rejuvenated.
Westin Reserva Conchal | Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a hotspot for adventure-seeking solo travelers. People tend to feel safe here, especially when they’re booked into an all-inclusive resort that offers so much. You don’t even need to leave the property to indulge in Costa Rica’s culture.
Western Reserva is nestled into 2,400 acres in such a way that you can partake of the splendors of both the Pacific and the rainforest. When you’re onsite, you can indulge in their aptly named Heavenly Spa or spend the entire day beside their lagoon-style pool. And, again, you never have to leave the property because, with nine dining options, your wish is their command.
Absolute Sanctuary | Thailand
When the words “wellness” and “retreat” come to mind, Thailand is a popular and obvious choice. Absolute Sanctuary has a full menu of offerings for such things with its detox programs, yoga retreats, and clean cuisine.
They proudly point out that they’re the only fitness wellness resort in Asia – that’s some claim to fame! Their wellness programs are designed to have long-lasting effects on your body, well beyond your stay with them. Whether you need to de-stress, manage your weight, or change your lifestyle, their holistic approach is something you will take with you when you leave.
Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel | Croatia
Like Montana, Croatia might be a surprising addition to a “best of” list, but boy, does the Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel belong. Their sandy shorelines along the Adriatic are healing and soothing all on their own. But, once you lift your head and look out to the horizon, you’ll be graced by gorgeous mountainscapes that will steal your breath and capture your heart.
Their premium suites offer the same stunning views, as do their premium buffet restaurants and exclusive à la carte restaurants. Although you’re likely to spend nearly all your time on the beach, they also have a lovely wellness and indoor pool you can dip into from time to time. When you’re ready for an umbrella drink, their Piano Bar offers savory delights out on a sea view terrace. Their Wellness Bar is also a great place to go to refuel with a healthy smoothie which you can happily enjoy poolside.
Club Med Opio | France
For a brand name you can trust, it’s generally a safe bet to see what Club Med has on offer. When you pair that with the beauty of Provence, the world immediately becomes your oyster. Imagine how charming it would be to walk through olive groves during the day and lay your head at night to the symphony of cicadas.
The Club Med Spa is, of course, top shelf with a full menu of offerings to soothe your body and soul. They also have a host of excursions on demand, including a Mediterranean escapade and “Scent of the Sea,” a private-hire boat. Like every other property on this list, you don’t even need to leave the resort throughout your stay. But when your sense of adventure kicks in, Club Med will be happy to acquiesce.
Gili Lankanfushi | Maldives
We’ll end with something so luxurious it may only ever live in our dreams. Just getting to the Maldives alone is a costly venture. But, once you arrive, you instantly find that it was all worth it when luxury meets seclusion atop those clear blue waters.
This is exactly what you imagine when you dream of nights in the Maldives – those remarkable tiki huts on the water that are only accessible by boat. Talk about privacy and healing from heaven’s doorstep. With a wealth of spa therapies and secret places to lounge, this decadent resort is here to change your life in just a handful of days.
As a private island sanctuary, their villas are expansive, and their experiences include snorkeling, surfing, tennis, cooking classes, and watching movies under the stars. If you’d like to save for a year or two for something truly life-changing, Gili Lankanfushi will happily hand you the keys to that new lease on life.
Ready to Recharge?
Whether you’re looking for a simple reset in the mountains of Montana or a life-changing experience in the Maldives, any one of these resorts will do right by you.
And, when you’re ready to get out there and see the world in the most relaxing and rejuvenating way, check out our destination guides. It’s likely we have something in there to help your dreams meet paradise. Here’s hoping we find you lounging poolside beside us someday in the pretty hills of Provence!