Celebrate New Year's Eve Solo: Best Destinations & Insider Tips
Holy Land travel
Jews celebrate the New Year on Rosh Hashanah, which took place in September so if your goal is to forget about NYE, Jerusalem is the place to go (among many other places in Israel). December/January isn’t peak season so prices are mild, and there’s been a huge spike in the opening of luxe as well as more affordable boutique hotels. The most-buzzed-about hotel is the Mamila, which offers seriously stunning rooms, views, an amazing breakfast, and spa/fitness center along with a super trendy rooftop bar/restaurant and lounge. For a more affordable option, there’s the Villa Brown Jerusalem. The brand-new hotel has a young and trendy feel while also offering a high-brow afternoon tea service and spa. Lastly, Orient Hotel boasts an amazing location with panoramic views of the old and new city. If you’re looking for more of a resort feel (yes, it exists in Jerusalem!) head to Cramim Spa and Wine (the name says it all, doesn’t it?). No matter where you stay, you’ll have the perfect balance of culture, relaxation, and hopefully some spiritual awakenings along the way.
Surf adventure in Costa Rica
If you’re an outdoor adventure type looking to meet and socialize with like-minded men and women, check out the New Year’s retreat at Pura Vida Adventures. Located on the beautiful coast of Malpais, Costa Rica, Pura Vida Adventures combines surfing, yoga, and cultural experiences—think sunset surfing and by-the-water meals—in expansive rain forest and beachfront surroundings. For a luxe experience, you can’t beat the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. Here are more destinations that are perfect for solo travelers.
Detox in California
A good chunk of those visiting Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California, come solo. This spa/resort is boutique in that it only has 32 villas. You spend your mornings working out and your afternoons being pampered. There’s also an adjoining Country Club and 18-hole golf course. Tailor-made solo packages can be booked for three, four, or seven nights and include healthy meals, over 125 fitness classes, hiking, beauty and spa treatments, mind-body awareness programs, and lectures.
Far-flung wellness destination
With its mixture of eastern and western philosophies Chiva-Som is known in Asia for being a wellness pioneer and they offer a big aesthetic program, which appeals to many because of the value of the Thai Bhat. Personalized solo package includes access to an extensive offering of fitness, spa, and holistic health treatments. Spend less on your next vacay with these secrets booking agents won’t tell you.
Master-led yoga and meditation in India
The ITC Grand Bharat is offering two New Year retreats: Holistic Wellness Retreat and Ayurvedic Detox Wellness Retreat. Both retreats include a daily morning tea ritual, healthy meals, a consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor, and personalized yoga, mediation, and other treatments.
No-plan adventure and relaxation
While there are plenty of organized retreats and wellness resorts/spas in the area, Aruba is a great place for those who don’t want to travel with a plan because there are so possibilities for spur-of-the-moment adventures. Aruba’s Airkok National Park (covering almost 20 percent of the island) has an array of trails to choose from. There’s also yoga and meditation classes offered every day throughout the island—many of which occur on the beach at sunrise (Aruba’s yoga hot spot is at Manchebo)—there are a ton of water wellness opportunities including windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and there are also mangrove lagoons along the southern fringe (Mangel Halto Reef is a popular kayaking destination), and then, of course, there are the pristine beaches. While you’re there, stop by Aruba Aloe, one of the oldest aloe companies in the world. Aruba also celebrates the New Year with a traditional Dande Festival that takes place throughout the end of December and on the first day of the New Year. If you do want to lock something in before you go, a great place to start is at the Hyatt Regency (everything from water sports to spa to casino).
Shopping in fashion capitals
Did you know that December/January is sale season in Paris and London? For an alternative to the sometimes unreliable Airbnb or notoriously expensive and cramped hotels, check out Paris and London Perfect, a luxury apartment rental and concierge service with over 130 apartments in the heart of Paris and London.
Scandinavian design and cuisine
Copenhagen is not only beautiful and culturally rich (it’s known for everything from design to cuisine), but it’s walkable, making it stress-free for solo travelers. Set in Copenhagen’s main city square, Kongens Nytorv, the Hotel d’Angleterre is the best place to stay because it’s well-appointed and luxe while also being perfectly located smack in the middle of all the city’s best shops, cafés, museums, and design institutions. After you arrive, you may want to peruse these tips for how to get over jet lag.
Sea and sun
When you think of Cancun you probably think of half-naked college kids, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Cancun actually boasts some of the most pristine waters and the temperatures around New Year are nothing short of idyllic. If you’re solo opt for a beachfront property that offers a lot of food and entertainment options so you don’t need to venture out. Ventus at Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort Cancún Riviera Maya, which just opened, is an oceanfront resort that has a spa, big fitness center with spinning classes, TRX training, functional training and yoga classes, two infinity pools, a huge main pool, Jacuzzis, and a long list of dining options, ranging from grab-and-go eateries, to gourmet restaurants and bars (there are about a dozen options). For activity-seekers, kayaks, paddle boards, boogie boards, beach volleyball courts, hobie cat rides, and wind surfers are available.
Midnight run
If you’re one of the infinite number of people who vow to kickoff 2018 by getting into better shape, there’s no better time than Sunday, December 31, 2017 11:59pm to start. Head to Central Park for the annual New York Road Runners’ Midnight Run. It’s four miles and includes fireworks and a pre-race dance party that starts at 10 p.m. It’s also worth noting that runners who finish the race or volunteer receive credit toward the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon. Not in New York? Here’s a long list of running opportunities all across the country. Here’s how starting that running routine will change your body.
DIY Spa
Holiday season means an endless offering of holiday value sets. Load your Sephora cart with a few choice favorites and spend the night pampering your skin. Some standouts include Drunk Elephant Volume 2: Come C About Me, Sephora Favorites Scouted by Sephora, First Aid Beauty Mask Diaries, and Murad Fountain of Youth.
