Spring is about reawakening, which should apply to everyone, not just college freshmen and sophomores. This year, spring break is turning out to be a refuge for everyone wanting to relax. If your version of relaxing means partying the night away and meeting new people, then that’s okay too. If you prefer to travel solo or want to make new friends, spring break is the perfect time to do it, but you have to consider where you go.
Destinations vary in terms of the holiday, and one might be different from your type of vibe. Another one might have the perfect ambiance, but you need to be made aware it exists.
Being adventurous can be part of a spring awakening, and trying something new this season can set your summer off to a good start. We’ve sourced the top seven spring break destinations for solo travelers, and they range from excellent poolside hotels to trendy urban areas where cocktails and meeting new people go hand in hand. This season, feel free to get out there.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Located in Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta is a favorite of many solo travelers. It’s an incredible LGBTQ+ hotspot known for its high-energy parties and pacific-facing beaches that offer a sense of calm to many travelers. Properties like Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa blend those two experiences together.
The hotel has 433 Jalisco-town-inspired suites, all facing the recently renovated infinity pool, which is perfect if you prefer to meet other solo travelers by swimming at the floating bar. If floating isn’t your style, check out Nosh, an open-air bar facing the pacific. You’ll mingle with others while enjoying Jalisco-inspired cocktails and music.
Check out the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center if you want a more all-inclusive vibe. It’s a massive all-inclusive property perfect to amp up the party. Prepare to relax; the renovated Maiave Spa has some of the best hands in the industry.
Their AAA restaurant Gaviotas has a fantastic assortment of prehispanic (before Spanish colonization) meals in a high-end ambiance that challenges the idea of an all-inclusive beach hotel. It’s worth it if you want to party but add a little culture to your trip.
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has been known as America’s party town for what seems like forever, and we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. There are places that are a little different, like Superfrico (one of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas) newest restaurants.
It’s a funky hotspot where you can have out-of-this-world dishes and mingle with burning man-like people. It labels itself as an Italian psychedelic restaurant, and we’re good with that. It’s the type of place you go if you want to have a cocktail while your neighbor performs magic tricks or something. It’s bizarre, and for all the good reasons. If you’re ever in Nevada, you have to check it out.
Ibiza, Spain
Another party place that doesn’t need a formal introduction is Ibiza. Back then, hippies looking to escape western wars made their way to the Balearic Islands and introduced the struggling habitants to the wonders of the party scene.
This created a party monster, and the island was never the same again. If you’re there, check out spots like BLESS Hotel Ibiza and TRS Ibiza Hotel. These hotels are the opposite, but it’s an excellent way to determine your wants. At BLESS Hotel Ibiza, you’ll find a killer rooftop called Epic Infinity Lounge that promotes hedonism and a 2023 Michelin-star award-winning restaurant called Etxeko Ibiza. It’s a posh way of partying in Ibiza.
The TRS Ibiza Hotel is more original to an all-inclusive but has some of the best meeting spots for solo travelers on the island. A favorite is the Aurum Lobby Bar. Around check-in/check-out time, you’ll be immersed in this Balearic hotel’s foot traffic. Pro tip: if you’re at the TRS Ibiza Hotel, check out Cala Gracioneta and Cala Gració. These two adjoining beaches give spring vacation in Europe vibes.
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Miami Beach, Florida
Most spring breakers have been to Miami Beach, but have you been to the South of Fifth neighborhood of Miami Beach? This is the perfect place to meet other solo travelers looking for a good time. Stay at The Balfour Hotel Miami Beach, a historic art-deco wonder with only 82 guest rooms. Designed by Anton Skislewicz (a pioneer in the art-deco movement on the beach) in 1940, it has a unique style that screams “let’s hang out.”
Another spot in the neighborhood is Minibar. Located on Meridian and 5th street, it’s the type of place you go to and ends up making friends with everyone from the bartender to folks next to you.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Another great city in Jalisco is Guadalajara. If you’ve been to Mexico City and liked it, you’ll love this equally impressive counterpart. Walk through the historic city center, where you can visit spots like the UNESCO World Heritage Site Museo Cabañas and the golden-hued Palacio de Gobierno.
You can crash at the super modern brutalist-inspired Bellwort Hotel, located pretty much in the middle of everything. You can grab drinks at La Tequila Cocina, roam around the city, or eat at the earthy VENENO. It’s an amazingly excellent restaurant inspired by the once-populated Casas Grandas in Chihuahua.
One last stop could be the magical town of San Pedro Tlaquepaque. Its quaintness can often be overwhelming. This city has plenty of different attractions for making friends or wanting to be alone.
Madrid, Spain
The capital of Spain has some different attractions for solo travelers and is often known as a safe alternative for them. It’s a must-visit if you’re planning to cascade through western Europe. Don’t think it’s boring; places like BLESS Hotel Madrid offer interesting dining choices and a sophisticated-relaxed vibe you can’t find anywhere else in the city.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
All-inclusive hotels are great if you’re looking for new friends, and we’re sure this last one will be full of potential new friends this spring break. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is the type of place you go if you want to party but also feel like you’re visiting a destination. It’s a massive resort with amenities like catamaran tours of some of the Dominican Republic’s most beautiful beaches and lagoons.
They also have a few nightclubs and bars on the property that are pretty fun. The Eden Pools are lively outdoor pools facing the ocean that can promote friend-making.
Worst case scenario, head over to Santo Domingo. This beautiful colonial capital is home to the Zona Colonial, where you can find some of America’s oldest churches and other historical sites. It’s also a fun place to have a cocktail and grab a bite with a blossoming LGBQT+ scene developing.
A significant portion of the Dominican Republic’s cultural identity can be found here, and it’s a welcoming spot every solo traveler should try at least once.
