Image courtesy of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe
February isn’t only about couples. Sometimes the best relationship you can invest in is the one you have with yourself. This year, I’m seeing more travelers lean into solo adventure. Not the “treat yourself to a spa day” kind (though there’s a place for that too)—I’m talking about the kind of travel that pushes you, surprises you, and reminds you what you’re capable of when you’re the only person calling the shots.
For the solo adventurers
Image courtesy of Nicolas Matheus for PONANT and Abercrombie & Kent
Ponant expedition cruises change the math on solo travel entirely. If you’ve ever looked at the price of a single supplement and reconsidered the whole trip, this is your answer. Ponant waives the single supplement on double occupancy cabins and suites across more than 160 itineraries annually, including polar expeditions. Picture yourself navigating Norwegian fjords, watching glaciers calve in Antarctica, or spotting polar bears in Svalbard—all without paying double for the privilege of traveling alone.
These aren’t your average cruises. Expert naturalists lead Zodiac excursions. The scenery makes you forget to check your phone. And you’re surrounded by other travelers who chose adventure over routine, which means plenty of interesting dinner conversations without any forced socializing.
Solo travel isn't just for twenty-somethings finding themselves or mid-life sabbaticals. After my dad passed away a few years ago, my 87-year-old mother started cruising solo (and even got asked out on a date while on board!). And when her best friend began scaling back travel, those waived solo supplements became like permission to keep exploring.
For those craving a full reset, The Ranch Malibu and The Ranch Hudson Valley offer something harder to find: clarity. Expect early wake-ups, mountain hikes, plant-based meals, and the kind of digital detox that actually sticks. Whether on the California coast or in the Hudson Valley countryside, you’ll leave feeling stronger and more like yourself than you have in months.
Read more about solo travel on The 2026 Hot List.
For the romantics
Image courtesy of The Loren at Pink Beach
If you and another are celebrating love this February, there’s something to be said for delayed gratification. Book now for May or June and give yourselves something to look forward to—a spring escape to The Loren at Pink Beach in Bermuda. It’s close enough to feel easy (just a two-hour flight from the East Coast) but worlds away once you arrive. Think ocean-view suites, a stunning infinity pool, and that impossibly pink sand Bermuda is famous for. Early season means fewer crowds and that relaxed atmosphere that invites you to linger over breakfast.
Or, if you’re ready to go all-in, a cabin on one of the classic but reimaged Orient Express trains is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime journey that reminds you why you fell for each other in the first place. La Dolce Vita Orient Express touts Art Deco cabins, white-glove service, and routes winding through Rome, Florence, Venice, and beyond. Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express L’Observatoire suite is next level—your own private train car complete with a lounge, library, and sky-lit bedroom. Some trips are worth the splurge. This is one of them.
The takeaway
February is about choosing travel that feeds your soul. Romance is wonderful. So is independence. Adventure is thrilling, but so is quiet luxury. The best trips are about honoring whatever phase you’re in and saying yes to the experience that calls to you most.
So this Valentine’s Day, skip the overpriced prix fixe. Book the trip instead.
