We have created a list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s to help people choose the adequate destination for their holiday. If you are single and older than 30, you probably have problems with vacation planning. Most travel agencies offer packages that are customized for the biggest consumer groups, like family vacations, or vacations for 20-year-old party-goers.
In most cases, typical vacation packages don’t offer the features single travelers in their thirties are after. When you are thirty, you want to go to a destination that offers spectacularly beautiful beaches, interesting sights, outdoor activities and relaxation spots.
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When we think of the perfect holiday, we usually imagine blue sea, white sand, tall palms, and cocktails. This type of setting is excellent for the ultimate relaxation and a battery recharge after a long period of hard work. Still, even the destinations far away from the coast offer great relaxing opportunities. Mountain air or a healing spa will relieve you from work-related stress and make you feel ‘as good as new.’ On the other hand, if you choose a popular party destination that never sleeps, you will be tired and unproductive, when vacation ends, and you return to your work.
People usually work very hard in their 30’s, and that is why relaxation is one of the crucial factors for spending a great holiday. For more adventurous people this also includes various outdoor activities, like hiking, sailing, canoeing or paragliding. For others, a relaxing time at the beach, with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other, is everything they need. That is why we tried to pick destinations that offer both relaxing spots and outdoor opportunities.
Nightlife plays an important role in choosing destinations for single travelers. While in the daily hours, tourists usually want to relax and recharge, the hot nights on single holidays are usually reserved for eating out, dancing and meeting interesting people. Nobody likes to spend their holiday alone, which is why at some time you’ll start looking for a partner in crime. If you are only looking for a summer adventure, you should check our article on Best Vacation Spots to Get Laid.
One of the good things about being a thirty-something single is that money isn’t a problem anymore. At this age, most people already have steady jobs and are eligible for various vacation loans. You can easily reach exotic destinations and enjoy all the luxuries they have to offer. By using the internet for planning your holiday, you won’t need to rely on tourist agencies. Today, you can easily book hotel rooms and airplane tickets online, and plan your daily itinerary with the help of online guides and interactive travel forums.
while creating our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s, we have used TripAdvisor, the world’s most interactive and engaging travel forum. Each year, this platform issues lists of the 25 Most Popular Destinations and 25 Best Beaches in the world. We have combined the rankings on these lists with the information from two travel articles, published on Travel Channel and Business Insider. These articles list the best destinations for travelers in their 30’s. Each destination from Business Insider’s and Travel Channel’s lists received 20 points, which were then combined with the number of points that are reversely proportional to the rankings on TripAdvisor. In the end, we have added the bonus points to some destinations for features and sights that can be interesting to people in their thirties, from the cultural point of view. Now, let’s see our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s.
10. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Score: 22;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list; (20 points);
Trip Advisor’s Most Popular Destination List: #24 (2 points);
Bora Bora is the pearl of the Pacific Ocean. The light blue sea of the Society Islands Archipelago and scenic overwater bungalows became widely known to the Western tourists after the release of Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962. Marlon Brando who played the lead role in this blockbuster fell in love with Bora Bora, purchased an overwater bungalow and had spent a large portion of his later life in this tropical paradise. Bora Bora offers some of the best beaches and diving spots in the world. It’s a luxurious and expensive destination, but apart from special tours, you can also take plenty of free and equally amusing activities, like swimming with the dolphins, feeding sharks and stingrays, hiking on the island’s mountains and enjoying the famous romantic sunsets. Now, let’s see what else we have on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s.
Pixabay/Public Domain
9. Ambergris Caye, Belize
Score: 29;
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’; (20 points);
Trip Advisor’s Most Popular Destination List: #17 (9 points);
Although Ambergris Caye is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the island lacks luxurious hotel resorts, which gives it a unique laid back feel which is why we put it on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s. Golf carts and bicycles are the most popular form of transportation on the island, and you can use them to reach the nicest looking coral beaches in the whole Caribbean region. This part of Belize also offers great diving, deep sea fishing and sailing opportunities for more adventurous travelers. On Ambergris Caye, rum is the drink of choice, and here you will also try some of the tastiest lobsters served with fluffy coconut rice on an annual Lobster Festival.
Pixabay/Public Domain
8. Negril, Jamaica
Score: 35;
Trip Advisor’s Most Popular Destination List: #12 (14 points);
Trip Advisor’s Most Beautiful Beach List: #15 (11 points);
Bob Marley Museum in Kingston (+10 bonus points);
The popularity of Bob Marley and his music is the reason why Negril, the number 8 on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s received ten bonus points. He has painted our adolescent years in red, yellow and green taught us to love and forgive. Kingston is on the opposite side of Jamaica from Negril and Montego Bay, but it is easily accessible by local buses. One of the most popular Jamaican resorts offers vibrant nightlife. The best way to visit the most popular clubbing spots in Montego Bay is by hopping on the One Love Bar Crawl bus and allowing local guides to lead your path. Probably the most relaxing spot in Montego Bay is the Seven Mile Beach, a stretch of golden sand, once haunted by Pirates, and today by tourists in their thirties.
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7. Crete, Greece
Score: 37;
Trip Advisor’s Most Popular Destination List: #6 (20 points);
Trip Advisor’s Most Beautiful Beach List: #9 (17 points);
Chania and the whole island of Crete always find their place on the lists of best vacation spots for singles in their 30s. The biggest Greek island offers turquoise water, many wild and desolated beaches and the tastiest organic produce you have ever tried. Crete is also popular for its beach parties, and during the latest few years it has overtopped Mykonos and become the most popular party island in the Mediterranean. Elafonissi Beach is the most beautiful vacation spot on the whole Crete and if you think it’s too mainstream or crowded, catch a cruising boat to the island of Gavdos, located several hundred miles south of the Crete coast. There you will find an isolated paradise with few dozen inhabitants, crystal clear blue water and a big naturist community from all European countries.
Andrei Nekrassov/Shutterstock.com
6. Austin, Texas
Score: 40;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list; (20 points);
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list; (20 points);
As one of the biggest university centers in Texas, Austin offers a unique mix of Southern hospitality, vibrant alternative art and nightlife scene. In East Austin, you will find hip restaurants, casual bars, and bustling art scene, hosted in galleries and studios created from strip malls and empty warehouses. The city is also famous for colorful festivals and wild block parties that are being held year round. During the SXSW, Texas Relays or Austin City Limits Festival residents and visitors from all around the world flock the streets and enjoy the party until the early morning hours.
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5. Napa Valley, California
Score: 40;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list; (20 points);
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list; (20 points);
Napa Valley that ranks 5th on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s is the most important wine region in the United States, and it’s just a few hours’ drive from the Bay Area. Here you can enjoy the Mediterranean climate and the food cooked by some of the best-trained American chefs. The sunset over the Napa Valley vineyards is definitely the scene you will remember for the rest of your life, but apart from wine, amazing culinary experience, and scenic landscapes, this region also offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, including healing spas, horseback riding, fishing, and golf.
Pixabay/Public Domain
4. Santorini, Greece
Score: 42;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list (20 points);
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list (20 points);
Filming location of the Tomb Rider 2 (+2 bonus points);
Santorini, the next one on the list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s is the most scenic Greek island. You can find photos from Santorini on the desktop and mobile displays all over the world, but the only way to truly experience this place is to climb the Fira’s and Oia’s steep steps yourself and enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Apart from white villages and purple skies, Santorini also has some incredibly relaxing beaches, with clean water and white sand and pebbles. Beaches on the east side are featuring rocky red cliffs that make the surroundings even more spectacular. The movie Tomb Rider 2, with Angelina Jolie, was filmed in Santorini, which is why this destination has received 2 bonus points.
Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock.com
3. Rome, Italy
Score: 42;
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list(20 points);
Trip Advisor’s Most Popular Destination List: #4 (22 points);
Rome, the number three on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s is the city with the richest historical heritage and a unique combination of cosmopolitan feel and an Italian chic. After you check out all the Ancient Roman and Catholic sights, The Trevi Fountain and some of the world’s most famous museums, you should take some time to relax on the nearest piazza, with espresso and a copy of La Repubblica. If you are looking for the real Italian cuisine experience, Rome also offers plenty of food and wine tours, within the city borders and on the surrounding hills. You can also cruise the city with a miniature vintage Fiat 500 or visit A.S. Roma or S.S. Lazio game on the Olympic stadium on weekends. Rome is a good base for visiting many other Italian cities and sights. From there you can head to the shore to visit pristine Mediterranean beaches or take a train south to Napoli and Sicilia.
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2. Tokyo, Japan
Score: 45;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list (20 points);
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list (20 points);
Filming location of Lost in Translation (+5 bonus points);
We are continuing our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s with Tokyo that is the sole core of one of the richest and the most populated metro areas in the world, and it can give you the deep insight into the Japanese living, culture, and trends. Although the city has more than 13 million inhabitants, it can be as peaceful as the most relaxing Japanese gardens. The best way to experience Tokyo is to follow your instincts and do what Billy Murray and Scarlet Johansson did in Lost in Translation. Take a peak in shops that sell weird and beautiful products, play arcades with local youth and go to restaurants where you don’t recognize a single dish on the menu. If you want to party in Tokyo, go to a karaoke bar. The morning after, try to cure your sake infused hangover in a calm and relaxing park. If your holiday coincides with Sakura (cherry blossom), you will share your appreciation for this magnificent tree with thousands of Tokyoites, who flock the city parks during this time.
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1. Reykjavik, Iceland
Score: 48;
Listed on the TC’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30s’ list (20 points);
Listed on the BI’s ‘Trips Everyone Should Take in Their 30’s’ list (20 points);
Filming location for Game of Thrones’s beyond the Wall scenes (+8 bonus point);
Reykjavik is the definite the number one on our list of best vacation spots for singles in their 30’s. Although its location and climate may discourage many people, Iceland is one of the most promising tourist destinations in the whole world. The island is filled with geysers and hot water springs, which influence the Reykjavik’s climate and guarantee the most relaxing spa treatments. The surreal looking Blue Lagoon spa, located in the middle of the lava field, 21 miles from Reykjavik, is one of the places that have put this country on the tourist maps. If you want to see Iceland’s fjords, geysers, lava deserts and glaciers up close and personal, rent a four-wheel drive vehicle and organize your own tour around the island. You can also go whale watching and check out some of the filming locations of Game of Thrones’s beyond the Wall scenes, including Grjotagja, the majestic looking cave, also known as the John Snow’s and Ygritte’s love nest.
Robert Hoetink/Shutterstock.com
