From NYC you can get to Jamaica in around 4 hours. While Hawaii is a 12 hour  flight. Also take the time change into account as far as jet lag when you only have 10 days. Caribbean makes the most sense.
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New York City, New...

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First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 8:40 AM

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Looking for vacation destinations for first time female solo traveler (early 30s). Looking for a low key beach trip somewhere beautiful, quiet and remote-ish (or at least not too touristy), with lots of craggly beaches, rock pools, and clear water where I can lie face down with my snorkel for a couple hours and just watch fishies go by. For reference was originally thinking the phillipines but going to be too far for the amount of time I can take off work (1.5 weeks). Somewhere easy to get to from nyc would be nice. Dates flexible from july-dec 2024.

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Houston, Texas

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1. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 9:22 AM

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Welcome to Solo Travel. I guess the question to ask is how far away are you will to go? I would also recommend you take a look at the Beach Vacations forum (link below), because there are plenty of ongoing threads about where to go. USVI comes to mind, Belize as well.

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Seattle

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2. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 12:51 PM

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Any island in the Caribbean fits your request. Easy to get to from NYC.

Enjoy! Happy planning! Welcome to the TA Solo Forum. suze

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Seattle

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3. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 12:52 PM

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Mayan Riviera (Caribbean coast of Mexico) is another idea. Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen (you'd fly into Cancun).

For the Caribbean I have enjoyed Jamaica but it might feel a bit rough for a first time solo female trip. St John in USVI is beautiful and peaceful.

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kent

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4. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 1:25 PM

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Hello Hannah and welcome to the solo forum. If you can travel between July and mid September, I’d suggest the Brittany coast of northern France, pretty much all of the Cornwall coast in the UK, the west coast of Portugal and the west coast of Ireland, particularly in Dingle. All gorgeous beaches, some with more rock pools than others, but all very beautiful and definitely solo friendly. The waters are warmer towards the end of August onwards and the usual summer crowds thin out after August.

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Portland, Oregon

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5. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 4:30 PM

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Welcome

theres Hawail

you can also google for things using specific key words...."snorkel" for example.

I did my 1st snorkeling in the Galapagos. But i would hope there are other more closer places to you.

hope you have a valid passport

good luck

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Seattle

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6. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 26, 2024, 9:42 PM

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From NYC you can get to Jamaica in around 4 hours. While Hawaii is a 12 hour  flight. Also take the time change into account as far as jet lag when you only have 10 days. Caribbean makes the most sense.

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penna

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7. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 27, 2024, 8:13 AM

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For snorkeling. I do like the Tulum Mexico area.

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penna

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8. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 27, 2024, 8:16 AM

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Or even Belize 🇧🇿.

Plus here is that English is widely spoken’

Also,some really nice snorkeling 🤿.

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London, United...

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9. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 27, 2024, 10:57 AM

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Between July and November it is hurricane season in the Caribbean so I wouldn't go before December.

Belize, is good for snorkelling but the sort of amazing snorkelling off the beach is best in the South Pacific (Palau, Kosrae, Fiji, probably the Philippines), parts of Australia, the islands around Okinawa, Japan and, perhaps easier to get to from New York, Hurghada, Egypt or Turkey?

These will not be remote/undiscovered as there are lots of people looking for the same thing.

I agree that lying face down with a snorkel in a warm sea is heaven, but in Palau my back bunrned so badly the skin was coming off in wet sheets so be careful.

Moro Bay in California might suit you and in fact other parts of the California coast might have what you seek.

Santa Catalina Island off Long Beach, California has some interesting fish, including the bright orange Garibadi, but in the later part of the year, you might need a wet suit.

Doesn't Maine have lots of rockpools and interesting beaches?

Edited: 10:58 am, February 27, 2024

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penna

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10. Re: First time solo travel where to go

Feb 27, 2024, 10:10 PM

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"Belize, is good for snorkelling but the sort of amazing snorkelling off the beach is best in the South Pacific (Palau, Kosrae, Fiji, probably the Philippines), parts of Australia, the islands around Okinawa, Japan and, perhaps easier to get to from New York, Hurghada, Egypt or Turkey?"

I agree about those places having good snorkeling but ...

I can get a  flight to Belize for around 300.00 Non Stop from JFK. Where as the south pacific runs 1500 to 3k for connecting flights. Even California on a legacy airline is more then Belize.

So not everyone's budget can be stretched that far.

"Doesn't Maine have lots of rockpools and interesting beaches?"

Yes Maine does (you could drive there from NYC ) have interesting beaches , including some that are not over run with tourists.

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