Destinations for the solo traveler

Solo travel, among other benefits, means never having to compromise your plans. But some destinations, by virtue of language, ease of transportation, expense or level of hospitality, offer easier going than others. Here are five spots that fit the bill.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

If you’re looking for a beach adventure, look past the honeymoon- and family-focused all-inclusive resorts that line the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, aka the Riviera Maya, and make your base the bustling town of Playa del Carmen. It has its own beach and also offers quick trips via ferry to Cozumel to snorkel the Mesoamerican Reef.

By night, Playa, as it is called, offers loads of entertainment, including open-air restaurants, beachfront dance clubs and shops lining the pedestrian-only Quinta Avenida that stay open late.

Accommodations run from thrifty off-the-beach inns to grand beachfront resorts. Travelers bound for the Riviera Maya fly through Cancún, where the average ticket from the United States is down 12 percent over last year, to $310 round-trip, according to the airfare prediction app Hopper.

Dublin

In about the same time it takes to fly from New York to Los Angeles, you could be tipping a Guinness in Ireland instead.

“Dublin is perfect for first-time solo travelers,” said Robert Firpo-Cappiello, editor-in-chief of Budget Travel, a digital magazine, in an email. “It is a quick flight, English is spoken everywhere, the city is easily navigable and the locals are incredibly welcoming and helpful.”

Thailand

It’s far and the language is indecipherable to many, but Thailand bundles unique culture, beautiful beaches and great value.

In Southeast Asia in general, Firpo-Cappiello said, “the travel infrastructure is very solid, and many of our readers have reported that they had an easy time getting around, meeting other solo travelers, and that English was spoken widely.”

Bangkok is a natural starting point and the gateway to the beaches to the south or hill country to the north. The nation’s affordability is a big draw.

Vancouver, British Columbia

The favorable exchange — $1 gets you 1.33 Canadian — is a strong argument for visiting Canada. With its relaxed West Coast vibe, diverse population, temperate climate and accessibility to natural attractions, Vancouver might be the country’s most solo-friendly city.

For sporty types, Vancouver has a temperate rainforest within city limits in Stanley Park. Or you can hike the Grouse Grind path up nearby Grouse Mountain.

The city’s food scene draws on the bounty of the Pacific Ocean and the province’s eastern Okanagan wine country.

— The New York Times