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Top 10 2026 Destinations for Solo Adventurers and How to Use Points to Go

UUnknown

2026-02-08

12 min read

Top 10 solo-adventure destinations for 2026 plus practical points-and-miles playbooks to make them affordable for flexible commuters and solo travelers.

Stop hoarding points—book your Solo adventurers trip in 2026 without breaking the bank

Solo adventurers and flexible commuters: if you’re tired of watching other people’s viral trip reels while your points sit idle, this guide is for you. Drawing on The Points Guy’s 2026 destination pulse and 2025–26 travel shifts, here are the top 10 solo-adventure-friendly destinations for 2026 and a practical, step-by-step points-and-miles playbook to get you there affordably.

Quick primer — why 2026 is the year to redeem points for solo trips

Late 2025 accelerated two trends that change the game for solo travelers: (1) legacy carriers leaned further into dynamic award pricing, which rewards flexible search and last-minute booking; and (2) loyalty programs expanded partner award space to compete with low-cost carriers—good news if you can move fast. Combine that with a surge in outdoor and experiential tourism and more flexible remote-work policies, and solo trips are easier (and more rewarding) than ever.

Make 2026 the year you stop hoarding points for “someday” and book that trip. — The Points Guy (inspiration)

How to use this guide

This article is organized by destination. For each pick you’ll find:

Why it’s solo-friendly
2026 timing & trend notes
Points-and-miles playbook — which transferable points, airline/hotel programs, and booking hacks to prioritize
Accommodation and local hacks for solo comfort and budget

Top 10 2026 destinations for solo adventurers (and how to use points to go)

1. Reykjavík, Iceland — basecamp for solo adventure

Why solo-friendly: compact capital, easy day-trip logistics, strong English, endless outdoor activities (northern lights, glacier hikes, geothermal baths).

2026 note: Iceland remains a top pick for nature-first travelers; group tours and solo-friendly small-group options expanded in late 2025.

Points playbook

Air: Look to Avios partners like British Airways/Iberia for Europe-to-Iceland routings and to United and Aer Lingus partner awards where available. Transferable points (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One) give flexibility to book partner flights or use cash rates.
Hotel: Use Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt for single rooms or boutique stays—Hyatt has small-city properties that reward solo travelers with loyalty benefits.

Solo hacks

Book guided day tours with a meet-up: cheaper than full multi-day tours and great for meeting other travelers.
Consider an airport-to-city transfer with points or free lounge access via premium cards for a comfy arrival on red-eye flights.

2. Lisbon, Portugal — city charms and coastal day hikes

Why solo-friendly: walkable neighborhoods, excellent solo dining culture, easy trains to Cascais and Sintra.

2026 note: Lisbon’s micro-hostel market and “work-friendly” boutique hotels exploded in popularity, catering to remote workers and flexible commuters.

Points playbook

Air: Air Canada Aeroplan and United often have partner availability to Lisbon—transfer Chase or Amex to your preferred carrier and search one-way awards.
Hotel: Marriott and Hyatt portfolios span Lisbon; consider cash+points for longer stays to stretch points.
Tip: Use Capital One or Amex travel portals to bundle flight + hotel if award space is thin; with transferable points that can be an efficient hedge.

Solo hacks

Stay near a tram line for easy solo exploration; book smaller pensions with great reviews using points or free night certificates.

3. Hokkaido, Japan — outdoor trails, hot springs, and solitude

Why solo-friendly: great infrastructure, hostels and ryokan tailored to solo guests, and safe solo-hiking routes.

2026 note: Japan’s regional tourism campaigns and relaxed visa processing in late 2025 increased flight options to Sapporo and Obihiro—look for new partner award space.

Points playbook

Air: Transferable points to ANA and using partner awards via United or Air Canada can be smart. Capitalize on one-way pricing and seasonal availability.
Hotel: Use Jalan and local hotel partnerships, or redeem Hyatt/Marriott points for city stays. Consider using points for nights in Tokyo and paying cash to reach Hokkaido via a domestic flight booked with airline miles.

Solo hacks

Reserve onsen ryokans early with refundable rates using hotel points or travel portal bookings—cancellation flexibility matters for solo schedules.

4. Azores, Portugal — off-grid island hikes and whale watching

Why solo-friendly: small islands with friendly hostels and easy inter-island boat or short-flight logistics.

2026 note: A steady increase in seasonal flights from Europe and North America in 2025 created more award options—ideal for flexible solo schedules.

Points playbook

Air: Use flexible points to book transatlantic cash fares when award space is limited; transfer to airline partners for one-way award searches on peak days.
Stay: Use Bonvoy and independent hostel networks for budget nights; points can stretch far in smaller island hotels.

Solo hacks

Book inter-island ferries in advance with local cash but use hotel points for overnight stays to save overall.

5. Queenstown, New Zealand — adventure sports and backcountry

Why solo-friendly: adventure capital with guided experiences that welcome solo participants (bungee, hiking, kayaking).

2026 note: Airlines added seasonal capacity in late 2025 to support the Southern Hemisphere summer boom—if you’re flexible, shoulder-season redemptions can be excellent value.

Points playbook

Air: Use alliance partners (Star Alliance via Air New Zealand, United) or transferable points to book transpacific flights. Consider routing through a hub with cheaper award availability.
Hotels: World of Hyatt and Marriott have properties with loyalty perks for solo stays; use free night certificates from premium cards during peak weeks.

Solo hacks

Book activities with companies that accept single-person bookings; use loyalty program discounts or card benefits for savings.

6. Medellín, Colombia — year-round springtime and digital-nomad vibes

Why solo-friendly: huge expat community, coworking spaces, safe neighborhoods and easy weekend escapes.

2026 note: Post-2024 route growth and improved intra-Latin-America award space made Colombia more accessible for North American solo travelers.

Points playbook

Air: Look for partner award space on Avianca (LifeMiles) and Star Alliance partners; Chase and Amex transfers can get you there on partner tickets.
Hotels: Hyatt has strong presence in Colombia—use points or free nights for safety and comfort as a solo traveler.

Solo hacks

Stay near Poblado or Laureles; these neighborhoods make it easy to meet other digital nomads and take group outings.

7. Patagonia (Chile/Argentina) — bucket-list trekking solo

Why solo-friendly: guided treks and small-group lodges make it straightforward to join excursions even if you travel alone.

2026 note: Sustainable-tourism certifications became more common in late 2025, increasing reputable guided options for solo hikers.

Points playbook

Air: Use Chile- or Argentina-serving partner awards (Star Alliance, on LATAM partner routes) or transfer points to book transits via Santiago or Buenos Aires.
Stay: Use hotel chains' points where available for buffer nights before/after treks; cash-book local eco-lodges that accept flexible cancellations.

Solo hacks

Book guided multi-day treks with certified operators and confirm small-group availability rather than private departures (best value for solo travelers).

8. Reykjavik-to-Shetlands microtrip (UK isles) — short-rail, big coastlines

Why solo-friendly: short flights, safe public transport, hostels to luxury B&Bs; ideal for single-night stops and flexible schedules.

2026 note: Low-cost regional carriers expanded routes in 2025, opening more award or cheap-cash options between islands.

Points playbook

Air: Use Avios and partner awards for short hops; redeem transferable points to the airline offering the best seat availability.
Hotels: Use flexible loyalty points to book single rooms and take advantage of free- or cheap-late-checkout benefits with mid-tier cards.

Solo hacks

Mix and match: use miles for long-haul transatlantic legs and pay cash for short regional flights when awards are expensive—flexibility wins.

9. Seoul, South Korea — solo dining culture & urban adventure

Why solo-friendly: solo restaurants, efficient public transit, safe streets and easy day trips to DMZ or mountain trails.

2026 note: South Korea’s tourism push and new partner award space from North America in 2025 made solo itineraries more reachable.

Points playbook

Air: Transfer Amex or Chase to partners that serve Seoul (Korean Air partners, SkyTeam via Delta, Star Alliance via United) and search one-way awards. Consider positioning flights to catch cheaper award routes.
Hotels: Use points at boutique hotels (Hyatt, Marriott) in neighborhoods like Hongdae or Itaewon for single-room value.

Solo hacks

Take advantage of late-night dining and solo noraebang (karaoke) — Seoul’s safety and culture make it an easy city for solo nights out.

10. Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada — mountains, sea, and short getaways

Why solo-friendly: accessible outdoor adventures, reliable transport, and plenty of hostels/inns for single travelers.

2026 note: Increased transborder award availability in late 2025 made weekend solo escapes more realistic for commuters with flexible schedules.

Points playbook

Air: Use short-haul award sweet spots on Air Canada Aeroplan or Alaska Mileage Plan for West Coast itineraries. Chase and Amex transfers work well.
Hotels: Use hotel loyalty programs or credit-card free-night certificates for single nights near the city or resorts for ski day-trips.

Solo hacks

Book midweek stays to save points and cash—flexible commuters can capitalize on off-peak award pricing.

Cross-destination points-and-miles strategies for solo adventurers

Below are the universal tactics that will get you to any of these ten destinations with the least friction and most value.

1. Build a flexible transferable-points toolkit

Prioritize accounts with broad transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou. Having at least two of these gives you access to most airline partners and hotel chains, which is essential when award space is thin.

2. Think one-way and open-jaw

Booking one-way awards lets you mix carriers, alliances, and cash fares. Open-jaw itineraries (fly into one city and out of another) reduce backtracking and often save points.

3. Use free-night certificates and single-room advantages

Solo travelers can stretch certificates and points because you don’t split room costs. Use premium-card free nights (World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy) for solo stays during high-season nights.

4. Be opportunistic—monitor transfer bonuses and last-minute award space

Late-2025 showed how valuable transfer bonuses and last-minute award releases can be. Sign up for program alerts, set award searches with flexible dates, and be ready to move points when a sweet spot appears.

5. Use travel portals as a fallback

If award space is poor, transferring points to the issuer’s travel portal (Capital One, Chase, Amex) can let you “pay” with points at a stable rate—especially useful for last-minute bookings when dynamic awards spike.

6. Use positioning flights and low-cost carriers wisely

Mix award long-hauls with cheap cash hops on regional low-cost carriers for island chains or remote areas. If your schedule’s flexible, you’ll save points and avoid routing penalties.

Practical booking tips and checklists (actionable takeaways)

Start searches 11–330 days out: For peak experiences, check award calendars early; for last-minute solo trips, scan daily for newly released inventory.
Search one-way awards and mix partners to find availability.
Set fare alerts for cash fares—you can sometimes buy cheap cash tickets and reserve award seats for the return leg with points.
Use neighborhood filters for solo-friendly lodging (safety, proximity to public transit, late-night amenities).
Carry the right cards: a premium travel card (lounge access, travel insurance), a strong transferable points card, and one airline or hotel co-brand card for elite perks.
Stack benefits: Use elite night credits, status match opportunities, and small-business cards to increase flexibility for solo bookings.

Real-world micro case study

Emma, a commuter in Boston, had 80k Chase Ultimate Rewards and a Capital One balance in early 2026. She wanted a 7-day solo hiking trip to Patagonia. She:

Transferred 60k Chase points to a Star Alliance partner offering transits to Santiago for a one-way award.
Used 20k Capital One miles via the travel portal to book the domestic flight to Punta Arenas as a cash fare during a weekend sale.
Redeemed a World of Hyatt free night for the buffer night in Santiago and booked a refundable local eco-lodge with cash to secure a guided trek (points weren’t accepted by the operator).

Outcome: Emma reduced out-of-pocket costs by 60–70% while keeping flexibility—an ideal solo-adventure win.

Safety, sustainability and solo etiquette in 2026

Solo adventurers in 2026 should balance curiosity with safety and sustainability. Pack a local SIM or eSIM, register travel plans with friends, and prioritize certified operators for outdoor adventures. Sustainable choices—like staying at certified eco-lodges or offsetting flights via loyalty-program partners—are increasingly offered as points-redemption options.

Final checklist before you book

Flexible dates? Use one-way and open-jaw searches.
Have transferable points aligned with target partners (Chase/Amex/Capital One/Citi).
Set alerts for award space and transfer bonuses.
Book refundable or changeable options where possible—solo plans can pivot.
Confirm local safety and entry requirements before you travel.

Wrap-up and call-to-action

Solo travel in 2026 is a treasure chest for flexible commuters and point-savvy adventurers—if you act fast, search smart, and mix points with cash strategically. Pick one of these ten destinations, apply the destination-specific points playbook above, and you’ll be taking photos (and racking up new loyalty perks) instead of watching other people’s trips from your couch.

Ready to book? Start a rewards search right now: open two award calendars, set alerts for transfer bonuses, and pick one night to commit a free-night certificate. Share your route in the comments or sign up for our booking alerts to get live award-space drops for solo-friendly routes.

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