The 100 Best Affordable Vacations (73 page)

Lodging

 Stay only in hotels/motels with enclosed hallways; be sure the hallways are well lit.

 In cities, stay in hotels in bustling (but not too loud) business districts where you’re likely to find lots of people on the street, day and night; be sure the front door has night security.

In cities

 Stick with public transportation when possible.

 Ride only in official taxis—not gypsy cabs. Be sure the driver turns on the meter when you get in, or negotiate the flat rate before he takes off. (And if he tries to overcharge you, get out of the car and hand him the cash you think is fair, then walk off.)

Keeping in touch

 Give your itinerary to someone you trust. If plans are loose, have general check-in times with friends so they know all is well.

 Don’t post your movements on a blog or via Twitter unless (a) you feel confident your home is secure and won’t be bothered by Internet-savvy crooks and (b) you’ve already left the place you’re posting about.

 Keep your cell phone charged.

Going out

 Stick with casual restaurants, upscale restaurants familiar with business travelers, and trendy restaurants with communal tables.

 Take a book to dinner—a sure sign that you’re not looking for company.

 Dress appropriately—whatever that means. Being overdressed, underdressed, or too bare will draw attention you may not want.

 Do not let anyone except the bartender touch your drink; stories about date-rape drugs aren’t urban myth.

Other great cities for a solo visit: Chicago; New York; Quebec; Philadelphia; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, D.C.

Only in San Francisco,
415-391-2000,
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com
.

“Spoleto USA,” Charleston, South Carolina.
For solo travelers, arts performances create a shared experience that doesn’t require knowing the people around you. In a darkened theater, you’re all characters in a play, witnesses to the despair and exuberance and the complexities of emotion that are often best portrayed through music and theater.

The U.S. and Canadian arts calendars are blessed with festivals centered on music, theater, and dance. Spoleto USA offers the best of interdisciplinary worlds. For nearly three weeks each year, in late May and early June, the stages of Charleston, South Carolina, are filled with performances of jazz, modern dance, ballet, opera, chamber music, and musical and dramatic theater. Ticket prices vary by event, but some cost as little as $10. Lodging can be pricey during the festival, but if you stay just outside the city, you’ll have access to the arts at a value price; for instance, in the cozy town of
Summerville
(www.visitsummerville.com), bed-and-breakfast rooms start at around $75.