With Labor Day coming up soon, it’s the perfect time for a long weekend getaway. And if you are separated or recently divorced? Taking a solo trip may exactly what you need to feel refreshed and ready to embrace your new life. Where should you head on your first “divorce vacation”? Travel + Leisure magazine recently named its “Best Places to Travel After a Divorce,” a list of 20 destinations in the U.S. and around the world that fit the bill for newly divorced travelers — from spa trips to surfing school with others fresh off a break up. However, you don’t have to travel far — or even leave New Jersey — to find the right vacation spot for divorce stress relief. If you just need to get away from it all, here are some tips for choosing the right destination:
– Create a structured plan: Rather than just say, I’ll head down to Red Bank, New Jersey to spend the night and do a little antiquing, come up with a hourly itinerary of what you will do, right down to where you will eat. Research different activities going on that you might like to check out and find out whether any singles events will be taking place while you are there. Creating a detailed itinerary may sound like the opposite of relaxing, but if this your first trip solo, it can help ward off any feelings of loneliness when you know you’re expected to be someplace. Not having to spend time at your destination buried in your smart phone trying to figure out where to go can also increase your chances of meeting new people.
– Look for package deals: Many spas and resorts hold special theme weekend getaways that incorporate some kind of learning experience, i.e., a cooking class, or group outing to a show or museum. These types of package weekends are natural magnets for other singles and so are a great way to enjoy a weekend solo, yet not alone. Atlantic City and other resorts along the Jersey Shore are good places to look for these kinds of solo specials.
– Pampering Time: For women and men, having a quiet, reflective weekend may be exactly what’s needed to get some perspective and finally feel some relief from the stress of divorce. If this is your ideal post-divorce vacation, look for spa resorts that offer amenities such as massage, yoga, and plenty of space to be alone in a meditative, peaceful setting. You may want to check out spa resorts located near places like Lambertville in Hunterdon County or Cape May at the southern tip of New Jersey.
Where was your first post-divorce travel destination?