As I plot a few weeks away from San Francisco (gasp), I wanted a Lonely Planet alternative and have found a good one in a book by Teresa Rodriguez Williamson, founder of TangoDiva. Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone describes destinations that pass a test of being safe, having decent public transportation and a social center, being friendly, and hosting with a decent climate. It’s Barcelona cultural recommendations are spot on, and I especially liked the sections about Reykjavík (soak in geothermal waters, then have a shot of Black Death at the ice bar) and Cartagena (speedboats, snorkeling and Old City treks). I wish the tone reflected less of a fashionista/adventurer dichotomy–mentions of “leave the Jimmy Choos at home” and “leave the Birkin at home and schlep the backpack (a cute one)” are tiring. But I’m glad the companion exists.
