Tracee Ellis Ross has probably turned down plenty of free drinks. When she does it on her latest show, “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross,” it’s not because somebody recognized her from watching “Girlfriends” or “Black-ish.” At a restaurant in Marbella, Spain, she was just another elegant woman vacationing and dining alone. Ross finds that to be the preferred state of doing things. A group of women seated near her table has mixed feelings about it.

They offer to buy her a drink, which she graciously declines; the incredible glass of red wine she sips with her ribeye steak is quite enough. Still, Ross swings by after she’s finished her meal to thank her neighbors for their generous offer. In response, one woman remarks that seeing Ross eating by herself made her think, “You’re sitting there on your own. It’s not good for you!”

Ross gently contradicts her by explaining it’s very good for her. Moreover, a little solo sojourning is good for all of us.

Modernity has yet to erase the stigma associated with women choosing to move through the world by themselves. Single women are confronted with it most frequently, but even people in relationships may experience some stranger’s pitiful regard while dining alone in public. Daring to step out as a party of one still draws statements about one’s heroism, as if the simple act of taking charge of your own contentment is on par with battling cancer.

At various times throughout “Solo Traveling,” Ross speaks to this, but with curiosity instead of frustration. She took her first trip by herself in her 20s. At age 52 and many luxurious vacations later, the actor is merrily determined to show others how glorious that can be.

“So often I look around and I’m like, why are there not more examples of owning your singleness and owning your childlessness with joy and with abandon, or also with choice?” she says during one of her many epiphanies. “Like, it can’t just be Joan of Arc or cat ladies. There’s gotta be something in between!”

“Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross” doesn’t give Rick Steves anything to fret over. Her show isn’t a repository of safety tips and travel hacks. Those are readily available elsewhere and should be part of any travel preparedness plan.

What isn’t as broadly explored is the common trepidation about venturing out alone, whether to your favorite, familiar eatery or Morocco, Mexico and Spain. Ross says she chose these destinations because they are safe for solo travel, especially for Black women traveling alone.

For two of those places – Mexico and Morocco —  the realization that they’re safe may be eye-opening to Americans inundated with headlines about unrest in countries populated by brown and Black people. I know this firsthand, having once regaled an elderly relative about my best friend’s extraordinary solo trip to Peru only to watch her recoil at the thought of any woman by herself in a country with “all that political unrest.”

Mind you, this was many years ago, when my relative’s fears were based on nothing. My friend, however, felt very welcome at each destination and even made several new friends. The only concerns towering over her trip were cloud-ringed mountains and the glory of Machu Picchu, which is visited by around 1.5 million people each year. Presently, that country rates a Level 2 travel advisory (i.e., Exercise Increased Caution) from the State Department. For that matter, so do Spain, Mexico and Morocco. To any experienced tourist, that designation isn’t unusual. But it may be enough to scare off a neophyte.

So we get why Ross opts to normalize voyaging alone instead of speaking to common fears about it. Maybe normalize isn’t the right word; celebrate is better. To her, solo travel is a glorious demonstration of personal freedom. “I get to build my life for myself,” she says.

In many respects, Ross is in a better position to play big than most people. She is single and rich, a prominent fashionista, the daughter of Diana Ross, and the founder and CEO of a haircare company. (Its products are prominently displayed throughout each episode, along with links to the company site. She’s shopping, why shouldn’t you?) To her credit, she doesn’t pretend that she isn’t any of those things.

However, her relative wealth doesn’t preclude anyone from doing their version of what she does. A dip in the pool is a reason to yell, “Thank you for my life!” to the sky. Heavy rain can be taken as a sign to eat tacos and enjoy beautiful cocktails. A rogue drink also appears on her dinner table in the episode where that happens. Ross doesn’t get into the why of it.

From what she takes on vacation to her in-flight ritual to her mindful hotel closet organization, Ross makes every undertaking worth savoring. With this emphasis, “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross” becomes something more satisfying than lifestyle programming or a celebrity vanity project. It’s a rebuttal of the empty rhetoric that has somehow politicized a woman’s right to individual liberty.

The world of tourism entertainment is vast, extending from our TVs to our social media streams. Ross plays in both spaces. Living up to her designation as “the Internet’s favorite rich auntie,” Ross keeps her Instagram followers well fed with endless glamour and lots of clowning around.

“Solo Traveling” follows that map, styled as part excursion porn, one part travel diary, and a full showcase of Ross’ easy, goofball charisma. But it’s also genuine and unforced.

“This is me, just sharing,” she muses. “Sharing what it means to learn yourself, and then have the courage to be that person. Not just at home, and not just in your life, but elsewhere, out in the world.”

Ross’ vacation prep is the opposite of Marie Kondo’s pre-pandemic minimalism. She begins two weeks before the airport car shows up at her door and fills multiple suitcases with many more clothes than she’ll wear, snacks, even a tuning fork. Her three-pronged philosophy: Be prepared. Be “meticulously thoughtful” about one’s needs and comforts, hence the tuning fork. Believe me, I had my questions too until she employed it to make herself feel better.

Her favorite rule is bound to be yours too: Pack beautiful clothes, many more than seems sensible. “I pack for the beauty. I pack for the joy. I pack for the clothes,” she explains, finishing with, “And I pack for the disaster.”

She experiences a little of each. Looking elegant no matter what she does is a must, but so is peace and ease.

That includes during episodes of food poisoning or torrential downpours. Even then, because she’s well equipped, Ross finds delight in the fact that she isn’t experiencing these bummers at home.

Solo travel is big business, especially among younger adults. Experts link its rise in popularity to the pandemic transforming our attitudes about being alone. Having been forced to make peace with our own company, more people are finding their own companionship preferable to that of others, especially on vacation.

American Express’ annual Global Travel Trends Report from 2024 indicated that 76% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents planned a solo trip for that year. The same data indicated that 66% of all respondents would center those vacations around self-love and treating themselves.

That reflects the marketplace and attitudes of many single people, who comprise around 31% of the American populace according to Pew Research. In 2024, solo vacationers fueled an industry trend that hit $482.5 billion and is expected to triple by 2033.

Grand excursions like Ross’ are still rare for everyone, whether you’re rolling with a group or as a party of one. Quick getaways are the solo trips of choice for 57% of American Express survey respondents. But those count, too.

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Still, as Ross admits, good fortune doesn’t make anyone immune to sensations of isolation and grief. In a tender moment during the Morocco episode, she confesses her loneliness even after she’s had a wonderful time eating tagine and meeting exuberant strangers. But she voices this with an inquisitiveness instead of sorrow.

Maybe, she says, she’s missing some fantasy of what she had with someone. Then she wonders whether loneliness and sadness are the same thing. Happiness and joy, she realizes, are distinct feelings. “Happiness is slicker, bouncier. Joy is wider, deeper.”

Ross rests with those thoughts on her pillowy bed, then smiles broadly. “I get to go shopping tomorrow. We know I love that.” And we can’t help loving that for her, too. Her example shows that one day we might step into our part of that wide, deep ocean of a foreign experience with more confidence, having seen how enticing it can be.

“Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross” is streaming on the Roku Channel.

Watching this season of The Gilded Age and want to live for a moment within that show’s world? It’s not difficult to understand your desire. During the late-19th-century period depicted, New York City and Newport alike were grand, blank canvases upon which the wealthy were able to erect massive and splendiferous testaments to their liquidity. It wasn’t all roses, by any means—the wives approached the Newport summer season with more rigor than their husbands had for business dealings, and divorcées like poor Aurora Fane were socially destitute despite no wrongdoing on their part. (Which is why it’s more fun to visit today.)

Below, we’ve rounded up the best hotels in both New York City and Newport to get your Bertha Russell on and steep in the period’s left-behind grandeur, plus some of the places you’d do well to visit during your sojourn to go even deeper.

New York City

Where to stay

The best things to do

Quite a few Gilded Age mansions remain on Fifth Avenue, which once bore the mantle of Millionaire’s Row (Billionaire’s Row along 57th Street is an equivalent for our times, and not nearly as attractive). Quite a few of these are open to the public in one way or another. Fifth Avenue is long, and walking up and down its Central Park stretch isn’t easy. But the greatest concentration of its Gilded Age pleasures is uptown, in a walkable stretch of the 80s and 90s. There’s the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of course, on the east side of Central Park between 79th and 84th Street, which was founded in 1870 by the Union League Club. It’s a major landmark of the period, but lacks the intimacy of a mansion setting—the massive building in which it’s set was built to be a museum, and has been expanded many times.

And so, while you’re up there, be sure to also swing around the corner to Neue Galerie on East 86th, where 19th-century German and Austrian art hang in the 1914-constructed mansion of industrialist William Starr Miller, designed by Carrère & Hastings (of New York Public Library fame). There’s also the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum within the former residence of industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and the recently-renovated-and-restored-and-reopened Frick Collection in the former mansion of financier Henry Clay Frick. Downtown (relatively), in Murray Hill, you’ll also find the Morgan Library & Museum housed in the library of J.P. Morgan (who features in The Gilded Age) himself. A few of these spots, and many more, are featured on walking tours like this one for those who prefer a more organized itinerary.

Newport

Where to stay

The best things to do

Touring the mansions is the best thing to do in Newport, period. Dedicate at least a day to seeing a few of them. If you can only hit one, hit the Breakers, which was the summer cottage of the Vanderbilt family (for whom the Russells stand in on the show). It’s a shockingly large summer home that has to be seen to be believed. But there are quite a few other homes worth seeing around Newport. Operated by Newport Mansions and the Preservation Society of Newport County, and therefore under the same umbrella as the Breakers, are places like Marble House (also a bygone Vanderbilt deed) and Rosecliff, the Versailles-inflected summer home of silver heiress Theresa Fair. You can book your Breakers ticket, or your Breakers-plus-one mansion ticket, via GetYourGuide.

Safety is subjective, and never something that can be guaranteed 100% — especially when traveling abroad to a new place. But with a bit of planning and making a strategic choice about where you visit, your next solo trip doesn’t have to come with a side of constant vigilance. The onus often falls on women to vet their destinations, take precautions, and plan for the worst-case scenario — but choosing a safe destination can give you the headspace to relax and enjoy the trip.

Slovenia

Slovenia’s quaint capital city, Ljubljana, is compact, welcoming, and easy to navigate on foot. With well-connected transit, a strong sense of order, and a low crime rate, it’s a destination that feels manageable from the moment you arrive. You won’t find yourself second-guessing which route you took home or clenching your bag on public transport. English is widely spoken, and the logistics of getting around are manageable, whether it be by train, bus, or rental car. It’s the kind of place where things tend to work, and the locals are friendly and willing to help if something doesn’t go as planned.

Beyond the capital, places like Lake Bled and Piran see their fair share of visitors, but without the chaos that often comes with bigger, more crowded European destinations. In the countryside, you’ll find hiking trails, alpine lakes, and small towns that are accessible and approachable. For solo female travelers, Slovenia is a great place for getting out into nature without having to be hyper-aware of your surroundings.

Japan

Few countries make solo travel feel as seamless as Japan. The trains run on time, the streets are clean, and no one will ask why you’re alone. In fact, solitude is built into the culture — from single-counter ramen restaurants to capsule hotels that prioritize privacy, you’ll find plenty of spaces designed specifically for people doing things on their own.

That said, Japan isn’t frictionless. There’s a learning curve to getting around, especially once you head outside of the major city centers — train signage can be limited, and Google Maps won’t always help you perfectly navigate rural areas. But even if you do get lost, odds are someone will offer to help point you in the right direction.

Canada

Canada’s politeness cliché is overused, but there’s definitely some truth behind it. The social contract among Canadians is strong — the majority of the time, you’ll be able to go about your day without being interrupted, harassed, or followed. Solo travel won’t raise eyebrows, and even giving away the fact that you’re a foreigner by asking for directions doesn’t feel like you’re inviting unwanted attention or risk.

Whether you’re hiking alone in British Columbia, navigating the Toronto subway, or shopping in Quebec City’s old town, most people will leave you alone — in a good way. You can blend in easily and take up space without feeling like you’re being observed.

Taiwan

Taiwan is one of those places where things just run smoothly. The subway shows up on time, the night markets feel welcoming, and people generally keep to themselves. It’s easy to wander solo here because you won’t be treated like a spectacle — particularly in Taipei, it’s not uncommon to bump into other solo female travelers.

Outside the capital, other cities like Tainan or Kaohsiung offer even more reasons to visit. Taiwan’s regional trains are easy to navigate, and friendly locals will be quick to offer help if you look lost. Taiwan is a rare destination that makes solo travel feel totally doable, and a great place to start if you’ve never taken a trip on your own before.

Uruguay

What sets Uruguay apart in Latin America is how low-pressure it feels, especially for solo women. The bus system works, street harassment is minimal, and you won’t be met with the kind of negative attention that sometimes happens elsewhere in the region. Montevideo feels down-to-earth, not like a tourist trap — on the main beachside promenade, you’ll pass couples drinking mate, joggers even after dark, and women walking alone without a second thought.

Locals are kind, curious, and generally patient with the language barrier — especially if you try to use a little bit of Spanish. If you are planning a solo trip to LatAm and want an easier, lower-friction experience, Uruguay should be at the top of your list.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s safety is all about social trust — the sense that most people here are good humans, and daily life is designed with that assumption in mind. You’ll notice it in the way people leave their belongings unsupervised, how strangers greet each other on hiking trails, and how someone always seems to offer help before you even have to ask. For solo women, that baseline level of comfort means you can stop looking over your shoulder and actually enjoy what you’re there to do — whether that’s to explore or just relax.

Cities like Wellington and Christchurch are manageable, and it rarely feels like you need to be on high alert. Of course, you should always use common sense, especially if you’re heading into the mountains alone. But if you’re looking for a place that feels adventurous without feeling risky, New Zealand is a solid choice.

South Korea

Even though it’s a massive, sprawling city with over 9 million people, Seoul is surprisingly safe for solo female travelers. You can walk home at 2am, eat at a restaurant alone, or hop on and off the subway without thinking twice. There’s a strong respect for personal space, and street harassment is extremely rare. For women used to walking around with a mental safety checklist, it’ll be a nice change of pace.

There are a few social dynamics that might be hard to interpret for outsiders at first, but from a safety perspective, it’s a great country even for exploring on your own, especially if you’re a less experienced solo traveler. You can arrive in Seoul without knowing a soul — and still feel totally capable of navigating your way around.

Iceland

Even if you’re out hiking in the middle of nowhere, there’s something oddly comforting about being alone in Iceland — it’s one of the few places in the world where solitude feels like it’s the default. Reykjavik is compact, friendly, and perfect for using as a base to explore the rest of the island. It’s easy to navigate on foot, and you’ll find plenty of women traveling solo — especially in hostels, cafés, or guided tours that often leave from the city center.

That being said, the nature here is no joke. The weather is harsh and can change fast, even in the middle of summer. If you’re planning to rent a car to drive the Ring Road alone, make sure you have a flexible itinerary, proper gear, and a way to get in contact with someone in case of an emergency. It’s one of the safest countries in the world, as long as you’re prepared for the elements.

Final Thoughts:

This list isn’t meant to cause panic or make you rethink your international travel plans — in fact, you just might feel more at ease in a new environment or different culture. But a little planning ahead never goes to waste, and choosing a destination where the baseline level of safety provides a headstart can make all the difference. It’s not about eliminating every risk, but to give yourself the chance to relax and enjoy the trip you’ve been looking forward to for months.