Naples is a popular travel destination. We know this. People come to Naples from all over this country and all over the world.
The city has amazing restaurants. It has outstanding golf courses. There are many cultural attractions from the arts to the theater and of course, the philharmonic.
More:Weekend vibes: This iconic Fort Myers bar is on a travel website’s Top-10 list
So, it should come as no surprise to see Naples appear on yet another “destination” list.
But this one is a little different.
Naples appears on a list that ranks it as No. 5 US destinations for first-time solo travelers. That’s right. Solo traveler. It’s a relatively new niche in the travel world and according to SIXT, the company that compiled the research for this list, “whether it’s a city break or a relaxing beach trip, more people than ever before find the confidence to explore the world on their own, rather than traveling with a companion.”
And Naples is one of those places, coming in behind No. 1 Washington, DC, Austin, Texas, Denver and Portland, Oregon.
SIXT is an international provider of high quality mobility services.
Part of the research highlights a “top attraction to visit in the destination”. For Naples, using Trip Advisor and TikTok data it is Naples Botanical Garden.
“We’re excited to be at the top of this list for individual travelers, and we think it’s a good fit for them to spend time at Naples Botanical Garden,” said Andrea Nickrent, Vice President of Development & Marketing for Naples Botanical Garden. “Solo travelers can essentially choose their own adventure on our 170-acre campus. The gardens are filled with sights, sounds, and scents that can be enjoyed at your own pace. Many guests prefer to explore on their own and take advantage of our self-guided audio tours, join one of our daily group tours, or simply experience the rest that is Naples Botanical Garden.”
Here’s the methodology for the research: Google Trends was used to search for terms about solo travel in the past month. Google search demand data correct as of March 30, 2023. SIXT analyzed 40 of the most popular first-time solo destinations in the US and ranked them based on Trip Advisor rankings and TikTok hashtags, from from most to least popular.
According to SIXT, social media is embracing the solo travel revolution, with travel hack videos going viral and the hashtag #solotravel racking up a whopping 3.3 billion views on TikTok. It’s also heavily influenced search trends, with searches for ‘first-time solo travel’ up 350% in the past month, while other searches for ‘is solo travel worth it’ (+ 600%) and ‘what solo travel teaches you’ (+300%) increased over the past 12 months.
Top-20 destinations for first-time solo travelers in the US
- Washington DC
- Austin, Texas
- Denver
- Portland, Oregon
- Naples
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Miami
- Seattle
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Phoenix
- Mobile, Alabama
- Boise, Idaho
- New York City
- Moab, Utah
- Salt Lake City
- Boulder, Colorado
- Savannah, Georgia
- San Diego
- Chicago
- Boston
