USA
Fifty states and a five-hour flight from one coast to the other. Don't try to see it — take one corner properly. A city, a music town, and a national park is a trip.
Where to stay
Hotel Chelsea
New York · Chelsea, Manhattan
The most famous hotel in New York, and the one with the best stories.
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The Chelsea has housed more writers, musicians and artists than any other hotel in America, and after a long restoration it's open again as a hotel rather than a legend. Chelsea itself is one of the better Manhattan neighbourhoods to be based in on your own — walkable, well-lit, close to the High Line and a short subway ride from almost everything.
Landmark building in Chelsea, Manhattan
Restored and reopened after years of renovation
Walk to the High Line and Greenwich Village
Restaurant and bar on site
The Hermitage Hotel
Nashville · downtown · 1910 Beaux-Arts
A 1910 Beaux-Arts hotel in the middle of Nashville.
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Nashville's grand historic hotel, downtown and walkable to the honky-tonks on Broadway, the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nashville is one of the easiest American cities to be in alone — live music starts in the early afternoon, it's free, and nobody blinks at someone sitting at the bar on their own listening.
1910 Beaux-Arts landmark in downtown Nashville
Walk to Broadway, the Ryman and the Hall of Fame
Restaurant and bar on site
Spa and concierge
Tenaya at Yosemite
Yosemite National Park · California
Ascent Spa pampers guests in 12 treatment rooms.
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Located in Fish Camp, Tenaya at Yosemite is in a rural area and in the mountains. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sierra National Forest and Wawona Visitor Center, while Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and Pioneer Yosemite History Center are cultural highlights. Wawona Golf Course and Yosemite Valley are two other places to visit that come recommended. Enjoy the area's slopes with downhill skiing, snowboarding and skiing lessons, and don't miss out on the snow tubing.
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Live in the USA
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There are 63 national parks, and an America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry to all of them — worth it from about the third park.
Tipping is not optional. 18–20% in restaurants, and staff are paid on the assumption you will.
Over eight million pizza slices are served every day.
Kansas once had a law against serving cherry pie with ice cream, dating from 1905.
The distances are continental. New York to Los Angeles is a five-hour flight — longer than London to Cairo.
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Best time — depends entirely on the corner. Spring and autumn are best almost everywhere; the national parks are busiest June to August and Yosemite's high roads are closed by snow into late spring. New York is at its best in October; the South is more comfortable outside high summer.
Getting around — Fly between regions and hire a car within them — public transport outside the big cities is limited. For the parks, book accommodation months ahead; the in-park lodges go first.
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The USA is straightforward to travel alone, with a shared language and an infrastructure built around independent travel. Two things worth planning for: healthcare is extremely expensive, so travel insurance is not the box-ticking exercise it is elsewhere — check it covers you properly. And in the national parks, mobile coverage disappears completely, so download offline maps and tell someone your route before a long hike.
Going somewhere on your own?
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