Forget your neighborhood day spa with the generic lavender music and questionable massage oils. These award-winning hotel spas are temples of wellness where architectural genius meets skin-transforming treatments. From meditation domes in the Saudi desert to chandeliers over treatment pools, these are the spas that make Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness routine look basic.

After spending years as a Travel + Leisure A-list advisor, I've come to a surprising realization: if I were planning a complex solo vacation today I wouldn't book it myself.

A reputable travel agent doesn't just book your flights - they build in contingencies, have relationships that get you rebooked faster, and become your advocate when everything goes wrong. As a solo traveler, you don't just need someone to book your trip - you need someone to have your back.

Forget generic hotel rooms with beige everything. These award-winning hotels are architectural masterpieces that happen to have beds. From a Vietnamese palace with a pool straight out of a fairy tale to towers shaped like ancient swords, these are the places that make Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler editors weep with envy.

Florence operates at exactly the pace we crave in midlife—a walking city where art isn't confined to museums but lives in every cobblestone street and sun-drenched facade. This is where you'll find yourself stopping mid-stride because the afternoon light on a building literally takes your breath away. It's culture, food, architecture, and shopping woven into one impossibly elegant package, perfect for the woman ready to explore one of the world's most romantic cities on her own terms