Spain
Whether you’re exploring some of the world’s best cocktail bars or restaurants in Barcelona and Madrid, lounging in the turquoise waters of the Costa Brava or Tenerife, browsing the art of Bilbao, or marveling at the medieval architecture of Seville or Toledo, one thing unites all of Spain—its warm, welcoming people. Known for closing shops to eat lunch with loved ones and later chatting for hours over pintxos and wine at dinner, Spaniards make time to appreciate life and its simple pleasures, and that energy is delightfully contagious. Solo travelers especially will never feel alone here.
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France
Contrary to Hollywood portrayals, France is more than high-end fashion, delicious pastries, and top-quality wine—though of course those are prevalent. While you can easily live out your ritzy cinematic montage via shopping on the Champs-Élysées, sunbathing on wind-swept piers in the French Riviera, or touring chateaux in wine country, the affordable ways of experiencing French culture are what make it special. Most museums offer free or discounted hours, cabarets often have cheaper performance nights, some of the best meals come from Paris street vendors or Aix-en-Provence markets, and five euro grocery store wine is better than most table wines.