"Planning a trip can seem really daunting when you’re by yourself—too many choices, and no one to help you whittle it down. But in New Orleans, you can count on the locals to practically plan the whole thing for you. NOLA residents love their city so deeply that they would never steer a visitor wrong, so spend your day playing travel telephone—going from place to place, asking the shopkeep, the waiter, and even the random passersby on the street where you should hit up next. Even if you’re just sidling up to one of the city's chaotic bars, odds are you’ll eventually have plans laid out with the bartender or your neighbors for the rest of the night. It comes down to the city being surprisingly small—the population is just under 400,000—and friendly, making it the perfect destination for a solo traveler. —Meredith Carey, Associate Digital Editor" - Betsy Blumenthal