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 Traveling Solo
Congratulations for taking the initiative to travel on your own! Many of the participants in the travel lectures I offer are men and women whose spouse or friends do not want to take the kinds of vacations they are interested in--yet they charge on and have exciting and rewarding experiences. Traveling on your own provides more opportunities to make friends you wouldn’t have met otherwise because it “forces” you to be more interactive.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to find trips that do not charge an add itional fee for single accommodations. The reason is obvious: two people equals two paying guests. If a seven day trip to say, Mexico, costs $1,200pp(per person), that comes to a total of $2,400 for two(double occupancy). However, if you put just one person in a room, that is only $1,200. A supplement helps offset the revenue loss. That’s why single supplements often seem high. Supplements vary, according to companies and whether it’s a land tour or cruise, which usually have the highest single supplements.
However, many companies offer minimal or no single supplements on certain trips, as well as travel companion programs. Also, if a suitable roommate cannot be found, you will most likely get your own room at no extra cost.
Always ask about these things when requesting information.
Here are some good resources for solo travelers:
American Adventures & Road Runner offers small group adventures throughout North America. Lodging includes hotels, hostels and/or camping, and transport vehicles are air-conditioned “maxiwagons.” No single supplements. P.O. Box 1155, Gardena, CA 90249. 800-873-5872 or 310-324-3447.
O Solo Mio Singles Tours specializes in trips for single travelers of all ages, including trips for ages 35 and younger. The company, established in 1991, offers 25 domestic and international singles-only trips every year. “Our main objective is travel, therefore we have excursions for many different interests and group sizes...these trips will combine all the advantages of a friendly organized group, as well as leave you with plenty of spare time to explore on your own or with new-found friends.” Low group airfare is available. They also offer a subscription newsletter that details trips and provides other useful information. Cost is subtracted from the price of your first trip so it is free for participants. O Solo Mio gives interested travelers a free sample issue. 626 Los Altos Rancho, Los Altos, CA 94034. 800-959-8568 or 650-917-0817.
TravelCompanions.com is a bi-monthly newsletter that discusses different aspects of travel and topics of interest to single travelers. It was rated as “one of the best general travel newsletters in the U.S. by Newsday. It also provides a service, Travel Companion Exchange(TCE), which pairs single travelers interested in making new friends or just getting a travel companion. Box 833, Amityville, NY 11701. 800-392-1256 or 631-454-0880.
When contacting tour companies, be sure to specify that you are interested in their singles-oriented trips or cruises. I recommend contacting any of the companies discussed in The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel that are of interest to you, even if special deals for singles are not indicated. A singles-only trip may have recently been added or they may work out something that is not listed in their brochure (such as waiving the single supplement). Men traveling on their own often get their own rooms or cabins because there aren’t as many men traveling unaccompanied as women.
Cruises, especially those aboard large ships, can be difficult for those traveling by themselves, unless it is a singles-oriented cruise. Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer several singles-only cruises at very reasonable rates. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have a guaranteed singles rate, subject to availability. Most cruise lines will try to match you with a roommate. Some upscale cruise lines, such as Crystal and Cunard, have gentlemen hosts for solo cruisers. The hosts are single, older gentlemen who do not get romantically involved with the passengers but simply make sure they have a good time by dancing with them or talking to them over dinner.
Safe travels, and don’t forget to ask if you qualify for any undisclosed discounts. I once saved $200 because the company rep was having a good day--she had just gotten a job promotion!
This article is compiled from Chapter Two of The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel: 1,000 Companies, Consolidators, Agencies, and Resources.
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