Peter Greenberg: Single Travelers

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org

I find it really annoying that one can't travel alone anywhere without having to pay for two ("based on double occupancy"). Is there any cruise or package plan for one person? I am a widow and would like to travel, but everyone seems to penalize you for traveling alone. PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

–Carolyn, Dallas, Pa.

Carolyn, you're not alone! Roughly one in 10 leisure travelers travels alone, which means that there are millions of people out there who often feel ignored by an industry that generally seems to favor couples or families over solo travelers.

However, there's hope for those who prefer to travel alone, because many tour operators and cruise lines are becoming more single-friendly. Some companies are known for their single-friendliness and are quite up front about it, while others are more coy.

Intrepid Travel, for example, never charges a single supplement because they specialize in mid-price adventure trips for independent (read solo) travelers, to places like Peru and Nepal. Neither does Adventure Women, which has been offering tours for adventurous solo women for 28 years.

In 2010 their trips include whale-watching in Baja, California, watersports in the Caribbean, and trekking on New Zealand’s South Island. Though you won't pay a single supplement with these companies, you won’t necessarily get your own room either, because they pair you up with a roommate. Even if there is an odd number of people on your trip, which means one "leftover" person won't have to share a room, they still won’t have to pay the single supplement. 

If you're a fan of cruises, Lea Lane, author of Fodor's Solo Travel book, suggests these cruise companies that have waived or heavily discounted singles' supplements in the past: Cruise West, Hurtigruten/Coastal Voyage, and Uniworld.

Cruise West allows singles to travel at the "twin" rate in B or C cabins on its Alaska Gold Rush Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, and Antarctica cruises. In addition, single rates are available on all cabins and all departures, at a surcharge over the twin price.

Hurtigruten does not charge a single supplement for its off-season Norway cruises between October and April, and during the rest of year the supplement is only 25 percent of the base fare, which is far less than what most other cruise companies charge.

Uniworld, which specializes in small ship European river cruises, does not waive the single supplement as a matter of standard policy, but they often drop it during sales and special promotions.

Lane also advises that many travel companies often won't volunteer information about singles rates, but if they have the space, you may be able to get a discounted cabin or room for a single traveler, especially at the last minute. So the most important advice is to make sure you ASK the company when you’re out looking for travel packages that cater to people traveling alone.

For example, the private luxury tour company Absolute Travel will try to pair you with another single traveler if you ask. If there happens to be another single on your trip willing to share, you can room together and avoid the single supplement. However, they cannot guarantee that they’ll be able to match you with someone, and if not, you'll have to pay the surcharge. Momentum Tours, which specializes in tours to Israel but also offers trips worldwide, has a similar match-up program.

In addition, individual spas and resorts are creating packages for solo travelers. The Westin St. John Resort and the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica are two popular destinations that offer singles packages. There are numerous others, but again you have to specifically ask if such a package exists when you call the reservations agent (or your travel agent).

Lane's Web site, SoloLady.com, is a great resource to find singles-only trips aimed at women. The great thing about Lane’s site is that it gives solo travelers information about trips that are not advertised, not commercial, and filled by word of mouth.

Another good resource is the Connecting Solo Travel Network (www.cstn.org), a membership-based organization that shares news, tips, tours and other information for single travelers.