Is there a way around single supplements for solo travellers?

by Laura
(Ontario, Canada)

I am just starting to foray into the world of solo travelling, and I am dismayed at the single supplement that is added to any kind of organized tour itinerary. Specifically, I am considering a walking tour that is self-guided. They look after accommodations and bag transportation, and you just walk from place to place. The price is reasonable, but not when you consider the single supplement. Besides being extremely unfair, it just irks me. Why should I be penalized for travelling alone?? Is there any way around this?

Answer: Laura, you hit the nail on the head! What you describe is one of the main reasons a lot of women choose to travel solo. They're just fed up with having to pay extra or put up with inferior services or accommodations just because they're traveling on their own.

All is not lost however. Increasingly companies are becoming aware and conscious that their single female clientele is in rebellion. This shift has been taking place for several years, since the solo travel phenomenon hit the mainstream. As a result, tour operators are increasingly offering no supplements or low supplements fees for single travelers. Your best bet is to do a search for 'no travel supplement' on the web. You'll find many organizations or companies that advertise themselves as solo-friendly. You may not find exactly what you're looking for, but you'll also discover many companies that do indeed treat the solo traveler as a treasured guest.

Of course you could decide to travel independently, in which case you might want to look into finding female travel companions if the 'independent' side of things is a bit daunting.

Or, you could plunge right in the deep end and try doing it all on your own: reserve your flights, book your accommodation, design your itinerary. If you haven't tried this yet, please give it a thought—it's a lot easier than you might think, and you'll probably meet many like-minded travelers along the way.

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