Q: 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.
A: Carolyn- You’re not alone! Roughly one in 10 leisure travelers travels alone. When looking for travel packages that cater to people traveling solo, the most important advice is to make sure you ASK the company. Lea Lane, author of Fodor’s Solo Travel book, advises that companies won’t volunteer this information, but that if they have the space, you may even be able to get a discounted cabin for a single traveler, especially at the last minute. Lea also suggests these companies that have waived or heavily discounted singles’ supplements in the past: Cruise West, Hurtigruten/Coastal Voyage, and RiverBarge Excursions.
Other companies have started running singles-only trips. Intrepid Travel just introduced four singles-only trips to places like Peru and Nepal. Absolute Travel has begun a service that pairs compatible travelers who would rather not go alone. 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 good destinations that offer singles packages.
The Web site called SoloLady.com, edited by Lea Lane, is another great resource for singles-only trips. One of these is by McCavan Journeys. This trip is a tour of Ireland specifically designed for women only. It is a one-time adventure that will take 14 women traveling solo to “visit sacred and ancient sites in Ireland for 10 days, July 8-18, 2008.”
The great thing about this Web site is that it gives solo travelers information about trips such as this, which are not advertised, not commercial, and filled by word of mouth. If you are interested in this particular trip, the e-mail address is mccavanjourneys@comcast.net. You can also phone them directly in Vermont at 802-253-3070, ext. 2.
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