Traveling solo is one of the most rewarding things you can do. If being single or married to a reluctant traveler is holding you back, don’t let it. If you’re worried about what people are thinking when they see you alone – who cares? You’ll never see them again.
The best thing about traveling alone – you can do what you want, when you want and never have to compromise.
In my opinion, there is no such thing as a single supplement. Either two people are sharing the cost of a room, or one person is paying for the entire room. Yes, your out of pocket cost is higher, and you have a whole room to yourself. This is why I like moderate priced smaller hotels. I do have an issue with paying the full cost of a double room, and being put in a closet, but this only tends to happen in certain major European cities.
Traveling alone is often safer. You’re more vigilant and less distracted. The only time I get lost on the NYC subway is when I’m with other people, talking and not paying attention.
As a woman traveling alone, I make sure to dress conservatively (but never dowdy!). If you get into trouble, you go to other women for help – and they’re less likely to assist a woman dressed inappropriately.
Communicating with destination experts on Tripadvisor is a great way to meet local people or other travelers prior to your trip. Often, I meet fellow visitors at the same hotel on Tripadvisor or other forums in advance of the trip. Plus, I’ve bonded with people from all over the world who are usually happy to show me around their town. As social networking and groups like Meetup become more prevalent, you have a greater opportunity to bond with people and meet new friends to dine with when you’re traveling alone.
As a new travel agent, who is very conscious of the pitfalls of pricing for solo travelers, it is my goal to develop special trips and negotiate advantageous rates for solos whenever possible. In fact, I was able to negotiate 3 NO-Single Supplement cabins with Uniworld for a Bordeaux wine-focused river cruise. There’s still one cabin left! Please contact me via the form here if you are interested.
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Enhancing Solo Travel With Social Networking