There’s a lot of fun to be hand as a solo traveller, but when you’ve got a single supplement fee to factor in, it can get in the way of planning and saving for your next trip.
A single supplement is when a hotel, tour or other holiday service provider passes on a fee to a solo traveller for double occupancy pricing.
The charge is passed on to the traveller at a rate that can vary between 10 to 100 per cent of the double occupancy price.
But, there are ways you can avoid a single supplement and it doesn’t involve giving up on your dream holiday.
Here are just a few ways to avoid a single supplement so you can keep more money in your pocket before you head off.
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You might be a solo traveller, but that doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. Put the call out to some of your friends about whether they’d like to join you on one of your upcoming trips. They might be just as thrilled as you about the idea of going on a big adventure. It doesn’t hurt to ask the people around you, you might just find a new travel companion in the process.
If all else fails and you aren’t able to get one of your friends to come along, then it’s worth asking your tour operator or travel agent about being assigned a roommate on your tour. This is often possible on group tour packages and on cruises. While it’s not always available, it’s definitely worth asking just in case. Who knows, you might just make a friend for life.
Travelling in the off-season can mean you can take advantage of special deals and other opportunities. If you do travel in a low season, you might just be able to negotiate your way to a deal that doesn’t include a single supplement. Of course, that is completely up to the travel organisation, but it doesn’t hurt to at least inquire.
Often travel companies will offer tours, stays and specials without a single supplement but won’t necessarily advertise it, while other companies will shout it out from the rooftops. The best thing to do if you see a tour or package that you’re interested in is to ask them if they have single supplements or not.
The bargain hunter in all of us likes to feel like we’re getting a good deal and so it doesn’t hurt to try and haggle your way into a bargain. Try negotiating on price, especially if you’re willing to travel in low-season times or at the last minute, this just might help you avoid paying for a single supplement. At the end of the day, it doesn’t hurt to give it a go.
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