Which tour companies waive the single supplement?
Aug 13th, 2005, 12:33 PM
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Which tour companies waive the single supplement?
I have read that some tour companies waive the single supplement during low season. Which companies do this? All the tour companies I have travelled with have a guarantee share policy, where you get a single room only if they cannot find someone for you to share with. I have always paid the single supplement since I prefer to have my own room and I usually travel in low season. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Aug 23rd, 2005, 04:49 AM
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Although I'm not familiar with this company, I have found Travelsphere UK provides single rooms but their prices seem high to me. I am planning on using them for Italy this fall. I've also found Allsingles travel but he doesn't have much left for the fall...no single supplements there.
Aug 26th, 2005, 12:58 PM
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Grand Circle Travel (www.gct.com) has a wonderful and relatively inexpensive trip to La Costa del Sol in Spain in the fall with no single supplement. Although their tours appeal to senior travelers, the program last December included parents with their two college kids and participants in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The program included a stay in a studio apartment, daily buffet breakfast, a dine-around program with meal vouchers, and several excursions. You can opt to take other excursions with the group or on your own or with local tours. I had a wonderful time and highly recommend it.
Aug 27th, 2005, 07:10 AM
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I will be taking my first tour with Intrepid Travel, which has a sister company Gap Adventures. They do not charge a single supplement- in fact, all of their prices are listed for single travelers and it appears that couples and groups are the exception to the rule.
Aug 31st, 2005, 04:25 AM
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travelsphere.co.uk. Their trips leave from the UK, so you need to meet up with them there. The other one is allsinglestravel.com. I haven't used either so can't give a reference. The folks that answer the phones sound informed.. thats all I can tell you, sorry. I'm about to book one so can let you know in November how it was. Good luck.
Aug 31st, 2005, 02:40 PM
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Anyone tried 'easyhotel.com'? Owned by the same guy who runs easyjet, and easycruise.com
I read no single supplements are charged, even for the cruise, but prices are low because it's for the room only, and little else.
I read no single supplements are charged, even for the cruise, but prices are low because it's for the room only, and little else.
Nov 3rd, 2005, 10:31 AM
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i just did a singles tour with allsinglestravel to the greek islands and only AFTER they collected all the monies from me did the changes on the package start happening...they switched the hotel in santorini to one which was much farther from the village than the one we were supposed to be at so it required taking taxis all the time...then they switched the cruise ship we were supposed to be taking to a horrible ship called the hellenic calypso!! which was awful and you couldnt even have a conversation in the dining room as it was so noisy due to the motors or something mechanical...and then we were supposed to fly home from santorini to athens and have a last enjoyable nite in athens and they switched it to some ship that stopped at every port and it took over 8 hours to get to athens and we were forced to sit on hard wooden cafeteria chairs the entire trip and we did not get into athens exhausted and frustrated until midnite!!!!!!!so we lost our entire day in santorini and our final evening in athens...beware!!!!!!!their policy is no cancellations or you lose your money if you cancel in the last 90 days before the departure...but the changes were not made orwere we notified until the last 2 weeks before departure for one stupid reason or another so ..be careful...their trip was over 2500.00 for 9 or 10 days and it wasnt really 10 days and that is 250.00 a day!!and i shared the room with another female....there are lots of packages out there for alot less...you can get a two week pkge for less than that just keep looking...grand circle and polo cruises and princess on sale during the last 3 weeks before she leaves the prices are cut in half.....i dislike bait and switch tour operators and never before have i ever had this happen to me and on so many items and the most important items...like my cruise ship....my hotel and my flight....i can tell you more but it takes too long budget travelo always has super specials as does johnnyjohnny .com devon....
Nov 5th, 2005, 10:41 AM
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I've taken 2 tours thru Grand Circle Travel--Mexico (Copper Canyon) and Thailand--and, since the cost was pretty reasonable, I paid the ss for the tours (about $250).
When I'm thinking about doing a tour, I go with a big well known company. I try and get lots of information to avoid a horror story like what happened to DevonLauren.
Itinerary always comes first with me. I'd suggest, to travel less expensively, go to places where the $ goes far. Just my thoughts...
Faith
When I'm thinking about doing a tour, I go with a big well known company. I try and get lots of information to avoid a horror story like what happened to DevonLauren.
Itinerary always comes first with me. I'd suggest, to travel less expensively, go to places where the $ goes far. Just my thoughts...
Faith
Jan 14th, 2006, 06:13 AM
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DevonLauren, sorry to hear about what happened to you. Did you or any others try to get money back from allsingles travel? I was actually planning on booking a spot for myself for the Italy trip this yr, but will not now. Are travel groups allowed to make so many changes to hotel and cruises as part of the overall vacation? All advice is appreciated as I very much want to book a few trips for myself through singletravel groups.
Mar 26th, 2006, 01:24 PM
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I went on the Greek trip as DevonLauren. What a waste of money with AllSinglesTravel! I tried to get my money back but with little success! Eric, the guy who's in charge, wasn't forthcoming and it wasn't long before I realized I'd never see my $ again. this year I've decided to use try FriendlyPlanet.com for the Pyramid trip. Allsingles had a Egypt trip that would've cost me over $3000.00. FriendlyPlanet saved me $1000.00 and I'll see more, still do the Nile cruise and get to see Abu Simbel. yes there is a single supplement, but what can you do?
Mar 27th, 2006, 09:44 AM
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I have taken many (about 6) tours with Cosmos.com and they have a guarenteed share situation. If you are willing to share (with the same sex) a room, no single supplement. If one one wants to share, you get the room to yourself with no supplement. I got luckly and had my own room five of the six times.
Jun 16th, 2006, 12:21 PM
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www.ricksteves.com..been on 2 trips..no single supplement if you are willing to share..
Jun 16th, 2006, 05:44 PM
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Sorry, but a "share arrangement" isn't waiving the single penalty. The companies that offer it do deserve half a mark for at least acknowledging the existence of solo travelers and attempting to accommodate them, albeit strictly within the constraints of their "Noah's Ark" business model.
They're still penalizing singles, but they're offering a choice of penalties. You can either take the financial penalty and pay a lot more than everyone else. Or you can choose the alternative penalty of sharing accommodations with an unknown stranger, with all the associated difficulties and stresses. Either way, you've still got a burdensome supplement, not a waiver.
That said, the share arrangement may be a good thing if your instinctive reaction to it is "Great! What a wonderful opportunity to make a new friend! Where do I sign up?" Or even you're not fortunate enough to possess such a cheerfully optimistic view of life, being able to afford a trip that would be unaffordable with the single-occupancy penalty may be worth enduring the roommate from Hell.
But for most people, having that sort of Hobson's choice is not a desirable thing. If you check with Google, you'll find a few tour operators (mostly in Europe) that have figured out that solo travelers are good customers rather than troublesome exceptions to their business model. There are also a few travel agents that specialize in finding decent deals for singles (which is something different from selling singles cruises or tours that offer share arrangements). Neither are easy to find, but the effort may be worthwhile.
They're still penalizing singles, but they're offering a choice of penalties. You can either take the financial penalty and pay a lot more than everyone else. Or you can choose the alternative penalty of sharing accommodations with an unknown stranger, with all the associated difficulties and stresses. Either way, you've still got a burdensome supplement, not a waiver.
That said, the share arrangement may be a good thing if your instinctive reaction to it is "Great! What a wonderful opportunity to make a new friend! Where do I sign up?" Or even you're not fortunate enough to possess such a cheerfully optimistic view of life, being able to afford a trip that would be unaffordable with the single-occupancy penalty may be worth enduring the roommate from Hell.
But for most people, having that sort of Hobson's choice is not a desirable thing. If you check with Google, you'll find a few tour operators (mostly in Europe) that have figured out that solo travelers are good customers rather than troublesome exceptions to their business model. There are also a few travel agents that specialize in finding decent deals for singles (which is something different from selling singles cruises or tours that offer share arrangements). Neither are easy to find, but the effort may be worthwhile.
Jun 18th, 2006, 02:37 AM
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I don't think Travelsphere uk charges high for the single supplement. I am booked to an Austrian Lakes tour with them next September and I am paying only 80 pounds more for the single suplement.
In trips to Asia their single suplement is around 180 pounds.In fact, I found it one of the tour agencies thatr provide the best prices and the lower single suplements, and , believe me, I've checked them all
In trips to Asia their single suplement is around 180 pounds.In fact, I found it one of the tour agencies thatr provide the best prices and the lower single suplements, and , believe me, I've checked them all
Sep 16th, 2006, 01:54 PM
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www.markwarner.co.uk do it and the ski companies like Crystal offer hotels where there is no single supplement - especially in Austria
Nov 7th, 2006, 04:20 PM
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AdventuresAbroad also has a policy that if you are willing to share they will give you a roomate and if not you get a single room at no additional price. I did this on 2 trips and they worked out ok. I am still friends with the lady I shared a room in the Greek Isles.
May 14th, 2012, 01:09 AM
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I totally agree with JBHapgood above. A "share arrangement" is NOT waiving the single supplement. The single supplement is a crock and NONE of these companies WAIVE the single supplement EXCEPT Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) and Grand Circle Travel (GCT). Trust me I know, I've researched them all.
All others offer a "share arrangemnent" which allows you to roll the dice with a roomate and possibly end up with someone you don't know, have nothing in common with, who ruins your trip or whom you are not compatible with. Then there are those whom you can't trust with your valuables, those who smoke or drink too much, snore etc. etc. Not acceptable when you are investing 3 to 5 K per pop per trip.
So singles, demand respect and invest your money in a company that respects you as a single and designs its business model around accomodating you as a single/solo. OAT/GCT now puts aside 2 spaces/rooms per trip for solos with NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IN THEIR OWN ROOM at no extra cost. NONE, ZIP, ZERO, NADA with the exception of their river cruises (and then their supplement is minimal). Although I've avoided them because they do have the supplement.
If anyone knows of any other travel company that does the same, please let me know. As far as I'm concerned, Globus, Cosmos, All Singles, Intrepid, Friendly Planet, Gate 1 etc. have a business model that CATERS TO COUPLES and are not SOLO friendly. I'm done "being flexible" and don't think the Single Supplement is necessary.
Are you being reimbursed for the second meal you didn't consume, the second side trip you didn't take, the second set of towels you didn't use, etc. etc.??
Age range is 50's up, but that doesn't mean the 40's crowd should avoid this company at all. Nice groups with PHENOMENAL guides who really know their stuff - no burn outs in this company. These guides are top notch, educated, and know their countries. Nice little loyalty and referral program too. Check them out on their website.
All others offer a "share arrangemnent" which allows you to roll the dice with a roomate and possibly end up with someone you don't know, have nothing in common with, who ruins your trip or whom you are not compatible with. Then there are those whom you can't trust with your valuables, those who smoke or drink too much, snore etc. etc. Not acceptable when you are investing 3 to 5 K per pop per trip.
So singles, demand respect and invest your money in a company that respects you as a single and designs its business model around accomodating you as a single/solo. OAT/GCT now puts aside 2 spaces/rooms per trip for solos with NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IN THEIR OWN ROOM at no extra cost. NONE, ZIP, ZERO, NADA with the exception of their river cruises (and then their supplement is minimal). Although I've avoided them because they do have the supplement.
If anyone knows of any other travel company that does the same, please let me know. As far as I'm concerned, Globus, Cosmos, All Singles, Intrepid, Friendly Planet, Gate 1 etc. have a business model that CATERS TO COUPLES and are not SOLO friendly. I'm done "being flexible" and don't think the Single Supplement is necessary.
Are you being reimbursed for the second meal you didn't consume, the second side trip you didn't take, the second set of towels you didn't use, etc. etc.??
Age range is 50's up, but that doesn't mean the 40's crowd should avoid this company at all. Nice groups with PHENOMENAL guides who really know their stuff - no burn outs in this company. These guides are top notch, educated, and know their countries. Nice little loyalty and referral program too. Check them out on their website.
