How to avoid the single supplement when travelling solo

It's thrilling, demanding, and invigorating to travel solo. Unfortunately, not all travel is equal financially. Certain travel deals are constructed to favor those who travel in couples or groups, with the single supplement being one of the adversities of travelling alone. However, solo travel is on the upward trend and there are ways to dodge the single supplement if one does their research well. Read on for advice on how to travel alone without paying a premium.

What is a single supplement?

A single supplement is a price levied by a business to compensate for any revenue lost as a result of a room not being occupied by two people. Because resort rooms and ship cabins are normally designed to accommodate at least two people, they are unable to charge for the second space in the room if only one person books it. Companies typically charge anywhere from 10% to 100% of the cost of the additional occupants.

Negotiate to waive off or find the cheapest supplement on offer

Often, travel agents acting as the middleman between the preferred destination might be difficult to negotiate with on waiving off the supplement. However, simply asking the hotel or resort directly might prove to be beneficial in scoring a discount or waiving off the extra charge. Most hoteliers would accommodate; provided if they can see a value of having the room occupied against not having it booked at all. The supplement charge can be even more flexible if travelling on the shoulder season where occupancy is usually low.

Research on companies that favor solo travelling

If the research is done right, there are numerous options for solo travelers, if the individual is not picky about the type of travel. Adventure travel is the best bet for solo travelers as there are companies and cruise liners geared towards customizing individual travel in an attractive manner. Scouring through websites that offer helpful advice for solo travelers is another way to build up connections with like-minded travelers. Through networking, the traveler can be well-informed about upcoming travel deals that can be grabbed during the planning process.

Early booking or late secure

Checking to see who charges single supplements and how much they charge is the greatest research approach. Simply start the booking procedure online and notice whether the pricing changes when you enter two versus one traveler. Look out for any changes in rates if you try a different day or a different resort in the same city.

The traveler might be able to take advantage of a tour company's doubt about whether or not they'll be able to fill all the spaces on the preferred dates if booked early enough. If the traveler waits until the last minute and there are still spaces left, it might be possible to secure a charge waiver if the resort or hotel isn't quite full.

Avoiding the supplement can be a challenge but it is not entirely impossible. More hoteliers are finding ways to accommodate all types of travelers without some having to pay a hefty extra charge. Whether it is to include single lodging with lesser overheads or building a hotel that is exclusively for solo travelers, the single supplement can soon become a thing of the past.