How To Avoid Paying Single Supplements - - Top Ten Tips To Pay No Single Supplem

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Want to pay no single supplements? If you travel on your own, you are part of a growing company. Single travelers now make up a quarter of the US traveling public, according to a survey by the TIA. Having to pay a single supplement for the privilege can be irksome but can be avoided.

These 10 tips will help you save:

Travel off-season Some resorts don't charge supplements in their off season or greatly reduce them. A summer resort can be just as delightful, less crowded and cheaper in the spring and summer.

Be flexible Some cruiselines offer seniors single supplement waivers on some cruises and not others. Before you get your heart set on a particular ship at a particular time of year, see what's out there. Often older ships have more single cabins because of their more irregular configurations. Ask about repositioning cruises. These are cruises that take the ship to another port for the start of a cruise. Companies often waive supplements and offer discounts for them.

Book through a specialist - Big travel companies buy rooms and cabins in bulk and often have the power to demand a few single rooms or single supplement waivers. Companies like Grand Circle, and Saga, that specialise in senior travel, can often find single accommodations, reduced supplements or supplement waivers.

Try a more adventurous vacation Safaris and treks that involve staying in tents, mountain refuges or hostels usually don't involve single supplements.

Book last minute Resorts will usually waive supplements in the interest of filling their rooms.

Join a singles tour Organizers of singles tours will often try to match you with a compatible roommate or to find resorts with some single accommodation.

Visit places that charge for the room, not number of guests A lot of hotels and resorts in the US charge the same for a room regardless of whether it has one guest or the maximum the room can accommodate. If it's on a bed and breakfast basis, there may be a small supplement for extra guests rather than a single supplement.

Let the company match you with a traveling companion Cruise companies and some travel agencies may offer to match you with a compatible traveling companion. As long as you are careful you can save money and you might make a friend for life.

Join a singles travel club or network Look for non-profit singles networks. Many of these have forums and chatrooms where you can meet other single senior travelers or learn about companies that waive single supplements.

Try to negotiate It never hurts to ask, especially if you are traveling during the off-season or if travel to your particular destination has been down lately. After 9/11, many Americans stayed home and London hotels felt the pinch. Visitors with enough front to haggle were able to get half price rooms at some of London's most famous hotels.

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