NO SOLO SUPPLEMENTS: Sacramento Bee, writes: Overseas Adventure Travel offers

Are Travel Companies Listening to the Requests of Solo Travelers?
The Sacramento Bee,  http://www.sacbee.com , has a great article today…….
“Overseas Adventure Travel launches 7 new small group adventures to meet baby boomer demand

By Overseas Adventure Travel
Published: Monday, Jul. 29, 2013 - 4:36 am
BOSTON, July 29, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The most traveled generation in history continues to fuel demand for adventure travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations filled with up-close, interactive experiences, prompting Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) to launch seven new small group itineraries in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central and Eastern Europe, the company's CEO Vince Cook announced today.

"As more Americans turn 50, OAT is experiencing significant growth, especially among women, who now comprise 70% of our travelers, and solo travelers, who represent 35% of all bookings," Cook said, "With that growth, we're finding more of our travelers have 'been there, done that' and are pushing us to add specific, less-traveled destinations. In response, we have created seven new adventures that take travelers to places like Bali's enchanting islands, Central Europe's medieval cities, and southern Africa's captivating game reserves. Each new adventure will provide our travelers with the kind of intimate, compelling, and unique experiences of a country and its people that they have come to expect from OAT."

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 94 million Americans are over the age of 50 and more than 12,500 Americans turn 50 every day. In the past three years (2011-2013), more than 116,000Americans aged 50+ have traveled overseas with OAT, with more than a third traveling solo.
To make travel more affordable for this increasing number of OAT solo travelers—80% of whom are women—OAT offers Free Single Supplements on all of its adventures, including all optional pre- and post-trip extensions. In addition, OAT's Solo Traveler Challenge guarantees the best solo price for a comparable international adventure. Plus, OAT's Lowest Price Guarantee ensures travelers will receive OAT's lowest price, automatically refunding the difference of the main trip price if OAT reduces the price—up until the day of departure.

The addition of these seven new small group adventures brings the total number of OAT's Land and Small Ship Adventures to 42, with destinations in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and the South Pacific. OAT limits its Land Adventures groups to just 10-16 travelers, and its Small Ship Adventures to 16-25.

Are solo travelers less desirable to the travel industry?

  Solo travel by air......might be one of the solo friendly modes of transportation...

As I started today's post on Does the Travel Industry Hate Solo Travelers, I began to think of what travel services are solo friendly.

1.  Airlines:  although I do not enjoy the procedure and process of flying, arriving 3 hrs early, checking in with a machine, wearing my heaviest clothing so I meet the one bag weight rule, security check in..... I don't need to elaborate, you have all been there.... the dreaded middle seat, hot plane, smelly carry on food, delays, we can all add to this list

With all their faults and costs, the airlines do NOT charge me more for traveling SOLO

2.  Trains:  I am not charged more for a train trip in Europe.  Yes there are promotions for what I call the ark people, those traveling in two's or families but overall I feel I am paying the same as other travelers.  Here in the USA, does AMTRAK charge solo passengers more?  I was told by an AMTRAK traveler that you pay for a ticket and can purchase a roomette for an additional cost but she is NOT charged more for using the roomette solo.

3.  Rental Cars, Ferry Trips, Bus Tickets:  these are all priced per person.  There may be discounts for the groups listed in #2.

4.  Two for One Advertising:  Next to the cruise lines this is one advertisement I receive several times a week that continues to infuriate me.    The offer is often for package tours and cruises.*  

5.  Cruises:  Perhaps the most offensive treatment for this solo traveler is the 200% solo supplement.   Paying twice as much as other passengers must aggravate other solo travelers as well.   On a recent trip several passengers expression dissatisfaction with the 'value for the price' they received as solo travelers. 
*Cruises also offer 2 for 1 pricing but will not allow a solo client to pay the advertised price unless they bring another passenger.

VacationstoGo.com has a list of 'single' cruises (not hosted single cruises) on their web site.   Often there are several very well priced sailing.   "Or you can call for the solo price on any cruise listed", according to the CEO, Mr. Fox.  I suggested to Mr Fox that changing the title to solo vs single cruises would be more appropriate.   Solo is NOT always single.

Several of the cruise travel agents have started to post solo prices or solo promotions.   Cunard has offered 'no solo supplements' and the river cruises had a special recently.  

I have been forced to check weekly for prices that may have been reduced to level, where double the price might be affordable.  Example:  if the per day price is offered at $100 a day than the cruise will be $200 for a solo.....if the itinerary is one I am interested in and the ship has amenities I want (enrichment classes) than I will consider paying a 200% solo supplement.

6. Restaurants:   Casual restaurants or diners (in the USA) seat solo clients with the only concern to leave a 4 or 6 seat table available for larger groups.  Invariable I receive the same question when I enter or sit, are you alone? 
On further reflection I expect the wait staff is not happy with a solo traveler......table used for the same length of time with 1/2 the return.

7. Hotels:   Until I heard a comment from Arthur Frommer on his Sunday radio program http://bit.ly/SjF7hx   I had not thought of hotels as having a separate policy for solo travelers. 
Pricing:   I checked Booking.com for prices for solo vs double rooms in a two cities.  Booking.com:  Rome on a Booking.com sample listed solo rooms at $10 to $20 less than a room for two.   In Philadelphia the hotel room prices do not change for one traveler!  Mr. Frommer is correct, hotel rooms are not solo friendly!
I will be doing more research on this.

8. Travel Agents:   If you know of any travel agent who wants to work with solo travelers, please let me know.   I understand commission sales (after 22 years) and working with one client limits your income.    
Apparently solo fares on cruises and package tours must be priced with the supplier, by the travel agent.   There seems to be NO central computer program that will supply a list of fares for a solo travelers on cruises.   I search 100 or more sailings a week, looking for a fare that is 'affordable', once I double the advertised price.

Travel agents must not be willing to take the time to do this amount of work.  They will email me or call me if they see something affordable that comes across their desks.  Often I know about a sale before they do.
  
Are solo travelers more work for a hotel?  For a cruise line? For a tour group?   Let's address that next.

Vacations to Go no Solo Supplement River cruises

   I just received an email Vacations to Go along with I expect hundreds of thousands of other subscribers.   But did you see the sections on solo River Cruises?

 In the email there were several links to low or no single supplement crusies. This is the list of River Cruises.

 Disclaimer:  I do not sell or promote ANY travel companies, just report what I see on line.


http://www.rivercruise.com/singles.cfm

Contact Vacations to Go directly to verify all the information and availability…..



  A Division of Vacations To Go River Cruise Specialists
800-510-4002  

Discounted River Cruises?

Pay reduced or no single supplements on select departures when you book by August 15, 2013. Click on the FASTDEAL# at left for more information about any vacation. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in US dollars.   Click # For  More Info


European River Cruises
800-510-4002

#T171373  13Oct 28
Amsterdam, Holland   Zurich, Switzerland
The Enchanting Rhine 2013 (Amsterdam to Zurich)
Ama     Deluxe    $3,589   #T171394

8 Oct 29  Amsterdam, Holland
Basel, Switzerland
The Enchanting Rhine 2013 (Amsterdam to Basel, Cruise-Only)
Ama   Deluxe  $2,549
Sold Out!

#T77329 13 Oct 31
Zurich, Switzerland Amsterdam, Holland
The Enchanting Rhine 2013 (Zurich to Amsterdam)
Ama   Deluxe $3,389
Book Now & Save!

 #T116871  8  Nov 5
Basel, Switzerland   Amsterdam, Holland
The Enchanting Rhine 2013 (Basel to Amsterdam, Cruise-Only)
Ama Deluxe $2,349
Book Now& Save!

#T41107  12   Nov 8
Budapest, Hungary
Prague, Czech Republic
Great Capitals & Vintages of the Danube 2013 (Wine Cruise, Budapest to Prague)
Ama    Deluxe   $3,039
Book Now  & Save!

 #T42239   8  Nov 9
Budapest, Hungary
Vilshofen, Germany
Great Capitals & Vintages of the Danube 2013 (Wine Cruise, Budapest to Vilshofen, Cruise-Only)
Ama  Deluxe
$2,349   Book Now& Save!

MANY MORE on this list and on their web site!    There is a Single Section too,  for solo travelers.