Singles holidays

Katiehound · 31 January 2017 at 5:48PM

PhilA wrote: »

However, I was very disappointed to read the Fred Olsen 'no single supplement claim' is not entirely true. I've copied the link as I can't believe it, have I missed something? Should I report them?
In one example a person sharing an internal cabin pays £900 (so £1800 for 2) but a single cabin is £1600, so I'm paying 88.8% of what its costing 2 people for the same trip - how can that be sold as 'no single supplement'? - its £700!! I'm subsidising the couples!
Phil
Northampton

No point reporting them- not all the cruises are marked up that way. There will be some with no or low supplements......... They justify it by saying that's what hotels do!! The thing is they hope to make a lot more out of couples, think drinkies x 2, excursions x2, spending in ships on board x 2. Some of us singles are......penny pinching when it comes to the extras!

Your best idea is to talk to a cruise specialist travel agent. As I mentioned before I find Ocean World really helpful and have used them for 5 years. Sometimes I ask them to watch a specific cruise to see if price drops

I always look at the offers and if there aren't real single deals then I simply don't book those cruises!
Recently I wanted to book a replacement cruise due to Voyager going bust - same destination Cruise & Maritime wanted £100 more, Fred wanted almost £800 more for an inside cabin!! Needless to say the answer was NO!
However sometimes a D or E grade cabin (Fred) sold as a double for single occupancy comes out cheaper than a single!

I think you will find most of the cruises in the peak summer season won't be a bargain- they can fill the ship anyway! If you can travel earlier or later you have a better chance. As I said before £100 per night is a good price.

Once you have been on a cruise you may well make a cruise buddy, I've met quite a few couples who share a cabin to avoid the rip off.

ROL also had singles deals- I've just thrown their singles brochure in the recycling bin!

Don't give up! I can tell you it will be worth it.

Katiehound · 1 February 2017 at 6:41PM

I've now seen those so-called no single supplement deals with Fred.- today.
The no s/s is rarely or never on the cheapest cabins but the prices I have seen are certainly not a good deal!

This one might grab you better.
Also seen today. Dearer cruises generally but price includes: flights, shore excursions, onboard gratuities, wine,beer & soft drinks with dinner, expert guest lecture programme. (Might not have so many sea day activities?)

Only 10% S/S with Voyages of Antiquity:

10 nights- Funchal-Seville : May 3 2017 ( includes Madeira, Lanzarote, Marrakesh, Casablanca) outside cabin £2550

10 nights Rome -Marseille : May 27 17(includes Corsica, Elba, Florence: premium outside £2295

11 nights Nice- Seville : June 6 17(includes Carcassone, Barcelona,Malaga, Seville) out: £2195

12 nights Seville to Tilbury :June 17 17 (Includes Lisbon, Oporto, Bordeaux, Falmouth.) out: £1995

www.oceanworldtravel.com is giving free champagne or choccie hamper with the above cruise bookings.

PhilA · 2 February 2017 at 10:47AM

Thanks Katie, very good hints there. I'll contact an operator I think as it's a minefield and when you're searching and changing say dates or destinations most sites default back to 2 persons. So, you end up with wrong quotes!
I'm peeved at Fred Olsen misleading. I've had reply which didn't answer my question. So, I'll try again.
Thanks
Phil (I'm 59, not 50 as I originally typed!!!)

Kunoichi73 · 2 February 2017 at 11:46AM

toffeentom wrote: »

Ok. i'm ready to go on holiday alone but not quite alone as I don't have the confidence. Does anyone have any experience of, or can recommend one of the solo holiday companies and any destinations for a first timer?

thanks

Another recommendation for Explore. I've travelled with them 3 times so far (Turkey, Iran and Nepal) and always had a great trip. You have the option of paying a single supplement or sharing with someone. If you opt to share and there is no-one on the trip to share with you won't be asked to pay the single supplement. Also keep your eyes open for their occasional offers that give you the single room without paying the supplement charge.

All the trips I've been on with them have had a mix of couples, friends and singles travelling and everyone has got on really well.

Destination wise, just pick somewhere you really want to go that is within your budget - check the Trip Notes from the website to make sure you allow money for visas and optional extras if needed.

SandC · 2 February 2017 at 1:55PM

I travel on my own a lot. I've used Friendship Travel, TravelOne, Solos, Solitair and also Explore. I'm going to Cayo Coco in Cuba totally on my own in a few weeks.

I would recommend them all actually, the first three are quite similar so really just depends on where you want to go, what's available at a price that suits. Have to say the prices of Friendship and Solos have leapt up, long haul is just ridiculous, hence why I'm doing my own thing for this next holiday. The only one I'm a bit iffy on is Solitair, whilst I had a great time at their OluDeniz hotel they had a very bad policy of not giving you flight details until very close to the holiday. I told them this was out of order and demanded flight confirmation (how can you book airport parking without knowing your terminal?) which they did give me. I was told by someone else it's cos they don't book them until last minute, but this is not acceptable practice to me when I've paid the whole balance. Unsure if they are still working this way, this was only in 2015.

Explore are great for hols that are a little different than just your beach trip. I've done quite a few now and all have been great, they work out good value with all the trips that are included and every one I've done has had a rough split of 50/50 with people travelling on their own and couples or friends travelling together. Small groups of up to 16. However, if you want a room on your own you do have to pay a supplement which varies, otherwise you are down for sharing with someone else of the same sex. Depending on the accommodation some hols don't have the option or the single places are limited.

It's a great way of travel, although if you were to go totally on your own you can, of course, probably find things a lot cheaper. I have found that generally the other people on them are laid back and you can pretty much have company when you want it and not when you don't.

The Friendship house parties are great for first timers and Solos also do similar called Club Solos.

SandC · 2 February 2017 at 1:56PM

Oh yes and I'm about to book a holiday with Intrepid for the first time, simply because they offer some different trips that I'm excited about! :-)

Jackieboy · 2 February 2017 at 2:01PM

toffeentom wrote: »

I'd like a cruise. I have been when my two were teenagers and enjoyed it. At the moment the cost is irrelevant (I don't mean it in a way that I can afford anything) as I just want to make that leap of being confident enough to travel alone. I've also looked at Friendship travel and their small hotel/house party type destinations. Anyone have any experience?

You could also look at taking a holiday where you learn some kind of skill or do an activity. Couples, friends and singles do those because the focus is on the activity itself.

Also, what about a couple of city breaks in the UK as a way to build your confidence before going on a longer holiday abroad?

Katiehound · 2 February 2017 at 5:13PM

PhilA wrote: »

Thanks Katie, very good hints there. I'll contact an operator I think as it's a minefield and when you're searching and changing say dates or destinations most sites default back to 2 persons. So, you end up with wrong quotes!
I'm peeved at Fred Olsen misleading. I've had reply which didn't answer my question. So, I'll try again.
Thanks
Phil (I'm 59, not 50 as I originally typed!!!)

Glossy folder thing from Fred. came today.
Has 3 cruises with no S/S. Highlands & Lochs of Scotland .
"Selected twin rooms to yourself at no S/S" Generally grade D or E. Book by March 1st.
5 nights 26 May ex Greenock. Probably about £900 (trouble is outside fares quoted in all cases is always the cheapest catergory so I am having a guesstimate here)
8 nights 8 May ex Belfast. Prob £1300
7 nights 14 August ex Rosyth prob £1300

katejo · 3 February 2017 at 7:04PM

Kunoichi73 wrote: »

Another recommendation for Explore. I've travelled with them 3 times so far (Turkey, Iran and Nepal) and always had a great trip. You have the option of paying a single supplement or sharing with someone. If you opt to share and there is no-one on the trip to share with you won't be asked to pay the single supplement. Also keep your eyes open for their occasional offers that give you the single room without paying the supplement charge.

All the trips I've been on with them have had a mix of couples, friends and singles travelling and everyone has got on really well.

Destination wise, just pick somewhere you really want to go that is within your budget - check the Trip Notes from the website to make sure you allow money for visas and optional extras if needed.

Following my earlier comments, i have just booked my first Explore for 3 years (9 in total since the 1st in the late 90's). I really like the way in which they don't charge the single supplement if you request a share but there is no one to share with (because other solos have booked a single). I am waiting for confirmation of my place/flight on the "On foot in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania" trip. I already know that the group is almost full and at least 2 other solo travellers have booked.

Williewonthe · 26 February 2017 at 8:28AM

I’ve travelled with both Explore and Exodus over the years. They are both good and look after you well.

The only thing NOT to do with them (or any company you travel with), as far as you are able to avoid it, is book any ‘extras’, e.g. extra nights in hotels before or after the actual trip dates.
You can book these directly and, in the case of hotels, I estimate that their mark-up (above the price you could get the room at by booking directly) is about 50% and more if you assume (probably correctly) that the company concerned will have negotiated a discount on the published rates.
There are other examples of why to book extras yourself: car to airport £30 via one of the above – I paid 10 Euros in a taxi with another traveller.

If I see a non-included extra in any tour company’s brochure, I first see how much I could book it myself for. The savings can be eye-watering!

Singles holidays

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