Package holidays as a solo traveller

Baled

I've booked quite a few solo holidays through Jet2 but I don't have a set destination/month in mind which helps keep the cost down. 

I like Jet2's search option where you can look across whole months to compare prices but for some destinations it doesn't matter what month I check, it's always really pricey. I'd like to visit Malaga city for instance but the prices are always ridiculously high which is a bit mystefying.

I hope you find something you're happy with. 

goldfinches

You might find some of the links in this Good Housekeeping article helpful How to avoid paying single supplements when travelling alone
And there are also some different suggestions in this article from the Guardian last September How to cut the cost of travelling on your own | Money | The Guardian
Hope you find something you'll enjoy.

wideawaketravel

I travel solo all the time and take a different approach to it - I accept that the reality is that the accommodation is a set cost and it's literally halved when two people are sharing.  I would always be wary about booking things separately mind you as you do lose some protection.  

twopenny

I've worked both ways and often find a package is cheaper providing you research till you're exhausted.

I've been with TUI, there are certain times and dates and the prices go up and down so it's a case of keep looking at what you want and delete cookies after your search.

Late night often offers come up to fill rooms.

Leaving on the first flight early morning is often where deals come.

Find out what days the flights go. Quick call to a high street agent. You get more sucess using those days than stabbing in dates or all sorts. The site won't tell you.

But it is getting close to your dates so it's going to get tougher, persever.

Another option is to go into one of their shops and give 3 places you want to visit so they have a choice. Sometimes they will track the price for you if business is quiet but I fear they may be busy as the summer starts

Be very cautious of using companies that run solo holidays. There's only a couple that are reliable. Others don't fill the places and cancel last minute or you are sent with just you or one other and no trips included.

As to the single supplement etc it is what it is. If you get a decent deal on the overall price it won't seem so bad.

I never go for a single room. They are usually in the least wanted part of an hotel.

I get mad with companies because they also charge a supplement for the days you are on an overnight flight. That's just downright irritating.

zagfles

goldfinches said:

You might find some of the links in this Good Housekeeping article helpful How to avoid paying single supplements when travelling alone
And there are also some different suggestions in this article from the Guardian last September How to cut the cost of travelling on your own | Money | The Guardian
Hope you find something you'll enjoy.

The Guardian article is surprisingly good! Travel sections in the papers are usually rubbish. 

You miss out on so much if you just stick to packages. The beauty of solo travel is you don't need to compromise, you do what you want, you don't have anyone else's needs and desires to take into account, and it's rare to find a package which does exactly what you want.

For instance I'd never stay a whole week in the same place on a solo trip, it'd either be a shorter city break, or a trip where I'm travelling around to a few places. Wouldn't want a pool or nearby beach, I'm not going to swim or sunbathe on a solo trip so why pay extra for a hotel with a pool. I always choose a single room if possible and never had any issue with it being a bad part of the hotel etc, just a small room, which is fine when I'm alone. 

Inevitably you'll get things going wrong occasionally but in nearly half a century of frequent solo travel I've never ever had an issue where I've thought "if only I'd booked a package this would be sorted". 

katejo

I have done quite a few trips with firms like Explore. If you are willing to share a twin room, you can avoid the single supplement. 

Doshwaster

wideawaketravel said:

I travel solo all the time and take a different approach to it - I accept that the reality is that the accommodation is a set cost and it's literally halved when two people are sharing.  I would always be wary about booking things separately mind you as you do lose some protection.  

I think it's a balance. What you lose in protection you gain in more choices of fight/hotel/transfer combinations and being able to do multi-centre trips which would not be possible as a package.

daveyjp

Baled said:

I've booked quite a few solo holidays through Jet2 but I don't have a set destination/month in mind which helps keep the cost down. 

I like Jet2's search option where you can look across whole months to compare prices but for some destinations it doesn't matter what month I check, it's always really pricey. I'd like to visit Malaga city for instance but the prices are always ridiculously high which is a bit mystefying.

I hope you find something you're happy with. 

Malaga is gateway to the Costa del Sol so there is always high demand for flights.  However keep checking and sign up to Jet2 offers, especially the £100 per person deal which on a short trip can be a significant reduction.

silverwhistle

I've never been on a summer package holiday as when I was gainfully employed my main holiday was skiing, and for those I often booked a chalet holiday at the last minute having booked my time off work. There was some room sharing occasionally but not always and it seemed to work ok for that style of holiday. I suspect there are summer equivalents with seaside villas?

My birthday is around the same time and it's sort of significant and I fancy going to Rome but I'd certainly not use a package for that. No requirement for a pool, just cleanliness and aircon after a day of footslogging before out to dinner. As noted single rooms are fine, not had an issue before. 

BridgetTheCat

I always find it helps to ignore the words ‘single supplement’, which makes it feel like you’re paying extra. I just set my budget see what’s available within that.

 I did my first solo package holiday with TUI in January, and it was lovely. Prior to that I’d always booked independently with each airline and hotel, but I’m now physically disabled and I thought it would be easier to explain my needs once rather than many times to different people.

when I booked independently I usually found I got a better deal if I approached the hotel etc directly than through a 3rd party site like booking.com. For instance on a recent stay in the UK booking.com had a price for the room and an extra £15 a day for breakfast, but on the hotel’s own website the room was the same price with breakfast included.