Ways to Skip the Single Supplement Fee

“Per-person, based on double occupancy.” Look at any package or tour price and you’ll likely see some variation of these words hovering nearby, a fine-print head shake to single travelers everywhere. The term “single supplement” sounds so value-added and upbeat, but in reality it can be a major deterrent for single travelers, adding anywhere from a hundred to a few thousand dollars in expenses for the privilege of not sharing a room.

Anecdotally, it seems to me that as stigmas about single travel lessen more avid travelers choose to go it alone rather than not travel at all. Tours and cruises in particular offer a structured and social travel experience for single travelers who don’t want to be solo travelers. Conveniently, tour companies and cruise lines are also those most likely to waive single supplements.

Here’s a roundup of a few companies currently waiving single supplements:

• Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): OAT is offering free single supplements on all of its land and small ship trips and pre- and post-trip extensions. Savings range from $500 to $5,000. According to the company, more than a third of its customers book solo. OAT also offers a free matching roommate program.
• Uniworld: The boutique river cruise line is offering waived single supplements on select cruises, including the 15-day European Jewels: Budapest to Amsterdam, and the 10-day Paris and Normandy sailing.
• Avalon Waterways: The cruise line is offering waived single supplements on select Europe river cruises this year, including the eight-day Blue Danube Discovery between Budapest and Nuremburg and the eight-day Tulip Time Cruise that starts and ends in Amsterdam.
• Grand Circle Travel: Grand Circle advertises a “solo traveler price guarantee” that offers price matching and a $500 deduction if you can find a lower price for a solo traveler on any comparable international trip.

Know another company offering waived single supplements? Share them in the comments below!