A Passenger Traveling Alone
Traveling alone can be a very liberating experience as well as a great exercise in personal development and a resounding statement of independence. There are many people enjoy traveling alone. The good news is that these days, single travelers have plenty of options to make single travel as pleasant as possible. But it’s not just about vainly trying your luck against the challenges that lie ahead.
Photo: chobecajero
With the growing number of single adults, specialized travel companies are now catering to this important market. Most hotels these days do not charge extra for two people sharing one room. There is more to a single supplement calculation than just doubling the per person room costs. If that same hotel also included a free breakfast, then it should charge less for a single person than for two people, because it is only providing one breakfast. If you are on a vacation tour that includes accommodation, then you’ll find these alone travel appearing in the tour price as well, because obviously the hotel passes such costs on to the tour operator.
Find accommodation that is located close to shopping and leisure facilities, if that is what you are mostly interested in. This will be especially convenient for you at night. If you are staying somewhere more rural make sure you familiarize yourself with local places, as soon as possible, so that you get your bearings. You will also find that the staff may recognize you, which will encourage you to practice your language skills, if you are abroad, or to ask for activity suggestions.
Some hotels and some cruise lines have special “single” rooms at rates substantially below twin room rates. These rooms are sometimes much smaller than a twin room, with only one single bed in them and single people will get exactly the same room. These enlightened hotels and cruise operators understand that if they have a definite number of empty unsold rooms or cabins, they are better advised to sell them at a lower price to single travelers than they are to leave them empty and unsold.
Taking care of yourself while traveling abroad on your own encompasses many things, from protecting yourself from harm to staying healthy, from staying out of trouble to avoiding being robbed. How to go about it begins with your own self-awareness, followed by some thorough preparation and rounded off with a nice helping of common sense.
