Explore The World

With a little bit of good advice travelling alone suddenly seems a lot less daunting.

Finding the best deals

At Travelzoo, we’re used to sourcing the best travel offers out there. This can be anything from a half-price Italian city break to a sun-soaked week in Madeira with free meals. However, we were absolutely fed up of seeing hefty supplements and charges for single travellers. Why pay for someone who isn’t there?

We’ve put together some tips to make the most of your solo expedition and save some pennies along the way:

Fight the fees

Travelzoo has now launched a dedicated Singles Travel section – which is stuffed with discounted breaks found by our team of Deal Experts.

Join a group tour

It’s the best way to meet like-minded tourists but the trick is to choosing a tour that suits your age group and character. Do you really want to be stuck on a bus with a bunch of rowdy teenagers? The general (yet unfortunate) rule is: The more expensive the tour, the older the participants. However this doesn’t have to be the case, so have a look around and check out some user reviews of the tour and the company hosting it. It’s also worth checking out some companies that host specific departures for travellers over 55 such as Saga, Page & Moy and Shearings. A lot of group tours also have a food kitty which can save on food expenses whilst travelling.

Are you free as a bird?

If you’re not tied down with commitments then try to leave it as late as possible to book your trip. Not only is there generally a discount to shift the last few spots -- but you can ask the travel agent what type of people are already booked onto the tour.

Hop aboard a cruise

Known for being notoriously expensive, cruises have often seemed out of the question for singles over 50. However, a growing amount of cruise ships now have dedicated single cabins -- a wallet-friendly alternative to booking a twin cabin alone. Cruises tend to be popular with more mature travellers, plus it’s a great way to see lots of places at once.

Doze in a dorm

Often assumed to be full of bunk-bed-sharing twenty-somethings, hostels are regularly avoided by more seasoned travellers. However many travel forums recommend award-winning HI Hostels for travellers of all ages. If you’re not keen on sharing a dormitory, have a look at the private rooms, they are often cheaper (and nicer!) than some budget hotels.

Go Local

Try to avoid asking holiday representatives where to eat or drink on a budget – they’ll often recommend somewhere they have a connection with which might not be the most useful suggestion. Try asking a local barman or shopkeeper, they might even let you in on some hidden gems.

Share and share alike

Certain tour operators are now offering room-share options where you’ll be paired up with another solo traveller of the same sex in a twin room. It’s the perfect way to dodge the supplement.

Travelling alone can offer freedom

Travelling alone can offer total freedom and armed with a little savvy knowledge it won’t break the bank either. Who knows, if you’re not paying for a phantom partner you may even save enough to go on holiday twice.

Sarah Neate, Travelzoo Deals Expert