Since my first jaunt abroad as a single traveller I have paid out a fair amount of money on single person supplements. The point I have often made is that why should I have to pay more money for a room because I want to travel alone.
More demand for single rooms
I mean, it’s not my fault that few hotels have single rooms. They’re approximately 14million UK residents who are single so it is a massive market that I think no one has really tapped into it. Yes, they’re single holiday companies, but have you seen the price of those holidays?
Lack of flexibility and choice
They have been occasions where a travel agent has found me a tour operator where the low single person supplement is low but that’s rare. While there’s been a lot of negative press about DIY holidays, the fact that I can find hotels that charge per room is the reason why I book this way.
Flexibility people, that’s what I think solo travellers want.
Earlier today I read an article on Travelmole and it mentions a lack of choice for solo travellers and I have to agree. I have been to Greece, twice, and Turkey last year, all package holidays but the single supplement, bar my holiday in Kos, was expensive.
Changes to how I book
This year I have opted for booking my own flights and hotels, taking out travel insurance, and booked with the credit card. I have to say that I do not feel completely comfortable about that, but then I do not have a bottomless pit of money.
The issue of single person supplements has been an issue far far back, but, why is it that despite the trends changing, i.e. people are getting married later in life, that the industry does not follow these trends and change accordingly? Is it just an easy channel to increase revenue?
Feel free to discuss this issue
So, I would like to know why these supplements still exist, are they just another way to rip off consumers, and if they’re consumers who are hacked off like me with this stance against solo travellers. Please do leave your comments below.
Related posts
- Charged under occupancy but put into single room
- Solo Travellers Get a Rough Deal
- Single Travellers annoyance at Single Person Supplement
- Travel industry treats solo travellers unfairly
- Odd single rail and flight fares that have me confused
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Andrew | 8 May, 2009 at 6:38 am
Why would you want a package holiday anyway? Organising your own trip is cheaper and with a bit of research far better. Package holidays are for elderly people.
Nick | 8 May, 2009 at 9:08 am
Darren
You say you prefer to pay per room. Well how single supplements work is a room costs say £60, so in the UK it is sold at £30 2 sharing, single supplement £29. (do not ask we why single supplements are often a little under the room rate.
So you will pay £60 per room, but for the same room you do not like paying £59 because it mentions single supplement?
Niikikam | 8 May, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I agree with Andrew, when going alone – you would want to make it adventurous and not book packages but enjoy real time.
DonaldS | 8 May, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Surely it’s just a simple matter of fixed costs and variable costs…?
For a hotel (or a tour operator buying from a hotel), the fixed costs of hosting a guest mainly accrue to the room: cleaning, security, light, heat, and so on. Variable costs of adding another guest are pretty low (another shower in the morning, an extra sausage at breakfast). So they charge per room prices, or the effective equivalent (i.e. adding supplements to the per person price to make up for ‘under-occupancy’).
Plus, as a hotelier, surely all you’re dong when you add single rooms is *taking away* your flexibility for very little in the way of cost saving. A slightly bigger room, with a double bed, can be a single or a double. So why install just a single? Push the stud wall back a bit and you’ve got a double.
So, single travellers are more costly to host, and unless you think other travellers (say, 3 friends in a triple, a family all in one room) should be subsidizing your holiday (which, as a far-minded fellow, I’m sure you don’t), then you should be cool with paying your way.
Robbin | 8 May, 2009 at 1:59 pm
When I first started traveling I couldn’t afford single suppliments and that’s how I discovered youth hostels! I still stay in hostels!
I’ve NEVER taken a package tour because of single supplements.
Nick – I’ve never seen a hotel advertised that way. My experience has always been $200 double occ + 100 single supplement. I still haven’t figured out why they do that. Lost revenue from the restaurant I wouldn’t be eating in anyway?
Nick | 9 May, 2009 at 8:23 am
Robbin
I am quote in the UK, and this is the way our system works. You can get room rates here (which is new) or per person rates. Which is different from other country’s. The prices I give come straight from booking engines for UK Travel Agents or customers. (We use the same systems, but charging is normal cheaper for agents, but sometimes not)
Rob Barham | 9 May, 2009 at 8:36 am
The same issue applies with cruise ships, when I was working in a travel agency we turned away many enquiries from single passengers because the cruise lines didn’t have enough single cabins.
Nick | 9 May, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Rob,
UK Cruise lines operate a single share program along with some coach companies where you can share a cabin/room and save money.
Darren Cronian | 9 May, 2009 at 5:48 pm
@ Nick,
Usually, I would book a room where the price is based on the room, not per person, but yes, the supplement does wind me up a little. I would prefer not to have to pay an extra £200+ because I am travelling alone and booked a package holiday.
@ Rob / Robbin
It goes back to that magic word called money, they would rather have an empty cabin or room than not charge a supplement or give single travellers a discount. I could travel with friends or family, but where is the fun in that 
Rohan | 9 May, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Nowadays I do not travel solo but when I did I always used to book my own flight and hotel because it was so much cheaper than a package holiday. How many tour operators like Thomas Cook and Thomson do you see specialising or have a section for solo travellers.
Not many.
Colin | 11 May, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I have recently been researching companies specialising in holidays for single persons, but was very disappointed by what I found.
These companies either have a very limited choice of holidays, or they want to offer some kind of ‘matchmaking’ service.
Darren Cronian | 11 May, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@ Colin
Why do companies assume because you’re single that you want to go on a holiday and be matched up or go on a holiday to meet groups of people. I go on holiday on my own to get away from all that, and relax, sightsee, without the pressures of group holidays.
Nick | 12 May, 2009 at 1:07 pm
@Rohan
Both Thomson and Thomas Cook have single traveler programs, trouble is they are not year round.
Nick | 12 May, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Darren, while your at it why are meals for one always more expensive in supermarkets?
Julia | 13 May, 2009 at 11:37 am
@ Nick, well buy a meal for two and eat half one night and half the next, or all in one go.
Wait till you have children and want to book a room for 3 (1 adult and 2 children). Now there’s something to moan about, with maximum occupancy being 2 in a room. Camping is the answer.
Darren Cronian | 13 May, 2009 at 11:56 am
@ Julia
What happens in that scenario? Are yuo charged for 2 adults?
I don’t have kids, so it would never happen to me, and that’s one of the reasons for ’send your rant’ because I cannot write about experiences like issues consumers have travelling with children etc.
Rohan | 16 May, 2009 at 11:00 am
I’m going to the Greek islands on my own and my travel agent was able to find somewhere with no single person supplement. If you ask them then they will usually try and help you out.
Colin | 16 May, 2009 at 8:16 pm
@Darren
I totally agree, these companies make you feel like some sort of ’sad’ case. All we want is a holiday without having to pay for excessive single supplements.
Niikikam | 17 May, 2009 at 6:28 am
I totally agree with Andrew, when going alone – you would want to make it adventurous and not book packages but enjoy real time.
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19 responses to “More affordable single person holidays, less supplements”