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No single supplement?!

Whoa. Can this be true? A company called Overseas Adventure Travel, catering to travelers over 50, plans to eliminate the single supplement for all its land tours in 2009. And for many of its cruises, according to a USA Today blog entry.

But if you're not retired, be prepared to save up those vacation days. The group seems to run long trips – 13, 15, 17 days long and longer.

On another front, the company has found that the number of women traveling solo has more than tripled over the past five years. So it plans to launch a women-only line of vacations. That pretty much guarantees there won't be a lot of couples on those trips!

But I'm still marveling at the no single supplement thing. Is the travel world as we know it changing?

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2 responses to “No single supplement?!”

  1. Ted Marcus Avatar
    Ted Marcus

    The travel world as we know it definitely is changing right before our eyes. But the changes more likely reflect the dismal state of the world economy rather than any specific interest in repealing the Noah’s Ark Law.
    Still, whenever a company does decide that marketing tours to singles without the usual “Hobson’s choice” penalties is economically viable, it’s good news indeed. If it does prove profitable, other tour operators will certainly copy the idea. And maybe they’ll even offer it to non-retirees… and to men!
    But I’m not sure that the idea of travel without supplements for seniors is completely new. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen brochures offering it (Saga? Elderhostel?) at least for selected tours and cruises. I haven’t paid much attention to it because I’m not eligible (but I’m getting close; maybe there’s something to look forward to when I turn 50 besides a colonoscopy?). Regardless, it’s about time that some travel company executives start thinking outside the “couples and families” box and finding creative ways to welcome single people as valued profitable customers.

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  2. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    Amen to your last sentence!

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