The Cost of Going Solo: Why Single Supplements Are a Barrier to Travel for Women

How small tour operators are tackling the issue

Mariellen Ward, founder of India for Beginners, believes the key lies in flexibility.

“One possible approach would be to price tours for single rooms but discount the price if you share,” she said. While she hasn’t implemented this model, it offers a potential way to address the issue without alienating solo clients. Ward’s own business model is simple: each room on her tours costs the same, whether it’s shared or not, a bit like renting a car. “If you rent a car and driver, the cost will be the same whether you are one person or several.”

Similarly, Kathy Wood’s all-women tours eliminate single supplements by standardizing costs.

“On our all-women trips, everyone is solo, so each woman pays the same,” she says. “However, if you want to share a room, you get a discount.” This approach ensures fairness while keeping prices transparent.

For companies like Flavours Holidays, which is based in Scotland and specializes in solo travel, removing the stigma associated with single supplements is key.

“The solo market has such power, especially the over-60 segment, which often has more disposable income,” said founder Lorne Blythe. “Many companies are realizing the importance of solo travellers and doing their best to eliminate single supplements.”

While single supplements may make sound business sense for tour operations, solo travellers experience these much more personally, as a sort of discrimination against their solo status. Feeling penalized for their independence can cut into the joy of travel in a major way.