The questions we hear most

What is the single supplement, and how do I blunt it?

It is a surcharge for using a room, cabin or tour place alone, because travel is usually priced for two people sharing. It bites hardest on cruises and escorted tours and barely at all when you book your own hotels and trains. To blunt it, look for operators with solo rooms, ask for it to be waived, and travel in shoulder season.

The mechanics and the workarounds are in "The Single Supplement, Explained" →

How do I actually eat alone in a nice restaurant without it feeling strange?

The tactics that work are in "The Complete Guide to Eating Alone in a Good Restaurant" →

What actually happens at that first dinner alone?

Short answer: nothing dramatic. Longer answer in "The First Dinner Alone" →

How do I arrive well on the first night in a new city?

A five-step ritual in "The First-Night Ritual" →, also available as a free printable card on our freebies page.

I'm traveling alone after losing a partner, is this even the right time?

Notes on traveling alone after losing a partner, in "Traveling Alone After Losing a Partner" →

The kids are grown and gone, is this really my moment?

Our take is in "The Empty Nest Is a Departure Lounge" →

Hotel or apartment, which is better for a solo trip?

Which suits a solo trip? Read "Hotel or Apartment? The Solo Answer" →

What actually matters in a travel insurance policy after 50?

What to check before you buy, in "Travel Insurance After 50" →

How do I meet people while traveling alone, without dating apps?

Real approaches in "Talking to Strangers" →

Why does coming home sometimes feel harder than the trip itself?

The part nobody prepares you for, in "Coming Home Alone" →

Is solo travel actually safe after 50?

Most women find it easier than they expected. A few habits help: tell one person your plan, and choose a room you can reach easily after dinner. For official advice on a country, check your government's travel pages.

The full answer is in "Is Solo Travel Safe After 50?" →