Traveling alone but still up for some company?
Road Scholar, formerly known as Elderhostel, changed its name in June but not its mission: learning vacations aimed at the 50-and-older set. Each year, it sends more than 100,000 travelers to more than 90 countries. Credit: Handout
Whether by necessity or choice, a quarter of Americans take at least one vacation by themselves each year. Some solo travelers are single. Some have partners who dislike travel or have different interests or can't get away. Some just crave freedom. But aAll face the same question: What's the best trip for the person traveling alone? "The key is to know yourself," said Beth Whitman, author of a guide for women traveling alone and founder of WanderlustandLipstick.com, a website devoted to advice and tours for women on the go. "There are times when you just need to get away, to recuperate. And then there are times when you want to be with a group."
With that in mind, here are 5 vacation suggestions:
1. SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS Whether it's a cooking class in France, a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains or a gay cruise, you'll make friends faster when you have common interests and inclinations. These days, you'll find group tours for seemingly every niche. A good travel agent can point you to the right one.
To see what's out there, check the United States Tour Operators Association (ustoa.com), where you can call up operators by interest and trip type. But beware of the single supplement, an often-hefty surcharge for solo travelers.
2. VOLUNTEER VACATIONS Do good, see new places and meet other humanitarians. About two-thirds of the volunteers with Habitat for Humanity International (habitat.org) sign up solo, said David Minich, its director of global volunteer engagement. The nonprofit builds affordable housing around the world. Most Habitat trips, which cost about $100 to $150 a person a day, plus airfare, are priced for double occupancy, but trip leaders can match you with a roommate, Minich said. You usually work five days a week, with weekends free.
Among the many online sources for volunteer vacations are VolunteerMatch.org and GlobalVolunteers.org.
3. BED-AND-BREAKFAST INNS Handy for socializing and getting travel tips. "You're often forced to chat with one another because you're sitting around the same breakfast table," Whitman said. "You meet the proprietors and get the inside scoop on what's in the area."
4. ROAD SCHOLAR TOURS This program, formerly known as Elderhostel, changed its name in June but not its mission: learning vacations aimed at the 50-and-older set. Each year, it sends more than 100,000 travelers to more than 90 countries.
"This is a great way to get back into life after losing a partner through death or divorce," said Jim Moses, president of the nonprofit Boston-based company that runs Road Scholar.Trips, which range from $500 to thousands of dollars, are priced for double occupancy, but Road Scholar offers roommate-matching, says Jim Moses, president of the nonprofit Boston-based company that runs it.
Activities can be as diverse as a historic walking tour of Boston, a lecture in Morocco on Islam or a visit to Gandhi's home in India.
Details at roadscholar.org.
5. CRUISES With a nearly around-the-clock menu of activities and hundreds or thousands of fellow passengers, you will not lack for things to do or people to meet. The downside: Most ships still price by double occupancy, although a few, such as the new Norwegian Epic and P&O Cruises' new Azura, offer solo cabins.
