"No Single Supplements - Ever"
What is a Single Supplement?
A single supplement is not a vitamin, though it might be much more palatable if it were! The single supplement is a premium surcharge imposed upon solo travelers when they reserve a room. The amount of the supplement ranges from 10 to 100 percent of the standard accommodation rate and applies only to single travelers, not to couples traveling together.
The Great Single Supplement Debate
Single supplements are fairly standard in the hospitality industry; accommodation vendors justify the charge as an appropriate business practice. The commonly-held notion is that single travelers should pay for the luxury and convenience of having a room to themselves, and secondly, the burden of cost for preparing and cleaning the room must fall upon the single guest. They argue that although single supplements appear unfair, one must realize that travel providers calculate costs of lodging and transportation based on two travelers, the most common way to travel.
Single travelers, however, see the charge as price gouging at their expense. They may prefer to travel alone or have little choice but to do so. Many travelers enjoy traveling solo as the best way to tailor their own experiences. Some enjoy traveling with a friend but prefer the privacy of their own room. As part of a family or group, a person may be the third or fifth traveler requiring a single room.
Among the many comments online, and particularly on Trip Advisor, we found this one to be most poignant and succinct,
“Single supplements when traveling are nothing more than blatant discrimination against single travelers. Just because it's an industry norm it by no means makes it right! Singles consume half the water, electricity, amenities and toilet paper but are penalized for having the sheer audacity to travel alone…”
We couldn’t agree more.
Go Touch Down Travel and Tours does not charge a single supplement; never has, never will.
Our Cruise and Land Specialist, Kimberly Gitzler, offers her thoughts on the matter, “Some tour companies charge hundreds of dollars. Some offer a share rate if you’re willing to share a room with another single traveler, but that’s hit and miss. We don’t charge a single supplement for our Cape Town or Safari tours – ever.”
Originally published on GoTouchDown.com
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