Group travel organisers share their opinions on single occupancy charges

Allison Udy, Milton Village Community Association, said she understands when hotels charge a single supplement for a twin/double room with only one occupant but added: “It is unreasonable when hotels charge a single supplement for a dedicated single room which is usually the size of broom cupboard.”

“Single travellers want to enjoy holidays, but with supplements of up to 100% and few single rooms available, often inferior to what is being offered to couples, it is no wonder that they feel they are being discriminated against.”

GTO Jude Quiney

Sue Povey, Out and About with Sue, said single supplements should never be charged for occupancy of a single room, although in her experience some hotels do try to make this charge.

She added: “Where singles occupy a double or twin room, I would accept a small supplement but definitely compare the charge with other similar hotels or holidays to get the most competitive reduction. There are some holiday companies that are beginning to see the potential of offering fairer rates to single travellers and also some that have excellent solo pricing for specific weeks.”

Barbara Tester, who organises a range of trips for the Day Explorers Group, said it is all about relationships between the group travel organiser and the tour operators and hotels.

The providers she works with give her the number of single rooms she needs, keeping her members happy. She said: “It is often down to that old saying, it is not what you know, but who you know. Failing that, there are times when I think that if people are not willing to compromise, then they cannot come on holiday.”

Barbara added: “I have recently been asked if a person can pay double the holiday price to get their own room. I would be interested to know what people think about that.”

“There are some holiday companies that are beginning to see the potential of offering fairer rates to single travellers and also some that have excellent solo pricing for specific weeks.”

GTO Sue Povey

Brenda Redmile, Gardening Friends, said the companies she works with usually include about six single occupancy rooms on her bookings with no supplement. She said in her experience, one of the reasons given by providers is that: “A single room still requires a servicing cost which is perhaps a poor excuse as the holidays are usually costed on individuals.”

GTO Jude Quiney said with a growing trend in the number of single travellers, it was time for tour operators, hotels and cruise lines to sort the issue. She said: “Single travellers want to enjoy holidays, but with supplements of up to 100% and few single rooms available, often inferior to what is being offered to couples, it is no wonder that they feel they are being discriminated against.”

Read the next article, in the menu at the top or bottom of the page, to find out how group travel organiser get around single supplements.