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By Mike Faden | American Express Credit Intel Freelance Contributor
5 Min Read | November 30, 2020 in Money
A growing number of tours and lower-cost accommodation options are designed for people traveling alone.
Phone apps can help you get around and find money-saving options without having to hire a guide.
Your travel credit card can be another helpful resource – you can look into redeeming points toward travel and using all its perks.
Traveling alone gives you the freedom to do exactly what you want, when you want. One potential downside: higher cost. Unlike couples, solo travelers can’t split the cost of a hotel room or cab, and many tour operators and cruise lines charge additional fees if you don’t share a room with someone else. One survey found that singles spend roughly $2,600 per year more than people in relationships – with much of the difference due to higher travel costs.1
Fortunately, there are ways to pare down the cost of solo travel. Here are eight tips for saving money when traveling alone.
A growing number of tour operators and cruise lines provide travel options specifically designed for people traveling alone, including solo room occupancy without the hefty “single supplement” that’s traditionally charged when you don’t share a double room.2 Joining a tour can introduce you to new people and eliminate much of the stress of organizing your own trip. For a more leisurely experience, some cruise operators, such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, now have studio cabins that may cost much less than regular double-occupancy cabins.3
The challenges of traveling in an unknown territory can seem even more daunting when you’re alone. Apps can help you rise to the challenge – without hiring a human guide. Translation apps help overcome language barriers: Point your phone’s camera at a street sign, and the app may help you find out where you are; point it at a restaurant menu to reduce the lottery aspect of choosing what’s for dinner. You can download maps, in English, to help navigate the maze of streets in foreign cities. Other apps aim to connect you with other solo travelers, compare local eating places, find local tours and group events, share rides, and contact local hosts that may put you up for the night.
To get the most from these apps, you’ll need mobile data access. Instead of using your U.S. carrier’s often-expensive international plan, you may be able to save money by getting a local SIM card that connects you to a local phone company’s network for a fraction of the price.
Travel credit cards can help you cut the cost of your trip by earning points that you can redeem for travel. Depending on the credit card, you may be able to redeem points toward flights, hotel rooms, and tours. When you travel alone, you’ll have more flexibility to use your points exactly how you want. If you have internet access, you may even be able to take advantage of deals that you encounter during your trip. Some travel credit cards also offer money-saving perks like credits for ride-sharing services and a free checked bag on flights.
The word “hostel” may conjure up images of cheap dorm-style sleeping quarters. But hostels are changing and in many cases going upmarket – although they’re generally still a lower-cost option to hotels. So-called “designer hostels” may have amenities such as:
Hostels are springing up in the U.S. and also worldwide, especially in Asia and Eastern Europe. Most people who stay in them are under 35, and more than 70% are traveling alone, according to one survey.4
In many countries, you can pay for most things with a credit card. But each time you get a cup of coffee, buy groceries, or pay for a ride or train journey, you may be incurring the foreign transaction fees that are often charged on credit card purchases in a non-U.S. currency. You can avoid these costs by getting a no foreign transaction fee credit card.
Since you don’t have to coordinate your travel plans with anyone else, you may have more flexibility to grab deals on travel and accommodation. You’ll often get the best prices if you book early and travel off-peak, but you can also set airfare alerts through search engines and apps and jump on any enticing deals that pop up.
Ride-sharing apps can offer a relatively low-cost way to get around, and in some cities you may be able to pool with other riders to further cut the cost. If a road trip is your dream, you may be able to save money on a rental car or recreational vehicle with rental relocation platforms like Transfercar and Imoova. You drive vehicles between rental car company locations; in return, you generally avoid the daily rental fee, although you may have to pay for fuel and some other costs.5
Cut the cost of entertainment by searching for free options or low-cost entertainment. In certain U.S. and foreign cities, including Washington D.C. and London, some of the most impressive museums are free. You may also be able to nab tickets to shows and sporting events on platforms like StubHub, where people resell tickets they can’t use; single tickets are often the best deals, experts say.6
1 “Being single costs £2,049 a year and travel is the main reason – this needs to change,” The Telegraph
2 “Solo Travel: 10 Tips to Avoid the Single Supplement,” Solo Traveler
3 “The Truth About Solo Cruise Cabins,” Cruise Critic
4 “Report: Millennial travelers are fueling a hostel revolution,” Hostelworld
5 “RV relocation deals: How to rent an RV for $1 a day and afford the roadtrip of your dreams,” Thrifty Nomad
6 “7 Inside Tips for Scoring the Best Tickets at the Cheapest Prices,” Money
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.