Best Choices for Single Vacationers

Single travelers are often viewed as lonely souls who can't find a traveling companion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today's solo travelers often choose to travel alone as a retreat from busy office or family life or as a chance to pursue individual interests. Too often, single travelers pay extra for traveling by themselves. This surcharge can be avoided - or at least reduced - if you know where to look.

Take a Cruise
A cruise vacation offers the security of a closed environment with a plethora of activities to interest any single traveler. Other advantages include assigned dining on most voyages, so you'll always have someone to eat with; organized shore excursions, so you can take advantage of group rates while sightseeing; and pampering like spa treatments and lobster for dinner. Many voyages also host cocktail parties and other events for their guests traveling solo. To help singles save money, many cruise lines will match up willing same-sex travelers in the same cabin to take advantage of double-occupancy pricing.

Try Club Med Resorts
Club Med Vacations have come a long way since their "swinging single" days in the 1970s. Today, the company also offers all-inclusive vacations that cater to families, retired travelers and honeymooners. However, Club Med remains a good choice for single travelers. Similar to cruising, Club Med offers group meals and sightseeing as well as a closed, secure environment and plenty of activities. Club Med's 80 resorts dot the world, including exotic destinations like Tahiti, Martinique in the Caribbean, Senegal in Africa and on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Like many cruise lines, Club Med offers a program where same-sex singles stay together in a double room to avoid the costly single supplement.

Sample a European Capital
Sightseeing in Europe's many historic cities is another good choice for single travelers. Museums, monuments and other places of interest can be explored at your own pace and a full day of walking will likely leave you too tired to worry about nightlife. Unlike in the United States, many European hotels offer less expensive rooms designed for single travelers. Or, try a hostel; though they offer fewer amenities, hostels are a great way to meet fellow travelers for all ages.

Get Lucky in Las Vegas
Vegas is affordable and fun. The city that never sleeps has matured into more than just a gambling destination. In addition to the slots, travelers will find lavish pool areas, some of the best shopping in the world and free attractions, like the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel or the Fremont Street Experience downtown. Single travelers don't have to spend a fortune for a Vegas vacation. Accommodations (particularly during the middle of the week) and meals are some of the most affordable in the world. The plethora of tasty buffets in Vegas are also a plus for singles who dislike eating alone in a formal restaurant.