Going Solo - The Cons of Senior Single Travel and Sharing.
Our guest post is by Sandra Frank, your fellow New Young Travel reader, who has been travelling solo as a senior for many years.
What are the risks?
I have just returned from a 28 day tour of China’s Silk Road with a major Australian/International company and I went “single, willing to share”.
My allocated room-mate was a couple of years younger than I and had travelled extensively in her younger days, backpacking to Europe and around for over four years. I had retired from a government client service position and she was a social worker before retiring so I thought we would have some things in common.
But unfortunately I soon discovered that she was not “willing to share”. She wanted to share – and smoke – never an option.
I was not permitted to have any lights on at night- not even the night light if there was one available – I was told that if I had a light on then she would smoke; the curtains had to be fully closed; no windows open; air conditioning – if working (and many did not) set on 25c or higher.
If I wanted to read, she would put the television on, and many times I was blasted with abusive and foul language.
One night she removed the “key card” that controlled the electricity and so I had no light for the bathroom; another time she gave my bed two heavy thumps during the night and woke me up.
When I mentioned some of the above incidents to the National guide, he dismissed them as just some of the things that go with the “willing to share” option, but in this case there was no willingness to share, just selfishness and bullying.
Of course, I could have paid the extra for the single supplement, but that would have meant that she had won – at no cost to her.
I have shared many, many times on tour (Europe three tours - 31 nights, 16 nights and 12 nights, Tahiti - 14 nights, Bali - 10 nights; Egypt - 14 nights; China - 22 nights and Taiwan - 14 nights) and this is the first time I have encountered such an inconsiderate, uncompromising person.
Maybe it is time that the companies that offer the “single willing to share” option have a compatibility type questionnaire for the applicants to complete.
User submitted comments
Brian Leaning-Mizen
Posted: 24 Nov 2011 10:24am
What a nasty woman, there are some people who shoul dnever be allowed to share. I agree a compatibility test would help. I so enjoy my own space that I couldn’t share, which puts me at a cost disadvantage, just about everything is priced as ‘twin share’
One day I hope there will be a company that offers singles their own facilities, then I may travel again.
Bronwyn White
Posted: 24 Nov 2011 12:13pm
Right you are Brian. There are pro’s and con’s of sharing with a stranger. Sandra is an easy going traveller and as she mentioned, she has had many other success stories. I guess we need to think twice before sharing with a stranger. There are a few cruise companies now Brian who have single cabins, priced as a single. Try Holland America and NCL. They have purpose built single cabins.
Bronwyn
Joye Tobin
Posted: 24 Nov 2011 4:00pm
I to have shared but with a friend and that doesn’t always work out. Yes I too pay single supplement whuich I am not all that happy about. Uniworld is another company that has some single supplement on their cruises . I have just travelled Basil to Vienna at no extra cost and they were great.
Nevena Barrett
Posted: 29 Nov 2011 7:40am
I have only been on two tours, sharing accommodation, and they were great. The first was a women only tour where everyone was rotated regularly in the group of 12. Unwilling to pay a single supplement on the second tour, it was easy to provide a profile of myself and receive a response from my room mate before the trip began. There are a lot of singles travelling now and I think travel companies might be adjusting to this group.
jaketkulit
Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:40pm
very Helpfull information ...thanks
Filip Norman
Posted: 31 Mar 2012 2:56am
Really mates I like the cons of senior single travel and sharing indeed. It’s very amazing conception my pal. knee surgery Houston Keep it up!
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Fran
Posted: 28 Jul 2012 10:21am
Am looking to ‘escape’ for Christmas this year, am looking for a travel partner,maybe a short cruise, there are a couple of approx 10 day cruises leaving 18/12/2012. Any takers?! I am in Perth Thanks
Terba
Posted: 24 Oct 2012 6:44pm
I am an intelligent, active, cheerful woman ( less than 60).
I like to travel very much and I am looking for a companion.
ann lee
Posted: 08 Nov 2012 3:46pm
Want an easy going travel buddy, my next idea is to sit on the Bosphorus
Istanbul for ten days, and really
soak it all in, ten days of hopping cabs, eating street food etc
Im educated and enjoy a laugh, nonsmoke, occasionally have a scotch. Art photography culture.
Like a QI sense of humour esp
Rich Hall.
Lesley
Posted: 17 Dec 2012 7:54pm
What an experience Sandra! I would have bailed after the first sign of obnoxiousness - travelling can be an extreme sport and we don’t need to do battle during the good nightime.
BTW is there any way of finding out the age of our co -travellers on a group tour? I went to China in 2010 with Intrepid and was twice the age of the rest of the group :-(
I’m hoping to create a few OS adventures in 2013 and would love to hear from other tribal elders out there who might care to join me - France in the northern Spring is my first wish.
Happy trails,
Lesley
Sandra
Posted: 24 Jan 2013 5:20pm
OMG.....this is exactly why I don’t go anywhere. I am by myself and everyone I know is either attached or can’t afford to travel. I would love to go on more cruises and travel more but I refuse to be punished because I am single. I think we should all ban together and start our own company!!!
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