The Dreaded Single Supplement

"IS THERE A WAY TO AVOID THE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGED TO SINGLE PARENTS?" The answer is both YES and NO. Let's talk about the NO first.

If you are traveling during high season, hotels and cruise lines are not likely to give you any breaks. For example, let's say you are traveling in July to Rapid City, South Dakota, the jumping off point for Mt. Rushmore. The "Wild West" Motel charges $80 for a double and $70 for a single room. Kids under 18 go free in the room. You, as a single parent, want to pay only $40 (half the double rate) and still have your kids go free in the room. Is that likely? NO. Why? The hotel needs to make most of their money during the summer, which is their busy time, so they are going to charge you the single rate of $70. They know the rooms will fill up during the summer and they cannot afford to cut room rates in half and lose expected revenue during the busy season. That would be bad business.

Let's take another example. You are traveling to Phoenix, Arizona during July, which is the off-season for Phoenix. You would like to stay in a resort hotel for several nights and have selected the "Cactus Resort." Rooms at this property, which normally sell for $350 a night in high season, now sell in the summer at $150 a night for a double rate and $120 a night for a single rate. Kids under 18 stay free in the room. Should you call the hotel and bargain for a single parent rate of $75 (half the double rate)? SURE. Why not? What have you got to lose, except the cost of the phone call, or better yet, email them! Are you likely to get the rate of $75? Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to try. The hotel, knowing that many of the rooms will remain empty, may offer you a special rate of $90 or $100, banking on the fact that you and your kids will have several meals at the resort hotel, not to mention innumerable poolside beverages and snacks. That makes for good business. (Be aware that if you try bargaining for a lower room rate, you may have bump up your request to a Front Office Manager or Director of Sales. Reservation agents may not be empowered to grant such discounts).

Are there ever Single Parent Specials where single parents really and truly pay half the double rate? The answer is YES! They are hard to find, but we try to find them for you. We list them in our Single Parent Specials below or at http://www.singleparenttravel.net.

WRITER'S BIO
Brenda Elwell writes a free monthly electronic Newsletter chock full of Single Parent Travel Specials. Her book, The Single Parent Travel Handbook, is available for purchase on familytravel.com at a tremendous discount. A veteran of over thirty years in the travel industry, she has traveled independently to more than 60 countries, half of them with her two kids in tow. Brenda may be reached via e-mail at brenda@singleparenttravel.net or via SingleParentTravel.net.