All the Answers! 

Presenting my new resource booklet for solo travelers! 

This new edition has grown to 145 resources and 32 pages.

Recommended by New York Times and USA Today!

Many of you write to ask questions about solo travel:

• How can I beat the single supplement? 

• How can I find a tour to my favorite destination? 

• What are my options as a solo traveler? 

• Which cruise and tour companies welcome my business? 

• Which are most suited to my age group? 

• What are some active-vacation options? 

• Which tour companies explore exotic destinations? 

• Where can I find destination information? 

My new 32-page booklet, 145 Resources for Solo Travelers answers the questions so many of you ask me. At $6.95, including first class postage, this is a great investment in your solo-travel happiness. 

This booklet lists solo-traveler-friendly: 

• 76 tour companies, clubs or spas

• 27 cruise lines or organizations

• 15 volunteer vacation companies

Also included are listings for five books, seven magazines, three newsletters and 12 Websites to help solo travelers. Descriptions and contact information are included. Listings include companies that appeal to all age groups and fitness levels. 

In addition, there are tips on planning independent solo travel. My booklet will be a helpful resource for you to plan your vacations now and for years to come. 

To order, send a check or money order in U.S. dollars, payable to Aller Press: $6.95 for one booklet, including first class postage; $12.95 for two booklets. For addresses in Canada, add U.S.$1 for postage. Include the address to which you want the booklet sent.

Aller Press

226 Harvest Trace

Sharpsburg, GA 30277

Or, click on this button to pay by credit card: 

Solo travel in Lima, Peru

My most recent solo vacation was a short one, just four days in Lima, Peru. Smart travelers should allow at least a week to take in more of the country, particularly Cusco and Machu Picchu.

I found Lima safe, inexpensive and easy to get around.

The currency is Nueve Soles, simply called “soles,” (pronounced so-lays) which are about 3.33 per U.S. Dollar, a very favorable exchange rate for us.

Taxis are plentiful and affordable. Most do not have meters, so agree on the fare before you get in. The ride to or from the airport should cost around 30 soles. A ride to the city center from Miraflores is about eight soles.

It will help if you speak a little Spanish, though it’s not necessary; most everyone who deals with travelers speaks English. For taxis, you might have your hotel staff write your destination and suggested fare on a piece of paper which you could show the driver.

Guidebooks I used for this trip were Moon Handbooks’ Peru, and Insight Guides’ Peru.

I suggest staying at one of the many hotels in Miraflores, an area well outside the city center, particularly for women alone, as it seems upscale, relatively safe, and there is plenty to do. There are nice restaurants and lots of shopping within walking distance, including the Indian markets on Petit Thouars.

Hotels:

Hotel Las Americas

Av. Benavides 415, Miraflores, Lima

www.hoteleslasamericas.com

This five-star is where I stayed, though I confess I received an airline discount off the single room price of US$180, which includes a delicious, large buffet breakfast.

Holiday Inn Select

Av. Benavides 300, Miraflores, Lima

www.holiday-inn.com/limaperu

Located just down the street from Hotel Las Americas, this five-star hotel offers rooms starting at US$94 + tax for solo travelers, including buffet breakfast.

Best Western, La Hacienda Hotel & Casino

Av. 28 de Julio 511, Miraflores, Lima

www.bwlahacienda.com

Well located, this four-star hotel also includes a full breakfast. Prices start at US$70 for solo travelers.

Two hotels I visited and recommend outside of Miraflores:

Gran Hotel Bolivar

Jr. De la Unión 958, Lima

www.granhotelbolivarperu.com

This 1924 classic, while somewhat past its prime, is still clean, spacious and elegant. Located on the Plaza San Martín, this three-star hotel is within walking distance to downtown tourist attractions. I stopped here to enjoy their famous Cathedral Pisco Sour, a delicious – and potent – cocktail. Single rooms are US$50.

Hotel El Virrey

Av. Franklin Roosevelt 115, Lima

www.hotelelvirrey.com.pe

This is the bargain of the lot at just US$30 for a single room with private bath, including breakfast. This three-star hotel has magnificent views overlooking Parque de los Héroes Navales and is a short walk to the art museum and Italian museum.  A fifteen minute walk will get you to all the major city-center attractions.

Flight attendants love Lima for shopping and beauty treatments. At the Winsor’s unisex salon inside Hotel Las Americas, I received an excellent haircut for $11 and manicure for $8. Massages are just $22 and facials are $12.

One flight attendant I spoke with is getting laser hair-removal treatments in Lima for $30 per treatment.

Shopping finds include Alpaca sweaters and blankets, sterling silver jewelry, woven rugs and scarves, ponchos, purses, beautiful pottery and many other items – all at bargain prices.

Be sure to visit the Larcomar mall, located along the cliff in Miraflores and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This upscale, modern mall offers great shopping, restaurants, and even a multi-screen cinema. Favorite restaurants of mine are Mangos and Vivaldino, where I sat for several hours dining on seabass, sipping wine, and writing in my journal while watching paragliders soar by, floating on updrafts off the cliff.

Two museums not to miss are Museo Larco and Museo Nacional de Arqueología, near each other and both located about an eight-soles taxi ride from Miraflores. Visit Museo Larco last, then stay to explore the charming surrounding neighborhood.

For lunch after seeing the sights in the city center, stop at L’Eau Vive, on Ucayali 332, for a fine meal in peaceful surroundings served by nuns. I paid about US$20 for two courses and wine and bottled water.

Small ship cruise company welcomes solo travelers

Cruise West welcomes solo travelers aboard ships that hold only 100-120 passengers. These small ships can explore inland waterways and inside coastal passages where large ships cannot go in Alaska, California Wine Country, British Columbia, Mexico and Copper Canyon, Columbia and Snake Rivers. Some ships offer single cabins, and a single-share program is offered on all cruises. Unlike many large ships, the atmosphere is casual, and shore excursions are included in every port. All meals, snacks and soft drinks are included. There is no tipping, and you dine with whomever you please. Order a catalog and free DVD or video at www.cruisewest.com or call 800-203-7043.

Educational trips for mature adults

Interhostel presents learning vacations to destinations worldwide for those age 50 and up. Lectures and activities promote in-depth understanding of local culture. Every effort will be made to find a roommate for those traveling alone, a single supplement will apply if one is not available. Prices include all group educational activities, lodging, meals, admission to galleries, museums and listed performances, and ground transportation to listed events. For details, visit www.learn.unh.edu/interhostel or call 800-733-9753 during business hours. 

Cruise with a private cabin and no single supplement

Clipper Cruise Line offers special discounts for solo travelers; you’ll have a private cabin without paying a single supplement. Be sure to ask for the “special discounted rates for singles."

For details, visit www.clippercruise.com or call 800-325-0010.

Sleep cheap in London

Will travelers trade hotel amenities, space and windows for a very affordable room with private bathroom? London’s new easyHotel thinks so, and I agree. Prices start at 20 British Pounds, or about US$36.30 per night. Rooms come in three sizes, small, very small and tiny – or 80, 70 and 60 square feet. Of the 34 double rooms, only three have windows. All have private bathrooms with towels, air conditioning and pay-as-you-go television. Another easyHotel will open in Basel, Switzerland September 20. This hotel concept offers an alternative between much more expensive chain hotels and inexpensive but less private hostels. If this idea is successful, there will surely be more such hotels – that can only be great news for solo travelers who need to save money on accommodations. I’d love to hear your comments after staying there! Check it out at www.easyHotel.com.

San Diego for solo travelers

San Diego, one of my favorite American cities, offers lots to do, consistently nice weather and an oceanfront setting.

There are many hotel options, and some I recommend are:

The Westgate Hotel. This elegant, one-of-a-kind hotel is my personal favorite. Call 619-238-1818 or visit www.westgatehotel.com

San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, 619-234-1500, www.Marriott.com/sandt

Westin Horton Plaza San Diego, 619-239-2200, www.westin.com/hortonplaza

Holiday Inn on the Bay, 619-232-3861, www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/sanem

Research hotel prices at my Hotels.com link at the top of my Resources page, then call hotels directly to compare their best current pricing. Book the best price, whether though Hotels.com or directly with the hotel.

One hotel I have not personally seen, but worth checking out is the affordable 500 West, in a recently renovated, historic YMCA with European style “private shared bathrooms” and $59 single rooms. Visit www.500westhotel.com or call 619-234-5252.

You won’t need to rent a car because there is so much to do centrally, plus there is fine public transportation. All of these hotels are within a healthy walk, or short ride, to many attractions, such as:

Balboa Park, home to 15 museums, five theaters and the famous San Diego Zoo, www.balboapark.org

Horton Plaza, a shopping mall with Nordstrom’s

Seaport Village, a waterfront park with restaurants and boutiques

Maritime Museum, aboard three historic ships docked along Harbor Drive

Gaslamp Quarter, with restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques

San Diego Bay Ferry docks; board sightseeing ferries, or the ferry to Coronado, which I highly recommend.

San Diego Trolley provides affordable transportation in town, as well as an easy way to visit Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego’s Old Town.

For more information on San Diego, visit www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212

Chicago tips

Scroll down this page for a highly-recommended guidebook for Chicago, A Native’s Guide to Chicago.

Tempo restaurant, 6 East Chestnut (at State Street) 312-943-4373. Solo travelers have a unique advantage at this popular Gold Coast restaurant. We can bypass the long lines for tables and sit with other singles at the counter. Breakfast is the specialty and I highly recommend the spinach and feta omelet as the best I’ve had anywhere.

Chicago hotel: Crowne Plaza Chicago – The Allerton, 701 North Michigan Avenue, www.allertonchi.crowneplaza.com, 312-440-1500. I stayed at this well-located hotel on a recent layover. Room 1406 is a corner room overlooking Michigan Avenue with a view of Lake Michigan to the north.

My fellow jazz lovers will appreciate the Jazz Showcase, at 59 W. Grand, which features the biggest names in jazz, and is completely non-smoking. Visit www.jazzshowcase.com or call 312-670-BIRD (312-670-2473).

While in my favorite city, don't miss a chance to walk through Lincoln Park, visit the free Lincoln Park Zoo, and walk along the lakefront from Fullerton to North Avenue for one of my favorite views of the city. The best city view is from Adler Planetarium.

New York City tips

Research things to do at www.ny.com, www.nycvisit.com and www.cityguidemagazine.com.

Hotels: Use my Priceline link to bid for your hotel and save $100 per night. I requested a 4-star hotel in mid-town east Manhattan for $150 per night and was awarded the Grand Hyatt, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, which normally costs at least $249 per night.

Transportation:

LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan, and the best way to get into the city is via New York Airport Service with a roundtrip fare of $21 to Grand Central Terminal. Visit www.nyairportservice.com or call 718-875-8200.

MetroCard is the only way to pay for buses and subways. It’s easy to purchase one in any subway station either from the easy-to-use vending machines or the station attendants. I found it easiest to pay $10 for six rides; otherwise it’s $2 per ride.

Shopping:

Explore the tiny shops along Canal Street in Chinatown for bargains on purses, watches, scarves and many other items.

Quality clothing at discount prices can be found at Century 21, at 22 Courtlandt Street, near ground zero, where the World Trade Center once stood. My favorite store for bargains is Daffy’s, at many locations in Manhattan, including Madison and 44^th.

Dining:

You can save money on dining, as well as bypass any fear of solo dining, by grazing your way around the city, buying snacks from sidewalk vendors and in the many little grocery shops that offer comprehensive hot and cold food bars with fruits, vegetables, cooked meats as well as made-to-order sandwiches of great variety.

While in Chinatown, I asked vendors for the best dim sum restaurant and was directed to Jing Fong Restaurant, 20 Elizabeth Street, just south of Canal Street, 212-964-5256. It is attractive, enormous, clean and affordable. As a solo, I was treated well in this bustling place. Delicious jasmine tea is included. You can order off the menu or select dim sum plates from pushcarts brought by your table.

Brasserie Café Crème, 165 Madison Avenue, 212-679-8077, is a cozy place that made me think I was in Paris. I only stopped for a glass of wine at the bar, but the menu looks great and a solo diner appeared to enjoy his meal. Owner/chef Serge Durka is a charming host who welcomes solo travelers and offers a three-course fixed price dinner for $24.95.

Giorgio’s of Gramercy, at 27 E. 21 Street, 212-477-0007, offered my best dining experience while in New York. It’s a small, lovely restaurant with fine food. Solo diners may opt to dine while seated at the bar mingling with others.

If you happen upon a Tasti D-Lite shop, with many Manhattan locations, do yourself a favor and sample one of their yummy, ice-cream-like treats. At just 10 calories per ounce, with no artificial sweeteners and 99 percent fat-free, this is a guilt-free indulgence. Out of 100 flavors, there are several to choose from each day (I loved the German Chocolate Fudge and Chocolate Toasted Almond). Check locations and ingredients at www.tastidlite.com.

Cruise solo with value pricing

SinglesCruiseResource.com presents value pricing on cruises for solo travelers who want their own cabin. Sign up for the free weekly newsletter containing the latest deals at www.SinglesCruiseResource.com or call Amber Blecker at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123).

Walking tours for your MP3 player

High tech travelers can leave their guidebooks in the hotel room. AudioSteps lets you download walking tours, for $14 each, for San Francisco, New Orleans, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Tours in the U.K. are in Bath and Bristol. Each tour is a few miles long and covers a great neighborhood. For more information, visit www.audiosteps.com. 

Quiet flight aid

Jet travel entails loud, stressful ambient noise, both from the engines and the rush of air passing around the plane. Some passengers are traveling with headsets designed to block this noise. Many of these headsets are very large and costly at up to $299, but NoiseBuster is smaller, folds compactly for travel, has interchangeable one- and two-pronged plugs, comes with a travel pouch, and retails for $69. I recently took one on a trip to Europe and allowed a passenger to test it on the flight there. He loved the noise-reducing quality and said it also improved the sound of the in-flight movie. He wished the ear-cups were larger to fit around his ears instead of resting over them. NoiseBuster can be used to enhance the sound on your portable music and DVD players, too.

On my flight home, I tested NoiseBuster during my crew rest and loved the calming quiet they produced – though they did not totally block the screaming infant in the row behind me. I found the headset very comfortable to wear and my only problem was that the little battery compartment would not stay closed – a strip of masking tape solved the problem. A business-class passenger let me compare mine with his $250 headset and I could not detect any difference in noise reduction, except that his were heavier to wear. Click here to order or call 800-468-8371: 

South Africa for solo travelers

Unearth Africa is a small tour operator based in Capetown, South Africa. Owners Carol and Diane welcome solo travelers and will help with whatever you need, from booking affordable accommodations to creating an itinerary and setting up sightseeing and safaris. For more information, visit www.freewebs.com/unearthafrica.

Solo Travel 101

Here are some basic tips for solo travelers:

q     Use a hidden money belt. New statistics show that only 22 percent of travelers use hidden money belts. The other 78 percent risk losing everything if their bag or wallet is snatched. Keep in your wallet only what you need for the day: just enough cash and perhaps either a credit card or ATM card – not both. Keep everything else either in your hotel safe or your hidden money belt. My favorite money belt is lightweight silk (I remove the plastic liner) Eagle Creek Undercover Silk Waist Wallet, item SV606 available for $23.85 at Magellans.com  Click here to visit Magellans.com.

q     Carry with you the name and address of your hotel so you can show it to taxi drivers or someone you ask for directions. And ask the desk staff to mark the location of your hotel on a map for you.

q     Before leaving your hotel for a night out, tell the desk clerk where you’re going and ask whether it’s safe and respectable to go alone (especially if you’re a woman).

q     Dress appropriately for your destination. A passenger on my recent flight was dressed perfectly for fly-fishing in Montana. He wore khaki green slacks that zip off at the knee, a khaki long-sleeved shirt, multi-pocket vest and a floppy-brim hat. Unfortunately we were going to Rome.

How well you are treated is often a direct result of how well you present yourself. Consider wearing business casual attire for travel overseas and to domestic cities. You will blend in better, plus you’ll be able to duck into the nicest hotels for a drink or to use the restroom. When in doubt, take a look at the locals and modify your attire to theirs, even if it means shopping for an item or two. Travel is more rewarding when we are culturally aware and respectful.

q     Obey the seatbelt signs when you fly. It amazes me that, even though so many people are afraid of flying, they do the one thing that could really result in injury – they get up and walk around when the seatbelt sign is on. Even if it doesn’t feel very bumpy at the moment, the pilots turn the sign on when there are reports of rough air from other planes in the area, when they view rough air ahead on their radar, and when they are picking their way around storms. Serious bumps can occur suddenly during these times; then anyone not strapped in will be tossed around and possibly injured.

Affordable adventure for mature solo travelers

Overseas Adventure Travel provides tours with low single supplements to worldwide destinations for mature travelers. Solo travelers are welcome on all tours, which feature small groups of 10-16 travelers. Those willing to share a room are initially charged half of the single supplement. If you are matched with a roommate, this charge is refunded at the end of the trip. If no roommate is available, you only pay half the normal single supplement.

For details on tours, visit www.oattravel.com or call 800-247-3737.

Bike and Hike with other solo travelers

Backroads has long been a friend to solo travelers and offers trips just for us. You’ll get the guaranteed share price when you are willing to be matched with a same-gender roommate and book at least 30 days in advance. 

For details on many solo-traveler trips, go to www.backroads.com, and click on “Solo” at the right of the screen, then click on the individual trip, then click on “Dates” or call 800-462-2848.

Toronto hotel welcomes solo travelers

Not only is Toronto a world-class city with plenty for solo travelers to see and do; now there is a hotel that specifically welcomes us. The SoHo Metropolitan Hotel matches up solo travelers for city adventures. This is not a dating service, but a social activity guide that invites solo guests to team up for wine tastings, dinners, theatre outings, city tours, shopping expeditions, golf rounds, tennis matches, city festivals and more. Guests will receive information upon check-in and are encouraged to visit the concierge desk for details. The SoHo Metropolitan, which opened in 2003, is well located, contemporary and upscale with large rooms providing panoramic city views. Amenities include a fitness center, spa and lap pool. Summer rates start at $360CDN ($293USD). Visit www.soho.metropolitan.com or call 800-668-6600.

Language lessons on DVD

Solo travelers will score points with locals if they speak a few words of the language. Here’s a new way to learn. Mastervision Language Library presents 11 languages on five DVDs, which sell for $59.95 each. You are given video, audio and graphics to help you speak, read and write 1,000 words and phrases by listening to native speakers while seeing their words on screen. Use your remote to review at your own pace. Titles are:

q       Basic German & Russian by DVD

q       Basic Spanish & Portuguese by DVD

q       Basic French & Italian by DVD

q       Basic Japanese & Chinese by DVD

q       Basic Arabic, Hebrew & Yiddish by DVD

For more information or to buy, visit www.langdvd.com or click below:

Find the lowest fares

I recently tested eight popular travel Websites to see which truly found the lowest airfares. I searched the same 12 roundtrip routes, both domestic and international, at CheapTickets.com, Expedia.com, Kayak.com, Mobissimo.com, Orbitz.com, Qixo.com, Sidestep.com and Travelocity.com. Of those sites, only three found the lowest fares:

q       Kayak.com, the clear winner, offered the lowest fares on four routes and tied for the lowest fares on another six.

q       Qixo.com offered the lowest fare on one route and tied for the lowest fare on four.

q       Sidestep.com offered the lowest fare on one route and tied for the lowest fare on three.

Flights within Europe for $99

EuropebyAir’s Flight Pass program allows you to fly on any of 25 European-based carriers participating in this program. All routes are priced at U.S.$99 each plus tax. Flight passes are non-refundable, sold outside of Europe only and are not available for sale to European residents. For reservations, a network map, more information and a  list of all destinations, visit your travel agent, www.europebyair.com or call 888-231-9455.

Travel books I recommend

The following books are available at a discount from Amazon.com by clicking on the picture of each:

Food and Drink in Argentina: A Guide for Tourists and Residents, $14.95, published by Beagle Bay Books. This book accompanies me on all my layovers in Buenos Aires. Colorfully illustrated, it provides details of Argentine food and drink, going well beyond the basics of beef, mate and Malbec. Just use the A-Z Guide while reading your restaurant menus. The book is well-organized, easy to navigate and fits easily into pocket or purse.

City Walks: London and City Walks: San Francisco, $14.95, published by Chronicle Books. Both include decks of 50 cards, each with a detailed map and walking tour, along with places to eat, drink, shop, rest and play. Walking is the best way to explore any city, and these cards offer a convenient way to go.

 

Travel Yoga, by Darrin Zeer, $9.95, Chronicle Books, is small enough to travel with, which I highly recommend doing. This happy, breezy little book offers serious solace from the stresses of travel. Learn easy yoga poses, relaxation techniques, as well as philosophy like this: On each trip, make a commitment to get to know at least one stranger…Stay open and available, and welcome conversations with those around you. And quotes like this: When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. — Thomas Jefferson.

A Native’s Guide to Chicago, $15.95, Lake Claremont Press, is the best and only guide you’ll need for one of the world’s most wonderful cities. Written by a team of 16 experts, it not only covers all the routine tourist sites, but also takes you around the neighborhoods to treasures that many locals have yet to discover. Buy this book and explore Chicago for at least a week or two.

Learn the culture before you travel

Learning about anther culture is one of the primary reasons to travel, along with sightseeing and meeting new people. Nothing beats talking one-on-one with the local people at your destination, but savvy solo travelers prepare before their journey. Now there’s a new series of books that helps us learn about a country before we go: Culture Smart! a quick guide to customs & etiquette. Published by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, there are currently Culture Smart books for 24 countries, with more in the works. Each is a handy and lightweight travel size with 168 pages of information and tips on what to expect in each particular culture. You’ll learn how to behave in specific social and business situations. Attitudes and values are clearly explained. Retail price is $9.95, however many of these books currently sell for just $8.96 at Amazon.com. Here are a few – just click on the book to order: