Single Room Supplements

During a recent holiday where I met several other single people the subject of single room supplements came up for discussion.  When doesn't it when holidaying singles get together?  It is a decades old gripe.

In Europe where hotels have single rooms (at least half the size of a double), no bath and invariably no balcony and in the most undesirable locations it is difficult to understand why we should pay more than a couple.  These small rooms are usually 'space fillers' in the building and often found near the lifts, over the kitchen, over the dustbin area (in some countries the dustbins are emptied at night!) or over the staff entrance (some starting work at 5.00 a.m. and now the area where the staff go for a smoke).

Many years ago when I was working in tourism I dealt with hotel/tour operator contracts and discovered that the hotelier charges the tour operator half the cost of a double room for these singles.  So why the single room supplement?  We are told because they are at a premium.

FREE CHILD PLACES.  How many times do you see that in holiday brochures?  Who pays for the 'free' child's flight?  No prizes from where the tour operators get that money.

NO SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT.  True - but look at the dates.  Out of season for the weeks that are difficult to sell.  Think about people who cannot take their holidays then, such as teachers.

Another catch with this phrase is that the single room supplement is included in the price.  These days some tour operators issue special Singles brochures.  Check the prices with the regular brochure and often the Singles price is higher than the normal price.

WE DON'T CHARGE SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENTS.  Probably means that everybody is being over-charged!

My advice?  When the hotel isn't full speak nicely with Reception and ask for a double room instead of the closet sized space.  Make sure you have your receipt showing that you've paid the single room supplement.  The majority of hotels are sympathetic and will give you a decent sized room.

AMERCAN  PLAN ROOMS.  These are hotels that don't have single rooms but charge for the room rather than per person.  You can see where the single room supplement comes in can't you?  But why, when you're one person, using one bed and one set of towels and one person's supply of water should you pay for a room that can take two or more people?   

As a single have you ever taken a cruise?  Yup, almost twice the price.  Why?  A single person only eats one person's food (and on a cruise that has to be a BIG saving).