Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(not specifically seniors), with trips around
the world that include guided safaris,
polar expeditions, private-jet adventures,
and small-boat cruises down jungle rivers.
Recommended publications offering
travel resources and discounts for seniors
include: the quarterly magazine
Tra v e l
50 & Beyond
(www.travel50andbeyond.
com);
Travel Unlimited: Uncommon
Adventures for the Mature Traveler
(Avalon);
101 Tips for Mature Travel-
ers,
available from Grand Circle Travel
(
&
800/221-2610
or 617/350-7500;
www.gct.com); and
Unbelievably Good
Deals and Great Adventures That You
Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over
50
(McGraw-Hill), by Joann Rattner
Heilman.
WOMEN & SINGLE TRAVELERS
Solo women can travel safely in most of
Eastern Europe, but like any other solo
traveler, they might find it difficult to
book any room at a single-room price. In
fact, solo travelers may pay a premium to
get a room. On package vacations, single
travelers are often hit with a “single sup-
plement” to the base price. To avoid it,
you can agree to room with other single
travelers or find a compatible roommate
before you go, from one of the many
roommate-locator agencies.
Travel Buddies Singles Travel Club
(
&
800/998-9099;
www.travelbuddies
worldwide.com), based in Canada, runs
small, intimate, single-friendly group trips
and will match you with a roommate free
of charge.
TravelChums
(
&
212/787-
2621;
www.travelchums.com) is an Inter-
net-only travel-companion matching
service with elements of an online per-
sonals-type site, hosted by the respected
New York-based Shaw Guides travel serv-
ice.
The Single Gourmet Club
(www.
singlegourmet.com/chapters.php) is an
international social, dining, and travel
club for singles of all ages, with club
chapters in 21 cities in the U.S. and
Canada. Many reputable tour companies
offer singles-only trips.
Singles Travel
International
(
&
877/765-6874;
www.
singlestravelintl.com) offers singles-only
trips to places like London, Fiji, and the
Greek Islands.
Backroads
(
&
800/462-
2848;
www.backroads.com) offers more
than 160 active-travel trips to 30 destina-
tions worldwide, including Bali, Morocco,
and Costa Rica.
For more information, check out
Eleanor Berman's latest edition of
Tra v e l -
ing Solo: Advice and Ideas for More
Than 250 Great Vacations
(Globe
Pequot), a guide with advice on traveling
alone, either solo or as part of a group
tour.
Note:
In macho countries like Roma-
nia, Bulgaria, and the Russian Federation,
a woman traveling solo may encounter
harassment or other difficulties. In addi-
tion, it is not wise for a woman to travel
alone at night in these places.
Check out the award-winning website
Journeywoman
(www.journeywoman.
com), a “real life” women's travel-infor-
mation network where you can sign up
for a free e-mail newsletter and get advice
on everything from etiquette and dress to
safety; or the travel guide
Safety and
Security for Women Who Travel
by
Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer (Travelers'
Tales, Inc.), offering common-sense tips
on safe travel.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
TRAVELERS
Black Travel Online
(www.blacktravel
online.com) posts news on upcoming
events and includes links to articles and
travel-booking sites.
Soul of America
(www.soulofamerica.com) is a compre-
hensive website, with travel tips, event and
family-reunion postings, and sections on
historically black beach resorts and active
vacations.
Agencies and organizations that pro-
vide resources for black travelers include
