Guest Author - Christine Robins

It can be quite daunting travelling on your own, especially when you’ve never done it before. There are lots of things to consider that normally wouldn’t be a problem, when there are two or more of you.

Travelling as a family or in a group can have its own troubles with planning and logistics, but these are entirely different to the ones that a lone traveller has to think about when in a strange place or situation.

There are many things you can do to make your travelling experience easier. First obviously you need to find a holiday company or travel agent that will be sympathetic to your requests. As all us single people know there is often a single person supplement for hotel bedrooms, which can sometimes seem a little bit steep for one person, compared to what two might pay.

You have to learn how to shop around, in the past I have used various ways of booking my holiday, from independent travel agents, through a travel agency and to arranging everything direct with the parties themselves. They all have their own problems and worries, but once you find the best way that suits you, your travelling experiences can only get better and better.

There are many travel companies to choose from and more and more appear everyday. It can be very confusing and the one you pick can make or break your trip.

You just have to shop around to get what you want, as we all know the cheapest is not always the best value for money or comfort. It does obviously depend on what you’re looking for, but whether it’s 5 star, the basics or somewhere in between, if you go to a travel agent you need to find one that understands your needs and concerns.

There are also many different types of holidays to choose from. Just as there would be if you were part of a couple or group, but some of these might not seem so appealing for one on their own. There are also a few other options like, holidays for single people. Yes some of these are to help you find a partner, but most of them are just organised by people who like yourself, just want to go for a great time and if you meet some nice people along the way to chat to and maybe even swap telephone numbers, that's a bonus!

In the future I will be discussing some of the problems a single traveller can come across and how to choose and find the right holiday for you.