Document text
Solo trekkers find savings in numbers New group helps those who travel region and world By Dani Dodge In addition to being a bit lonely, traveling by yourself can be more expensive than traveling with company. "Everyone seems to cater to couples," said Keith Fish, 73, of Ashland. "On a cruise, there�s always two beds in a cabin. If you can�t fill that second bed, they charge you." A divorced retiree, Fish struggled with ways to avoid the so-called "single supplement" charged on many trips. One time, the former engineer went on a trip in which the company advertised that they found roommates for single travelers. "They did find a roommate," Fish said. "Unfortunately, on this trip, it was the roommate from hell." Not only did the roomie leave his dentures soaking in their shared sink, but he liked to play on his computer at 4 in the morning � a time Fish was fond of sleeping. Tired of paying extra single fees, or leaving their cabinmates up to chance, a group of local globetrotters decided there�s got to be a better way. They started a club in August called Destinations Unlimited for Solo Travelers, or Dust, to meet others who share their passion for excursions and who might want to share a room to save money. The group � with 58 members ranging in age from 40ish to the mid-70s � holds monthly meetings at members� homes to get to know other people interested in travel and hook up for adventures. It�s not a singles club with the intention of uniting couples: It�s just about finding the right travel partner. And in fact, married folks who happen to have homebody or workaholic spouse are welcome. ("That�s why we call it solo, not single," quipped one member). The group sponsors local trips, like a recent excursion to partake in dinner theater on a train in Redmond, as well as helping people find partners or groups for worldwide travel. There�s no membership dues or meeting charges. The next meeting will be at 3 p.m. today at Fish�s home, 332 Liberty St., Ashland. The theme of today�s meeting will be "Cruising to Alaska." The meetings � which usually include 10 to 30 people � start with a chance for everyone present to introduce themselves, talk about their travels, and express their dreams for future trips. That�s how Pam Pingle, 60, of Medford, hooked up with another woman to take a 14-day, 10-country Baltic tour. "This gal had gotten this brochure in the mail for a Baltic trip and she said, �I really want to do this trip and I want someone to go with me,� " Pingle, a retired teacher, recalled. "I�ve always wanted to do that too, but it was too expensive. "So I said we have to look into it." Pingle is an outside agent for Carrousel Travel, so it was easy for her to check out the specifics of the itinerary. She found they could do the trip � which tends to be expensive because of exorbitant costs of Scandinavian restaurants and hotels � more cheaply as a cruise tour. They booked the trip for July for only $3,400 each. "This cruise starts in Stockholm, then it goes two nights in St. Petersburg, Russia. ... It ends up in Amsterdam," Pingle said. Pingle and Fish both said that just because they happen to be single doesn�t mean they want to stop seeing the world or paying more to do it. "I think it keeps your mind alive," Pingle said. "There�s always a new challenge. Something new to see. Something new to learn." For more information on Destinations Unlimited for Solo Travelers call Fish at 482-9142 or Pingle at 779-8423. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.