DEAR ABBY: I recently read the letter from "Troubled Tourist," who asked, "Aren't there more options for a single person than cruises that penalize one for traveling alone?" He wanted to travel alone or as part of a group, but pay a single rate and have a private room.
Abby, to give the lowest price to those who are coupled is outrageous! It is akin to saying married is good and single is bad. It is cruel to imply that, when more than 75 million people are divorced, widowed or never married.
I can afford to pay for a cruise, and can afford to travel to Europe alone, but in this couples' world, it is still sometimes painful. I refuse to pay that exorbitantly higher rip-off price for traveling alone! It's time travel agents and hotels wised up and realized they are losing a tremendous amount of business. If condominiums and apartment buildings can accommodate the needs of singles, then so can cruise ships and hotels. -- ELEANOR CARLSON, ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.
DEAR ELEANOR: Meeting the needs of the single traveler may be an idea whose time has come. Many travel agents wrote to offer roommates, singles cruises and discounted rates to "Troubled Tourist," but that was not his question. Perhaps the answer to traveling alone inexpensively is to check several travel sources and plan creatively. Bon voyage!