Single Supplement
The extra charge a solo traveller pays for a room that two people would normally share.
A single supplement is the extra fee you pay when you sleep alone in a room priced for two people. Package prices assume two people share the room cost. When one person has the room, the supplement makes up the difference.
How will you meet it on the trip?
You will see it as a separate line on package quotes, cruise listings and some hotel offers. Solo travellers, and couples who want separate rooms, are the people who meet it most. The guide to single supplements and shared rooms explains how the charge appears on a quote.
What is the tip?
Ask for the supplement as its own line, then compare it with the cost of a shared room on a group departure. If you travel with a friend, splitting a private tour fairly can lower the cost for both. The Vietnam trip budget builder lets you add your own quote lines and see the total.
Which related terms will you see?
- Twin and double: two-bed and one-bed rooms, both priced for two guests.
- Shared room: a room you split with another traveller on a group trip.
- Private tour: a trip for your own group only, compared in private or group tour.
More guidance sits in Food and daily travel.
If you are travelling alone or with one friend who wants a private room, tell us your dates and we can help you ask the right questions about rooms, vehicles and shared options.
Common questions
Why does a solo traveller pay more?
Package prices are built on two people sharing a room, so the room cost is split. When one person takes the room alone, the full cost lands on one traveller. The single supplement is the charge that covers the gap. It is a price rule, not a penalty.
Can I avoid the single supplement?
Sometimes. Some group departures offer a shared room with another solo traveller of the same gender, and some quotes waive or reduce the charge in certain seasons. Ask for the supplement as a separate line so you can see what it is and compare options.
Is it the same for private tours and group tours?
The idea is the same, but the effect differs. A private tour spreads the vehicle and guide across fewer people, which can raise the per-person cost more than the room does. Ask for both lines separately and compare them against the budget builder.
Keep planning
If you are travelling alone or with one friend who wants a private room, tell us your dates and we can help you ask the right questions about rooms, vehicles and shared options.