Can you give any advice on planning a singles holiday I don t mind going on holiday with other people, in fact I would probably prefer it, but I don t want it to be like a dating agency. I am happy being single.

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Asks melaniedrew

A. Some companies do present their singles holidays as a way of meeting your future partner, and, of course, there is nothing wrong with these. But, if you're looking for companionship and a shared holiday experience it is best to steer clear of them. If you want to travel, but don't want to be completely on your own you have two options. You can either advertise for a holiday companion or go on a planned singles holiday.

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Q. Can you give me more information on advertising for a companion

A. The quality daily newspapers often carry advertisements from people looking for holiday companions. The same happens on the web.

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One organised and professional site you can try is Holiday Link Up. You provide them with all your details and what kind of holiday you're after and the type of person or people you'd like to share your holiday with and they link you up with other people whose preferences match yours. You will be contacted via email once Holiday Link Up finds a match.

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The first meeting between potential holidaymakers is in their office - so it gives you time to decide whether you want to swap information like your telephone number, address etc. It is geared at people tired of going on holiday on their own or for single parents who'd like to share a holiday experience with other one-parent families. It is free to register with Holiday Link Up and registration lasts for 12 months. You will be charged �25 for your first introduction, with no other payment is required for your 12 month registration period even if you meet lots of people or go on more than one holiday per year.

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The Holiday Link Up site is very security conscious and warns all its customers to be aware of their own personal safety at all times - its security checklist includes the following tips:

- Always be aware of your personal security

- Always arrange a first meeting, especially with a member of the opposite sex, in a public place.

- Always pack your own holiday luggage

- Never carry anything through any Customs Controls for anyone else.

Holiday Link up can be contacted via email at [email protected] or

Tel: (+44) (0)1993 778008.

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Q. Can you give me more information on a planned singles holiday

A. Several companies now operate singles holidays and cover most types of vacation e.g. activity breaks, pamper breaks, beach holidays and cruises. A good place to start your search is with Traveldata. It is an online resource that collates the information supplied by several companies all on one site, and while it will not cover as much territory as individual sites, it gives a lot of background information and tips on travelling - and it has a special section for solo travellers.

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Traveldata believe that one of the biggest complaints they receive from single travellers is the single supplement levied on lone travellers by tour operators and hotels. It recommends travelling with independent travel companies as they often attempt to rectify this by arranging with hotels that at certain times of year they waive the extra cost for the single traveller, or in some cases suggest 'pairing up' same sex travellers to share a room and, therefore, reduce the cost and find companions at the same time.

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It recommends cruises, city breaks, walking holidays, health breaks, golfing holidays and safaris as good holidays for single travellers as they all offer the chance to either make new friends or spend time by yourself.

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Q. Can you recommend some companies that specialise in singles holidays

A. Solos Holidays claims to be the number�one singles tour operator, and indeed they do offer the biggest selection of locations for single travellers. The company has been going for about 20 years and organise all their holidays in escorted groups with balanced ages (usually from 25-45, 28-55 and 45-69) and genders to ensure that their customers meet like-minded people. All their holidaymakers have their own rooms and all pay the same price for the same holiday, it does not offer late bargains.

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All Solos holidays include return scheduled flights, single room with private facilities, airport transfers, airport taxes, meals and drinks (or recommended restaurants if not included in price), sightseeing, information meeting and welcome drinks at start of holiday and a tour manager.

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Solos offer short breaks (usually to European cities e.g. Stockholm, Prague, Istanbul, Paris and Venice) and longer holidays (one week or two weeks) covering all types of activity e.g. beach, activity, sports, health holidays.

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Solitair Holidays offer a wide range of holiday options for single travellers - usually to Goa, Crete or Santorini. It does not charge single supplements and promises a holiday with a difference. Its main types of break include health�and rejuvenation breaks, creative holidays (e.g. painting, jazz guitar, creative writing, walking, nature, fishing, scuba diving and safaris) and tropical beach holidays.

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The Solitair health breaks offer more than you're traditional trip to a health farm. In Goa they offer Ayurveda (complementary therapy based on ancient Vedic philosophies of India that include yoga, diet, meditation and detoxification) breaks. Other treatments include massage, Sirodhara (medicated oil poured onto forehead), Pizhichal (oil and massage that delay ageing), Njavarakizhi (medicated rice pouches for rheumatism and arthritis) and floral baths. Other unique holidays include a houseboat cruise or a stay at the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa.

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Spanish Activity Breaks offer activity holidays and pamper breaks for single travellers in Marbella, Spain. A typical weeklong break includes airport transport, breakfast, evening BBQ or buffet, return taxi from nightlife activities, swimming pool and laundry facilities.

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Pamper breaks include facial and body treatments (e.g. massage, aromatherapy, salt scrub, manicure, reflexology) plus all the other facilities.

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Prices are reasonable and range from �325 for one week in June to �465 in high season (18th August to 1st September). Off peak you can book one week for �295. All rooms have twin beds, a single supplement is �75.

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Now I'm Single Designer Holidays offer designer holidays for single people in the 35 to 55 age group, and specialises in trips to Australia. All their holidays have escorts, but free time is built in to every daily programme, so you don't feel you've got to have another holiday just to recover from all the activity of the first one.

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Holidays for 2001 include trips to Bali, sailing on a Far Eastern cruise, Coff Coast in NSW, Australia, Caribbean cruises (Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Wild Islands of Australia on a Dakota DC3 aircraft.

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If you have any other Travel related questions, please click here

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By Karen Anderson