How can solo travelers avoid dreaded single supplements?

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How can solo travelers avoid crippling single supplements? What type of trip do you suggest for a European vacation? 

We answer these and other pressing travel questions.

Q: I am planning our family vacation in Europe in the first two weeks of August. We'd like to see Rome, Venice, Florence, Switzerland/Lucern, Paris and London. We have never been to Europe. What type of trip (escorted tour, guided tour or independent tour) do you suggest? Do you have suggestions on which web site or tour companies?

A:  I would say first that two weeks isn't enough time to enjoy all those cities, and I doubt that you'd find a guided two-week tour that covered them all. You'd probably need at least three days -- including travel time -- in each city, and I'd probably save Switzerland for another visit. You could conceivably do the Italian cities you mentioned plus Paris and London in 15 days. If you're not an experienced traveler to these countries, you might want to consider consulting a travel agent. Ask friends, neighbors and work mates for suggestions. You could also join a guided tour for part of your trip and see the other cities on your own. For example, Go Ahead Tours is offering an 11-day tour of Paris, London and Rome and then at the end you could visit Venice and/or Florence independently. Tours can be pricey, however. That Go Ahead tour costs $3,700 with airfare from New York City, based on double occupancy. A great site to get ideas of where to stay and what to do is the aptly named TripAdvisor.com. And you might save money by renting short-term apartments in each city using sites like FlipKey.com or AirBnB.com, especially if there are four or more in your group. Just be careful when booking on those sites because there are scam artists exploiting visitors. 

Q:  You just had a great show on travel. You covered kids, insurance and even pets. But what about the solo traveler and those crippling single supplements? I have found just one company -- GAP Adventures -- that doesn't penalize the solo traveler with these fees (which can be substantial). Can you help us out with some research on other companies that welcome (instead of penalize) us?

A:  As more and more travelers go solo, single supplements are a growing problem. Here's a piece offering some solutions. I've inspected the Norwegian Cruise Lines "studio" cabins mentioned in the article, and I think they're a great solution to this problem. The article mentions Grand Circle Cruise Line, but Grand Circle also offers land tours with very low or non-existent single supplements on many departures. 

Q: When traveling with my brother's family we got stuck in Denver. My brother stood in a long line at customer service for Frontier who immediately turned him away saying, "You bought your ticket through a third party, we can't help you." This was close to midnight, customer service would not even hear the issue. We have to cobble together different airlines because we fly into tiny airports in southern Colorado so we do use Travelocity, Expedia or whatever -- which they were calling the third party. So how to cobble together airlines without using a third party so that we are not turned down when the trip goes awry -- particularly late at night? Do travel agents still exist?

A: You're correct that sites like Expedia and Travelocity are useful for "cobbling together" itineraries that combine flights on more than one airline to find the best fares and schedules. But those sites are indeed travel agencies. Not "bricks and mortar" travel agencies, but online travel agencies (OTAs) with 800 numbers and customer service agents. You should have or could have called them for help rather than going through Frontier. Frontier has been very aggressive in pushing consumers to buy on their own FlyFrontier.com website (by offering more frequent flyer miles, avoiding carry on bag fees, and allowing advance seat selection, among other things), and perhaps this unhelpful response was just another manifestation of this policy. In any case, at midnight in Denver there was probably little chance to be put on another flight. Depending on the cause of the problem, travel insurance might have helped defray the costs of a hotel room, meals and other expenses, but probably Frontier was under no obligation to defray those costs since there's no regulation or law requiring them to do so.  

Have a question about travel or airfares? Send your questions to questions@airfarewatchdog.com and we may answer them in this column.

George Hobica is a syndicated travel journalist and founder of the low-airfare listing site Airfarewatchdog.com.

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Travelers advised to use precaution amid concern over 'lethal' bird flu strain

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If the recent outbreak of avian flu in China has dampened your enthusiasm for a trip to Asia, you’re not alone.

Concerns about the spread of the disease are on the rise, amid news that a man in Taiwan has been diagnosed with H7N9 bird flu and is critically ill with the first case of the disease found outside of mainland China.

The World Health Organization is warning that the disease is more lethal than previous flu strains, and that people catch the disease from birds more easily than other variants of bird flu. According to the WHO, there are 22 cases of people killed by the virus in China so far.

Already there’s been a slowdown in tourist arrivals to China, and many in the travel industry, such as airlines and hotels, are instituting preventive and surveillance measures.  

American Airlines, which flies to Shanghai and Beijing, told FoxNews.com that it's monitoring the situation closely and is working with airline industry groups and with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO internationally.

"As an added precaution, American has decided not to serve poultry on outbound flights from China through May. Additionally, American doesn’t serve fresh eggs on its flights," Matt Miller said in an email.

In addition, Itar-Tass news agency reports that airline crews are being taught how to take temperatures of passengers on flights.

As of April 4, the WHO has recommended no travel or trade restrictions with China. The U.S. State Department has not recommended travelers avoid China, either.

But the CDC says if you’re planning on going to the Asian region, you should follow some simple public health recommendations.

Avoid domesticated birds: This might be hard in a place famous for its open-air wet markets, where butchers hang all types of raw meat products for sale, but this isn't the time to come into contact with raw chicken. Rural areas, where farmers or families often keep poultry in their yard, should be avoided.  This also holds true for street food.  No chicken, pigeon (a local favorite) or squab on a stick.

No runny eggs: Eggshells are often contaminated with bird droppings, so consider nothing less than thoroughly cooked eggs for breakfast. Push away that over-easy or soft-boiled egg, too.

Wash your hands: This may sound basic, but it's one of the simplest and best ways to prevent infections of all kinds. If you’re using hand sanitizer, pick one with at least 60 percent alcohol.

Ask about a flu shot: Before traveling, ask your doctor about a flu shot. It won't protect you specifically from bird flu, but it may help reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with bird and human flu viruses.

Traveling by air can also run risks: In Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, stations have been set up to conduct medical checkups of tourist groups returning from China. Health officials are asking travelers to comply with recommendations, which may include things such as wearing masks. 

If you come down with flu-like symptoms after coming into contact with sick or dead birds, the CDC recommends that you immediately call a doctor. The U.S. embassy or consulate can also provide names and addresses of local doctors.

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Technicality keeping traveler's 201-nation trek out of Guinness Book of World Records

Graham Hughes spent the last four years traveling to all 201 countries in the world without flying, a feat that cost him his girlfriend and his job, landed him in jail twice and prevented him from being at the side of his dying sister -- all in order to earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

But when the 33-year-old resident of Liverpool, England, wrapped up his record-breaking voyage in January, he learned that a technicality could cost him place in the record books. He entered one of the countries -- Russia -- illegally, and since the keepers of the record book can't be seen as encouraging any law breaking, Hughes' feat doesn't count in their eyes.

Hughes freely acknowledges that he waded across a river to enter Russia, knowing it was "a bit dodgy." But he has gone back to retrace his steps and is hoping the Guinness folks will allow it to count.

"What really caused problems were the governments. The people were all great.”

- Graham Hughes, world traveler

“I was a little annoyed that it happened to be Russia, which is so easy and not a big deal to get into, compared to the island nations,” Hughes told FoxNews.com.

Rules are rules, according to Jamie Panas, spokesman for Guinness World Records, which published its first record book in 1955.

“Guinness World Records does not encourage anyone to engage in illegal activity in order to achieve a record,” Panas told Foxnews.com. “Regardless of the illegal activity involved, we do not currently even have a record designation for the record in question.”

Documenting his travels was a painstaking endeavor, even without the screwup at the Russian border. Proving he was in a certain place at a particular time requires GPS coordinates, visas, a copy of his passport showing customs stamps, photos and videos. Hughes had one advantage, though. He completed much of his adventure on a NatGeo program called “Graham’s World,” and many pictures of his travels can be found on his website.

Hughes is dutifully working to resubmit his record bid and said Guinness has kept in touch with him.

“It’s honestly a pain, but it’s understandable,” Hughes said. “I do think it is fair. You don’t want to encourage putting people in danger [with illegal activity].”

Along the way, Hughes collected enough stories for a book of his own. His first scrapes with the law came in Africa, where he said police in several West African nations would pull him over and subtly demand a bribe. Not paying the bribe would mean jail time, and the amount being sought “really depended on their mood,” he said.

When he tried to enter Cape Verde, the tiny island nation off the coast of West Africa, he was arrested, had his phone confiscated and was brought to a police station. Unable to contact anyone, Hughes was held for two days before a police officer loaned him his cellphone. Hughes text-messaged the British Embassy and, two days later, was free and back on his mission. A generous sailor gave him a ride to the mainland, he said.

A more harrowing situation occurred in the Republic of Congo. During a diesel-choked, three-hour ride to the border in the back of a cramped truck, Hughes and his fellow passengers passed through several military checkpoints. Only later would Hughes realize that he got through the checkpoints on the word of a Congolese soldier who followed the truck and repeatedly vouched for him. When the soldier disappeared, problems began.

“The police at this place were very obviously drunk,” Hughes said.

They began asking to check his bag, and asked why he had so many videotapes. After viewing the tapes, the police suspected Hughes was a journalist and that he had been lying to them about being a traveler. As the tension mounted, his captors commandeered the car of a passerby and drove him to a police station, where he was kept overnight, he recalled. The next day, Hughes said, he was taken to a run-down concrete building in an isolated area where he was permitted to go online on a laptop and tell friends and family what was happening.

Later that evening, while chatting with his girlfriend on Skype, 10 police officers barged in, forced him to strip him down to just his jeans and locked him in a small cell with a hole in the ground for a toilet.

“I had absolutely no intention of using that squat toilet, so I stopped eating.” Hughes told Foxnews.com.

Once they were convinced of his intentions, police seemed mostly concerned with what he would tell the world about the Republic of Congo, Hughes said. Still, he remained in the tiny cell, yelling out in frustration from the window. Eventually, with the help of a British consul, he won his freedom.

“It was such a relief. I remember walking out of the station, putting on my hat, taking a deep breath, and away I was on my journey again!”

Back home, the Congo incident made news and Hughes was proud to learn that his father told a local reporter that the ordeal would not end his quest, saying, “My son’s no quitter!” But another news dispatch from home brought sadness. Hughes’ sister died of cancer in 2011, and had a dying wish for her brother: “Don’t give up because of me,” she said.

Hughes said the adventure brought him a lifetime's worth of memories and friends.

“I did many great things that are unforgettable, but it was even better to just meet all of these people, and now I have friends around the world,” Hughes said. “I’ve found that the world really is not this big scary place. Not once for this entire trip was I robbed, beaten or anything. What really caused problems were the governments. The people were all great.”

Hughes is hoping to hear soon from Guinness about whether his global trek makes the record book.

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TSA's changing carry-on rules can create confusion for travelers

If the shifting regulations of air travel has got you confused, here's another set of regulations to remember while flying. 

Small knives, golf clubs, and other items currently banned from planes will be allowed in the carry-on of U.S. passengers, the Transportation Security Administration announced Tuesday. TSA spokesman David Castelveter said the move gets the U.S. more in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and would also help provide a better experience for travelers.

Lifting of the ban on select items come with a host of new rules to follow. For example, you can't bring a knife on board with a blade larger than .36 inches or 6 cm in length. A bat is now okay, but that too needs to be of a certain size. 

Some travel experts say the move, while an attempt to make travel smoother while keeping our skies safe, may create even more confusion in the airport screening process. After all, there are still plenty of people that still seem surprised that you must put your carry-on liquids in 3-ounce containers or that you have to take your shoes off when going through a security check point. 

Adding to the confusion are the seemingly ever-shifting regulations.  In 2011, one major change to the airport screening process was that children ages 12 and younger and those over age 75 do not have to remove their shoes.  Even today the ban on scissors, which was lifted in 2005, still surprises some, and too came with its own caveats: blades must be shorter than four inches.

For those trying to keep up with things, the most recent changes go into effect on April 25.  Check out our slideshow for more specifics. And when in doubt, check the TSA website to see what you can and cannot have aboard a plane.

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New technologies help travelers lower hotel prices

NEW YORK –  When Amy Eisen originally booked a weeklong vacation to celebrate her 30th anniversary, she was looking at a $3,749 hotel bill.

But Eisen reserved her room at the all-inclusive Sanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic through a new travel site, Tingo.com. Each day, the booking site automatically checked to see if the hotel lowered its price for the nights Eisen was staying there. Eventually, the price fell. Tingo canceled Eisen's original reservation and rebooked her at the new, lower rate. Her savings: $1,874.

"I would have not have considered that you could continue to ask: Are there any discounts? Are there any discounts? Are there any discounts?" said the Wynnewood, Pa., psychologist. "I don't think most people would. You book it and think this is the best price I can get."

Tingo is one of a growing number of services that aim to save travelers money on their hotel stays.

The site, which is owned by TripAdvisor, says that travelers have a 20 percent chance of getting at least some money back. The typical rebate is $50, according to the company, but occasionally travelers like Eisen get much more back.

The site requires prepayment of the room and focuses on fully refundable rates. Sometimes, cheaper rooms might be available through other booking channels but they typically can't be canceled.

Tingo isn't the only site changing the way travelers book. A host of new apps are offering steep discounts on hotel stays, particularly last-minute bookings.

HotelTonight offers discounted rooms at more than 2,000 hotels via its iPhone and Androids apps. Each day at noon local time, a slate of rooms is released for each of the 80 cities it currently serves. There are luxury hotels, hip hotels and those categorized as "solid" or "basic."

The savings can be substantial.

A recent search turned up the Bryant Park Hotel in New York. HotelTonight said a room there should cost $345 but was offering it for $239. (A check of the hotel's own website showed $285 as the lowest rate.) Two hours later, the room was being offered for $199. Two hours after that, HotelTonight was out of rooms at the Bryant Park Hotel.

A search for Chicago turned up the Wyndham Blake Hotel. HotelTonight said the going rate was $179 but that it could offer a room for $129. The cheapest standard rate on the hotel's own website was $169; a room could be had for $152 for AAA members.

HotelTonight users can't request room types, so it is best used by solo travelers or couples. And while many hotels offer ample nonsmoking rooms, nothing is guaranteed using the app.

Travelers can book rooms until 2 a.m. — perfect for unexpected travel delays or those who might have partied too hard and just don't want to go home.

Rooms can be booked for up to five nights but check-in must occur the day of booking.

But as with all travel deals, make sure to shop around. Rates aren't always cheaper on these apps. For instance, HotelTonight was offering a room at Caesars Atlantic City for $49 a night, down from the regular rate of $62 for that night. However, a quick visit to the hotel's website found a room for $39 thanks to an online promotion that was being automatically applied to all bookings. As an added bonus, guests could pick a smoking or nonsmoking room.

Priceline — one of the original discount hotel sites — has also jumped into the same-day hotel sale frenzy.

Through its iPhone and Android apps and its mobile site, Priceline is now offering "Tonight-Only Deals." The service covers approximately 150 cities and towns around the U.S. on a typical evening. It only applied to three- and four-star hotels. Offers start to post at 11 a.m and rooms can be booked up until 11 p.m. local time, or until they sell out.

Unlike Priceline's traditional service where travelers bid on unknown hotels, here the hotel names are displayed along with descriptions, maps, photos and customer satisfaction scores.

A recent search for a room in Memphis turned up the Madison Hotel. Priceline said the room should cost $242 but was offering it for $184. The hotel's own website was charging $242.

Sometimes, the deals through the Tonight Only specials of Priceline's mobile app are even better than Priceline's own website.

The Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans had a room recently for $229 on its own website and Priceline.com. However, Priceline's mobile app had a Tonight Only offer of $183.

Priceline says Thursday night stays tend to deliver the deepest savings, while Sunday is the most popular check-in night among last-minute mobile bookers.

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Should senior travelers get extra insurance?

Should older travelers get extra health insurance?  Can a passenger traveling on two separate flights check bags in twice?  We answer these and other pressing travel questions. 

Q: What companies do you recommend for travel and health insurance for people over 75? I am 77 and my husband is 86, and we’re about the sign up for a three-week volunteer program in Albania. My husband looked into the Chartis travel insurance policies and was somewhat daunted by the costs.

A: You might want to start with a travel insurance comparison site such as Squaremouth.com. Because you’re probably on Medicare, you should know that your medical insurance won’t cover costs abroad. And although I would guess that your insurance premium might be $300-$500 or more per person (depending on the policy’s features) a for a three-week trip at your ages, even the most “platinum-clad” policies have limits on how much they’ll pay a foreign hospital for your medical bills. So I highly recommend adding on emergency evacuation insurance, so that you can be airlifted back to a U.S. hospital where your Medicare coverage will apply.

Q: I will be flying on Southwest Airlines connecting in Nashville, Tenn. to Charleston, my final destination. I purchased two separate fares (to Nashville and onward from Nashville) to save money. I’m thinking that I’ll need to pick up my bags to check them in for the connection to Charleston. Can Southwest check my bags through to Charleston, even if I didn’t buy a through fare, so that I don’t have to be groped by TSA twice?

A: This should be possible. The ticketing agent would place a transfer tag plus a final destination tag on your bag. But you’d need to have enough time between connecting flights for the bag transfer, and your connection shouldn’t be more than four hours between flights because airport baggage holding areas have limited storage space and a long connecting time might be grounds for refusal.  

George Hobica is a syndicated travel journalist and founder of the low-airfare listing site Airfarewatchdog.com.

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