Single Supplement on Rick Steves Tours.

Posted by Chris (California) on 11/26/25 09:47 PM

I've noticed that the Rick Steves Tour single supplement seems to be very low and I'm wondering how it can be so reasonable (by way of comparison, I've been on several cruises where the single price is basically double the 'per person double occupancy' rate; so the 'supplement' is basically 100% of base price).

Consider two people traveling together, vs two people traveling separately and paying the single supplement on an RS Tour. A typical Rick Steves hotel room (shared by 2) costs about $200-$300 (based on our experience of staying at those same hotels as a non-tour guest - the actual number isn't too important in the discussion here). If two people travel separately, with 2 rooms, then that would cost about $400-$600. Now, single rooms are typically the smallest and cheapest the hotel has to offer, so less expensive, but I doubt they are that much cheaper.

The Single Supplement on a tour we are looking at is $500 on a 10 day tour, so $50/day. How can Rick Steves procure an extra room for just $50 more?

Posted by Slate

Virginia

11/26/25 10:09 PM

493 posts

Your example of the two travelers paying single supplement rather than sharing a room is an extra $100 per night rather than $50, since the travelers are each paying it. And I suspect RS pays a lot less for hotel rooms, block booking them far in advance and guaranteeing the hotelier they will be used, than you can as an individual traveler. It is a fairly low supplement, but I would think mostly that attracts single travelers who would not otherwise go on the tour at all, rather than couples choosing not to share a room, and I’m sure overall RS makes a profit on all their travelers, as they should. A company I travel with, Overseas Adventure Travel, doesn’t charge single supplements at all, although they have a relatively limited number of single spaces available on their tours.

Posted by Horsewoofie

AZ 🌵

11/26/25 10:11 PM

3445 posts

The single supplement was lowered starting with 2025 tours. As a solo traveler I am very happy about that and appreciate the policy change.
Previously each tour seemed to have a different single rate and could be several hundred $$$ higher than now.
I’ve take 5 RS tours, 4 of which were solo. Some rooms have been small singles. Some have been large doubles. All have been en-suite. Only one was awful and the guide changed me to a better room.
I don’t think the single room is “procured” at $50; the cost is built into the tour price and the supplement covers the additional the hotel charges.
Which tour are you signing up for?

Posted by LIZinPA 🧳

SE Pennsylvania

11/26/25 10:24 PM

3119 posts

The single supplement policy change for 2026 is explained here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/policy-updates

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

11/26/25 10:25 PM

9790 posts

Two things.
First, setting a fixed per day price as the single supplement is new this year. I greatly appreciate this approach. Some tours the actual costs may be higher, some tours it may be lower. This fixed price is definitely a move to increase how solo friendly the tours are.

Second, the assumption that solo travelers always get the worst or smallest rooms is false. Sometimes there might be a room with a twin bed, but other times it is the exact same room as the other guests. The smaller room is the exception rather than the rule.

Finally, I can’t help but remember an occasion on a Rick Steves Tour in Mostar. Somehow the Rick Steves office and the hotel miscommunicated and instead of cancelling the room for a last minute cancellation by a tour member, the hotel cancelled all the rooms. By the time the error was caught, there were no longer enough rooms at the tour hotel. The 5 solos and guide were walked to a small hotel a few blocks away with some rooms situated above a coffee shop and told to come back to the main hotel for breakfast. The rooms were fine with the best air conditioning we had had on the entire trip. We all slept well and returned to the main hotel in the morning for breakfast. We heard a cacophony of complaints that the main hotel’s air conditioning had gone down and the other guests were loud enough that some were kept awake. My fellow solos and I found ourselves with a much better situation than the others. Being a solo traveler doesn’t make you a “second class” tour member at all.