Seeking Female Travel Partner for European Adventure

I'm confused about needing a travel partner to go on a Rick Steves tour.
There are a number of us older women who travel solo on the tours and find them welcoming and comfortable.

Maybe to avoid the single supplement?

OP, if you do not find a travel companion, just know that numerous single women travel solo on RS tours. I have 12 under my belt.

In case you have not located the currrent Tour Conditions Agreement language, it is here and describes single supplement info.

Happy Travels.

A few answers please to help women decide if your request is something they want to consider.
-Are you looking for a travel companion on Rick Steves' tours? I have taken three solo and will take the fourth in July. On an RS tour you will have 25+ companions to do things with. I always get the single supplement; worth the money at this stage of my life (74 y/o). Just go.
-Are you looking for a travel companion for independent travel? While it's nice to have someone to talk to and do things with, traveling solo is very liberating to be able to do and see what you want. As I told a tour mate several years ago, just put one foot in front of the other and go where you want.
-What is your travel experience? How did you plan your trips? If you have not traveled before, a RS tour is a good beginning experience.
-Finally, I thought it different, to be polite, that one of your companion criteria is someone "reliable". Can you share more?

I hope you find a travel companion. I know it can be daunting to travel by yourself. My husband refuses to travel. My friends either have health problems, can't afford travel or know that more than one overnight together highlight that our travel styles and interests are too different. I will gladly answer travel questions for you, as will anyone on the forum.

According to RS tour office, effective today, they no longer provide service for roommate request. All solo travelers are required to pay single supplement. I was trying to find roommate for ‘My Way Alpine Europe tour’ in July. Single supplement cost is $675.

I'm curious about that. The Tour Conditions (that someone linked to above), says differently and that agreement (according to the language at the top) applies to all 2025 tours. So I don't see how they can change this at the drop of a dime. But I don't know Washington state law, so maybe they're allowed to do so?

We are an unusual tour company in that we offer solo travelers the option to either share a room with another solo tour member (who may have different sleep habits and might snore) of the same sex* or pay a single supplement to secure a private room (required by most other companies).

@cyc, did you already pay your deposit? I should point out that I'm not trying to knock the company. I love Rick Steves Travel, but just was curious about the time of that announcement and whether it is retroactive.

Room shares for 2025 that are already booked are being honored, which is why the 2025 Tour Conditions still refer to them. Room shares - aka when we take two solo travelers and pair them together in hotel rooms - are no longer available as an option when making new 2025 bookings. Solo travelers need to pair up themselves and sign up together, or they can pay the single supplement for their own room.

I'm not an official rep of the Tour Sales team. I've asked them to add a post to clarify if further clarification is needed.

Please also allow for this discussion to remain for the OP's purpose, to seek out a travel companion.

Thank you, Andrew. I appreciate the clarification. One of these days, I'm planning to sign up for a tour (although I would probably get the single supplement) so that is good to know.

Hi, @cam, sorry, I sort of temporarily derailed your thread. As I mentioned, it would be helpful if we had a bit more information from you. Regardless, I'm not sure how to help you find someone in the Seattle area, but you sound like you would make an excellent travel companion!

One thing you might consider is to attend some of the travel meetings we have. I don't think there are any in Seattle itself, but there are several online ones where we participate using Zoom. To find out more about them, just visit the Travel Groups forum and you can see what's coming up. Most of them are monthly. It's a good way to meet other people even if it's virtual. And who knows, you might meet a potential travel partner there. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/travel-meetings

I wonder if cam found a travel partner. Hope she comes back to let us know or to tell us what travel info she needs.

Hi cam, I am planning on traveling to Germany in May, June or September maybe, I haven't decided yet. I will depart from Seattle and return to Seattle too. I am looking for someone to fly with, let me know if we can connect and maybe be travel buddies on our flights :)

Thanks