Living with Strangers: Dealing with an Incompatible Roommate

To dodge the hefty single supplement that many tour companies charge, you can save money by sharing a room with a fellow traveler. The catch is roommates are usually assigned at random; the one common denominator is gender and the rest is up in the air.

If you both get along well, having a roommate is just another positive aspect of the adventure. But what should you do if your roommate isn’t an ideal match? What if habits like snoring and late-night partying prevent you from sleeping?

If you feel uncomfortable confronting your roommate, talk to your tour guide or operator. Gender aside, most companies don’t do any screening when it comes to compatibility issues like age, sleep habits, noise preferences, etc. However, a tour company shouldn’t be unreasonable if your trip is being disrupted. Your tour guide may be willing to reassign roommates based on compatibility. You might even be able to switch to a single room if there were last-minute cancellations or no-shows on your tour.

If all else fails, you could always pay the additional fee for a single room. Your privacy and peace of mind might be worth the extra money.

If you’re looking to avoid roommates and the dreaded single supplement, here are some tour operators that waive fees for solo travelers:

Abercrombie & Kent: This luxury tour company offers deep discounts to single travelers on select itineraries.

Just You: With more than 50 trips spanning six continents, Just You specializes in trips geared towards singles. Travelers are guaranteed their own room and never have to pay a supplement.

Solos: A trailblazer in the industry, Solos has been offering international singles vacations for 30 years. Trips are organized by age groups and all accommodations are single occupancy.