Solo Traveler Newsletter April 2016

Published: Mon, 04/04/16

 
 




Tip of the Month!

How to Go to Cuba Right Now

​​​​​​​Travel to Cuba just got a bit easier. The United States government recently announced new rules that allow Americans to travel independently to Cuba on what they call “people-to-people” trips. From the New York Times, some frequently asked questions that people have as they plan their trips to Cuba.

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Great Travel Links
One thing the sharing economy won’t share: transparent pricing. Have you ever tried booking travel-related items online, only to be surprised by a much higher price when you get to the payment page? The price per night for accommodations might have surprising additional fees added on that can double the quoted price. From the Washington Post, Chris Elliott makes the case for careful reading when booking travel online.

The World First wander: a worldwide road trip special. Thinking about planning a road trip? Itching to cruise along Route 66 or Australia's Gold Coast? Here is a variety of advice from travel blogs around the world (including Solo Traveler!) to help you plan and execute your next epic road trip.

​​​​​​​Travel Rewards Programs You May Not Know About — but Should. The travel industry is rife with rewards and membership programs. Some don’t get as much attention as the most well-known programs, but can make a trip cheaper and easier. From receiving early check-in at your hotel, to spending a layover in a lounge with a glass of wine instead of with a crowd at an airport gate, here are some lesser-known programs that deserve a closer look.​​​​​​​

Getting a great deal on a vacation rental. Looking for reasonably priced accommodation? Janice saved close to 50% on her recent trip to Kauai by using Vacation Rentals by Owner. Read about how much she spent on her trip, then check out VRBO to search for accommodations for your next trip.


The most clicked on link last month.


Best Things To Do at Sunrise Most of the time, the blaring of an alarm clock signifies that it's time to get up for work - not necessarily the most welcome sound in the world. But there are certain amazing, life-changing travel experiences that can only be had very early in the morning. From traveller.com, here are 20 travel experiences worth getting up early for.


And of course...

No Single Supplements Allowed Don't forget to check out the Solo Traveler Deals page before planning your solo trip. You may just find exactly what you need there at a great price.

Gear, Books, & Great Travel Resources We're expanding our travel resources section all the time. Every piece of gear and every book is there because we like it. As for the travel tools and resources, we've used and recommend many of them while some are recommendations from readers.  
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The Pics of the Week
Pics of the Week are contributed by members of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook.  
Every week on Solo Traveler we publish a travel photo submitted by a member of the Solo Travel Society. Join our community of more than 155,000 travelers from around the world: simply "like" our Facebook page and you're in! Upload photos any time, along with a caption telling us where it was taken. Click on last month's photos below to see who took them and where. 
 
Travel Money Tuesdays
Travel Farther, Longer, & More Often
You have consistently told us that money is the main reason you don't travel more. To the rescue: Travel Money Tuesdays! Every week, we will bring you tips and advice to help you travel more, better, and more often. Travel Money Tuesdays--because the best things in life aren't things.



You dreamed of this holiday. You saved for it. And then, something went wrong. Here’s how to get your travel complaints resolved.  Continue reading →


The solo surcharge on some trips, cruises and resorts can be a big financial hit. Here’s how to book trips with no single supplement. Continue reading →

The Sharing Economy for Travel Saves You Money!

The sharing economy for travel is alive and well and helping travelers save money. Here’s an introduction to what it is and the major players. Continue reading →


These tips on saving for career break travel will put you on track to living your long term travel dreams. You’ll get that gap year that got away. ​Continue reading →


Making a travel budget mistake can affect your future travel plans. Here’s how to avoid money mistakes so that you can travel more. Continue reading →
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Fave Five Posts Last Month

In case you missed them, here are the five most read posts on Solo Traveler last month.


A Solo Road Trip – Why You Can! And Why It Will Be Fabulous!

A solo road trip may sound challenging to some but here’s why you can do it, why you would want to and the tips and links you need to make it safe. Continue reading →

Solo Travel Destination: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This Solo Travel Society member describes Cesky Krumlov as resembling a fairy tale town, with pastel colored houses and a large castle. Continue reading →

The Hardest Part of Traveling Solo

I asked the Solo Travel Society: What is the hardest part of traveling solo? Here’s what they had to say, along with tips for dealing with the tough stuff. Continue reading →

Solo Traveler Artist in Residence: Images of Tokyo

The Solo Traveler Artist in Residence shares her perspective in these images of Tokyo and asks, “Is everything possible in Tokyo?” Continue reading →

Planning Solo Travel That’s Good for the Soul

What is it that makes travel that’s Good for the Soul? I found it in Kauai. Here I try to break it down so that I can find it other places. Continue reading →​​​​​​​​

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On the 3rd Monday of the month you'll receive the

Solo Traveler Advisory


Watch for it.