Q Are there agencies that cater to single travelers? I'm a widower who'd like to travel on tours or cruises, but most require a substantial supplement unless you agree to share accommodations.
John Robertie
Fairfax
A Several travel agencies deal exclusively with single travelers, and some traditional tour operators offer specific trips for singles. But if you're not willing to share accommodations, chances are you will pay more.
Companies that offer reduced single supplements or will try to match you with a roommate include:
• Singles Travel International (877-SOLO-TRIP, www.singlestravelintl.com). A four-night Caribbean diving trip, without airfare, was recently priced at $595 if matched with a roommate or $795 for a single room.
• O Solo Mio Singles Tours (800-959-8568, www.osolomio.com). A 17-night trip to Portugal and Spain is $2,300 for those who share, and $3,028 for a single room, plus airfare.
If you're active, consider Backroads (800-GO-ACTIVE, www.backroads.com), which has about 80 itineraries for singles. If you sign up at least 60 days in advance, there's no surcharge if it can't find you a roommate. Elderhostel (877-426-8056, www.elderhostel.org), for those 55 and older, often has offerings for singles. Contiki (866-CONTIKI, www.contiki.com), for singles 18 to 35, will set you up with a roommate to avoid the supplement.
Organizations with information about single travel include Connecting . . . Solo Travel Network (800-557-1757, www.cstn.org), which publishes a "Single Friendly Travel Directory" ($5) and offers a yearly membership starting at $28; and Travel Chums (212-787-2621, www.travelchums.com), which will help you find a traveling partner. It's free to join but costs $15 a month for enhanced membership.
For cruises, a few lines, such as Cunard, have single cabins, although they are more expensive than the per-person double-occupancy rate. Upscale lines, such as Seabourn and Crystal, often have good deals for singles. Specialty cruise lines -- including Norwegian Coastal Voyage (800-323-7436, www.coastalvoyage.com) -- are another place to look.
We will be in Rome in late September. Are any churches having concerts? Any other venues for classical music? And are there any opera performances then?
Cherie Bottum
Arlington
While it's not high season for opera or classical music, you'll find several choices in late September.
