Specialty Travel Resources

· Elderhostel, 877-426-8056, http://www.elderhostel.org/ . Nonprofit group organizes adventures for almost a quarter-million travelers over 55 each year. Take the grandkids on one of the Intergenerational programs or check out the associated Road Scholar program at http://www.roadscholar.org/ .

· Grand Circle Travel, 800-553-1129, http://www.gct.com/ . This company markets tours and cruises specifically to the over-50 set (but anyone over 13 is welcome) and efforts are made to limit single supplements for solo travelers. The Overseas Adventure Travel division offers trips a bit bolder than those under the Travel division.

· Hostelling International USA, 202- 783-6161, http://www.hiusa.org/ . This site covers low-cost lodging in the United States, with links to hostel information in more than 60 countries available to people of all ages. Membership for those 55 and over is $18 a year (normally $28 a year) and includes international travel insurance coverage and Greyhound discounts.

· National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association , 800-627-3394, http://www.narfe.org/ . Group that includes federal retirees and their families offers travel discounts among its perks. Membership is $33 annually after retirement.

· Senior Summer School, 800-847- 2466, http://www.seniorsummerschool.com/ . Mostly two- to six-week summer educational programs with classes in political science, art, etc. The sessions are at eight locations in the United States and Canada.

Singles

· Connecting: Solo Travel Network, 800-557-1757, http://www.cstn.org/ . Helps solo travelers find compatible travel partners through a bimonthly newsletter and offers tips on avoiding single supplements. Annual membership is $30.

· Going Solo Travel Club, 800-475-3755, http://www.goingsolotravel.com/ . Offers international tours for single travelers and matches travelers with roommates to avoid single supplements. No membership fees.

· O Solo Mio Singles Tours, 800-959- 8568, http://www.osolomio.com/ . Travel club of group trips for individuals, about 75 percent of whom are women. It aims to arrange roommates for those who want them, but it's not guaranteed.

· Singles Travel International, 877-765-6874, http://www.singlestravelintl.com/ . Agency guarantees you a roommate on its singles-only trips or it will pay the single supplement.

· Solo Dining.com, 800-299-1079, http://www.solodining.com/ . Tips and strategies for dining alone, plus an online newsletter with advice on tipping and how to avoid getting a bad table.

· Solo Tourist.com, http://www.solotourist.com/ . This site has lots of advertisements, but it also lets you create your own travel blog and offers an extensive resources list.

· Travel Alone and Love It.com, http://www.travelaloneandloveit.com/ . This free Web-only newsletter, penned by a flight attendant, has a helpful Q&A page and numerous links to other Web sites.

· Travel Chums, 212-787-2621, http://www.travelchums.com/ . This Shaw Guides-related service offers free membership to contact travelers or place ads for travel companions.

Vegetarian/Dietary

· Green Earth Travel, 888-246-8343, http://www.vegtravel.com/ . Vegetarian and eco-specialist local travel agency that also focuses on working with non-profit organizations.

· Happy Cow's Global Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants, http://www.happycow.net/ . Lists meat-free restaurants and health food stores worldwide. There's also a "vegetarian singles" forum.

· Shamash: The Jewish Network, http://www.shamash.org/kosher . Searchable database of 1,800 kosher restaurants in 40 countries. The site does not vouch for the accuracy of info, so ask the establishment for its kashrut certification to make sure.

· Travel Organic.com, http://www.travelorganic.com/ . A free guide to restaurants and stores offering organic goods and services around the globe, such as 11 organic bakeries, five markets and 19 restaurants in Paris.

· Vegetarian Resource Group, 410- 366-8343, http://www.vrg.org/ . Publishes books on vegetarian travel, lists vegetarian food festivals and links to VegDining.com ( http://www.vegdining.com/ ), which lists veggie restaurants worldwide.

Volunteer Vacations

· American Hiking Society, 800-972- 8608, http://www.americanhiking.org/ . One- and two-week trips to preserve U.S. trails while camping. You supply the camping equipment, work six to eight hours daily and help with chores. Trips cost $120.

· Amizade, 888-973-4443, http://www.amizade.org/ . Both short- and long-term community service projects in 11 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and the United States. Trips range from $560 at a Montana ranch to almost $2,700 in Bolivia.

· Cross Cultural Solutions, 800-380- 4777, http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/ . Two- to 12-week humanitarian trips in 10 countries, including China, Brazil and Russia, with the specific task tailored to your skills and interest. Fees ($2,389 to $4,996) include all in-country expenses.

· Earthwatch Institute, 800-776-0188, http://www.earthwatch.org/ . No experience necessary to collect data alongside scientists on archaeological digs and wildlife studies in 47 countries. Trips usually range from one to two weeks, $700 to $4,000.

· Earth Island Institute's Global Service Corps, 415-788-3666, Ext. 128, http://www.globalservicecorps.org/ . Volunteers participate in educational, health care, sustainable agriculture and HIV/AIDS programs in Thailand and Tanzania. Costs start at about $2,100 for two weeks.

· Explorations in Travel, 802-257-0152, http://www.volunteertravel.com/ . Short-term individual placements with ecological, conservation and wildlife projects in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and other locations. $775 to $975 for the placement; volunteers responsible for their expenses.

· Global Volunteers, 800-487-1074, http://www.globalvolunteers.org/ . Volunteers work in the United States and abroad on projects determined by locals to be most important, such as job skills or health care. Most volunteers for the one- to three-week programs are 50- to 80-years-old. Costs $750 to $2,900.

· Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Program, 800-422-4828, http://www.habitat.org/GV . Short-term house-building projects in 100 countries. Costs $1,200 to $4,000.

· Health Volunteers Overseas, 202- 296-0928, http://www.hvousa.org/ . Health- related teaching programs for seasoned medical professionals in more than 25 countries. Assignments are one week to two months. Volunteers cover their expenses.

· International Volunteer Programs Association, http://www.volunteerinternational.org/ . Links to organizations with volunteer exchange programs that suit your interest or destination.

· Passport in Time, 800-281-9176, http://www.passportintime.com/ . Archaeological and historic preservation programs by the USDA Forest Service. No fee to participate, but you often must provide your own transportation, food and lodging.

· Wilderness Volunteers, 928-556- 0038, http://www.wildernessvolunteers.org/ . Weeklong projects on U.S. public lands, where you'll maintain trails and prevent erosion. Most trips are under $200 a week. Camping gear is not supplied. A complete 2006 trip schedule will be posted in December.