A great way for a solo traveller to see Europe

It can be tremendously rewarding to travel on your own: you decide where you want to go, and when. What time you’ll get up and whether you’ll spend the day shopping or hiking or visiting museums. But there are challenges too: eating on your own isn’t always fun. Getting around can be a challenge. And it can be lonely.

Which is why a river cruise may be perfect if your are looking into your first – or your next – trip as a solo traveller. Avalon Waterways has a great choice of itineraries (mainly in Europe but also in Southeast Asia, India, China and South America, including the Galapagos).

Avalon’s European itineraries will take you at a leisurely pace along some of the great rivers of the world: the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine and more. See several countries, yet only unpack once

Why are Avalon cruises so suited to solo travellers?

First, they accommodate single travellers with a guaranteed minimum of five staterooms per sailing in Europe with no single supplement, the biggest peeve of solo travellers everywhere. (Just be aware that these staterooms are almost always the first to sell out, including sailings well into 2019.)

Secondly, with a maximum of 162 passengers, you’re not lost in a sea of couples. River cruising tends to be convivial, and with so few passengers, within a day or two chances are you’ll have made the acquaintance of fellow passengers from all over the Englishspeaking world – and the staff will be greeting you by name.

A great new way to explore Europe with Avalon is on their Active Discovery Cruises.

Each day you have the choice of three types of shore excursions: an Active one (perhaps cycling past vineyards along the river), a Discovery one (getting to meet a local vintner or take an art class) and a Classic one (usually a walking tour with a local guide versed in history, culture and architecture).

If you prefer going on your own on-shore excursions, Avalon has you covered, with lots of suggestions for exploring each port of call on your own, from (as of next year) the AvalonGO mobile app, free use of bikes and Nordic walking poles —and even a picnic provided by the ship’s culinary team if you wish.