SoloMate Travel is once again heading to Quebec City for a singles vacation in July 2013 to take in that city’s summer music festival, the summer’s best outdoor party.
As one of the world’s premier tourist destinations, Quebec City offers visitors many unique activities, including the Image Mill, the world’s largest projection screen.
Watch 400 years of history come alive on the walls of the Bunge grain silo, a projection screen over 1,968 feet (600 meters) wide and 90 feet (30 meters) tall — the equivalent of 25 IMAX screens!
This projection, a magnificent HD display of stunning images set to music, earned itself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest architectural projection in the world.
Join SoloMate Travel and its fabulous single travel group in Quebec City this July. The Image Mill is but one of the unique activities that city has to offer a group of single and solo travelers in search of the perfect summer singles getaway. Call 1.855.290.7050 to secure your spot. You may also visit www.solomatetravel.com for information on this or any of our other singles travel trips to many exciting destinations.
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This summer, SoloMate Travel will be visiting three of Canada’s greatest summer festivals: the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Tremblant International Blues Festival, and the Quebec City Summer Music Festival (Festival d’été de Québec).
Single and solo travelers in search of a fun-filled summer singles travel trip have no doubt heard of Montreal and Quebec City, two fantastic singles destinations. Perhaps less known though, Mont Tremblant is a summer sports enthusiast’s dream. Located in the magnificent Laurentian Mountains, about 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Montreal, this picturesque resort town is ideal for a group of single travelers in search of outdoor summer fun. Members of our single travel group can choose from numerous activities, including hiking, biking, swimming, tennis, golf or pure relaxation. A fabulous day will be spent at a pristine private lake only accessible by boat. Skim the water on skis, kayak along the shore or revel in the natural beauty and swing in a hammock.
Quaint restaurants and shops fill this pedestrian village, and there is even a casino and spa. From covered bridges to northern sunsets, this is a photographers dream.
During the Tremblant International Blues Festival, the town comes alive to the sounds of some 150 free outdoor concerts, featuring the world’s top blues performers.
Call us today toll free at 1-855-290-7050 or visit www.solomatetravel.com. Let us help you plan the perfect summer singles travel trip. Feel like you’ve traveled to Europe without ever leaving the continent.
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In the 2010 American Community Survey, some 28.9 million Americans clamed Scottish ancestry. Join SoloMate Travel’s single travel trip to Scotland in September 2013, and discover this country, whose ties to the New World go as far back as 1650.
Have you ever wondered who Uncle Sam actually was? Well, Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) was in fact a real man whose parents had emigrated to the New World from Greenock, Scotland.
During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson’s meat-packing company was contracted by the U.S. Army to supply meat to the troops fighting along the Canadian border. The meat was packed in barrels stamped U.S. for United States. But, because Samuel Wilson was so popular, many of his employees began referring to him as Uncle Sam, and word spread to the troops who started calling themselves Uncle Sam’s soldiers. Later, Uncle Sam became synonymous with all things American.
Of course, the image of Uncle Sam portrayed today bares no resemblance to the real man. Nonetheless, Uncle Sam remains one of the most widespread and familiar representations of the U.S. Government.
In September 1961, the U.S. Congress formally recognized Samuel Wilson as “the progenitor of America’s national symbol of Uncle Sam.”
Call SoloMate today for more information on our September Scotland Spree, and join an exciting group of single and solo travelers. Dial 1-855-290-7050 (toll-free) or visit www.solomatetravel.com.
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Start planning your summer singles getaway today, and include the Montreal Jazz Festival. Join fellow single travelers for SoloMate Travel’s singles trip to Montreal. Enjoy world-class restaurants and museums, and an unparalleled summer night life. Of course, let’s not forget the Montreal International Jazz Festival, named the largest festival of its kind in the world by Guinness.
Every summer, the Montreal Jazz Festival welcomes 3,000 performers from 30 countries, who entertain some 2.5 million visitors. The shows, many of them free and covering just about all musical genres, are spread out among 8 outdoor stages and 15 concert halls.
Among the musical legends performing during the 34th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival: George Benson, She & Him, Dr. John, Leon Russell, Joshua Redman, Holly Cole, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and James Hunter, Oliver Jones, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Woodkid, Ravi Coltrane, and Nikki Yanofsky, Montreal’s own darling of jazz.
Join SoloMate Travel on our single travel trip in Montreal, as it comes alive during one of the world’s greatest music festivals. Call 1‑855‑290‑7050 or visit www.solomatetravel.com to learn about the summer singles getaway that’s right for you.
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Next summer, SoloMate Travel is visiting three cities in the province of Québec, where French is the official language. Of course, members of our single travel group do not need to speak French, as English is widely spoken throughout Québec and a SoloMate Travel Director is always available to help. However, it is often fun to try speaking a few words in a foreign language, and locals are truly appreciative.
Here are a few key words and phrases solo travelers might find handy during their singles travel trip to Montréal, Mont-Tremblant and Québec City:
Yes = Oui
No = Non
Hello, good morning, good day = Bonjour
Good night, good evening = Bonsoir
Please = S’il vous plaît
Thank you = Merci
You’re welcome = Bienvenue, de rien
How are you? = Comment ça va? (or simply Ça va?)
Where are the restrooms? = Où sont les toilettes?
Where is…? = Où est…?
I don’t understand. = Je ne comprends pas.
Do you speak English? = Parlez-vous l’anglais?
Taxi = Taxi
Subway = Métro (metro)
I really like traveling with SoloMate Travel. = J’aime beaucoup voyager avec SoloMate Travel.
Contact SoloMate Travel today, and experience the best Québec’s French culture has to offer, while taking-in some of the world’s top musical acts. Members of our solo travel group will be visiting the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Festival d’été de Québec and the Tremblant Blues Festival. Call 1‑855‑290‑7050 or visit www.solomatetravel.com.
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Of course, there are an infinite number of sources where you can read all about the Big Island’s unparalleled beauty, ideal climate and unique attractions. SoloMate Travel prefers to offer you our own tried and true Insider’s Guide to the island of Hawaii, since we were fortunate enough to ring in 2013 in this exotic paradise with a fabulous group of single and solo travelers on our singles vacation to Hawaii. We hope it will serve as a valuable tool for your next Hawaiian adventure.
Kohala Ditch Adventures – Experience this unique eco adventure aboard a four-person kayak while you gently float through a tropical forest. Gabe, our guide, offered us a glimpse into the area’s history, and discussed its magnificent flora and fauna, letting us take-in many scents, including cinnamon and flowers.
Kohala Ditch Adventures (www.kohaladitchadventures.com) is located a scenic 40-minute drive from the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company (www.hawnnut.com) has the best nuts on the island. The tasting table offers an impressive array of generous samples. Try the Kona coffee glazed nuts… They will gladly give you a quick, informal tour that will teach you everything you could ever want to know about macadamia nuts. Go north, 10 miles past Hapuna Beach.
Ocean Sports took us on our dolphin and whale watching tour, but there are many outfitters, and all offer great service. We took advantage of a two-for-one promotion only available on their website. (www.hawaiioceansports.com)
Tip: Check out the websites of the activities and attractions you are interested in, as many have web exclusives.
Free: You can observe spinner dolphins perform their acrobatic displays for free by going to … Marina. Drive to the end, where you will probably see a few parked cars. Sit on the rocks to enjoy the show. You can also observe tiger sharks feeding as the fishing boats return to port in the afternoon.
Manta Ray night dives are a must – many outfitters offer this activity. Contact them direct, as there are so many options. We recommend reserving your spot ahead of time. SCUBA day trips are much easier to plan last minute as there is more space on the dive boats.
Hawaii Life Guard Surf Instructors provided surfing lessons to three of our travelers on two separate days. Everyone came back totally satisfied, though a bit sore after discovering muscles they never knew they had. (www.surflessonshawaii.com)
On The Rocks is a beach-front resto-bar located on Ali Drive, in Kailua. Here, you can admire spectacular sunsets, while sipping a refreshing Mai Tai with your toes in the sand.
The Best Beach: None. They are all stunning, while offering unique features. Some are better suited to families, and others to snorkeling, ocean kayaking, breathtaking scenery or total seclusion.
Our SoloMate Travel Directors welcome your comments, and will gladly answer any questions you have regarding any of our solo travel trips. Call 1‑855‑290‑7050 or visit www.solomatetravel.com.
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In February, SoloMate Travel is headed to South Beach for an exciting singles getaway weekend filled with sand, surf, awesome food and great company. This also happens to be the weekend of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Going into its 12th year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Presented by FOOD & WINE, is now recognized as America’s most prestigious gourmet gathering.
The 2013 Festival will feature a plethora of new events and an unprecedented roster of wine, spirits and culinary talent. New dishes on the 2013 menu include:
- Jiro Dreams of Sushi – film screening and Q&A hosted by Anthony Bourdain, followed by a Sushi & Sake reception with Katsuya Uechi
- Garden to Glass, hosted by Emeril Lagasse, and featuring BarLab Cocktails & My Ceviche
- Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament hosted by José Andrés at Turnberry Isle Miami
- Discover Ceviche & Pisco Sour, hosted by Gastón Acurio & Laurent Tourondel
- Chicken Coupe, hosted by Andrew Carmellini
- Taste & Toast with Target, and so much more!
Members of our single travel group with a passion for food and looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience can choose from a variety of options with renowned culinary talent. The weekend begins with Best of the Bay, hosted by Michael Mina, with Tyler Florence, Nancy Oakes, Richard Reddington & Thomas McNaughton, as well as NIGELLISIMA Dinner, hosted by Nigella Lawson, with Andrew Carmellini, and the Carnivorous Dinner, hosted by Michael Symon, Tribute Dinner, honoring Nobu Matsuhisa, and Moët Hennessy’s Christophe Navarre with Mistress of Ceremonies Martha Stewart, and Southern Kitchen Brunch, hosted by Trisha Yearwood.
The Festival brings back its classics too, including:
- Moët Hennessy’s The Q, hosted by Paula Deen and Sons
- Amstel Light Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray
- Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best
- Dolce Brunch, hosted by Daniel Boulud
- Barilla Interactive Lunch, hosted by Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos
- Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian
- Swine & Wine, hosted by Michelle BernsteinSingle and solo travelers can also attend seminars featuring the best winemakers, mixologists, restaurateurs, chefs, and culinary personalities in the business.
Speak to one of our Travel Experts today if you are interested in attending some of these fabulous events during your singles vacation in South Beach.
If all you want is a fun-filled singles weekend in South Beach to relax and lounge in the sun with like-minded single and solo travel companions, we can most definitely help. Call us today at 1-855-290-7050 or visit www.solomatetravel.com.
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Help a loved-one realize their travel dreams! You can now purchase SoloMate Travel Gift Cards, and give someone a unique gift that is sure to provide lifetime memories. These gift cards never expire, and are fully transferable. For a limited time, and while quantities last, buy a SoloMate Travel Gift Card valued at $100 or more, and receive a $15 gift card redeemable at Barnes & Noble.
Don’t know what to give that friend or family member who already has it all? Want to spend quality time with your mom next Mother’s Day? Don’t want another expensive gift from the kids this Christmas that will end-up in your closet never to be seen again? Have a special birthday coming up next year?
SoloMate Travel has the perfect gift to suit any special occasion, budget or availability. Weather a long weekend close to home is the answer, or a trip across the world sounds enticing, we can help! Here is a glimpse of some of the exciting solo travel adventures we have planned for 2013.
Join us for a fun-filled weekend getaway in South Beach (Feb. 21-24), Boston (Mar. 8-10) or Charleston (May 9-11). If outdoor concerts are the answer, we are going to Montreal for the Jazz Festival (Jul. 4-7), Mont-Tremblant for the Blues Festival (Jul. 7-10) and Quebec City for the Summer Music Festival (Jul. 11-14).
Looking for something more exotic? We are traveling to Hawaii in less than one month to ring in the New Year in style (Dec. 26, 2012-Jan. 2, 2013), to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat (Apr. 1-8), to China (Apr. 12-23), and to India (Nov.).
Visit our Single Travel Trips page at www.solomatetravel.com for more details on these, as well as many other fabulous trips for singles. We are constantly adding new solo travel adventures, so check back often! Our Travel Experts are always ready to help at 1-855-290-7050. You can also contact Andrea Leber, SoloMate Travel owner, at andrea@solomatetravel.com.
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In December, SoloMate Travel is heading to Hawaii, where our group of single travelers will ring in the New Year in this island paradise.
Aside from its rich culture, warm and friendly people, world-class golf courses, and of course, gorgeous beaches, Hawaii has some of the world’s largest and most active volcanoes.
These volcanoes are prodigious land builders – they have created the Hawaiian Island chain. In fact, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world’s most active volcanoes, continue to add to the island of Hawaii daily. Mauna Loa is the most massive mountain on Earth occupying an estimated volume of 19,999 cubic miles. The current summit of Mauna Loa stands about 56,000 feet (17,000 m) above the depressed sea floor. This is more than 27,000 feet (8,230 m) higher than Mount Everest!
In contrast to the explosive continental volcanoes, the more fluid and less gaseous eruptions of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa produce fiery fountains and rivers of molden lava. These flows, added layer upon layer, produced a barren volcanic landscape that served as a fountain for life. Hundreds of species of plants and animals found their way across the vast Pacific on wind, water, and the wings of birds. A few survived, adapted, and prospered during this time of isolation. The arrival of humans – first Polynesians, then Europeans – and the plants and animals they brought with them drastically altered this evolutionary showcase, this grand natural experiment. Today, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park displays the results of at least 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution.
Created to preserve the natural setting of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, the park is also a refuge for the island’s native plants and animals and a link to its human past. It is one of the most fascinating biologic landscapes in the world. Located more than 2,000 miles from the nearest continental land mass, the Hawaiian Archipelago is the most geographically isolated group of islands on Earth. The Park sits on the southeastern edge of the youngest and largest island, and protects a wide diversity of ecosystems and habitat for numerous native Hawaiian species, such as carnivorous caterpillars, happy face spiders and colorful Hawaiian honeycreepers.
Hawaiian plants and animals began to evolve over 70 million years ago in nearly complete isolation and over 90% of the native terrestrial flora and fauna in Hawaii are found only in the Hawaiian islands. This level of endemism surpasses all other places on Earth— even the Galapagos Islands.
Accessibility to the ongoing eruptions of Kilauea Volcano and the periodic eruptions of Mauna Loa, offers opportunity for the scientist and casual observer alike, to witness the formation of an array of astounding geologic features, including new cinder cones, glowing pit craters, rivers of lava and fountains of spatter. The island of Hawaii actually consists of five volcanoes, as part of a volcanic chain of islands created over a 70-million-year period by the northwestward movement of the ocean floor over a fixed hot spot in the Earth’s mantle. Molten rock rising from this hot spot, about 60 to 70 miles beneath the ocean floor, is currently fueling the continuous eruptions of Kilauea Volcano within the park.
Volcanic topography has created a striking elevational gradient within the park, sweeping from Mauna Loa’s vast alpine crater at 13,677 feet in elevation, down to wind-swept coastal shores. Moisture from trade winds creates extremes in rainfall within the Park, supporting a wide diversity of life zones and habitats. The Park’s seven ecological life zones include seacoast, lowland, mid-elevation woodland, rain forest, upland forest and woodland, sub-alpine and alpine/aeolian.
Source: www.nps.gov/havo
Imagine exploring this fascinating park in person! Well, SoloMate Travel makes this possible by offering its guests a fabulous singles vacation in Hawaii for only $1,939, $450 below retail. Visit our Single Travel Trips page, or call today for details. Contact one of our Solo Travel Experts at 1-855-290-7050 (toll free).
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SoloMate is returning to Buenos Aires in November, and offers you eight reasons why you should join us:
The always fascinating Evita, a woman whose legend lives on
Buenos Aires celebrates the 60th anniversary of her passing this year. Many of her social programs still remain in place. Take-in the numerous attractions and exhibitions depicting her life, and experience her influence first-hand. Our hotel even overlooks the Cementerio de la Recoleta, her final resting place.
The markets, with or without money!
Brows around the stalls of antiques at the Sunday market in the historic San Telmo district. Vintage jewelry and clothing will make you look and feel like a local, should you be inclined to tango in the streets. There’s also the very popular Recoleta Market, a weekend fair right outside our hotel. No cash? No problem. Buenos Aires is home to many gratiferias or free fairs. Want to learn more about this wonderful initiative? Read our blog at http://solomatetravel.com/blog/.
Soccer and its many legends
Buenos Aires’ Boca Juniors is one of South America’s most famous clubs and watching a game at La Bombonera (Estadio Alberto J. Armando) is sure to be an absolutely unforgettable experience. Sixty-one thousand fans will cheer, waving flags, scarves and t-shirts. Join our Travel Director and other adventurous single travelers in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and feel the electricity in the air.
Cowboy games
Play a cowboy or cowgirl during a day at an estancia. Ride a horse, watch the gauchos expertly handle their mounts, or enjoy a peaceful buggy ride around the ranch. Later, feast on Argentine sirloin, or savor empanadas. Share a yerba mate, and learn the proper way to drink this herbal beverage. This is a day for single travelers on a solo adventure to Argentina to learn about rich traditions and have a good time.
Scent of a Tango
Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. Sound simple enough? Well, it will be after your tango lesson with your single travel companions at La Confiteria Ideal. You will have an opportunity to attend any one of the city’s friendly and quaint milongas. The big Broadway-style shows will take your breath away. I’m sure I saw Al Pacino dancing a tango!
Malbec from Mendoza
Wine vintages that might not be available in North America fill the shelves at the many wine bars and shops throughout Buenos Aires. Perch yourself on a bar stool and mingle with locals who are a happy and proud gang. Our private wine tasting will guide you, while you sample some local tapas. Cheers!
A pleasant stroll
Meander through the uber chic streets of Palermo Soho, which abound with designer boutiques, inviting cafes and captivating galleries. Our hotel is centrally located, and close to parks, museums, and landmarks, offering the perfect photo opportunities. Rent a two-seat bike, and pedal through the Parque Tres de Febrero, with its exquisite rose gardens. The nearby botanical garden is a haven of tranquility, when you feel like you need a quiet moment.
Buenos Aires is a city of contrasting districts and each has its own flavor. SoloMate guarantees there will be one you’ll want to revisit.
Fall in love
With the Iguazu Falls that is! View the falls up close and feel the rumble as you spend a night in the National Park, with all the comforts of home. The Iguazu Falls are not just one big splash of water. They are actually made up of many falls flowing together. Our solo travelers will experience the falls both at sunset and sunrise, with ample time to hike, paddle or just enjoy the flora and fauna.
Visit our Trips page for more information on this fabulous single and solo vacation to Argentina. You can always reach one of our knowledgeable Travel Experts at 1-855-290-7050.
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