GLORIA SWANSON gets a real kick out of the array of colorful magnets decorating her refrigerator. There's the one from Iceland, another from Belize, one from Costa Rica, and about 40 more from destinations as varied as Alaska and Russia. Ms. Swanson, a 49-year-old computer applications manager from Campbell, Calif., collects at least one from every destination on every tour she takes.

Perfectly content with her marital status, Ms. Swanson travels with others for the affordability, the safety, the ease it provides — and the company. "I live alone, I spend a lot of time alone, I don't need to spend my vacations alone," she said. And it's great to avoid the dread single supplement — the fee lone travelers get stuck with when they can't meet the double-occupancy requirement attached to many tours and cruises. Companies specializing in single travel get around this by pairing up travelers, usually by age, sometimes months in advance; of course, for an added fee, anyone is free to have a private room.  Roommates are guaranteed by some clubs if reservations are made at least two months in advance; of course, for an added fee, anyone is free to have a private room.  Another bonus these tours offer, operators and travelers say, is the absence of couples and families, who can make singles feel like a fifth wheel.

Some cater to a specific religion, ethnicity, sex or activity. Others are heavily focused on matchmaking. Following are a few run by travel agents that specialize in singles' tours but do not consider themselves matchmakers. All prices are based on double occupancy and activities. Note that many trips do not include air fare from a traveler's home city to the trip's point of departure.

From 20's to 60's

All Singles Travel was started six years ago by Eric Kravitz, a travel agent from Atlanta who saw a niche. ("People were always wanting to go somewhere without families and kids," he said.) The company generally offers one land or cruise trip a month, with 20 to 30 people aged 30 to 55. The trips vary, but typically run 40 percent men and 60 percent women. Coming trips include tours to the Galápagos Islands, Australia and New Zealand and a cruise to the Greek Islands, Turkey and Venice. The Galápagos cruise, scheduled for June 11 to 17, will tour five islands. Daily tours and activities are planned, as are nightly parties and activities aboard the 53-cabin ship Ambassador.

Without air fare, the cruise is $1,450 a person and includes an inside cabin and all meals aboard the ship, hotel accommodation in Quito, transportation back and forth between Quito and Baltra Island, the start of the cruise, and daily tours. The two-week Australia and New Zealand trip, which starts Aug. 10 and includes time in Sydney and Auckland, as well as visits to wildlife refuges in Australia and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. The price is $2,399, including ground transportation, hotel, air fare from Los Angeles and daily tours. All Singles Travel, 1150 Lake Hearn Drive NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30342; www.allsinglestravel.com; (800) 717-3231.

While these trips aren't necessarily about finding romance, organizers say it does happen sometimes. Eric Kravitz of All Singles Travel said his trips have led to two marriages — that he knows of.

"We don't make it our goal, but if love happens, well that's just wonderful," he said.   

HOPE REEVES writes frequently for The Times.