Millbrook, NY—April 13, 2004—Cross Country International (CCI) is making it easier and more economical for the nearly 40 million Americans who travel solo each year.
In an attempt to make travel more affordable for single men and women, we work with "singles friendly" tour, and resort suppliers. With single travel on the rise, CCI has created a variety of customized equestrian vacations, which cater to single travelers both in experience and price.

The four “Singles in the Saddle” packages, which are priced specifically for single travelers, allow single travelers to pair their love of riding with the opportunity to meet other individuals who share their interests, set against the backdrop of a variety of spectacular destinations. Participants in the singles rides will share a passion for horses, a longing for adventure and a desire to meet new people.

Costa Rica Beach Ride: May 30-June 4. Guests on the Costa Rica vacation will stay at beachfront hotels on the Pacific Ocean and enjoy rides alongside the Guanancaste region’s pink beaches and tropical rain forests. Along the way, riders will have the opportunity to see a variety of tropical wildlife, swim with their horses in the water of Playa Negra, one of Costa Rica’s best surf breaks and enjoy “pura vida” parties each evening. The Costa Rica Singles in the Saddle vacation is available for $1,395 and includes five nights hotel accommodation, all meals, three days of riding and hiking, biking and sight seeing. Volcano and canopy tours are also available at an additional cost.
Ireland -Summer Solstice Ride: June 17-22. On the Summer Solstice ride, participants will stay in an 11th century castle and ride well-mannered Irish horses throughout the countryside to a variety of different castles. As a special treat, guests will celebrate the Summer Solstice on June 21 with a midnight ride and a night of fun at the Medieval Celtic Midnight Madness Ball. A unique feature of this singles ride is the “challenge” posed to its guests: if two guests meet and fall in love on the singles vacation, they will win a free wedding and reception at the castle. Ireland’s Summer Solstice Singles vacation is available for $1,650, which includes five nights private accommodations in the four-star castle, all meals, attendance at the Medieval Celtic Midnight Madness Ball, three days of moderate level riding, and hiking, tennis, fishing and sight seeing.

France Bastille Day Ride: July 11-16. In France, guests will stay at a charming inn in Provence and experience days filled with gentle rides through fields of sunflower and lavender. On July 14, guests will celebrate Bastille Day, at the “Fete du France” festival, which features music, dancing, and wonderful French food and wine. The France singles vacation is available for $1,495 and includes five nights accommodation, all meals, three days of beginner-level riding, admission to the “Fete du France,” a special wine tasting of local wines and hiking, biking, and sight seeing.

Ireland’s-Inn to Inn Trail Ride and Matchmaking Festival: September 25-October 2. This trip offers a unique opportunity to be a part of an Irish matchmaking festival on October 2 in Lisdoonvarna where expert matchmakers pair up guests as they dance to live Irish music all day and into the wee hours. Throughout the trip, participants will enjoy rides through the Irish countryside, relaxing at local pubs, hiking, touring small villages and a visit to the cliffs of Moher. This trip is available for $1,695 and includes seven nights B&B accommodation, all meals (excluding lunch at the Matchmaking Festival) and five days of moderate-level riding.

For more information and complete itineraries on the Singles in the Saddle rides or on any of Cross Country International’s numerous other vacation packages, please contact Cross Country International via phone, (800) 828-8768, e-mail, info@xcintl.com or online at www.equestrianvacations.com

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