Accommodations are so important when planning any solo trip. You want to feel comfortable to lay your head, and leave your stuff! I’ve talked about my thoughts on hostels in the past, and whether to go for the all-female ore mixed dorm options. But since I love planning trips for other people, I want to answer our questions on how to decide where to stay when you are traveling solo.
Location
I try to look for central hotels, hostels or apartments that are close to public transportation or city centers. I also will usually look into the neighborhood (especially if it’s a larger city) to make sure that I would feel comfortable walking back by myself after dark. Look on Trip Advisor for the “location” review of the accommodation you are eyeing. Normally, people will mention if the location is good or bad, close to certain attractions, and so much more. This is a goldmine for me. Location is one of the main things I look for when
Room types
Sometimes hostels will sell single rooms at a cheaper rate than doubles/twins. If I can book a single room, I often will! I am a really light sleeper, and know that people entering in and out of a dorm room will keep me awake all night. And let’s be serious, as we get older, it is nice to have the quiet space to go back to. I am not against dorm sleeping at all, especially if it can save you a lot of money.
Money should be a factor in what room you pick, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. Remember that!
Also, consider other options like AirBnB, which often have a good deals on rooms in urban and suburban neighborhoods. If traveling alone, I recommend looking for bookings that have high reviews, and many travelers have stayed at. Don’y go with someone brand new, since you are by yourself. Better safe than sorry!
Safety
Which leads me into the last thing when planning your solo accommodations. Along with checking out the neighborhood, I’ll look for things like 24 hour reception and safes or lockers in the room. This is just handy to have. Also, look on certain message boards, like Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, which can give you valuable information on safety in places, as well as if anyone had any issues when staying in a certain neighborhood or location around your destination.
When I used to stay in hostels more often, I would also take into account the common areas and whether the hostel also had an on-site restaurant or bar. This makes a difference in the foot traffic you get at the hostel, and how crowded it would be. If they do have a bar, you know the place will be a ton of fun, but you also know a lot more people will be in and out of there, so consider that things when booking.
Safety is always a concern (check out my post about solo travel safety tips for more info on this subject).
Yes, deciding where you want to stay can be daunting for you solo trip, but remember you are the only person who has to decide, so go all out when you want to, and pinch a few pennies when you need to. This is your trip, and you want to make it the best it can be!
Like what you’re reading? Receive monthly (yes, only monthly) emails from me on solo travel, adventure, and more!
Leave a Reply