Thelife- I have been traveling solo for two years and I always prefer hotels over Airbnbs.
- Hotels make me feel safer, provide opportunities to socialize, and staff can help in emergencies.
I'm a travel writer, which means I'm well versed on the allure of Airbnb.
The vacation rental company seemingly has something for everyone, from Barbie-themed castles to quirky tiny homes and even celebrity guest houses.
But when it comes to navigating trips solo, I tend to err on the side of caution and book hotels.
I've been traveling alone on and off for around two years. I have mostly visited European cities, including London, Luxembourg, Brussels, and Oslo. I booked hotels during all of these trips and found that it made me feel safe and provided more opportunities for socialization than if I had stayed in an Airbnb by myself.
I avoid Airbnbs when traveling alone for safety concerns
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that I've had some positive experiences with Airbnb. Just last fall, my family and I spent two nights in a cabin in the Lake District, England, which was fantastic.
It can be great for large groups, as there is more space and privacy than you would have if staying at a hostel or hotel. But for me personally, I don't like staying in Airbnbs when traveling alone for safety reasons.
If you do decide to stay at an Airbnb solo, my colleague Joey Hadden wrote about why she always books Airbnbs for two people even when traveling alone. Airbnb did not respond to comment for this story but has a landing page of safety tips for guests.
Personally, I had a scary experience when walking back to my hotel from a train station in Brussels earlier this year. I noticed a man who was walking close by and staring at me.
At first, I wondered if I had imagined it. But when I quickened my pace, he didn't stop staring and even began to follow me down the street. A gut feeling in my stomach told me something was wrong, so I flagged down a fellow tourist, who waited with me on the other side of the road until the man eventually walked away.
I felt lucky that the man didn't see where I was staying. But I also felt confident knowing that if anyone were to follow me to my hotel, they wouldn't be able to access my room. There are security cameras, reception staff, and other measures in place to protect hotel guests. But not all Airbnbs have the same measures.
Hotels can promote socialization
It's not unusual for solo travelers to get lonely once and a while. This certainly happened to me during my visit to Luxembourg earlier this year.
I've found that staying at hotels helped massively, as I was able to socialize with employees and other travelers when I was there.
Whether traveling alone or in a group, I've always found making friends an enjoyable and relatively easy experience.
My top tip would be to find a hotel that has a buffet breakfast, as there could be more opportunities to speak to other diners if you are all walking around in the same space. And if your hotel has a bar or restaurant, this could also be a great opportunity to chat with the staff and to make friends with other travelers.
You don't have to deal with emergencies alone
Another reason I prefer hotels is because there are always staff on call, which can be useful if you ever find yourself in a medical emergency.
I was visiting Oslo, Norway, last spring when I became unwell and contemplated going to the hospital. I started to panic as my condition became worse and tried to figure out which hospital to get to as well as how to get there.
I alerted the hotel manager, who suggested going to a nearby out-of-hours medical center, as he said it would be less busy than the hospital. He even arranged for a taxi to take me there.
I was incredibly grateful for the kindness the manager showed and the timely approach he took when helping me. This calmed my nerves, and I know I would have panicked more if I had taken ill while alone in an Airbnb.
Hotels work great for me right now, but that's not to say I won't experiment with something new in the future. Ultimately, I encourage all travelers to lean into accommodation that helps them feel safe, inspired, and rested — whatever that may be.