I've stayed in Airbnbs around the world by myself. My top tip for solo travelers is to book for 2 people — even if it costs more.
- I'm a frequent solo traveler who prefers to stay in Airbnbs over hotels.
- When I book an Airbnb for a solo trip, I say it's for two people, so hosts don't know I'm alone.
Cozy cabins, unique tiny homes, luxury apartments — I've booked them all through Airbnb.
As a travel reporter, I stay in accommodations around the world, from the US and Canada to Western Europe. I prefer staying in Airbnbs over hotels because they often bring me more unique experiences, such as sleeping in a treehouse in Canada and a livable barrel in Switzerland.
Usually, I travel solo. I've taken overnight trains in the US and Europe, spent seven nights on the world's largest cruise ship sailing the Caribbean Sea, and traveled by rail to Niagara Falls, Montréal, and Québec City. On these trips, I explored new cities and unique accommodations — all by myself.
Now that I'm an experienced solo traveler, I have a lot of practices in place to make sure I feel as safe as possible when I'm traveling alone — especially in other countries.
When it comes to staying in Airbnbs solo, my best tip is to book accommodation for two people
When I make the reservation, I simply change the number of guests from one to two. Then, In my message to the host, I always say that I may have a friend joining me for my trip.
This way, my host doesn't think I'm traveling all by myself. Creating the illusion that I have someone else with me makes me feel more comfortable falling asleep at night in a stranger's place.
Booking for two sometimes comes with an additional fee, depending on the Airbnb.
For example, when I traveled to Rome and booked two nights in a livable art sculpture Airbnb, the price was $102 a night for one person and $145 a night for two people. In this case, my partner did end up joining me for the stay. But even if he hadn't, I would have been fine paying the additional fee to feel more secure about staying there alone.
Solo travel can be daunting, especially when you're booking accommodation with an individual rather than directly through a company like you would at a hotel.
But after all my unique Airbnb experiences, I think it's worth booking them even when I'm all alone. And booking for two makes me feel a little safer.