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For single women travelling alone, finding accommodation that is safe and affordable is a high priority. I am only looking at short term accommodation for single travellers here, staying anything from a night up to a few weeks in one place.
Should I book ahead or wait until I get there?
Whether or not to book ahead is a matter of personal choice. In tourist areas during high season, beds can be booked up long in advance. Booking ahead gives you some security, especially if you end up arriving late. You can also find somewhere within your budget and prefered location. However not booking allows you to find somewhere you like at leisure and check out the accommodation and neighbourhood first. You can take advantage of special deals going at the time. It is risky though! The only time I do recommend booking ahead is for the first night or two of your trip or during high season.
TIP Even out of season try to check ahead for major sports events, festivals etc. These can cause a sudden shortage of beds.
What are my options?
Although there are many possible options, the main ones for single travellers include:
Other options - labour exchange, house sitting and home exchange
Hostels are found in big cities and small villages, in national parks and in mountainous areas, close to the beach, beside long distance trails... The big advantage of hostels are that they tend to be more social than hotels. If the idea of sharing a dorm room does not appeal to you, some hostels offer private rooms. I prefer hostels if I am travelling alone. I have had some brilliant evenings in hostels and met some interesting and fun people. Sometimes I meet people to go out with at night. I usually find other lone travellers are staying in hostels too. They are usually people in the same boat, looking for other people to spend time with, and are open to everyone. I find easier to talk to people in that social environment...
Try and stay in dormitory style or shared accommodation. This has got to be the single most effective way of meeting other travellers. When you arrive in a new dorm and you choose your bunk it is inevitable that you will talk to any other persons in the room, however shy you or they are. Trust us on this one.
from journeywoman)
As well as being a low cost option for single travellers, facilities like laundry rooms, self-catering kitchens, luggage lockers, internet access, and lounges cater for the budget traveller. Some do meals as well.
Few hostels have an upper age limit and you find travellers of all ages staying in them, not just young people. In fact, the official hostel organisation used to be called the International Youth Hostels Federation (IYHF). It changed its name to Hostelling International (HI) to reflect the wider age range staying in its hostels. The emphasis is not just on 'youth'!
People who have not stayed in hostels sometimes worry about how they will cope sleeping in a dorm. Modern hostels have small dorms (4-8 beds) and private rooms. Older hostels sometimes still have large dorms. The majority of people in dorms are considerate and respectful of others. I have stayed in 18 dorm rooms and had only one bad experience. Other people who stay in hostels a lot also find bad experiences don't happen much. A pair of earplugs and an eye mask are useful if your a light sleeper. A torch [flashlight] is also useful if you go to bed later than your dorm mates or need to get up very early in the morning.
There are different types of hostels. Individual countries have their own HI organisation, but all are supposed to adhere to minimum standards of safety, cleanliness, maintainence and security. If your planning on staying in HI hostels, it is worth joining in your own country. Most HI hostels will accept non members, but you may have to pay slightly more. Independent hostels are not HI affiliated. These may be hostel chains, or a hostel that is run by the owner. You don't any membership cards for them. Standards of independent hostels vary wildly. At one end of the scale, you have accommodation at the standard of a good hotel for only a fraction of the price, with an owner who really cares about guests and will go out of their way to help them and provide a personal service. At the other end you have dire decoration and limited or non existant maintainence, minimal cleaning and as many beds as possible squeezed into rooms with an owner/manager who cares for nothing other than the money coming in. I have stayed in various examples of both. Most fall into the middle of that.
The issue of single sex versus mixed sex [coed] dorms is a personal one. Many women hate all female dorms and find mixed sex dorms more social. Others feel uncomfortable sharing a dorm room with men they don't know. I will not stay in mixed dorms at all as I don't feel comfortable sharing with couples. In general, HI hostels offer single sex dorms (or a choice of mixed or single sex) while independent hostels vary. If it matters to you, booking websites like Hostelworld and Hostels indicate clearly if the room is single or mixed sex and how many beds are in the room. Individual hostel websites may also contain this information. If not, try e-mailing the hostel direct or ask on a bulletin board.
Hostels are popular in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In Africa, Asia and Latin America, there are hostels in major tourist areas and large cities but they are not so common. Here are some links to help you find them where you are going:
The big advantage over hotels is privacy. Some people just cannot bear the idea of sharing a room with strangers, no matter if it is cheaper. If you are travelling on a budget, hotels can take a good chunk of costs but never compromise money over safety. A few pounds a night extra is always worth it to have a hotel in a good location with a secure room. Sometimes there can be special offers on with very good deals on hotel rooms.
I get infuriated by single room supplements. I can partially understand if I am occupying a room for two people alone but I resent paying well over the odds for a single bedded room (i.e. a room with one 2'6'' or 3' bed in, which is only large enough for one person). At a family wedding once, I had a single room in a very nice hotel. It was a tiny attic room with sloping ceilings overlooking the bins. The ensuite bathroom was actually just outside the room. The room itself contained a single bed, a chair and wardrobe with little space between them and the walls. The rest of the group had huge double rooms with big bathrooms overlooking the lake and landscaped gardens, for just a few pounds more than the cost of my room. Susan Kurosawa agrees:
What's so good about going solo? Not the tourism industry's ubiquitous "single supplement", that's for sure. One pays dearly for privacy, usually marooned in an expensive double room, as so few hotels include single configurations. If they do, it resembles a walk-in wardrobe. Breakfast in bed takes on a whole new meaning when it's delivered straight to your pillow by a waiter unable to fit through the door without vaulting over the bed (beware of possible concussion from the brass doorknob).
from Smarttravelasia.
I have always found small, family run hotels to be more friendly and welcoming to single travellers than large hotels or chain hotels. Other single women have also found this:
I have found that the proprietors of the small B&B's I like to stay in are always very, very warm and friendly to a solo traveler and it's really great to consider your room as your little home away from home while you're there. Tell the proprietor where you're going, what your plans are - it's likely he/she will have some helpful or interesting ideas to share. Be warm and genuine with people you meet and they will respond in kind.
karen USA (from journeywoman)
Sometimes though you don't want to meet people. If you want to take a break to be on your own for a bit and get away from people, look for somewhere that has no lounge facilities. If food is available, a dining room with only tables for two means there will not be social interaction at mealtimes, or find a hotel that does room service.
TIP A useful tip I read is to carry a padlock of your own and a rubber doorstopper - this helps to prevent the door being forced open from outside of the room. Some travellers also carry a sleep sheet, especially if the bedding doesn't appear very clean. A sleep sheet is like a sleeping bag, only made of cotton or silk. Through using them you don't come into contact with other bedding. They are used more in hostels but they have their uses in other budget accommodation.
The idea is simple. People worldwide sign up with various organisations and then you can stay at the homes of members throughout the world. It is not essential that you are able to host guests in return, but of course the whole scheme needs willing hosts for it to work. Accommodation varies from floor space in a small apartment or student residence to a private room in a large house. Its free, but thats not why I love it. I have hosted some very interesting people, some I am still in touch with and who I want to go and stay with now. For women travelling alone, there are plenty of female hosts, couples and families if you don't feel comfortable staying with male hosts. I always enjoy getting a local view on places, as often the best places are those known to locals. Some hosts will show you around. Of course, you have to respect any house rules your host has and be willing to work around their routine.
Of course, the big question on everyone mind is 'is it safe?'. Suprisingly, yes. There are thousands of members worldwide, and everyday hundreds of people stay with hosts. However, you need to take some precautions. I would strongly recommend making sure you have enough money for a hostel or hotel room and always research some accommodation options for your location - have a back up list in case your host has to cancel at short notice or if you find that you don't feel comfortable with the person. Tell someone at home where you are going. Trust your instincts - if you feel uneasy about someone, you don't have to go through with it. Also, try to meet your host or guest in a public place before going to his or her home. Do what you feel comfortable with.
All of the following offer accommodation with locals:
If you like the idea of staying with locals but you still have safety concerns, organisations like experiment in international living do paid homestays with families in many countries. The families are interviewed and background checked first and the homes inspected. Guests have a local contact for help in case of problems. Fees are reasonable and some meals are included. There are also local organisations in many countries offering a similar set up.
Colleges and universities often rent out their accommodation during the vacation time when they are not making money from student rents. In these places, students rent the rooms for the academic year only. There are many advantages to this type of accommodation for single travellers. In cities, they are generally cheaper than a hotel room but offer more privacy than hostels. Special weekly and monthly rates are almost always offered. Do a web search for colleges and universities in places you want to visit.
I once stayed on campus in a UK college for two nights. I got a single room (with shared bathroom) and access to the self-catering kitchen and TV lounge for less than the cost of a dorm bed in a hostel. As it was the summer vacation, most campus facilities (such as the sports centre and bars) were closed, but I had access to anything that was open. I found it good value and I would recommend it to other single travellers.
Forget Camping, try campus - lone female traveller Mira Katbamna tries out university halls in London.
A few universities offering accommodation are listed at University Accommodation in the UK and University Accommodation in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This is not a full list - I live in the UK and I know that they almost all offer accommodation during vacations - but it is a start.
Renting your own self contained accommodation gives you privacy and can work out around the same price as a hotel room for a week or so. They come in a wide range of locations, from city centre studio apartments to cottages in the mountains or beachside apartments. The advantage is that you have privacy, flexibility and freedom, plus cooking facilities.
When I travel by myself, I always rent an apartment or stay in apartment hotels. Doing so allows me to experience a tiny slice of what I call "real life" because I go to the grocery or the market just like people who live there. It's simply another way of experiencing the culture. I don't cook every night when I travel, but at least a few nights. Cooking a few dinners is also budget-friendly!
Rose, USA (from journeywoman)
The disadvantage for short term travellers is that you may find there is a minimum letting time of 1-2 weeks, especially for rural properties. You may be required to pay a deposit with the rental fee, which will be returned if nothing is missing or damaged on your departure and the place is left in a clean and tidy state. Check if items like towels, bedding and cleaning equipment are provided. Check also about electric, gas and water charges. Sometimes this is inlcuded in the rental fee, but other times you have to pay for this seperately. Cleaning is sometimes included or may cost extra.
I cannot discuss this in great detail. There are numerous advantages. It is free or very cheap, you can stay in out of the way places, if your doing wilderness hiking it is possibly your only option, and you can fall asleep watching a glorious sunset or night sky and wake up with the morning sunshine. You can camp miles from anywhere, or on a big site with many facilities. The main disadvantages are for non drivers as campsites can be located in areas hard to reach by public transport, plus if your backpacking a tent, stove, sleeping bag etc. adds a lot of extra weight. Some women have safety concerns. Then add rain and wind. I love camping but I don't camp when travelling alone. I have met some women that do so quite happily. If you plan on free camping, check local laws first as in some places it's illegal.
Campervan rental is another option in some places. If you don't own a van, the cost of rental, insurance and fuel may seem an expensive option at first, but bear in mind your accommodation is also paid, apart from the odd site fee or hook up charges, plus you have cooking facilities. Modern campervans can be very comfortable and equipped with all mod cons- fridge, microwave, cooker, toilet, TV... I think that the freedom and flexibility they offer far outweighs any discomfort of living in a small space. Only you can decide how safe you feel sleeping in a campervan alone.
Another option for people with a few weeks or more is labour exchange set ups like HelpX or workaway. People requiring some help offer travellers a free bed (sometimes meals) in exchange for a few hours work a day. This is not paid work. You get free time to explore the area as it isn't full time hours. Help is needed for anything from a week to a few months. Most of the work is unskilled manual work, in gardening, maintainence tasks, cleaning, painting etc. though some places require animal or child care, cooking, computer skills, web design or translation work. There are options worldwide on farms, restoration projects, family homes, hostels, campsites, hotels, alternative communities, environmental projects etc. Do check all the terms and conditions very carefully before you accept a placement.
Housesitting is another option, especially for older travellers who like animals. The length of time a housesitter is needed varies from a weekend to several months, but most are for 1-3 weeks while the owners take their vacation. To the owners, it means there is someone in the house, reducing the risk of burglary and keeping the place clean and tidy, and pets can stay in the home they are familiar with and recieve the standard of care they are used to. The housesitter gets free accommodation (although you may be required to leave a security deposit). Looking through websites, there are places in lovely locations worldwide. Owners require mature people with experience of having their own home and experience of pet care. This is a good option for retired people. Be prepared to provide references and to ask lots of questions about exactly what is required of you. You can post an ad or search for housesitters required at housesitworld and housecarers. There are numerous agencies for this as well.
Home exchange has long been around. The idea is that you exchange your home with someone elses. You get to live like a local, and you get your accommodation free. The listings are free to browse, though you may have to pay a membership fee to contact hosts. The difficulty can be finding someone who wants to come to your area around the time you are available. Admittedly, this might be easier if you live near the centre of a major city/tourist area or in a beach resort town or beside the mountains. However, even if you don't live somewhere that draws lots of holidaymakers, it is still worth signing up if your interested because people sometimes want to exchange homes for short term business and study purposes in less well known areas. Don't worry if your home is small - it is not all large families looking for homes. Singles Home Exchange International specialises in home exchanges for singles, couples and small families.
There are hundreds of other home exchange sites. For a few other options, try Home Base Holidays, homeexchange.com, Hen.com, Invented city, exchange homes and The Vacation exchange. The following two sites specialise in home exchange for gay and lesbian travellers - Home around the world and mi casa su casa.
Yet other alternative accommodation options exist. These are specific to destinations, so I cannot advise here. For example, some convents, retreats and communes offer guest accommodation. Sometimes the accommodation is offered with no obligations on your part, or you may be required to attend a service or study each day. Mountain huts and shelters are popular in Europe. Free of charge or very cheap, they are designed for serious hikers. The facilities are basic and they may be only accessible on foot.
I cannot really advise on finding longer term accommodation because that is specific to local areas. Looking through local newspapers is always a good start. The free magazines and newspapers in an area usually have excellent classified sections (the news is thin on the ground). To find local newspapers online anywhere in the world try the world press. Hostel and college noticeboards sometimes advertise accommodation to let. Some hotels and hostels have special long term rates. Or, see if your destination is covered in craigslist, which has homes to rent, rooms in shared houses, jobs, events, items for sale etc. If you looking for a room in a shared house try easy room mate. Both cover the main cities of several countries worldwide. You could also try local letting agencies, a more expensive option.
Interesting options
While researching places to visit, I have seen so many possibilities. Just a few of these include mountain huts and refuges, log cabins, igloos, tepees, beach huts, houseboats, treehouses, caves, snow holes, hammocks strung between trees...the list goes on. Not to mention buildings converted into hotels and hostels. These include castles, lighthouses, churches, old town halls, boathouses, moored ships and many others. I remember reading about a jail converted into a hostel with the old cells being used as dorms. For exmaple, in Scotland hostellers can stay in an old castle or a lighthouse, while many places like lighthouses, croft cottages and castles are now hotels or self catering accommodation.
Accommodation Zone - ideas for unusual accommodation, including former prisons, castles, lighthouses, barns, boats and ice hotels among others.
Sweet dreams
Good luck with finding suitable places to sleep. Remember that if you do end up in a total dive, it is part of the travel experience and you can always find somewhere else! Don't let that ruin your trip. So, wherever you rest your head, sweet dreams and happy travels, and who knows what the next day on the road will bring.