Many people travel alone and have excellent trips. Women traveling by themselves, and other solo guests who feel more exposed for any reason, sometimes want a few extra habits, mostly around privacy and timing. This article offers general precautions. They cannot guarantee safety, they are not a reason to avoid traveling, and you should adjust them to your own comfort and to local conditions. Check up-to-date local advice for your destination.
Before you book
A few choices made in advance shape the whole stay. Consider these points:
- Look for a property with a front desk that is staffed through the night, or ask directly about after-hours arrangements.
- Read guest reviews with an eye for comments from other solo guests, and for how staff responded when something went wrong. Treat single comments with caution, and watch for patterns.
- Think about the location. A hotel in a busy, well-lit area near transport may feel easier than a remote one, though what feels comfortable differs for each person.
- Ask whether the hotel has a policy about not giving out room numbers or guest names to callers.
If you are unsure about a particular booking, reading about what to ask before you commit can help. There is more on this in the general guide to security measures.
Arriving
Aim to arrive in daylight if you can, particularly in a place you do not know. If you will be late, tell the hotel and confirm that someone will be at the desk. Have the address saved offline, and confirm the driver and car before you get into a taxi or ride-share. At the desk, you can quietly ask for your room number to be written down and not read aloud, and you can decline to say your room number in front of others.
If the person checking you in says your room number out loud and others are close by, it is fine to ask for a different room. This is a common and reasonable request, and staff generally understand it.
Choosing and checking the room
Many solo guests prefer a room above the ground floor, on an interior corridor and reasonably close to the elevator, though preferences vary and room floor choice has trade-offs for noise and evacuation. When you get to the room, check the door locks and latches, test the balcony and window catches, and make sure any connecting door is locked on your side. If anything seems broken, tell the desk and ask to be moved.
Before you relax, find the emergency exits and read the evacuation notice. A portable door wedge or a simple door alarm is something some travelers carry, but treat it as an extra, not a substitute for the hotel’s own locks. Never block an exit route, and do not use anything that could prevent staff from entering in an emergency.
Privacy in the room
- Keep the door fully closed and locked, including the latch, when you are inside.
- Do not open the door to anyone unexpected, even if they claim to be hotel staff. Call the front desk to check.
- Use the do not disturb sign while you are in the room, and consider hanging it when you are out only if you do not need housekeeping.
- If you see a delivery you did not order, or a call asks for your details, hang up and phone the desk yourself.
- Be careful what you say to people at the bar or in the lobby about being alone or about your room number.
Evenings out and getting home late
Plan the evening before you go. Let the front desk know roughly where you are headed, ask which areas are comfortable at night, and find out how people usually get back late. Keep your phone charged, carry the hotel’s business card or address, and have a way to pay for a ride. A few other habits:
- Watch your drink, and do not accept drinks from strangers you cannot see being poured.
- Share your plans and location with a friend or relative, and agree on a time to check in.
- Choose rides from licensed services, and check the vehicle details before you get in.
- If you are walking, prefer well-lit, busy routes, and keep valuables out of sight.
- When you return, go straight to the main entrance, and tell the desk if someone followed you or made you uneasy.
If a situation feels wrong, you are free to leave, change plans or go to a staffed place such as the lobby of another hotel. You do not owe anyone an explanation.
Valuables and information
Keep passports, spare cash and electronics in the safe, or with you when you go out, and carry copies of key documents separately. Avoid posting your location in real time. A photo of the view can wait until after you have checked out. Also avoid leaving paperwork with your full name and address visible in the room. Public Wi-Fi is another matter, so avoid entering sensitive information on open networks.
If something happens
If you feel unsafe in the building, call the front desk or security, and call local emergency services if there is immediate danger. Ask to be moved to another room if you feel uneasy about your location in the building. Afterward, report the incident to the hotel management so it can be addressed, and consider contacting local police if a crime occurred. Do not feel embarrassed about asking for help, since staff regularly deal with guest concerns.
Staying relaxed
These habits are quick, and they free you to enjoy the trip. Travel alone for as long as you like, trust your instincts, and treat safety as a set of defaults, not a source of worry.