Not sure which hostel, hotel, or Airbnb to book for your first solo trip? You’re not alone! For me, finding the right accommodation is one of the most important and overwhelming parts of planning my solo trips. I’m not one of those travelers who says that where you stay doesn’t matter. Especially when solo traveling, the right accommodation can ensure that I feel safe, connected, and comfortable in whatever city I’m visiting. After a long travel day or a fun excursion, I want to know that I have a safe and comfortable bed to relax in.
After visiting 10 countries and over 30 different cities as a female solo traveler, I’ve found the perfect method for finding the right accommodation for me. Whether you’re looking for a fun social hostel where you can make friends, a private hotel room where you can recharge, or a spacious Airbnb in a great neighborhood, there are plenty of options out there for solo travelers. Here’s my step-by-step guide to choosing the perfect accommodation for my solo trips. And, at the end, I share my 5 favorite hostels I’ve ever stayed in as a solo traveler!
How to Find the Perfect Hostel or Hotel for Solo Travel
1. Decide what kind of accommodation fits your solo trip
The first step is figuring out what type of accommodation will work best for you. This depends on how much your budget is and how social you want to be.
Ask yourself: Am I on a tight budget and am I comfortable sharing a room with strangers?
If yes → Hostels are the best option! They’re budget-friendly and one of the easiest ways to meet other travelers. Dorm-style rooms make it easy to connect with like-minded solo travelers.
If you’ve never stayed in a hostel and the thought of sharing a room with strangers makes you nervous, I urge you to give it a try! As an introverted solo traveler who really values my alone time, I was so nervous to stay in a hostel for the first time. But staying at hostels has gotten me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to make connections with people from all over the world. Keep reading steps 3 & 4 to see how I choose the right hostel for me.
If no → That’s totally fine, no judgement from me! Sharing a room with strangers is not for everyone, and solo travel doesn’t have to mean staying in hostel dorms. If you still want to stay on budget, look for hostels with private rooms. They’re usually a bit more affordable than hotels, you’ll get more privacy, and you’ll still be able to join the social events at the hostel.
If you are travelling to relax or need to work remotely, a hotel or Airbnb might be a better for you than a hostel. Depending on where you’re travelling too, you may be able to find some highly-rated hotels at reasonable prices. Airbnbs are also a great option for longer stays. You’ll get more space (and sometimes even a kitchen) for the same price of a hotel.
2. Research the neighborhoods of the city.
Location is everything when it comes to solo travel. Before I even start looking for a place to stay, I research the city and determine the best, safest neighborhoods for solo travelers. I’ll look on travel blogs and forums to see what other solo travelers recommend. This is especially important in large cities with unsafe neighborhoods.
I also start to save places that I want to go to on Google Maps, like museums, parks, restaurants and stores. Then I can choose an accommodation in a central area, close to things I want to do. I like staying in the city center so I can walk to most places and grab dinner by myself without worrying about transportation at night. I try to avoid accommodations that would require me to take a taxi or Uber everywhere. Not only does that get expensive, but it can also feel isolating as a solo traveler.
When I finally start looking at accommodation options, I ask myself:
- Is the neighborhood safe and walkable?
- Is it near public transportation?
- Can I easily get to restaurants, cafes, and attractions on foot?
3. Use HostelWorld to research reviews
Once you’ve narrowed down a neighborhood, you can use a site like HostelWorld or Booking.com to look at your options and read recent reviews from similar travelers.
I personally love using HostelWorld when I’m considering hostels. One of the best features is that reviews often include the reviewer’s gender and demographic, which is super helpful if you want to know how other solo female travelers felt about staying there.
Pay attention to the vibe described in reviews. Some hostels are full-on party spots with music blasting all night. Others have social events, like free dinners, movie nights and walking tours, but have a chill vibe and you can go to sleep early if you want. And some hostels are not social at all, meaning you will have to go out of your way to try to make friends. Decide what kind of energy matches what you’re looking for on your trip!
Here’s some other things I look for in reviews beyond just the star rating:
- Did other travelers feel safe in the hostel and surrounding neighborhood?
- Was the staff friendly & helpful?
- Were the bathrooms clean and beds comfortable?
When I’m staying in a hotel instead of a hostel, I use Booking.com and Google to read the reviews from fellow travelers. And most importantly, make sure you’re looking at recent reviews from the past couple of year!
Want to stay connected while abroad?
As a solo traveler, staying connected to the internet is one of my biggest priorities. I always want to be able to find my way around if I get lost or be able to deal with emergencies if necessary. I don’t like to depend on finding wifi, so I always buy eSIMs when traveling internationally. It’s a lot easier than having to buy a physical SIM card, which aren’t compatible with most phones these days.Â
I use the app Airalo, where you can download eSIMs for 200+ countries. My biggest tip – download and activate the eSIM before you board your flight, so you’ll have internet as soon as you arrive.
4. Consider which hostel amenities are important to you
When choose a hostel to stay in, my biggest consideration is whether they have female-only dorms. This is a personal preference, but I find staying in a female-only dorm makes me feel more comfortable and safe. If it’s your very first solo trip, I highly recommend starting out with a female dorm so you can ease into the hostel experience.
HostelWorld has an option to filter for hostels with female-only dorms. Unfortunately, you’ll find that your options will become a bit more limited and sometimes the female-only dorms are more expensive. Some cities don’t have any hostels with female-only dorms, or they will sell out very quickly. In that case, I’ll look for an affordable private room or settle for a mixed dorm.
Here’s some other hostel amenities that can impact your stay and comfortability:
- Curtains on the beds: For more privacy (great for introverted solo travelers like me!)
- En-suite bathrooms: So you don’t have to walk down the hall in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
- The amount of beds in the room: This can range from 4 to 20. The more people in a room, the more noise at night and the longer the line for the bathroom!
- Common spaces: Many hostels have a lounge and kitchen, where you can work remotely or socialize with new friends.
- Lockers in the rooms: Almost all hostels have them but for some you will need to bring your own lock.
If these amenities are important for you, make sure you consider them when choosing a hostel.
5. Other hotel services to consider
Whether you’re staying at a hostel, hotel or Airbnb, it’s important to take a final look at the amenities and policies of your accommodation. A few key things I always check for:
- Cancellation policy: If you like flexibility, make sure you can cancel or change your booking up to a few days before arrival. Travel plans shift, especially when you’re solo.
- Free breakfast: This may seem small, but if you’re a breakfast person like me, this can save money and energy when you don’t have to search for food first thing in the morning.
- Airport transfers: Some hostels and hotels offer pickups, which can take the stress out of navigating when you first land. You may have to request the transfer and pay a small fee.
- Check-in & check-out times: If you’re flight lands very late, make sure reception will be open to check you in at that time.
- Luggage storage: On the other hand, if your flight lands very early, make sure you can drop your bags at the hotel as soon as you arrive. This is often not an option with Airbnbs.
My Favorite Hostels I’ve Ever Stayed in
I’ve stayed in over 20 hostels during my solo travels, and these 5 are my favorites!
Casi Casa in Antigua, Guatemala
Casi Casa in Antigua is hands down the most beautiful hostel I have ever stayed in. You can’t beat this view of the volcano from the rooftop! During my solo trip to Guatemala, I stayed in the female only dorm which was comfortable with curtains on the beds. And the free breakfast everyday was amazing!
Honorable mention for their sister hostel, Maya Papaya, which has super affordable private rooms.
Central House in Porto, Portugal
I’ve stayed in a few Central House hostels throughout Europe but the one in Porto was my favorite, mainly because of the perfect location. It’s just a block away from the Ribeira and walking distance to everywhere you’d want to go in the city. It has all the essential amenities, like curtains on the beds, en-suite bathrooms, luggage storage, and great common spaces and events where you can meet other travelers.
Agriturismo la Derta in Lake Como, Italy
Agriturismo La Derta is a unique hostel/hotel located on a working farm. It’s THE place to stay if you want to stay in Lake Como on a budget. The outdoor space was so peaceful and welcoming and the daily breakfast was delicious and included fruit and vegetables from the farm.
SocialTel in Koh Samui, Thailand
I’m usually not a fan of party hostels, but I loved SocialTel in Koh Samui, Thailand! There’s a great outdoor space with a pool and bar, and events like a yoga class and pub crawl (which was SO fun). I stayed in a private room here and it honestly felt like a fancy hotel.
Love Dubrovnik Hostel
I booked this hostel because it was the only one in Dubrovnik that had female only dorms. But I was so happy when I arrived and was in a dorm room with the BEST view of Dubrovnik. Love Dubrovnik Hostel is located just outside the city walls, within walking distance to all the major sites. I loved how clean the rooms were, and that there was a kitchenette in the room with a fridge.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide makes the daunting task of choosing an accommodation a little less stressful, whether it’s your first solo trip or your tenth. And remember, don’t be afraid to spend a bit more money to stay in a place that’s right for YOU. Comfort and safety are paramount when solo travelling, so choose a place that will provide both of those things. Read my blog post, 5 things I always splurge on as a budget solo traveler, to make my solo trips smoother, safer and more enjoyable.
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Great tips! I personally like to have a room to myself for solo travel, and have ended up using a lot of guest houses (private rooms, private or shared bathrooms, but usually shared living room and kitchen). It’s a great way to meet people with more privacy.
Love this! Safety is so important, especially for us women travelling alone, and researching reviews and location thoroughly is completely worth it. When I was younger I preferred shared rooms in a hostel, now I am happy in an Airbnb to feel more at home. 🙂
I haven’t traveled solo, however I have been at hostels both with my boyfriend/husband and later on with our son. Except for the first time we always pick a private room (definitely with a kid in your party). The first time there were separate female and male dorms. So we couldn’t be together in the same room. 5 minutes of being in the female dorm room, a tall Australian guy walks in. He was appointed a female dorm room. He and my husband switched places.