Understanding Travel Restrictions

4 Hotel-Related Tips For Solo Travelers

20 April 2016 by Eva Morris

Over recent years, the travel industry has reported an increase in solo travelers. While traveling alone has plenty of benefits, it can also have some disadvantages if you don't know some tricks of the trade. Read on for 4 great hotel-related tips to make your solo adventure safer and cheaper.

1. Don't Stay In Tourist Areas

Some criminals focus their craft on taking advantage of tourists. These crooks hang around locations where tourists gather in high concentrations, and they scope out travelers who appear out of their element and who are likely to be carrying cash. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people who are sight-seeing and looking at maps, it's a lot easier to pick somebody's pocket than it would be in an area with less traffic and confusion.

Instead of booking a hotel smack-dab in the middle of the tourist attraction you plan to visit, look for hotels on the outskirts of your destination. You'll still have to take precautions to keep your belongings safe while out during the day, but when you get back to your room at night, you'll be able to let your guard down and relax. 

2. Ask For 2 Hotel Keys

As a single traveler, you'll probably be presented with a single hotel key upon checking in. Ask for another one. Place one key in your purse or wallet, and carry the other one on your body. If you do happen to become the victim of a pick-pocket, whether the thief gets your purse or plucks your belongings straight from your trousers, you'll still have a backup key that you'll be able to use to get back into your room.

3. Confirm All-Night Lobby Service

There's no way to know when you'll experience an unexpected delay in your travels; your flight could be late or you could have a hard time finding your hotel. One thing is for certain, though -- as a single traveler, you want to make sure that you're able to get checked-in and get to your room no matter what time you arrive at the hotel.

Not all hotel lobby/reception areas are open all night long. Confirm that the hotel you plan to stay at provides 24-hour lobby service so you don't end up sleeping on the curb or in the park if you arrive late.

4. Be Aware Of Single Supplement Charges

Since most hotel rooms can comfortably fit two people or more, the hotel industry tends to view single-occupancy rentals as a loss of profits. In order to limit their losses, many will implement single supplement charges. These charges can range between 10 percent and 100 percent of the hotel's standard occupancy charges.

To avoid paying extra for a room because you're traveling alone, ask your hotel if they bill for single supplement charges, and if they do, ask them to waive those charges (many will if they have low booking rates at the time of your stay). If your hotel won't waive their single supplement charges, consider finding a travel buddy to split the cost of the room. There are many sites online that focus on hooking travelers up with other like-minded travelers so both parties can reap the benefits of discounted prices. You don't need to spend every moment of your trip with your travel buddy -- just make it clear to them beforehand that you're only interested in sharing costs of lodging and travel fare.

If you're about to embark on your first solo vacation, congratulations; you're going to have a great time. Just be sure to make your journey safe and save money where you can by practicing the above 4 hotel-related tips for solo travelers.

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