Hotels for solo travellers: how to choose

Travelling alone is one of the best things you can do, and hotels are entirely used to solo guests. Two things are genuinely worth optimising: the single supplement, meaning how much you pay for a room built for two, and a safe, central location. The rest is pleasure. Here is how to choose well without paying more than you need to.

The single supplement

Why you pay almost as much as a couple

• Rooms are priced per room, not per person: alone, you often pay nearly as much as a double.
• It is not a personal injustice, it is how the industry works; the goal is to soften its weight.

How to lighten it

• Look for true single rooms, hotels or hostels with solo or pod rooms, and aparthotels.
• Some properties waive or reduce the single supplement: compare the real per-room price, not per person.
• Sometimes a small double costs less than a single; always compare. A private room in a social hostel combines price and company.

Safety and peace of mind

Choose the area well

• Prefer a central, well-lit, walkable neighbourhood near transport: see how to choose the neighbourhood.
• That way you are not dependent on taxis at night and can walk back at ease.

Check the room and the reception

• A 24-hour staffed reception is better, useful if you arrive late or need something.
• Check the lock, deadbolt and peephole; pick a room not on the ground floor and not at the end of a dark corridor.
• Read recent reviews from people who travelled alone: see how to read reviews.

Small habits that matter

• Share your itinerary with someone and keep the hotel card with the address on you.
• Screenshot the address in the local language, to show a taxi driver or ask for directions.

Social or quiet, as you prefer

If you want to meet people

• Hostels, social hotels, communal tables, walking tours and the hotel bar make it easy to strike up a chat.

If you want your own bubble

• A quiet boutique or a good night in the room are just as valid; solo travel does not oblige you to socialise.

The value that matters alone

• Breakfast included: eating out alone every day adds up on the budget.
• Good wifi if you work, and a lobby or a proper desk so you do not feel stuck in the room.
• Laundry for long trips, and a location near where you want to spend your time.

Your solo checklist

• Compare the real per-room price, not per person, and look for reduced single supplements.
• Choose a central, well-lit area near transport.
• Prefer a 24-hour reception and a room not on the ground floor.
• Check the lock, deadbolt and peephole.
• Read recent reviews from other solo travellers.
• Confirm breakfast included, good wifi and comfortable common spaces.
• Share your itinerary and save the hotel address offline.

Good to know

Why do I pay almost as much alone as a couple? Rooms are priced per room, not per person. Look for true singles, solo rooms or properties that reduce the supplement.

A single or a small double? It depends on price: sometimes a double costs less than a single. Always compare the real per-room cost.

How do I pick a safe area? Central, well-lit, walkable and near transport, with recent positive reviews from solo travellers.

Hostel or hotel when solo? Hostels and social hotels help you meet people; a quiet boutique is perfect if you want calm. Both are valid choices.

Where do I compare hotels? Compare the real price and location across several hotels, then book with the provider; on Edenfinder you compare hotels, you do not pay on Edenfinder.

Compare hotels by real price and location, and pick the one that is right for you. Search hotels in Lisbon or search hotels for your destination.