Choosing a hotel when it is just you

When you’re on your own, where you sleep matters a bit more, because it’s where you go back to when you’re tired and where your evening ends. So it’s worth a little more thought than just picking the cheapest pin on the map.

The street first, the stars second

I’d always take a three-star on a street with life over a four-star on a street that’s empty by eight. You want somewhere to eat within ten minutes’ walk of your door, and you want that walk to feel normal at night, with street lights and people around. Zoom right into the map and look at what’s around the hotel. Restaurants and a pharmacy nearby are a good sign, while a row of car dealerships usually means the street will be dead in the evening.

What the photos give away

Listing photos are staged, but they still tell you a lot if you know where to look.

• Count the bedside lamps. One on each side usually means the room was set up for people to actually stay in, and not just to look nice in a photo.
• Look for the window. If every single photo avoids showing it, the view is probably a wall or the window is tiny.
• Check the bathroom for a hairdryer and a shelf. They’re small things, but they tell you somebody thought about the person staying there.
• Find a photo of reception. A staffed desk matters more when you’re alone, because it means there’s somebody at the door at midnight.

One message before you book

If it’s not a big chain, I send one short message before booking to ask whether reception is staffed 24 hours and whether there’s a lift. The answer matters, but so does how quickly and how nicely they reply. If they get back to you warmly within a day, they’ll probably be just as helpful when your flight lands late, and if they never reply, that tells you something too.

Apartment or small hotel?

When I started travelling alone, I mostly rented apartments. I’d go to the supermarket and cook something easy or get takeout, and I could stay in whenever I didn’t feel like going out. If you like having your own space, that works really well.

A small hotel gives you different things, like breakfast with someone saying good morning, a person to ask about the neighborhood, and no fumbling with a lockbox in a dark hallway at 11pm. It usually costs maybe 15 euros a night more.

There isn’t a right answer here. If you’d rather be left alone, take the apartment, and if you’d like to have someone around, take the hotel.