After 76 solo Airbnb stays — from a shared flat in Bengaluru to a breakfast-legend homestay in Bangkok — travel writer Lydia Swinscoe has distilled what separates a great solo booking from a disaster. Her hard-earned rules cover safety, savings and how to find the neighbourhoods guidebooks skip.
Safety comes first in her checklist. She skips ground-floor apartments in cities (too many doors and windows, some of which — like at one Dominican Republic stay — won't lock) and books first floor and above. With keypad check-ins now standard, she always confirms there's an inner bolt before booking, messaging the host if the photos don't show one. On shared homes, she's more cautious: a frightening experience with a male host means she no longer stays in them, and she advises anyone who feels uneasy to leave and rebook immediately.
Her money-saving trick is simple: travel off season. Solo travellers eat the whole accommodation cost alone, so she skips peak months and weekends entirely — visiting Madrid in August, for example, when the heat drives crowds to the coast and prices drop. Long stays pay off too. Booking by the month and simply asking hosts for a discount has won her up to 30% off and waived cleaning fees, especially in overlooked cities like Timisoara in Romania or Lodz in Poland rather than Paris or Rome.
There's also a vetting art to it. She reads reviews specifically for mentions of solo women feeling safe, avoids unreviewed new listings (which only get automated checks), and favours superhosts. Subtle green flags matter: a host-curated guidebook signals someone who cares about their area, and listings decorated with art, books or surf gear suggest a host whose recommendations will match your interests. A kitchen or kitchenette is non-negotiable for her — in places like Quito's old town, which empties after dark, being able to cook in beats risking an uncomfortable night out.
Her five standout stays: a compact design apartment in Tbilisi's crumbling Sololaki mansion (from £77 a night), a studio on Lodz's Piotrkowska street (from £51), a friendly mid-century home in Bangkok Yai (from £52), The Hollow in Colombo (from £56), and tiny Lordi 6 in Naples' leafy Vomero district (from £123), which comes loaded with foodie tips.
Worth noting: she now uses Airbnb less than she used to, citing overpriced listings and the housing pressure short-term rentals create in tourist-heavy cities. But for solo travellers, her takeaway stands — the platform can put you in residential neighbourhoods with local bars, street art and hosts who become friends, if you book with a critical eye.