Hostel or Hotel?

You can also stay in B&B's to meet people and feel secure. Sometimes having the B&B owners give you insider's information is really beneficial, especially if it's your first trip to the UK. Have a great trip.

I agree with Laura. If the cost is not an issue, I suggest you take a single room. Don't consider the dorm.

I have read about women traveling alone who connect with another woman and travel together. That might be possible saying in a hostel.

My wife and I have stayed in over 20 hostels around the world and take private rooms with private baths.

We like the advantage of meeting fellow travelers. We met a couple from Montreal while in Athens and spent the week touring with them.

You have laid out the argument perfectly by yourself, and it will be your personal preference that defines what your choice will be.

I guess what you are probably wondering more specifically is how much of a risk is staying in a hostel and how boring might it be to stay in a hotel by yourself?

For the hostel part, it depends on which hostel you are looking at and where. In quieter towns you might not feel as secure, but in my experience you feel pretty secure in hostels, especially if someone such as yourself stays in female-only rooms (as most hostels will let you choose between segregated rooms or not). Obviously that will not eliminate all the security concerns, but in an average six-person room you usually will have at least two other people there. Hostels do not like to have one person in each room as it is more cleanup for them, so if only a few people are there they usually focus you all in as few rooms as possible.

If you stay in co-ed rooms, I have found that hostels that offer both co-ed as well as segregated rooms usually will only put males travelling by themselves in the male-only rooms. The co-ed rooms are (usually) only occupied by females, and males travelling with at least one female.

If you are travelling by yourself, I highly recommend that you do whatever you can to meet other travellers. You might find it a little depressing to spend much time by yourself, especially if you want to enjoy any of the nightlife.

I would stay in a hostel. Read the reviews online (I like to use hostelworld.com because you can tell the type of reviewer - young, old, group, solo, couple). I stay in hostels on almost all of my trips and have not felt unsafe yet. Many hostels offer all female dorms, which might make it a little more comfortable for you. You can also choose to get a single room at hostel and enjoy both your privacy and the social atmosphere.

I am going to have to disagree with saying that you should take a private room as I have found that you meet different people in your room than you do outside of your room. The people outside the room that you might meet in the hostel's common areas are often individuals who are more relaxed, while those in the room are ones who have lots of things they want to get out and see.

That being said, if security is your primary priority, then go with the private room as that might grant you some degree of comfort.

Jenna, I spent my 20s staying in hostels. They can be great places to meet fellow travelers. I never had a problem with safety. Sometimes it was quite nice to share a room with other travelers as you got to share travel stories. I can't tell you how many times I met other travelers who I went out to dinner with or traveled with to the next town. On the other hand, sometimes it is nice to have your own room. A compromise might be a mix of hostels, B&Bs, and hotels.

I recommend considering a Hostelling International membership if you plan to hostel. Their hostels are generally of a good standard. Check their website.

Jenna,

My suggestion would be to use a mix of Hostels (both Dorm rooms and private rooms, if available) and budget Hotels (check Rick's Guidebooks for listings). That way you'll be able to experience both "communal living" and yet still have some privacy.

I find that it's easy to meet fellow travellers at budget Hotels also, usually over the supplied breakfast.

Happy travels!

Ken's idea is a good one. Using hostelworld, if reviews are good for the town, stay there, if not, do b&b or hotel.

Not all hostels are created equal. Some are party spots while others are just clean, quiet, budget lodging.

In terms of physical safety, nothing in Europe compares to visiting Tijuana (even before the recent street shootouts). Basic common sense should keep you out of any real trouble.

Hostels have a reputation for petty theft, so it's important to keep track of your stuff and keep it locked in your locker when you aren't watching it.