AIBU? Hotel room alone?

When I was working it was very common to have to spend time away from home, sometimes with a group of people (on the same course or meeting) or on my own (on attachment to other offices).
Have to say that I never once felt uneasy in any shape or form, whether that be having dinner in the restaurant, a drink at the bar, breakfast or during the night itself.
Is it the recent news items that have unsettled you?

Neither of you know enough about OP's life in order to judge it boring. It's perfectly possible to live an interesting life without staying in hotels. And I say that as someone who travels regularly for work.

Nasty maybe, possibly realistic though.

Do you think maybe it’s anxiety about the event?

Or are you generally very scared and find it hard to settle when you sleep in a hotel alone?

As someone who has traveled to different countries alone for personal and professional reasons, your reaction does seem a bit much BUT I appreciate we are all different and there may be extenuating circumstances.

I always take a hard rubber door wedge with me if I'm staying somewhere alone, and my own pillow- it really helps.

Are you in a decent hotel or somewhere that generally feels insecure. I loved travelling with work and having a night alone in a big bed. Take some ear plugs and an eye mask if air con or lights keep you awake?

I travelled for work over many years. I honestly never thought about safety as I didn't feel unsafe in my hotel rooms, just locked the door and wallowed in peace and quiet alone at last!

It wasn't until I read all the scary stuff on MN recently that I feel I might need a door wedge or other space age locking mechanism in future if I ever go it alone again. 😳

YANBU. I'm the same. Hate travelling for work, I don't get any sleep and I feel very stressed throughout. Leave your phone, get a good novel and take a night nurse 10 hours before you need to wake up. I hope you manage to get some rest.

What about some magnesium before you go to bed. Lower your anxeies and a slight sedative effect.

In every single hotel I've been to in the past 10 years, all doors had an extra physical lock from the inside (like a bathroom lock). I cannot imagine how someone is just supposed to break it open when you're inside?!

Is this thread for real? Are there genuinely so many adult women incapable of sleeping one night alone? It's honestly a bit "pick me" to have that level of paranoia and self-importance to assume that someone is just waiting to break into your hotel room. Statistically, it's insanely unlikely. Hotel room doors are identical from the outside. How would anyone even know (or care) who's inside?

The vast majority of hotel assaults come from people who know each other, eg inviting strangers from a night out into your room or colleagues who know exactly which room you're in. There are a few sensible rules that make sense to follow:

1. Don't let any male hotel workers or guests see you enter your room as a very obvious solo female traveller (one suitcase, one handbag etc).

2. Don't let the front desk say your room number out loud within earshot of other guests

3. Don't tell male colleagues, clients or anyone from a large group where you room is, and definitely don't let them meet you by your door. Meet everyone downstairs on the lobby

I'm spending the odd night like this and bought a door jammer. Played with it at home first. That’s in addition to having a large dog in the room.

Have people on this thread not been following the news?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yjdvg5rydo

There's also such a thing as First Night Effect. It's a natural biological mechanism, a safety feature of the human.brain in unfamiliar surroundings. Subsequent nights, after familiarising yourself with the room, are usually better. Though this is no help if you often have to spend a single night in a place you don't know, obviously.

Roll up a towel and wedge it up against the door. Or buy a door wedge. Not difficult.

Not nice. She is stressed and needs a little support and encouragement, not a put down!

Wedge the chair behind the door if you're worried. Editing as realised you've still got time to prime yourself a door wedge which would be even better.

I would also suggesting finding a reasonably unexciting but still relatively interesting audiobook or podcast and listening to that while you try and get off to sleep. It's good to distract yourself from your thoughts if they're intrusive.

You can use a wedge it's the device up thread, but if you become seriously ill with a medical emergency or that's a true, then you've massively increased your risk.

A chair nearby so it'll make a noise is a better idea if you are really worried about it, as people can still come in during an emergency and you can still easily escape in a fire.

Saying that, I've only I've done this since children and it was bliss. I sat in the bubble bath until it went cold, eating a huge tub of ice cream. Then watched crap TV in bed before starfishing.

Do get a grip. You’re a grown adult.

I spend 2 weeks of every month in a hotel for work. Some are better than others, of course. I avoid the ones made out of cardboard and double sided sticky tape!

best thing I ever invested in..just a few dollars many years ago, as you can see it has been well used. The flat part goes in where the door latch is, then the pin thru it. No one can open door from outside .

What is stressing you out?

If it is security a door wedge is a good idea.

If it is just the unfamiliar environment then download a good audio book or podcast and put it on sleep timer to listen to while you drop off - it has to be sufficiently entertaining that you listen to it rather than your own thoughts.

If it is eating alone, take a book or kindle with you to a restaurant if you will feel less awkward with something to do. Eating somewhere like Leon as opposed to a more formal table service option can be a good idea, it is like tasty and nutritious fast food. Or order room service or go to m&s and get a hotel room picnic.

Bloody hell, how good do you think earplugs are and how quiet do you think the fire alarm is going to be?! 😁

I’m another one who loves a hotel stay on my own. I get to do it for work fairly regularly.

I am a very light sleeper, so I absolutely don’t have to worry about not hearing fire alarms/people evacuating the hotel. I stick a door wedge under the door.

If you don’t have one, push a towel under the door and ram a chair up against it.

Take your pillow from home - it tricks my brain into thinking I’m at home in my own bed.

I’ve just booked two weeks away on my own in a hotel, can’t bloody wait. I also travel once a month for work and I love it.