Has anyone tried solo group travel with shared rooms abroad?

[UncannyGhostie]

Has anyone done these with a travel company? So the travel company organises the trip abroad and you book on with a group of other solo people who you’ve never met and you share a twin room with a random!

I’d love to travel once the kids are grown up. Has anyone done anything similar? What was it like sharing with a stranger?

I went on a skiing trip a couple of years ago with an organised group. I'd never joined a group holiday before, usually having skied solo. I shared a 4-bed room with 3 other women of varying ages. It was fine, everyone got along well. The rest of the group were a complete mix. I still prefer to ski solo. 🙂

Not quite the same thing, but I went to Norway earlier this year and stayed in a hostel. The room was for 4 people but you could book to have the whole room to yourself (no extra charge). That worked well and was miles cheaper than any hotel. Very comfortable room/beds, en suite, free parking and a good breakfast available too.

I did two trips with Intrepid like this in my 20s. Had a great time. Our trips were made up of a mix of people mostly early 20s - late 30s with a couple of people in their 50s on one of the trips. There was the option to pay a supplement to upgrade to a solo room if preferred. The rooms were mostly just for sleeping / showering so after a couple of nights, it was fine. Everyone got along quite well. One of my trips was 20years ago and 10 of us are still in touch - numbers now swelled by husbands, wives, partners and about 25 DC between us. 😅

I think 90% of the time it would be very successful and would maybe risk it if cost was a factor or I wanted to get to know new people better.

I'd mainly be wary of bad snorers, and people with terrible hygiene (shared bathroom?)!

But I'd also be worried about being allocated a room with a random man. Even assuming it's ostensibly single sex, I'd want to check what counts as single sex in the country concerned. Is a man legally considered a woman only if he has had cosmetic surgery, or just if he says he is but then turns up with a full on beard and a nice red lipstick? It's very unlikely to happen, but before signing up I'd have a think about what type of random man you'd be happy being unconscious next to, and where your personal line in the sand is, and then check that country's rules.

And what is their policy if you "object" to your roommate, for any reason at all?

Yes, a few times.

Mostly fine but theres always a few odd people in a group and you usually have to share with them one or two nights. They rotate the single travelers.

I always paid the single supplement if I could , I'm a really light sleeper and need my own space.

I've done a couple of these group trips now but when it comes to sharing with a stranger I think it comes down to your own personality and how accommodating of others potential quirks you can be e.g. would it spoil your trip if someone was too loud/quiet/hogged the bathroom or would you take it in your stride?

I've always sucked up single room option (even though they can sometimes be unfairly high) so I can't share the experience you've asked for but I can say once on the trip I haven't regretted paying the extra for my own room.

On my last trip there were just four of us, 2 solos and a couple of friends sharing together. The other solo hadn't booked the single room option in the hope of the numbers/genders working out in her favour, which it did so she got a single room without the supplement. However, she was very odd and territorial and I think would have been really hard work for someone to share a room with.

I’ve done this several times and it’s mostly been fine. I grew up youth hostelling so no worries about sharing a room itself. The other sharers have nearly always been polite and friendly and it’s worked well - especially on trips where accommodation is limited (boat tours, mountain huts etc).
however I did have one time on a longer hotel based trip where the woman I shared with was a nightmare and in the end I had to pay a supplement to get my own room.

When i was in my early 30s, couldn't afford the supplement. I made some very good friends. That was Explore Worldwide. I think they maybe more family group orientated now but worth a look.

I’ve done hostelling as a youth but would be worried now about single sex provision not being adhered to.

I also wouldn’t share a room nowadays with someone that hasn’t come from my uterus or someone I’m seeing. Too many variables meaning I couldn’t relax.

I think it could work if you are an outgoing and very tolerant person. It could be great fun and you could make great friends for other trips maybe if you click!

It wouldn't be for me so I wouldn't. I'd rather pay the supplement than chance being with someone who would drive me insane for the duration. Of course the sharer could be just perfect in every way, but it's a chance you take I suppose.

I think if you feel ok about sharing with non family/close friend then go for it. I know I sound like negative Nelly here, and it might work out great this time, but not the next time. It's a gamble definitely and you won't know until you meet the sharer.

I did one.

i’m disabled and this was clearly a problem for some of the people in the group. It came to a head at one point when the rest of the group had arranged who they would share with and one girl had been left out and burst into tears at the thought of sharing with me (to be fair I think she was also upset at being left out).

the group was mostly people a lot younger than me and this girl was about 20.

obviously I felt sorry for her but I also felt very much upset myself and I did leave the group. I made my own way around the rest of the tour and my own way home.

I wouldn’t do it again.

I would never share a room with strangers, if going away with friends I am always clear that I will happily pay more for my own room and if that isn’t an option I am fine with them going without me. I have shared with a friend a couple of times when younger and happily share a bed with adult DD when travelling now but outside that I like my own space too much.

I used to do this on Exodus/Explore holidays. I’d say that, for a week, it’s a flip of a coin and for any longer it’s the spin of a roulette wheel.

Thanks all! So my main concern is sharing with a complete random 1-1, for some reason it doesn’t seem so bad if there’s say 4 women sharing a room but 1-1 seems intense with a stranger!

I’m a light sleeper, pee several times a night and it would drive me nuts if i was with a snorer. I’m also an introvert and need my own space after a busy day of activities.

Id worry about being left out though being the only one not sharing?

also I’d worry if I ate something that disagreed with me and the thought of a random waiting outside the bathroom for me isn’t good! 😦

I did it on a trip for my 40th. My thinking was that I’d only get paired with another woman and if we didn’t get on that much it was only 12 days and was only sleeping in the same room. I could avoid most of the interaction if necessary.

As it turned out we got on like a house on fire and had a fab time together!

Everyone on our tour was truly lovely and we had a brilliant time all together.

Id worry about being left out though being the only one not sharing?

In my experience you wouldn't be left out of anything simply by not sharing a room.

If this is the kind of person you are definitely pay the single supplement.
You won't be left out. You'll have dinner with the group, stay and chat as long as you feel, then retire to your own space to rest and recharge. You'll be up early for breakfast then on with the day.

I’ve done those sorts of trips, but paid the extra for single room. Definitely wasnt left out by doing so.

Been on one where you had to share a double bed with a random same sex partner. The packing list included sleeping bag liners. People paired up with someone they met at the airport.