AIBU to be scared of staying in a mixed dorm?

[soloyolo]

Given how public transport grinds to a halt over Christmas, I'm looking to book a room somewhere to avoid having to get ridiculously priced taxis everywhere. It would be so much cheaper to book a room in a dormitory than a private hotel room!

I am in my 30s and slightly overweight. I am not particularly attractive. This does not stop me from getting unwanted male attention on a regular basis - creeps have no beauty filter. If anything, I think they go for the less pretty because they think we're more likely to succumb to their 'charms' being desperate. Honestly, I'm not being vain.

I can quite easily sleep on a train, on a plane, on a bus... it feels safe. There are lots of people around, many of whom are awake, there are paid staff members - it just doesn't feel unsafe.

But in a dorm? Whether mixed or not mixed. The default status of the other people is asleep, so no one is awake to spot anything dodgy. Isn't there an inherent risk all my possessions will get stolen and/or I'll get raped?

I don't plan on taking much stuff and I could sleep with my phone under my pillow. But how do I ensure my physical safety? Am I being ridiculous to be apprehensive? Does anyone have any advice? I will be on my own.

The default status of the other people is asleep, so no one is awake to spot anything dodgy.

hahahhahahahahahah, it's really not. I've used dorms many times in my younger days, and doubt that things have changed much. At weekends, holidays and whenever there were events the default status in dorms was not asleep.

You don't say what your volunteering in, but does the organisation pay for transport, or can they help with lift sharing?

I’ve stayed in mixed dorms but prefer single sex. I hate massive 8+ dorms and find smaller ones have been lovely and friendly in the past.
I’ve never felt unsafe in mixed dorms, just irratated.

'you're' eugh

If it's Christmas rather than New Year, hotels can be pretty cheap. The city centre Premier Inn I used to work in would only have a handful of guests for the 24th to the 27th, less than ten rooms occupied each night. Where are you wanting to stay?

If you're volunteering, are there other volunteer that live closer to where you want to be who might have a spare room or a sofa? I have to admit my days of dorms are well and truly over, mixed or not!

Premier Inn have rooms starting at £31 over Christmas (and lots of availability), even in London they've rooms as low as £40. It's definitely not an expensive time!

m.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html#/home/start

www.travelodge.co.uk

The travelodge has winter rooms for £29+

I prefered mixed sex dorms because people tend to get changed in the loos and just sleep in the dorm. I have been on my own or one of two in a female dorm with groups of other young women getting dressed, doing make up and chatting whilst I am trying to sleep. In a mixed dorm the men would tell them to be quiet. Having said that I once stayed in a mixed dorm in amsterdam and woke to people smoking pot in the room. That was weird.

Look at YHA hostels - I have stayed in several whilst travelling on my own in my 20s and always been fine. They have single sex dorms and tend to put people travelling alone in together (so a group gets their own dorm) which means you’re less likely to be disturbed by group members talking. It was also a nice way of meeting people also travelling alone. They usually have self-catering kitchens too so you can keep costs down by using your own food, although I found hostel food delicious and plentiful when I did have it.