Sharing a hotel room with a stranger

[nomorespaghetti]

I've signed up to do some volunteering for a large national charity. I need to attend a training weekend for it about 2 hours away from where I live. It will involve one overnight stay. The charity will pay for train travel and overnight accommodation, but they've asked that volunteers share a twin bed room with another volunteer to keep costs down. It doesn't specify that it'd be a person of the same sex (but I'd hope so!)

The thought of sharing a hotel room with a stranger makes me feel super anxious. I wouldn't mind doing it if it was someone I knew, a work colleague for example. And I've stayed in hostels before (many years ago in my youth!)

I've no issue with telling them that I'm not comfortable doing it. But I want to know if others would be ok with it in this situation. Friends in real life also said they'd not like to.

YANBU = I wouldn't want to do that
YABU = I would be happy to share a room with a stranger

@IncrediblySadToo

You’re discounting the fact that predators might sign up for something they’re genuinely interested in doing, before finding out there is an opportunity there.

Not all predators calculate their every move.

I love sharing rooms with random strangers. Everyone I meet thinks I’m charming and it gives me the opportunity to add to the collection of harvested organs I keep in jars in my basement.

draughty how else am I meant to collect them? I'm a kidney short this week

@ActualHornist

• You’re discounting the fact that predators might sign up for something they’re genuinely interested in doing, before finding out there is an opportunity there.

Not all predators calculate their every move*

🙄that’s NOT what was ousted though was it?

This was what was posted...

Bloody hell OP you'll get some predators who sign up because they KNOW they'll get to do this!! Talk about a safety risk

@nomorespaghetti

Oh hell.

To.

The.

NO!

YANBU at all!

I would not even want to share with someone I DO know (except DC, DH, and at a push, one of my 2 best pals.)

Oh and BTW, I would still do the voluntary work. I would offer to pay for my own room.

I think sharing with one person is very odd/awkward , but I quite happily share with several strangers in youth hostels when I go away for conferences - (work only part subsidises us). They are set up for multiple occupancy by strangers (lockers for your stuff etc), and there is some protection in numbers.

No way on gods earth, is this 1950 or something.

Just explain it will not be happening.

I am a charity trustee btw

Nope, I'd hate this too OP. Even sharing a room with a friend, I don't sleep properly as I'm unable to completely relax. With a stranger, I know I'd be lying awake all night.

A previous company I worked for made colleagues share rooms on trips to save costs. The rooms had transparent glass bathroom doors. I was fortunate to work in a different department and had my own room, but colleagues who had to share had said they were uncomfortable but felt pressured into going along with it. They were horrified to be unable to use the bathroom in privacy!

No yanbu. I wouldn't go along with this either. My days of traveling with a rucksack that weighs more than I do and communal sleeping are over, I want a hotel and some privacy these days.

And last time I shared, the twin room turned out to have one double instead. I did already know and like my roommate, but I woke up in the morning with her spooning me. Complete with leg pin. So that was awkward, lol.

And she had IBS, which she was embarrassed about and kept apologising for.

YANBU

Absolutely not

Christ no. No way at all.

I suppose if I'm donating money to charity I assume it's going to the cause and not to pay for someone's hotel room.

CaptainMyCaptain I also shared a room in India. There is nothing quite like a case of food poisoning to being strangers together...

I'd love to know the thought process from all the voters who had said they'd be ok with the idea

It saves the charity money and it’s one night. If it bothered me I’d pay for my own room.

Also human, the OP is prepared to give up her time for the Charity, doesn't need to give up her time too.

I agree with the previous poster, charity or not, I'd be very surprised if the Management are asked to share rooms for training courses.

Dignity / Privacy too is what I meant to type

This is not uncommon I think in these situations. It crops up on singles holidays too or single parent holidays where families share. I don’t object in principle but would be anxious about it. Just remember you are all in the same boat. It is a good way to keep costs down.

'No' X 1,000,000.

Of hate this but only because I snore so would.be very embarrassed to share a room with someone who I didn't know and might keep awake.

Urgh id absolutely hate this!!!!

I suppose if I'm donating money to charity I assume it's going to the cause and not to pay for someone's hotel room.

You assume wrong! Come on, you must realise charities have huge running and admin costs that aren't related to their cause.

Just no. My first requirement on residential school trips (after organising days out for the kids) is single rooms for the staff. If we’re giving up a week, on duty 24/7, I figure we deserve to sleep alone!

No I would not share with a stranger

And I think it's bad practice that the charity didn't flag this up at the very beginning

I'm generally a confident/outgoing person and I wouldn't do this. No chance.