Airbnb introduces new safety protocols for solo travelers

I’d like to think of myself as a strong, independent woman. But the second my fiancé goes out of town, I check if the door is locked a solid five times before going to bed. And let’s not even get into how I react when I’m traveling solo…or should we? 

New research shows more people are traveling solo

New research shows that the number of people trotting the globe sans buddy is on the rise, with solo travel increasing by 33 percent on Airbnb last year alone. Long-term stays have proven especially popular among solo guests, accounting for about half of all nights booked. Female travelers are increasingly taking advantage of alone time, too, with nights booked rising nearly 30 percent globally in Q1 through Q3 in 2022 compared to 2021.

To give such mavericks some added peace of mind, the platform has expanded its Solo Traveler Safety feature to guests in over 50 languages. Successful pilots of the feature have already been launched in English and Hindi. 

What’s behind Airbnb’s Solo Traveler Safety feature?

The Solo Traveler Safety feature was created to help any Airbnb guest traveling solo in a private or shared room not feel like they have to lock the door as many times as I, admittedly, do. 

“When a solo guest books a private or shared room reservation, this specialized in-app experience is activated and provides that guest with access to three key features: Expert tips they may want to try to help stay safe when traveling solo; an easy way to share their Airbnb itinerary with anyone they choose; and prompts from Airbnb suggesting important questions to ask the Host about their listing and neighborhood,” said Airbnb in a press release. 

The platform also has an in-app 24-hour safety line available to users during a reservation, which guests can use to get in touch with a member of Airbnb’s specialized safety team for help; safety tips for guests; and an emergency contact feature that allows users to add up to four emergency contacts.