A young female traveller's solo adventure took a deeply unsettling turn when the owner of her holiday rental began sending her inappropriate and creepy text messages late at night, prompting a serious warning for women travelling alone.
The 22-year-old woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was staying in a holiday home she had booked through a popular rental platform. What was meant to be a relaxing getaway quickly descended into discomfort when her host's communication crossed professional boundaries.
In a viral TikTok video that has since garnered millions of views, the traveller shared screenshots of the exchanges that made her feel profoundly unsafe in her own temporary accommodation. The messages, sent well past midnight, contained overly personal questions and comments that had nothing to do with her stay.
'My Blood Ran Cold'
"I felt actual shivers down my spine reading them," the woman revealed in her video. "You expect to feel secure in your accommodation, especially when you're travelling alone. This completely violated that sense of security and made me feel incredibly vulnerable."
The incident has sparked a crucial conversation about the potential dangers solo travellers, particularly women, can face when staying in private rentals. While many hosts provide excellent and professional service, this case highlights the vulnerability guests can experience when safety protocols aren't firmly in place.
A Wake-Up Call for Rental Platforms
This disturbing encounter serves as a stark reminder for rental platforms to implement more robust verification processes for hosts and clearer channels for guests to report inappropriate behaviour without fear of repercussion.
Travel safety experts recommend several precautions for those booking private accommodations:
- Always read through previous guest reviews thoroughly
- Share your accommodation details and host's contact information with trusted friends or family
- Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, remove yourself from the situation
- Have a backup plan and alternative accommodation options researched
The young traveller has since reported the host to the rental platform and is encouraging others to speak up about similar experiences. "We shouldn't have to accept this behaviour as part of travelling," she stated. "Your safety is always more important than being polite."
