Single supplement is nearly 40 percent extra, should I just share a room with a stranger

Planning retreat number three (yes, I know, see my other threads) and this time the one I want is a five night yoga and walking thing that prices everything per person sharing. On my own, the single supplement takes it up by nearly 40 percent. The alternative they offer is "matched sharing", where they put you in a twin room with another solo guest of the same gender.

Part of me thinks fine, it is five nights, I will be asleep most of the time. The other part of me went on the last two specifically to have silence and not have to be nice to anyone at 7am.

Has anyone done the matched sharing thing? Was it awful, fine, or actually good?

Did it once, on a walking week. It was fine and slightly better than fine, she was a retired teacher who went to bed at nine and snored very politely. But I went in knowing it was a lottery and I packed earplugs and an eye mask like my life depended on it.

The solo wellness retreats guide on here has a bit on the supplement and the ways round it, worth a look before you decide. Some places will waive it in quieter weeks if you ask nicely, which I did not know until I read that.

My sister did matched sharing on her one in September and got someone lovely. My mate did it in Portugal and got someone who video called her boyfriend every night on speaker. It really is a lottery.

For me it would depend on why you are going. If it is the burnout and you need to genuinely switch off, I would pay it or find a cheaper week where you can. On my first one the room was the one place I could just stop, and I think I needed that more than I realised.

If you want to save, could you ask them which dates are quiet? Midweek and off season sometimes come with the supplement knocked down.

From the staff side, matched sharing works best when the retreat actually asks a couple of questions first, early riser or night owl, snorer, light sleeper. Some do, a lot just pair the names. Ask them how they match people and whether you can move if it is not working. A good place will have a plan for that.

Asked all of it. They do not ask any questions when matching, they just pair whoever is left, and there is no option to move because they are full. That decided it for me. Emailed about quieter dates and they have a week in late November with the supplement halved, so I have gone for that. Still more than sharing but I am buying silence, and after the last two I know that is the bit I actually come for.