Should we share a hotel room with people we met online for a lifestyle trip?
Only if everyone has met in person, discussed expectations clearly, and still feels comfortable. Treat sharing a room as optional, not a default; keeping your own room is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Sharing a room can be reasonable after an in-person meeting, but it should never feel like an obligation. Meet first in a public place, then see whether the conversation, boundaries, and general comfort level carry over offline. Online chemistry and a verified profile are useful signals, not substitutes for judgment or a gradual pace.
Before agreeing, discuss the practical details directly: bed arrangements, privacy, arrival and departure times, substances, photography, and what everyone expects from the trip. A separate bed does not automatically create enough privacy, and sharing a bathroom can feel more intimate than expected. If any answer is vague or changes repeatedly, keep separate rooms.
Have a backup plan that does not depend on anyone else. Check the hotel's occupancy and guest policies, keep control of your own transportation and payment method, and know how to reach the front desk. A hotel takeover or group trip may have its own rules, so confirm those with the organizer or property as well.
Either partner can change their mind before the stay, and either partner can choose a separate room without owing an explanation. Share only the minimum personal information needed for logistics, and avoid posting room numbers or travel plans publicly. If the arrangement feels rushed, pressured, or designed to bypass a meet-and-greet, decline politely and make another plan.