Golightly, A ‘Women-Only’ Vacation Rental Platform Comes To Dubai

by Vaishnavi Venkataraman
Golightly, A ‘Women-Only’ Vacation Rental Platform Comes To Dubai

Double-check locks, look for hidden cameras, carry pepper spray- this is what every woman solo traveller’s checklist looks like. Dubai took this serious and now the city has accommodations that provide a safer and better travel experience for women. Golightly is the new Airbnb-like platform in Dubai, aimed solely at women. All properties are owned and managed by women. How cool is that!

Here’s The Ultimate Solo Traveler’s Guide To Dubai

What’s It?

A survey by Wakefield Research shows 89% of women take extra precautions while 50% women prefer to stay in a women-run rental when they travel alone. Golightly is an interconnected network for all women to book female-owned holiday rentals. There are a host of options you can pick from- an Irish country mansion to a downtown Hollywood apartment. Female-only travel has seen a major rise in the last few years and Golightly works towards the betterment of this travel trend.

The Story

Golightly is the brain child of Victoria O’Connell, an entrepreneur who owns several vacation rentals in Malta, London, Dubai and Miami. In 2017 her new London flat was burglarized by a group of men that booked her home via a major home share site. This horrible experience made Victoria think about how women feel vulnerable while both traveling and renting out one’s home.

That is when she decided to create a platform that connected women through travel. Here’s how Golightly encourages solo travel among women. Currently, there are properties in Dubai, London, New York and more.

Safer Stay Options

Golightly operates on the basis of membership only. Anyone interested to join the group, must submit an application form which will be reviewed before approval. The screening process ensures safety to women travelers. Once you’re a member of the community, you can access the various stay options, profiles and property rentals.

The site is directed at women, but it does not exclude the men folk. While bookings must be made only by the member, you are free to travel with any companion of your choice- kids, boyfriend, husband, friends, etc. In fact, even dogs are welcome, according to the website.

Better Accommodations

Golightly offers a host of stay options under specified budgets. Just like Airbnb, guests can pick from various categories like solo travel, family-stay, stay with pet, luxury rentals etc. There are also a few exclusive listings in Dubai including two studio apartments decked with swimming pools. The rates start from AED 388 per night.