Three women overheard a man on the phone outside their Rome Airbnb — the oddly specific details he mentioned made them leave that very night
Traveling with friends should be all about making memories, but everything doesn't always happen as planned. When something doesn't feel right, trusting your gut can make all the difference. A group of women visiting Rome learned this firsthand when they overheard a man saying something so unsettling near their Airbnb that they decided not to take any chances. Monique Sonne, who shares content on Instagram as @moniquesonne, recounted the incident in a video posted on August 22, 2026, explaining what they heard and why they chose to leave that very night.
The three friends had only just arrived at their Airbnb when things took a strange turn. As they stood outside, they overheard a man talking on the phone in another language, and then started mentioning details that sounded a little too familiar. He named the exact, rather niche place they were from, repeated their country’s name, mentioned three girls staying at an Airbnb, and even brought up midnight. According to what Monique mentioned in the comments, he said, "Monaco, Monte Carlo, Uber, midnight, 3 girls." These were the details only their Airbnb owner knew. For Monique and her friends, that was enough to make them seriously question whether it was safe to stay there. They immediately decided to change the hotel.
Monique later explained that she arrived a few hours after her friends, and someone appeared to watch her enter the Airbnb’s door code. When the girls headed out to get an Uber, they overheard the man sharing their details. Since their hometown was so specific and only the host knew where they were from, the conversation raised serious red flags.
The group switched to a hotel that night and left the Airbnb just before midnight. Monique said the host cancelled their booking soon after without checking whether they were okay, and they later reported the incident. Many internet users who saw their story felt the women were right not to take any chances. Instagram user @mandana.3.1 praised their quick thinking and wrote, "New heights of survival skills. Very smart decision! Stay safe, girls." @victorian.chick commented, "Always listen to your gut. Well done, ladies. I hope you can enjoy your vacation. Be safe.” Meanwhile, @tonystorm02 called their response “Amazing survival skills!!”
Monique and her friends weren’t the only travelers who decided it was better to be safe than sorry. In another story covered by Amplify, a solo female traveler changed hotels after the owner of her accommodation called her “pretty” after seeing her ID. She worried that he now had her full name, photo, and personal details and didn’t feel comfortable arriving alone late at night. Although she admitted he might not have meant any harm, she paid twice as much for another hotel rather than spending the night feeling unsafe. Her story, like Monique’s, sparked a conversation about trusting your instincts when something about a stay doesn’t feel right.
To see more of her content, follow @moniquesonne on Instagram.