Hostels: Pros, Cons, Tips and Tricks

Hostels: Pros, Cons, Tips and tricks

This guide will give you pros, cons, tips, tricks and all you need to know hostels. What is a hostel? How do I stay in one? Where can I find one to book? What do I pack when I stay in a hostel? Are hostels different than hotels? What are the pros and cons of staying in hostels. What are some tips and tricks I should follow to be successful when staying in hostels? There are so many things to learn about hostels, and I hope this guide helps get you on your way to be successful.

What is a hostel?

Hostels are dorm like, low cost, community living arrangement for short term travel.  Rooms in hostels are shared and usually equipped with bunk beds for guests to sleep on. Rooms can be same sex or mixed and depending on the hostel and the guests’ personal choice.  There can be anywhere from 4-20 people in the same room at the same time. Hostels have shared bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and common rooms.  Hostels usually are great for the single or small group traveler because it is a great way to meet fellow travelers from all over the world.  Hostels are usually located in the heart of the city in various types of buildings. 

If hostels can promise you anything it’s that you choose to take advantage of all hostels have to offer you will never be bored, and there will never be a dull moment. Some hostels are louder and known for their party like atmosphere, others are more calm and collected, and some have a perfect mix of both. You can search to find the best one for you at hostelworld.com. They have a huge database of hostels all over the world, pictures for every one, prices, locations, amenities, and more. Everything on hostelworld is very easy to navigate and you can search for what hostel is best for you. Every hostel is different and offers its own unique charm that will stay in your heart forever.

Pros of Hostels

1. Hostels are a lot cheaper than hotels
   • Staying in hostels will help you stay on your budget and help you save so much money anywhere you decide to travel!  For example, you can stay in a hotel in Germany for over $100 or a hostel for $20.   This means if you stay in Europe for a month you could be saving hundreds of dollars.  Now you can take that extra money you would be using at a fancy hotel and put it towards more adventures for your trip.
2. Hostels are usually located in the heart of the city you are staying in. 
   • Hostels are usually located in very popular locations in big cities around the world.  They are usually close or in the heart of the city to attract more people to stay in them.  This will also help save guests money and stay on their budget by reducing the need for public transportation and taxis to get to the heart of the city. Hostels are usually walking distance to where everyone wants to be!
3. Hostels put on free / cheap events
   • Hostels usually will put on free or cheap events for people who book with them.  These events range from cheap dinner night, game night, yoga in the morning, musical performances, cheap bar crawls, and so much more.  This is one of the main reasons why people love hostels so much.  They are usually a great way to meet people while enjoying a new city and having a fun time.   
4. Great security / very safe
   • Hostels are actually very safe places to stay on your trips.  Most to all hostels have a security check before you can even come into the hostel.  Guests must show their key and ID in order to enter the vicinity.  Hostel guests are also not allowed to bring in people who are not guests at the hostel.  Hostels are also always locked up at night around 10pm so only hostel guests with a key can even get into the building. This ensures the safety of the guests in the hostel.  There is also no need to worry about your items being stolen from people outside the hostel because they won’t be able to get into your room.  Not only does the hostel have a check point at the desk right when you enter, but you also need a specific key to get into every room in the hostel.   Hostels even provide locks and lockers for you sometimes so you can lock up personal belongings if you are still nervous.  I have never felt unsafe staying in a hostel, and I have stayed in over 30 in my lifetime, but that does not mean everything is safe. Make sure you are still smart about everything you do and don’t trust everyone.
5. Free breakfast
   • A lot of hostels will offer free breakfast if you stay with them.  Breakfast can range from full chefs cooking for you, small options made by staff, to a make your own breakfast.  Either way free or cheap breakfast is always a plus and will get you started in the morning and maybe even be an opportunity to meet some new friends while sharing a meal

Cons

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1. Lack of privacy / noise
   • Hostels are shared living spaces.  This means guests reserve beds not rooms.  Guests are put in a room of 4 or more people.  Beds are assigned and everyone is required to share the space for as long as they are staying at the hostel.   This means guests need to respect everyone in the room by not turning the lights on or being loud super late at night if someone is sleeping or early morning if everyone hasn’t gotten up yet.  This can be hard, but it is what comes with staying in hostels. Not all hostels have a huge noise problem. Some hostels pride themselves on being party hostels while some are more low key. In order for you to get the most our of your trip just decide what kind of night you want to have and book accordingly.
2. Community bathroom/ showers
   • Very rarely will you find a hostel with a bathroom and shower in the room with you.  It has happened to me twice in the 30+ hostels I have stayed in. Most of the time bathrooms and showers are located down the hall for everyone on the floor to use.  This can be difficult due to the fact there are many more people than there are showers available, and if you get up when everyone else does you will have to wait a while for your turn.  If you want to avoid this just take a shower before everyone gets up or after everyone goes to sleep.
3. Not the cleanest places to stay / basic furniture
   • Hostels are cheap and easy places to stay, so do not expect something extravagant or as fancy as a hotel.  Some hostels are very nice and have fully surpassed my expectations, but I would not expect that. Most hostels are there to get the job done, but most of the time you will not be blown away by their cleanliness.  Again, think of them as dorms that people go in and out of every day.  They are quick and low maintenance.   Hostels are great because they are cheap, in good locations and a great outlet for solo or small group travelers.  All the furniture is usable and clean, but it is not luxurious by any means. They get the job done, and that is all that matters.    
4. Hard to find
   • Sometimes hostels are very hard to locate.  They very rarely have a big sign out front indicating that you made it to the right location.  Usually they are decorated with a very small sign in a window or sometimes no sign at all.  Guests just have to go inside and hope their GPS brought them to the right location.  I have gotten lost a few times looking for hostels.  In order to avoid this hostels almost always have various step by step maps guests can follow depending if they are coming from the airport, train station or bus.  Guests can also always use google maps to get to the correct location! As soon as the maps says you have arrived look at the door that it brought you to and knock or go in. You have made it!
5. Clean up after yourself
   • There is little to no maid service in hostels.  This means that everything guests get dirty they must clean.  This includes the bathroom, kitchens, bedrooms, showers and anything else the hostel provides.  This helps keep hostels a budget friendly option for travelers and a better community.

Tips and Tricks for staying at a hostel

1. Research the hostel beforehand
   • I understand a lot of people book hostels last minute, but if you are able to even research for a few minutes it will benefit you immensely.  Do not just pick a hostel according to which one comes up on the search bar first. Make sure to do your research and look at pictures posted not by the hostel itself but by the guests who have stayed in them. Read the reviews from people of not only 5 stars but 1 or 2 stars as well to see not only the positives but also the negatives of where you might be staying.  Also look to see what kind of perks the hostel provides (good location, breakfast, events, etc) so it can align with what you are looking for.  It is important to look at it from all sides so you can get the best result for you.
2. Book only 1 or 2 nights at a time
   • I wouldn’t recommend staying in a hostel you’ve never been to for longer than a few days at a time.  Odds are you can book an extra day if you need to stay longer fairly easily, but if you find out the hostel you chose is a horrible place to stay you more likely than not won’t be able to get your money back.
3. Book with flexible booking at places you aren’t sure of
   • Hostelworld has the option of booking a room with flexible or non flexible booking.  Non flexible means you cannot cancel your booking while flexible means you can within 24 hours.  Flexible booking is usually a dollar or two extra, so if you are not 100% sure you will be staying at that hostel that night book that way.  If you are sure about your stay or maybe only staying for a night just book with non flexible booking. Worst case you can survive one night in a not top level hostel.
4. Bring your own toiletries
   • I have mentioned this before, but most hostels do not provide towels, shampoo, conditioner, or anything else you would normally be provided with if you decided to stay in a hotel.  Hostels will have soap to wash your hands at the sinks, but that is about it.  Plan ahead, and make sure you don’t forget your much needed items or you will not be able to wash yourself.  If you do forget there might be a local market you can buy products at so don’t worry too much!
5. Bring Flip Flops
   • A I stated before, bathrooms and showers in hostels are usually unisex and in a shared area.  It is important to bring some sort of bathroom shoe to get to the bathroom or even to use when you are showering to stay clean. This will keep you dry and safe from any sort of bacteria the bathrooms may have.
6. Talk to Everyone
   • People don’t stay in hostels because they want to be alone! Staying in hostels has helped me meet some of the most exciting people and helped me create some of the coolest stories abroad.  None of that would have happened if I didn’t approach and talk to people while traveling.  The people you meet abroad in my experience are some of the most fun and interesting people ever.  You can learn something from absolutely anyone.  Talk to fellow travelers about their experiences abroad – you could learn something and maybe even make a friend.
7. Be mindful of your belongings
   • Hostels are community spaces.  Make sure if you have anything of value you keep it on your person at all times.  If you cannot hold it at all times, make sure you bring or ask for a lock to lock up your stuff in the room.  Most hostels, if they don’t offer free lock storage have locks you can buy to lock your stuff up so you don’t have to worry about thieves. This will keep your mind at ease so you can have a stress free time on your trip.
8. Have Fun!
   • Loosen up, don’t be uptight and have fun on your trip!  Most to all people staying at hostels want to meet you! Talk to someone new. You could make a lifelong international friend.

I hope this guide helps you on your next stay in a hostel. There are so many options and different kinds of hostels all over the world and no two are exactly the same. Anyone who wants to can have fun in a hostel. You do not need to be a crazy extrovert or someone who wants to do everything all the time. I have seen plenty of introverts thrive in hostels. Just make sure you know what you are getting into, and make sure to book the best hostel for you. I hope you are all staying safe, and I hope you have a wonderful trip. If you have any other questions regarding hostels or traveling in general feel free to reach out! tibbstales@info.com.