Is a Hostel Right for Me?
Over the past decade, the popularity of hostels has risen. You might be asking yourself is a hostel right for me? It is a popular choice for travelers between the ages of 18-35. Budget travel and backpacking have also boomed. If you are looking for a fun, budget-friendly alternative to a hotel, staying at a hostel might be right for you.
By choosing a hostel, you will have more money to spend on your vacation, like day trips or tours. Maybe even add a few more days to your trip length by choosing a hostel instead of a hotel.
Table of Contents
Hostel Vs. Hotel
So what is a hostel? A hostel is just like a hotel, however, it usually consists of communal bunking instead of a private room. Each hostel is different just like every hotel is different. I will be giving you an example of a typical hostel.
A hostel is a shared dormitory-style hotel. You will share a room with other travelers. Some have bunk beds and usually only consist of a twin size bed. Because you are sharing a room with other travelers I recommend bringing items to help you get a good night’s sleep. For tips and ideas for better sleep, see my blog called I Can’t Sleep!
Most hostels also have a shared bathroom for your room or one bathroom for multiple rooms per floor. This is a little uncomfortable at times. If you suffer from anxiety please keep this in mind.
Most hostels have a shared communal space. It can include a kitchen, recreation room, pool, bar, and an area with WiFi if not in the rooms.
Some hostels require you to pay a deposit or leave an ID for using things that you would automatically receive at a hotel. For example, towels, hangers, hairdryers, and toiletries.
There are also hostels that enforce a curfew. So unlike a hotel, you will need to be back at your room before a certain time. Thankfully it is not very common.
Security – What to Bring for a Hostel
When traveling your security should be your number one priority. Hostels are overall a safe environment. You should always take precautions when traveling. Please read my other blog on traveling safety measures called Safety is #1.
Most hostels have the option to choose from single-sex or coed rooms. Being a female I always choose a single-sex female room if I can for safety reasons. I feel it is safer to bunk with other women, it helps relieve some of my anxieties. If you ever feel uncomfortable or something isn’t right with the room, don’t hesitate to say something to the front desk. They are there for your safety and wellbeing.
Because you are sharing a room the hostel will offer a locker for your valuables. Make sure you bring your own lock. The lockers are usually not very large. If you have a backpack or suitcase it will be open to whoever you are sharing your room with. So make sure to place all of your electronics, money, credit cards, passport, and medications inside the locker.
I would also suggest purchasing a luggage cable and lock. With these, you can lock your backpack or suitcase to a permanent fixture in your room. Another security precaution I would not skip.
Here is a list of items I suggest to bring with you for your stay at the hostel. I have included links that you can click on to purchase any of these items on Amazon if you do not already have them.
- Lock – Suitcase/Backpack, Locker
- Luggage Cable
- Entire Backpack Wire Bag Protector
- Flip Flops (for showering)
- Ear Plugs
- Eye Mask
- Compact Quick Dry Towel
- Packing Cubes (space is limited in a hostel)
- Hanging Toiletries Bag
Websites to Find Hostels
There are many websites to choose from that offer booking services. See my blog Best Travel Apps Ever for detailed information on some of these suggestions. Here are a few that I have used that worked well.
Hostelworld
For the budget-friendly traveler, Hostelworld is a great app to use. It is easy to use and to search. You can search by top destinations for some inspiration. You can book by date and amount of guests, perfect for the single traveler or group.
The app also has all of your bookings easy to view on the platform once you make a login. They even have the past trips you booked and can view for reference.
Once you create a login you can make a wish list. You can compare different hostels at your travel location or start to plan a future vacation.
Booking (Booking.com)
Booking.com is a one-stop-shop. They offer an entire range of services including flights, hotels, car rental, and taxi. It is a great app that makes it easy for you to keep all of your reservations in one place.
It has a rating score when booking a hotel from 1-10. There are tons of reviews to scan that are from past guests. They will help you gauge if you want to book that particular location.
There are multiple types of properties to choose from. They offer everything from vacation rentals, villas, cottages, hotels and hostels.
Hostelbookers
This site offers over 3500 location choices for all budgets. It is easy to navigate and search through. You just search by location and date. This site also has a more detailed rating scale than most.
Direct Bookings
Before booking on any of the travel websites I would recommend google searching the hostel you are interested in. Some hostels offer a discount when booking directly on their site vs. a booking website.
Conclusion
I have stayed at different hostels around the world. Some in large cities and some in tiny South American towns. I suffer from different mental health conditions that make traveling difficult and staying at a hostel was scary at first. Overall the hostel experience has been a good one. I have met interesting people along the way, who have added to my wonderful travel story, that is forever in my memory. Hostels are a great budget-friendly option. If you take precautions and plan for your hostel stay you will have a wonderful trip. Give it a try, try something outside of your comfort zone, you will be happy you did. Just remember my fellow travel friends, we are in this together.