12 Reasons You Should ONLY Stay in Hostels While Traveling
Written By: Clare Nicolas
Posted: January 26, 2023
I am one of the biggest advocates for staying in hostels everywhere around the world. I can confidently say I would not have developed such an intense love for travel if not for my experiences staying in hostels. I have been amazed how many people associate the word “hostel” with words like “dirty”, “dangerous”, “creepy”, etc. Hostels have a bad reputation in many people’s eyes, but I am writing this to try to change that narrative!
What is a Hostel?
A hostel provides cheap accommodation to travelers by offering shared rooms, accommodating usually anywhere between 4-16 people. Now that may send up some red flags for you, thinking, “I could never stay in a room with that many people, I would feel so unsafe!” But below I will explain all the reasons why staying in a hostel on your next vacation will be soooo worth it!
1. Budget Friendly
First and foremost, I would say the biggest benefit of hostels is they offer extremely affordable accommodation. They are very popular amongst the backpacker community, and are filled with travelers who are touring the world full-time, looking for ways to stretch their dollar as far as possible.
The prices of hostels vary drastically, depending on the amenities you are looking for, and also location. If you are traveling around Asia, you can find a nightly stay in a hostel for around $8. Whereas if you are traveling to countries in Europe, it is typical for a bed in a shared hostel to cost around $50 per night. Even still, paying $50 per night in Rome is a heck of a lot more affordable than trying to book a room in a hotel!
2. Meet People from Around the World
Many people think that traveling around the world solo is a very lonely venture. But if staying in a hostel, that is highly unlikely you will feel lonely for long! Because hostels are a hot spot for solo travelers, and are filled with like-minded people looking to socialize and meet new friends to do activities with! Even better is that you will meet and make friends with people from all around the world. I keep in touch with several friends I have met in hostels, and know that if I ever find myself in their part of the world, I will have a friend to show me around. Staying in a hostel is like signing up for an instant friend group.
3. Save Money on Eating Out
Another benefit to staying in a hostel is that it is very common for them to have a shared kitchen. You can purchase food from the grocery store and cook up your own meals to save a little bit of money on constantly eating out.
4. Easy to Book Popular Activities
Many hostels are located close to city centers, which make it easy for you to get around from place to place and participate in popular local activities. Since hostels are geared towards solo travelers, they go out of their way to set up group excursions. This allows you to experience the local activities with your new friends you’ve just met, and also saves you some money in most cases the more participants there are!
5. Provides a More Immersive Experience
Free walking tours are a staple activity for many hostels. It usually consists of a few hours walking around the town to get you familiarized with your new surroundings, with a local guide from the hostel who can explain small details about the town that you otherwise may never know! This is a great way to support local businesses, as hostels will usually bring you to small hole in the wall businesses to try and buy local foods, purchase local handmade goods, or have a few drinks at a local pub. Participating in these walking tours will give you a much more culturally immersive experience, and will make your trip that much more special and unique!
6. Great Amenities
Whether you are traveling for work or leisure, do not worry, hostels can provide a great experience for everyone! A common workspace with a strong wifi connection is a must for people traveling for work or for digital nomads. Many hostels offer a calm and relaxed environment during the day for you to get all of your work done. Then when it’s time to kick back and relax a bit, you can chill by the pool sipping a cocktail or maybe take a nap in a hammock on the beach. Anything is possible, you just need to search for a hostel with the amenities you value most!
7. Interact with Other Travelers
Daily ativities hosted by hostels are a great way to get to know the other travelers. Some of the hostels I have stayed at offer pizza night on the rooftop, rooftop happy hour, salsa dancing classes, morning yoga, family dinner night, bar crawls, and so much more! All as a way to break the ice and provide you an easy way to get to know the other hostel-goers.
8. Private Rooms
The most cost effective way to stay in a hostel is to of course book a bed in a shared room. However, if that is where you draw the line and are willing to give up on hostels all together because of this, don’t you worry! Most hostels DO offer private rooms as well. These rooms of course are much more expensive than sharing a room with other travelers, but still many times the private room in a hostel is much cheaper than staying in a hotel. Plus, this way you are still able to get all the other benefits of staying in a hostel as opposed to a hotel room.
This is also a great option for couples traveling together who want the experience of staying in a hostel, but still maintain some privacy.
9. Easy to Book, No Hidden Fees
One thing I like the most about hostels is how easy they are to find and to book. The best way to find hostels is through Hostelworld. You can search their mobile app or online, and they provide you the easiest way to look for hostels in specific areas. You are able to search by price, ratings, recommended hostels, amenities, and more. You can search through tons of different hostels in a matter of minutes, look at pictures of the spaces, and read real reviews of people who have stayed in the hostel. I find the reviews extremely helpful, because many people are very honest about their stay, so you can be sure the hostel provides everything they claim to offer.
10. Safe and Secure
One of the biggest reservations people tend to have about hostels is that they think they will not be safe. Well I am here to say there has never been a time I have felt unsafe in a hostel. Unlike hotels, random people cannot enter and hang out in the lobby of a hostel. Because hostels are generally very small, the staff are easily able to recognize people who are not paying guests. Hostels have someone at the front desk 24/7, so you should have no worry about your safety at night.
Hostels also offer large lockers to store your luggage. Many come with locks and keys, but I would recommend bringing your own locks to use. You can safely store all of your valuables in your locker, and know it will be safe.
For female travelers, unfortunately we always need to take extra precautions, especially when traveling alone. That is why many hostels offer female only dorms. I always book this option, even if it is slightly more expensive. When booking on Hostelworld, the term “mixed dorm” means the beds are open to males or females. These mixed rooms typically have more bunkbeds per room, and are a bit cheaper.
11. Diverse Atmospheres
The atmosphere of a good hostel simply goes unmatched. Whether you are looking for a quiet hostel for you to unwind and relax in, or for a hostel that prioritizes an amazing nightlife, you can find anything your heart desires! The listings on Hostelworld make it very easy to filter the kind of experience you are looking for. And again, read the reviews! People will typically talk about the party scene of a hostel, whether it has an active nightlife or has a more quiet atmosphere.
12. Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff
The hostel staff are some of the most amazing people you will meet. Many of them are locals who know the area like the back of their hand and can give you tons of information about the area that you would otherwise never know! From my experiences, I can tell that the people who work in hostels genuinely enjoy their job and love helping you have an incredible experience in their country. You can simply tell the host what activities you are interested in, and they likely have the best and cheapest options available to you and many times will organize all the activities for you!
Overall, I simply cannot say enough good things about hostels. They have made so many of my trips absolutely unforgettable. And because they are so affordable, I have been able to spend the money I would have saved if I booked a regular hotel room on many more activities instead. So take a look! Give a hostel a try on ONE trip, and I promise you, you will never go back to staying in expensive and small hotel rooms.
