1. Price
If you don’t know much about hostels, its basically like a hotel but you are booking a bed rather than an entire room. I know it sounds annoying, and believe me it has its moments, but overall its not too bad when you just need a place to rest your head after an exhausting day of site seeing. Most of the time it is fun because of the encounters you do have, that you wouldn't experience otherwise when staying in a hotel.
I’m a light sleeper so I try to stay in rooms with less beds, and when we can, a room that only fits myself and my travel companions. We do that for a few reasons; one being that it is much less of a hassle to be able to leave your stuff out in the open vs. having to back up your bag and put your stuff in a secure locker every time you leave the room. Some people don’t care either way, but we like to be cautious. The other reason is that there are less people making noise or waking you up at odd hours. Some people have super early flights and others like to be out late. Most of the time people try to be considerate of everyone sleeping but there are always “those” people at one time or another. So if you ever stay in a hostel, be considerate of the shared space!!!
2. Community
There is a huge sense community in hostels. It is a place where like-minded travelers gather to have a place to put their stuff and to rest. There is already a common ground of staying in the same hostel. Some people keep to themselves, at times I do, when I don’t feel like socializing, but there are always those that are always welcoming and take you into their group with open arms. Those people are the best when you are traveling solo and want to have someone to hang out with. You never know when you will meet you next bff. The good thing is, if you aren’t fond of anyone you meet you can always go your serperate ways.
It is so easy to strike up a conversation with others on tips and tricks of the best ways to get to see certain tourist sites and good hidden gems to find around the city you are in. Chances are they are there seeking many of the same things you are. :)
3. Location
Often times hostels are centrally located or at least within walking distance of a great transportation systems. Now days there are so many options for accommodations, but I find hostels can be placed just about anywhere and rarely disappoint as far location goes. Be sure to check the reviews and ratings for the different categories. My top catgories to look for are location, safety, and cleanliness. On a scale of 1 to 10, I find 8 and up usually doesn’t disappoint, same with percentage (80% and up). If you can snag a place with a 9.0 rating in all three, book it quick, chances are it will fill up the closer you get to your dates, even during the off-peak season. Always try to book as far in advance as possible whenever you can.
4. Saving money
Depending on if you are traveling alone or not, the price per bed is usually way more affordable. If you have a few people a hotel room might be cheaper, which is why I have been finding most of my deals on booking.com. Between a few people you get the price you would at a hostel, divided up by the number in your group, and you get the extra privacy. It can go the opposite direction, if you have a lot of people most hostels can fit more per room because they usually use bunk beds. Always weigh your options and see which fits your traveling style as well as your budget.
Not only do you save money on the beds, as I mentioned earlier, but you can also save money on food. Many hostels provide shared kitchens, more often than hotels, where you can make your own homemade meals. When you are trying to save money making your own food is a great way to go. We all know dining out can get expensive and this is a great place to save. Dining out isn’t always the healthiest option either so it also gives you the chance to make whatever food you fancy.
5. Help/Knowledge
Hostels are set up for those trying to save a few dollars, to make you feel a little more at home, and to help you during your stay. I have found that hostels are often run by down to earth locals. You can ask them for help with so many things and they give you cost affective, detailed answers. Their recommendations on transportation and sight seeing seem to be more personal and close to what an average local might do. To me, that is one of the best ways to get to know a culture. You learn so many things from simple things such as asking for reccomendations from the staff at a hostel.
It is rare that I have encountered someone that wasn’t happy to help and host you. Everyone is always so welcoming, it helps that many hostels you stay in are privately owned or family run. I highly recommend for everyone to try a hostel at least once. I hope this helps with any decisions or questions you have about staying in a hostel. If you have any questions we didn't answer in this post, email us and let us know! We would love to hear from you!
If you are thinking of looking into trying a hostel out or already know how much you love them, please use our link in the banner below. Happy Hosteling! :)