Hostels are my favorite type of accommodation while traveling, for so many reasons! They’re usually cheaper, it’s a great way to meet like-minded travellers and make friends from around the globe, and honestly, they just make my trips so much better! I get a lot of questions from beginner travellers about staying in hostels for the first time and what to look for when booking. So, I put together this guide to help you feel comfortable staying in a hostel, know what to look for when booking, and know what to expect!
I have been staying in hostels since my first trip to Europe in 2014, and I have staying in them all over Europe, as well as in South America! When I finally make it to Asia and if I’m lucky enough to backpack Central America, I will definitely be looking into the hostel scene in those areas too.
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In this article, we will cover hostel basics, like what a hostel is, how to book them, how to choose a hostel, the benefits of staying in them, hostel safety, tips and etiquette, what to pack, and a few hostels that are on my bucketlist!
Guide to Staying in Hostels
The hostel experience is something you cannot miss. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about staying in a hostel.
What is a Hostel?
A hostel is a type of accommodation, like a hotel or Air BnB, except your room in a hostel is usually shared with other travelers (not always!), and there is typically a common area for travelers to hang out in, and sometimes a shared kitchen as well. Staying in a hostel is super common among budget travelers and is a great place for first time travelers!
Where to Book Hostels
I almost always book the hostels I stay at through Hostelworld.com. I’ve never had any issues while booking with them and I love the layout of their website for finding hostels. If I’m not using Hostelworld to book, I’ll book my stay directly with the hostel.
Read more: Websites I use to Research & Plan my Trips
How to Choose a Hostel
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The main things I consider when choosing a hostel are:
1. Location
Location is the first thing I look at when choosing a hostel because to me, it’s one of the most important things. I would rather pay a bit more money to stay closer to points of interest, instead of saving a bit of money but being super far from everything I want to see! (and then the money you saved on accommodation is just spent on transportation).
2. Ratings & Reviews
The next important thing to me when choosing a hostel is the ratings and reviews. Once I find a hostel in a location I like, I take a look at the ratings. I like a highly rated hostel (obviously) but also pay attention to the number of reviews. A highly rated hostel with a ton of reviews is a winner in my eyes!
3. Hostel Type
This isn’t as important to me, but it’s something to consider. Some hostels are considered party hostels, and those can be a ton of fun. But, if you know you’ll be super tired at some point in your trip or just not into the party scene, I would avoid booking a party hostel. They can be loud all night and into the early hours, and sometimes that’s just not what you want!
Types of hostels you might come across:
- Party hostels
- Female only hostels
- Eco-friendly hostels
- Boutique hostels
But some hostels are just normal hostels and aren’t really classified as anything!
4. Cost
The cost of your hostel is a very important part when choosing a hostel to stay in. Costs can range from pretty cheap to very expensive, depending on the part of the city the hostel is located in, the city itself, what the hostel offers, and the room type (more on room type down below). Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little more on a waaaay better hostel, just make sure it fits into your budget!
Read more: How to Save Money Backpacking Europe
5. Amenities & What They Offer
Different hostels provide different things, and this is something you can look for when choosing a hostel to stay at. Some common amenities I consider when booking, (but can’t always get them all) are:
- Laundry – I look for this when I’m booking a hostel on day 12-ish of my trip, or whenever I think I’ll run out of clean clothes.
- Kitchen – Most have a communal hostel kitchen, which helps you save money in more expensive cities. You can cook our own breakfast, lunch or dinner at the hostel.
- Free breakfast – This can be a nice perk at hostels. It’s great to eat and immediately start exploring for the day. Not to mention, free breakfast saves money!
- Lockers – This is a must for me. Most hostels offer travelers their own locker to keep their stuff in. It gives me piece of mind that I can lock stuff up since I’m out most of the day.
- Security – Depending on where you’re staying, this might be something to look for (riskier neighborhoods, etc.). Hostels are usually pretty safe, but I do love when a hostel has key card access.
- Free internet/WiFi – Great for watching netflix at night or researching the city you’re in
- Fun things! – Some hostels are super unique. I love a good hostel with incredible views, outdoor pools, bike rentals, and anything fun they might offer 🙂
Take into consideration what you might need at different parts of the trip, and try to book a hostel that will fit your needs!
6. Room Type
When choosing a hostel, I always take a peek at what type of rooms the hostel has to offer. Usually, I’m traveling with my boyfriend, so I book mixed dorms (boys & girls allowed to stay in it) or if the price is right I’ll book a private 2 person room. If you’re a solo female traveler or more comfortable in a female-only dorm room, look for hostels that have this option. I usually look at the number of beds in the hostel dorm room as well. I try to stay away from huge rooms that have like 50 beds in one room, just because of personal preference.
7. Age Limit
Some hostels only allow certain ages – the most common ones being travelers that are 18+ or under 35. If you’re under 18 or over 35, I would do a quick check before booking!
Benefits of Staying in a Hostel
There are so many great reasons for staying in a hostel on your next trip. A few benefits of staying in a hostel include:
1. Cost
Typically, hostels are cheaper than hotels. Staying on a hostel in most areas of the world can help you save money if you’re travelling on a budget and are a great option to explore.
2. Meet Like-Minded Travellers
Hostels are an excellent way to meet people and make new friends from all over the world! A lot of digital nomads work and live in hostels, and they are suuuper interesting people to get to know.
3. Cook Your Own Meals
Cooking your own meals can help you save money while travelling. It’s also a great option for picky eaters who may have trouble finding food they like in restaurants. If your hostel has a kitchen, you can definitely cook your own meals to save money!
4. Tour Options
Some hostels offer the option to book tours with them or through them. This can be really nice if you’re not sure what tours to take or if you want to book things last minute.
Usually your hostel can give great recommendations for the best tours as well!
5. Access to Information
A lot of people working at hostels are other travellers staying in the area long term, or some are locals! They are full of knowledge and can give you tips on what to see, where to go, where to eat, and more.
6. Organized Events
One of the biggest benefits of staying in a hostel are the events and activities a lot of them plan. Every hostel is different, but these can be things like a movie night, a special barbecue, beer pong tournament, trivia, etc. It’s great because you can have an awesome night out with other travellers, but not have to worry about making it home safe late at night, because you’re bed is in the same building!
7. Pub Crawls
Another benefit of staying in a hostel is that a lot of them run pub crawls on the weekends. It’s a great way to meet other people and go out at night, while still feeling the safety of travelling in a group.
8. Walking Tours
I kind of mentioned this above, but most hostels do offer walking tours, or have recommendations for the best ones. This is a great way to initially see the place you’re in and another opportunity to make friends!
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Staying Safe in a Hostel
Staying in a hostel is typically safe! So far, I’ve never felt threatened or unsafe while staying in a hostel. Obviously, use your judgment, but people staying in hostels are like-minded travelers on a budget like you 🙂
Some safety tips for staying in a hostel are:
- Female only room – if you’re young female travelers, sometimes staying in a female only dorm can help keep your mind at ease at night.
- Private rooms – If you’re really hoping to stay in a hostel but are also interested in your own room, a lot of hostels usually have the option to book private rooms!
- Keep your stuff secure in your locker – Bring your own lock and keep your stuff locked up. I’ve seen people leave macbooks and cameras on their beds all day, but it’s just smarter to take care of your stuff!
- Use your discretion! – If you have a bad feeling about a room or a hostel, ask for a room switch or move hostels completely. It’s worth it for your own peace of mind.
- You can watch for hostels that offer 24 hour security, have a curfew, or have key card access
- Research the neighborhood your hostel is in – Every city has neighborhoods you don’t really want to be in. Look up the neighborhood you’re potential hostel is in before booking. While at your hostel, you can ask the reception if there are any unsafe areas of the city to avoid.
- Reviews – I love reviews. Usually, I make sure there’s a good amount and look for anything that might be a red flag about the hostel itself, or the area the hostel is in.
Read more: Safety Tips for Your First Time Travelling Europe!
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First Time Hostel Tips and Etiquette
- Avoid plastic bags – These are SO annoying. You don’t want to be that person crinkling plastic bags around your suitcase looking for something while everyone is sleeping or taking a nap.
- Don’t turn on the light in the middle of the night – You would think this is common sense. But if you do this in the middle of the night, someone will probably get mad at you. If you’re planning to come back to the room or leave in the middle of the night, have your stuff organized and use a flashlight.
- Don’t shoot your flashlight around the room – If you’re using a flashlight, don’t shine it on everyone’s faces while they’re sleeping. (This has happened to me so many times!).
- Be respectful – Try to keep your stuff generally in your own space and not everywhere all over the room all the time. And just be a nice person! Say hello, make friends, and use your short time there to make friends with so many other cool travelers!
- Reach out to solo travelers – You don’t have to do this, but this is something I’ve been trying to do while staying in hostels. Sometimes solo travelers can be shy or it can be exhausting always trying to find someone nice to hang out with. I usually try to greet someone who seems to be traveling alone and offer them to come out to lunch with us or something. They’re welcome to say no, but sometimes they say yes and I’ve made incredible friends because of this! Plus they appreciate it so much too.
Things to Pack When Staying in a Hostel
- Flip flops – I like to wear flip flops to the bathroom and in the communal showers.
- Lock – A lot of hostels require you to bring your own lock for the lockers. If you forget one, usually the hostel will sell locks, but the price can sometimes be a little more expensive.
- Power bar – This isn’t an essential, but it can come in handy. Sometimes each bed in a dorm room has it’s own outlet, but sometimes there is only one outlet in a room of 20 beds. It can make charging your electronics next to impossible, so a power bar can come in handy if you run into this.
- Cash for laundry – if you’re planning to pay for laundry at the hostel, usually this is an extra charge to be paid with in cash.
- Eye mask/ear plugs – for when others come into the room in the middle of the night and turn the light on, shine their flashlights in your face, or rustle their plastic bags for 10 minutes looking for their toothbrush.
- A paper copy or screenshot of your reservation – Just in case they have trouble finding your reservation when you arrive, it can be handy to have something to show the receptionist.
You might also be interested in: Costs to Consider in Your Travel Budget
Arriving at Your Hostel
When you arrive at your hostel, typically you will check-in at the reception desk and get your keycard/key for the room you are placed in. The person at the reception will usually give you a quick rundown of the city and any travel tips or recommendations they might have. Sometimes hostels will assign you your bed, and sometimes you get to choose from whatever beds are not taken. Usually, beds in hostels are bunk beds, but sometimes there will be regular beds to choose from as well!
Hostels on my Bucket List:
There are a lot of super cool hostels you can stay at all over the world. Some of the hostels on my bucket list are:
Generator Paris – Looks super cute with a cool outdoor terrace
Caveland Greece – I’m dying to stay here. It is the epitome of Greece complete with an outdoor pool!
PLUS Florence – This hostel has a pretty good view of the Duomo (my favourite church ever) which is really the only reason I want to stay here.
Hostel Cascada Verde – A treehouse in Costa Rica!
Bambuda Lodge – An incredible view from an outdoor pool and a waterslide into the ocean in Panama’s jungle. This place looks like a dream.
I’ve never stayed at any of these hostels before, but they look amazing!!
Hostel FAQ:
Yes, overall hostels are safe! If you’re nervous to stay in a hostel for the first time, you can book an all female-dorm, book a hostel that has 24 hour security, make sure to book one in a nicer neighborhood, and choose a hostel that requires a key to enter dorm rooms. You can also book a private room in a hostel, to get most of the benefits but still maintain some privacy.
Most hostels have a shared common areas, dorm rooms with multiple beds, shared bathrooms, kitchens, and other amenities for travellers on a budget. Hotels on the other hand, typically just have a lobby area and private rooms with private bathrooms attached. Some hostels also offer private rooms, but not every hostel does!
Hostels are also often cheaper than hotels, but always make sure to compare prices before booking.
Yes, hostels are absolutely worth staying in! I love staying in hostels to save money, meet new people, and make amazing memories while travelling!
It can be hard for light sleepers to sleep in hostels. Roommates can also make it difficult to sleep in hostels, if people are going in and out in the middle of the night, shuffling in their bags, or randomly turning the lights on when you’re trying to sleep.
If noise bothers you or you’re worried you’ll have trouble sleeping, make sure to bring ear plugs and an eye mask to help you sleep better.
Staying in a Hostel Summary
Staying in a hostel can be an awesome travel experience in itself, and is a great option if you are travelling on a budget! When choosing a hostel to book, make sure you look at reviews, distance from the city, and overall rating before booking.
There are a ton of benefits to staying in a hostel, with one of the main ones being saving money and being able to meet other travellers! Most hostels also run fun events which can add to your overall experience.
I absolutely love staying in hostels, and I hope this guide helps you to feel more prepared about staying in a hostel for the first time!
More on Trip Planning:
- How to Save Money Backpacking Europe
- How to Plan a Trip to Europe for the First Time
- 20 Tips to Help You Stay Safe While Travelling
- Different Ways to Get Around Europe & the Pros and Cons of Each
I LOVE staying in hostels, and living the hostel life while traveling. I hope this guide to staying in a hostel helps you plan your next trip!
Any questions left unanswered? Send me a message on Instagram!
Find me on: Instagram | Pinterest
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
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