Nor have I seen the subsequent Hostel II or the final in the trilogy, Hostel III. AND I NEVER PLAN ON IT.
Okay, now that I’ve addressed the actual most common response I receive when I mention my love for hostels, let’s talk about this integral part of My Travel Style.
What is a hostel?
Hostels are typically low budget lodging options, often with basic, shared accommodations. In my experience, this usually means sleeping in dormitory style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. There might be a kitchen area available for your use and some hostels may provide simple breakfast foods or a communal evening meal. Increasingly, some even come with their own bar or restaurant with food and drink for sale. Hostels will almost always be the most inexpensive lodging option available in any city, especially if you’re traveling solo, though it may be worth considering budget hotels if you’re traveling with others who can split the cost.
Remember one thing: a hostel is not a hotel. Housekeeping isn’t at your beck and call and you may be expected to do your part to keep the space tidy. This certainly includes your own bed and immediate surroundings but also communal areas like kitchens and laundry rooms. If you cook in a kitchen, clean it better than you found it. If you make a mess, do your best to make it right. It doesn’t have to feel like a chore, think of it as being a responsible guest. In fact, some of my more memorable experiences at hostels have been preparing communal meals together and then getting everyone to work together to make cleanup quick and even fun.
Why do I choose hostels?
Affordable
I typically travel solo and on a slim budget, a perfect matchup for hostels. The low cost helps me stretch my dollar and the dormitory style setup means I’m not overpaying for more space than than I’m likely to use. It also means I get to instantly plug into a network of fellow travelers, many of whom become fast friends and are happy to provide recommendations for what to do in the city and will often extend an invitation to join them for an outing.
Social
Now, as much as I put on an outgoing persona, especially online, I’m an introvert by default. I’m lucky in that, with a little nudge and maybe a drink, I can usually switch over to the friendly and outgoing conversationalist I enjoy being, especially when traveling. A good hostel fosters an environment that allows travelers to connect with each and the city they’re in. This can be helped along by outgoing hostel staff but is most often achieved through social activities.
Activities
Walking tours and pub crawls are among the most common hostel activities and are both effective ways to get around a new city while making new connections. Karaoke, another common favorite, has a way to draw out personalities waiting to break free. Hiking is a typically low-cost endeavor but be prepared for some of the fittest travelers to be leading the way.
My favorite and more creative activities include the time in Barcelona my brother and I joined a large group to learn about and prepare Spanish tapas. At first I was just helping arrange crostini on a plate but once I mentioned I wouldn’t mind helping out on the stove, I quickly got roped into sautéing peppers and, in a first for me, searing a whole octopus—two of them! Another unique activity happened only a few weeks ago when I joined a group for an unforgettable night of tacos, tequila, and one of Mexico’s finest spectacles, Lucha Libre.
Amenities
Some might be surprised to hear me say some hostels have great amenities. After all, hostels have a reputation for being barebones, stark places with thin mattresses and maybe a pillow if you’re lucky. Do those places exist? Sure, there are some shoestring budget options if you look for them, but the hostels that rise to the tops of the lists often have unexpected amenities. We’re talking affordable laundry service, relaxing garden areas, rooftop lounges, hammocks, communal meals, and with the rise of digital nomads, dependable high speed internet is increasingly common.
How do I pick a hostel?
Honestly, Hostelworld has done a masterful job of aggregation and ranking hostels around the world, and it’s almost always my starting point. I’ve found the reviews to be reliable but I also will give far more weight to word of mouth recommendations. Nomadic Matt is a travel blogger I follow who has amassed an impressive number of lists for recommended hostels in cities around the world, Whichever way you discover the hostel, always consider booking directly with the business. This will make it far less likely you’ll have problems with the booking and has sometimes saved me money or gotten me an added perk like free breakfast. It’s always worth checking!
If you’ve never stayed in a hostel or even entertained the idea, I challenge you to at least go to Hostelworld, type in the name of a city that interests you, and sort by the best rankings. You might be surprised by what you see and let me know if you find any worth sharing!
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a list of cities where I myself have stayed in hostels. There are clearly entire chunks of the world I’ve yet to explore, but it’s a start!
- Austin, Texas, USA
- Barcelona, Spain
- Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Florence, Italy
- Granada, Spain
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Lisbon, Portugal
- London, United Kingdom
- Madrid, Spain
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Milan, Italy
- Munich, Germany
- New York City, New York, USA
- Nice, France
- Paris, France
- Porto, Portugal
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Rome, Italy
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Seattle, Washington, USA
- Vancouver, Canada
- Venice, Italy
- Zaragoza, Spain
- Plus over 40 different albergues (hostels for pilgrims) along the Camino de Santiago!
Let me know, are any of these destinations on your list?
Great tips!
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