The Ultimate Guide To Hostels
For those who have never stayed in a hostel before it's a budget accommodation with dorm rooms where you pay by the bed. Hostels will also have private rooms if you don’t wish to share a room.
Hostels can get a bad rap for being unclean and badly maintained, but this is certainly not the case, just like hotels you get good hostels and not-so-great ones. So keep reading to discover everything you need to know about staying in hostels.
Why Stay in Hostels
For most of my backpacking trips, I have opted to stay in hostels for several reasons. The first reason is that staying in hostels is the most budget-friendly option particularly if you are travelling solo.
It is also a great way to meet other people on your travels, whether you are alone or in a group. Hostels often have events throughout the day and into the evening and although it can be a bit of awkward organised fun, chances are you’ll find some people you click with. Even in your dorm room or the hostel shared spaces you’ll end up interacting with others and can share travel stories or recommendations.
Another benefit about staying in hostels is if you are travelling for months at a time, they have better facilities than hotels such as kitchens, washing machines, workspaces and sometimes even TV rooms.
How To Choose The Right Hostel
Making sure you choose the right hostel is key, some are tailored for those backpackers looking for a party, while others will be quieter and others equipped for working digital nomads. These 5 factors are usually what I think about when choosing a hostel.
The Location
Do you want to be near the train/bus station or the airport? Want to be a stone's throw from the beach? Close to nightlife? Picking the right location can make your trip a lot easier.
Hostel Vibe
Some hostels can be very party-focused, which might be ideal for you if you want to socialise and party but not if you want a good night’s sleep. I would recommend reading the reviews on Hostelworld and also looking at their Instagram, that way you can get a sense of the vibe.
Price
An essential part of choosing your hostel, what's your budget? You’ll tend to find chain hostels like Selina or YHA that will come with a higher price tag. The price will also change by the travel destination e.g. hostels in Italy are more expensive than hostels in Nicaragua. From my experience, a higher price tag doesn’t always mean a better hostel, so be sure to read reviews.
Amenities
Hostels much like people can come in all shapes and sizes, so you want to think about what amenities you need. For example, do you need good wifi and some space to work? Would you prefer there to be a kitchen to save on eating out? Do you want to stay in a hostel with organised social activities? I always look at the dorm room photos and see if the plug sockets are close to the beds, bonus points if there is a curtain.
Room Type
Hostels will have dorm rooms ranging in sizes, the smallest is typically 4 beds and the largest I’ve stayed in is a 24-bed dorm before. As you can imagine a 24-bed dorm isn’t going to be as calm as the 4-bed. A private room can be an option if you don’t mind paying extra, but note this doesn’t always mean a private bathroom.
Hostel Travel Tips
Be sure to say hello to people in your room. You don’t have to have a lengthy conversation with them. But acknowledging others makes the whole sharing rooms with strangers less weird.
Don’t snooze your alarms. If you have to get up early for a flight you may need to set an early alarm nothing can be done about that, but don’t be that person that has multiple alarms going off at 3 am.
On that note if you have to leave the dorm room in the early hours, pack the night before or outside the room.
I always lock my bag or put valuables in the lockers just to be cautious. Be sure to take some padlocks on your trip and ideally not ones with keys.
Always have earphones/earplugs with you, chances are you will encounter a dorm room with a snorer at some point.
Many hostels have female-only dorms if you are a female worried about safety. However if you ever feel uncomfortable tell the hostel reception immediately.
If you are due to arrive late, always make sure to let the hostel know as they don’t always have 24-hour receptions.
Luz en Cielo in Montezuma, Costa Rica
My Favourite Hostels
Yellow Belly Backpackers - San Ignacio, Belize
Hostel Life is Good- Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Luz en Cielo - Montezuma, Costa Rica
Finca Hostal Bolivar Casa Maracuya- Minca, Colonbia
I strongly recommend hostels for those who are backpacking or just open to meeting other travellers. I have some of my funniest memories from the last 7 years of travel created in hostels or with people I met in hostels.
Drop a comment below if you have any hostel recommendations or thoughts about staying in hostels.
