Staying In A Hostel: 5 Tips You Should Know

Hostels have always been the constant element of the backpacking experience. As technology advanced, so has the experience of booking accommodations and working your way through a country on a budget.

Most hostels today take pride in providing budget travelers with a living environment that is comfortable, clean, safe and affordable. In my experience the hostel has been one of the most important components to having a great backpacking trip.

 Here are my 5 Tips To Know When Staying In A Hostel:

 1)    Booking Online & Extending Your Stay

Booking a hostel bed could not be easier. Now almost all reservations are available for booking through online services like Booking.com and HostelWorld.

Both sites provided information about multiple hostels, reviews, and pictures for your research and comparison. Sometimes you can find the same hostel on both sites, other times one site has exclusive rights to the booking over the other. If you have a place in mind where you want to stay because you heard about it from another traveler, just search the name of the hostel on Google and the right resource will pop up.

On the off chance that a hostel is not listed, you can always be old fashion and just show up and hope to get lucky that a bed is available.

HERE IS BOOKING TIP: Once you find the hostel you are going to book, just reserve one night online. Once you get to the hostel and get checked in, then just ask the front desk about extending your stay. If more nights are available this will actually save you money per night, since you won’t be paying any additional service fees for booking online. Hostels are usually really good at finding you a bed if you want to stay longer.

 2)    Neighborhood Backpacker Hubs

Larger cities that are popular with backpackers tend to have neighborhoods or areas where most of the travelers stay. In these neighborhoods you can find a lot of hostel options that serve your needs. You can find a party hostel, a co working hostel, a solo traveler hostel, and many other. These areas are also great places to stay since they also tend to be safe and well managed. For example in Medellin Colombia the area where most people stay in the El Poblado neighborhood.  

The best way to learn about these neighborhoods is word of mouth from other backpackers.

 3)    Dorm vs. Private Room

What type of room you will book is based on your budget. Most budget travelers stay in a dorm room, and others go for a private room. Some hostels have multiple dorm room options, with the cheapest being the room that can fit the most people. If you do enough research, you can find dorm rooms for (4) people, so two bunkbeds for just a few dollars more than the cheapest option. For me that is worth the extra cost.

Private rooms can be expensive, but sometimes totally necessary. I have found private rooms that are so cheap it was a no brainer to go for it. Even just having one night of some privacy will give you a much needed recharge. While researching you may find private rooms that have two beds. This is a great chance to find a friend and  share the space and split the cost. Then you both get a clean and quiet room for the price of some dorm beds, and you get a good nights sleep.

4)    Making Friends & Group Activities

The hostel is a great place to meet other solo travelers and make friends with people from all over the world. As a solo traveler I have made most of my connections by talking to people in the common and community spaces of a hostel.

Once you realize that most everyone in the hostel has a story to tell, it can come easy to start up a conversation. Making friends in the hostel can benefit your trip greatly. You will have people to go out at night with, to go explore on day trips with, and sometimes even continue on to another city with.

Most hostels organize group activities that are great for meeting your hostel mates. Family group dinners, yoga and dancing classes, and happy hour bar nights. I am a huge fan of participating in a lot of hostel group activities. These events also give you a great chance to meet the local staff and make friends with them as well. Knowing locals in the area you are traveling in is a huge bonus to having a unique travel experience.

5)    Perks

 When doing your research for a hostel you can look for certain perks that can help swing your decision to stay.

Free Breakfast: If you are on a budget, a free breakfast is something to look for. It can help you to save time, money, and in most cases the food is delicious. Most hostels will include a free breakfast in the cost of your stay.

Tour Agency: Some hostels will have their own tour desk. Here you can get information about places to visit, safety concerns, and book day trip options. It is very nice to have someone so close by to ask questions as they come up.

Kitchen Space: Having access to a community kitchen space is another thing to look for as a budget traveler. Most hostel kitchens are very well equipped and clean. Cooking your own food saves money, and can also lead to fun group dinners with friends. Just make sure to have respect for the space and clean up after yourself. Not caring for the shared spaces is a big no no.

 Bonus Tip: Earplugs: I always carry some earplugs with me just in case. You can never predict if you will be rooming with a snorer

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