Hostels have always been a big part of how we travel. When traveling solo or even with friends, hostels are always the cheapest option. Don’t get me wrong, I love to stay in more luxurious spaces sometimes. The thing is, staying in a hostel gives you a unique experience that every young traveler should try at least once in their life. More often than not, there is nothing fancy about hostels. It is not the ultimate comfort. There are definitely ways for you to have a better experience, being more prepared and aware of how it works. In this article, I will answer popular questions to which you should definitely know the answer before staying in a hostel.
- How should I choose my hostel?
- How do I book my hostel?
- Do I need to book my hostel in advance?
- What are the essentials I should pack for my hostel stay?
- Are hostels safe?
- What happens if I am going to arrive late at my hostel?
- Do hostels provide bedding?
- Do hostels provide towels?
- What is it like staying in a hostel?
- Is there a kitchen in a hostel?
- Top bunk VS bottom bunk
- Are hostels expensive?
- Are there age limits for hostels?
- Is it okay to have sex in a hostel?
- What can I learn from living the hostel life?
How should I choose my hostel?
This is definitely one of the most important parts, and that is why I made an entire article to help you pick a hostel. Once you’re done reading this article, definitely check out “10 Tips On How To Choose A Good Hostel”.
How do I book my hostel?
Here are three platforms on which you can book different hostels: Booking, Hostelworld and Agoda.
I prefer to use Hostelworld because you will find the best hostels with an amazing rating system to help you make your choice. There are also group chats on the app with the people who will be staying at the same place as you.
Do I need to book my hostel in advance?
Try booking earlier if you are traveling during a busy period or during a special event in the place you are visiting. What you should 100% do early is check how many hostels are in the region you are going to. We’ve seen islands that only had 5 hostels, so these fill up way faster.
What are the essentials I should pack for my hostel stay?
- Padlocks for the lockers, to keep your belongings safe
- Lightweight microfiber towel, it is small, and it dries way faster which is the best for traveling
- Flip-flops to wear in the showers since a lot of people use the showers
- Earplugs and sleeping eye mask if you are a light sleeper. I am not sensitive to either sounds or lights when I am sleeping, but I know that if you are, you are going to need them badly
- Carabiners to clip things to your bed
Are hostels safe?
I’ve never felt unsafe in a hostel, but danger can be anywhere, even when we don’t think it could. If we stopped acting in fear of danger, we would never do anything. You are sharing your personal space with strangers that you don’t know anything about. I would be lying if I told you this is the safest thing in the world. Let’s say that a hostel is definitely safer than simply walking on the street. I consider a hostel more of a public space than a private one because there are always other people around. It would be surprising that someone would act with bad intentions knowing there would be witnesses. It is still not impossible. As for the safety of your belongings, there are lockers available in all hostels, but it is your responsibility to bring your padlocks.
What happens if I am going to arrive late at my hostel?
Contact your hostel to let them know what time you will be arriving and more often than not there won’t be any problem. They will make sure someone is there to check you in. If the hostel has strict lobby hours, it will be said on the website you are booking your stay on. This is rare but if it happens, just choose another hostel.
Do hostels provide bedding?
Always! Sheets and blankets are always provided in hostels. They might ask you to take them off the bed and bring them downstairs when you leave. This is to help the workers collect and wash them. If you are sensitive to the cold, bringing your sleeping bag could be useful. In some places, the blanket isn’t very warm and other people will put the AC on maximum…
Do hostels provide towels?
Not always. This is why we say that bringing a microfiber towel is important. More often than not, it will be said in the description of the hostel. Sometimes they have towels, but you have to pay. Sometimes they will ask for a safety deposit and sometimes it will be simply available. I would say that a good free towel in a hostel is a small luxury.
What is it like staying in a hostel?
Staying in a hostel can feel strange at first. You are literally going to sleep, the most vulnerable form you can be, next to strangers. You will be in a big room full of bunk beds. We love choosing hostels that have bed curtains so you can separate yourself a little from the others. To like the hostel experience, you need to be ready to give up your privacy. You are sharing showers and bathrooms that can be mixed or gender separated. It is still an incredible experience and a nice way to meet people while traveling.
Is there a kitchen in a hostel?
The simple answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no, and all the kitchens are different. In Europe, 90% of the hostels have a kitchen. In Asia, however, 90% of hostels don’t have a kitchen since the food is already so cheap in restaurants. You can always check the pictures on the website of your hostel to know in advance if there is a kitchen or not. This way you can only be positively surprised.
Top bunk VS bottom bunk
Everyone has a preference! I prefer the bottom because I think it’s annoying having to go down the ladder every time and even more when it’s super dark in the room. I like having access to my bed easily and being able to just sit on it. That is why some people prefer the top! They don’t like how sometimes their bed can be an easy access to strangers in the room. It can feel like you have more privacy being in the top bunk. Know that you don’t always have the option of choosing your bed in the dorm rooms. You can still have a preference ready for when you do.
Are hostels expensive?
They are and will always be the cheapest option while traveling. Although, depending on the country, the price can vary a lot. If the hostel is 5$ per night the hotel will be around 40$. If the hostel is around 100$ per night, it means the hotel is probably 400-500$ per night.
Are there age limits for hostels?
Most of the time, hostels don’t have a strict age policy. Sometimes they do. What you will most likely see is the minimum age of 18 years old. Honestly, I did not meet a lot of people over 30 in dorm rooms. To be even more honest, when I did, I felt a little uncomfortable sleeping in the bed next to a 45–50 year-old man. The thing is everyone is welcome in a hostel. My suggestion, if you are an older adult, would be to consider getting yourself a private room. It is more expensive than the dorm rooms but is still cheaper than a hotel.
Is it okay to have sex in a hostel?
No… Be respectful and get yourself a private room if you are with your lover or your special friend. You can be kicked out of the hostel if you get caught. I’ve seen it happen… The fact that I was so close to them that if I had stretched my arm, I could’ve touched this person’s little booty was pretty disturbing.
What can I learn from living the hostel life?
You will learn to be patient, resourceful and sociable. You will meet a lot of people in hostels. Some you will spend time with, having fun and making your sociable self come through. Some will have such different values than you they will test your patience to the maximum. But through all of that, the only thing you have complete control over in a hostel is yourself and your budget. You will learn how to be resourceful when not everything goes your way or as planned, and be independent.
