An unforgettable hostel is always hard to find. During your trip, you will have more bad and average moments than amazing ones.
Throughout my travels to more than 50 countries and many conversations with travelers I met along the way, I put together my recommendations on what to consider when looking for your next hostel, based on more than a lifetime of experience in different types of hostels around the world.
It is important to emphasize that hostels are not only about the place, but mainly about the environment.
With that in mind, what makes a hostel amazing is first the people and then the amenities.
So the ideal hostel is an atmosphere, a combination of facilities, staff, amenities and people that make a hostel amazing.
While you can’t always predict the people, you can increase your chances of arriving at a hostel you never want to leave.
1. Location, location, location.
I always give a lot of importance to the location of a hostel, as the location greatly influences your experience.
If you have to spend an hour on transport just to and from the main attractions, you will end up wasting a lot of time on your trip, not to mention stress.
The best ones are close to the main attractions, so you can just go out, walk around a bit and enjoy your trip.
Using Booking or Hostelworld you can check the location before booking, and make sure where it is in relation to the things you want to see and do.
2. Free Internet access in all areas.
Nowadays, having Wi-Fi throughout the hostel is a comfort factor and increases your satisfaction.
In addition, wanting to share something with friends and not having a connection is very annoying.
I have been to many that still only have Wi-Fi in the common areas and with very poor quality.
Make sure you know what to expect before booking and the only way to know is to read guest reviews.
Many have free shared computers, but you can never be sure if there is any malware or spyware on the computer.
It is best not to use it for anything personal like accessing email, etc.
For research it is OK, but avoid anything personal, especially typing your password.
If you connect to a free Wi-Fi network, whether anywhere, with your computer or smartphone, use a VPN and/or security apps to keep your data private (especially if you are doing online banking).
3. Shared living area.
One of the great advantages of a hostel is being able to interact with other travelers.
So a good common area is essential.
The common area should facilitate interaction and help travelers meet new people.
Also, with the advent of remote work, some need to use this area to work.
4. Lockers in the bedroom to store your belongings.
Lockers are one of the most important security features in hostels, since most of the space is shared.
Not having a locker is a big deal for me, since I travel with expensive electronics so I can work while I’m away.
If you’re not sure about the locker situation, check out the hostel’s reviews to see what people are saying. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Even if you have a locker, it’s important to have your own padlocks, since that way only you will have access.
5. Usually the cheapest is not the best.
For those who travel on a budget, there is a natural tendency to choose the cheapest option.
However, you have to keep in mind that in order to be the cheapest, a hostel has to sacrifice many features of its surroundings.
The cheapest ones tend to be dirty, the beds are uncomfortable, the showers are bad, and the pillows are thin.
Paying a little more will give you many more good things.
Since the goal of traveling is to have great experiences, it is better to be safe. If you are really short on money, it may be better to save money elsewhere.
The cheapest is not the best, but the one with the best value for money.
6. An amazing hostel may or may not have breakfast included in the daily rate.
I prefer the options without breakfast, as you are free to choose the time and type of breakfast.
However, I do recognize the convenience and savings that can be had if the hostel offers breakfast.
However, you need to make sure that the start and end times are compatible with your lifestyle and that what is offered is worth the price paid.
Some charge a lot for a cup of coffee and some toast, while others have a buffet with lots of options, giving you the opportunity to eat well and still have a snack for later.
In addition, there are places that offer other perks of free food, such as free coffee/tea all day or free dinners.
Not only is this good for saving money, but it also makes the hostel more social.
7. Showers are essential in an amazing hostel.
I know how important it is to save water and that many guests don’t respect the length of their showers, ignoring the fact that other people are waiting.
But for me, I wouldn’t consider staying in hostels with timer showers, unless in special places.
Like my trip to the Dolomites (Italy) and some mountain huts, each shower had 3 minutes of warm water.
As a general rule, keep an eye on reviews for information about showers.
They are an important part of your satisfaction at the end of a long day.
8. Have peace or have a bar
This is a question of what is important to you.
I prefer hostels without bars, as it is much quieter and when I want to go I can just go out and find a bar.
However, the convenience of having one in the hostel, besides helping with socializing, usually has a good discount and you are with people you “know”, or at least people you want to know.
I have stayed in several great ones from party hostels in Asia to those in Amsterdam, London, etc.
Typically, if a hostel has a bar, they put a lot of emphasis on making sure the people staying there are having fun, interacting and being festive.
9. Hostels that organize tours.
In general, if you arrive in a city you don’t know and start looking for tours, besides being tiring, there’s also a higher risk of booking the wrong one.
Hostels are usually good at organizing activities like walking tours, yoga classes, bar crawls, barbecues, tours, or anything else that brings people together.
Check out what’s on offer before you book to make sure it’s the kind of place for you.
Even so, make sure you know which activities are free and which are paid.
Do some have free equipment to use, like bikes, surfboards, etc.?
Free equipment will save you money and make it easier to socialize with other travelers.
10. Number of reservations made and their ratings.
It’s easy to see how experienced and friendly the hostel staff is in the reviews.
A hostel is more like a home, you want the people there to welcome you warmly and in a more personal way.
If you want a relaxed and comfortable stay, go to a hotel, where you check in, check out, and you don’t even have to say goodbye.
I stayed at a hotel in Orlando for a week, I only spoke to the receptionist at the entrance and on the last day I checked out, via TV and left.
I didn’t speak to anyone. Another factor is the number of reservations, the more reservations there are, the better.
However, pay attention to the reviews, because many reservations can mean that they are good at deceiving you, which was my case in Belgrade.
11 - Privacy at bedtime.
I know it’s a contradiction to be in a hostel where everything is shared and you want privacy.
But here’s another thing that shows the concern for the guests.
I’ve stayed in many hostels where the bunk beds have curtains. Others that are capsule-style have containers that you close up when you go to sleep with complete privacy.
However, you’re still in a shared room.
Conclusion:
The vast majority of people look for hostels because of the cost.
What you have to keep in mind is that lower cost means less of something.
I really like the phrase “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
In other words, if you’re paying less, it’s because you’re missing something.
However, over the years of traveling to more than 50 countries, I’ve discovered that a few more dollars in the right place completely changes your satisfaction with your trip.
However, it doesn’t change your total cost much.
Today, many hostels are also understanding this and, with a small increase in the daily rate, they can provide great experiences.
By following these guidelines, you will certainly improve your travel experience without breaking the bank.
