Room to Roam (Part one): The Art of Hosteling

What the heck is a hostel? Have you ever stayed in one? Do you really know the difference between a hostel and a hotel? Does the idea of staying somewhere other than a 4 star resort scare the living hell out of you? Well, it wasn’t that long ago that I had some similar apprehensions and knew very little about the lodging options available when traveling abroad, or even at home for that matter, and there are many.

In this two-part series on the accessible, yet perhaps unfamiliar, accommodations available when traveling, I hope to shed some light on many of the varied choices out there. Part-one, however, will focus on the affordable housing option that I know best; that is still, by far, the most common, easy to book and widespread across the world; hostels.

Fear at First Sight

The first time I heard about a hostel, or when it finally made an impression on me, was when the movie Hostel came out. You know, that lovely 2005 flick where vacationers travel to Europe and stay in a Slovakian hostel. Then, they all get excruciatingly and gruesomely tortured to death. Needles to say, this first impression may not have been the best; but at least it got a slight, if not completely twisted, blip of an idea on my radar of what a hostel was.

Nowadays, many more people know about hostels. Whether from friends, movies or having actually stayed in one, the word is out. However, there may still be some mystery or inaccurate ideas out there about this world of frugal traveling; just like my novice self back in the early 2000’s. Thus, as a new (and extremely responsible) travel blogger, I feel it’s my duty to inform and shine a light on some of my hostel experiences; as well as what to look for, when to book and what to expect; i.e. how to win in the art of hosteling.

What is a Hostel?

Hostels can basically be described as budget-oriented, sociable accommodations where guests rent a bed (usually a bunk bed in a dormitory) and share a bathroom, common area, and if you’re lucky, a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed, single-sex or private (this is where you need to rent all beds in the room to book it).

Hostels are often much cheaper than hotels and some offer an extensive amount of amenities for a low price. Others, obviously, can be lousy, dirty, smelly, messes of a space that are not so inviting. Most fall right in the middle and have some great aspects and some not so great- but hey, saving money so you can travel longer is sometimes worth a squeaky bed and some faded Spiderman sheets.

Research and Resources

When looking for a place to stay, there are numerous resources out there, such as: websites, apps, travel books and word of mouth. For me, I mainly use two apps: Hostel World and Booking (see my favorite travel apps post here). Travel books, like Lonely Planet are good too, but you have to lug those around.  Hostel World’s app is easy to use and provides essential information about the hostel, including: price, location, amenities and a rating based on guest reviews. Reading these reviews are the most helpful for me, as I can see if anyone had problems with cleanliness, bed bugs, staff, etc. The reviews are also great for positive experiences and added information on what to do when in town. I then look to Booking to see if the price varies, which it often does. If it looks like the beds are getting booked quickly, I’ll book online. If there are many beds open, then I just go to the hostel and book in person, as prices are usually cheapest that way.

The Good, the Bad and the Dirty

I’ve stayed in hostels in at least 13 countries and, of course, quality versus price varies widely depending on time of year and popularity of the city. The good: Some hostels are like mini resorts, with pools, bars, beautiful vistas and amazing lounges; the wifi is strong in every room, there are organized events every night, they include breakfast in the price, the place is cleaned often and the staff and guests are warm and welcoming. The bad: Some other hostels have dreary spaces, lack comfortable lounge areas, have unfriendly staff and are just plain dirty. As I mentioned, most hostels fall somewhere in the middle of these extremes; so do your research and choose wisely.

The other aspect of hostels I haven’t yet mentioned are, in fact, the other travelers staying there. I’ve met people from all over the world and 99% of them are pleasant and courteous. That leaves the dreaded 1% that we all sometimes loath. These are the ones that come into the room and their backpack literally explodes everywhere; or they stumble in at 3am and make a small racket (I’ve been that guy unfortunately), or they wake up at 6am and turn on the light to start packing; or the snorers… oh the snorers. For these situations, I use a very specific set of tools to block the light and the noise; a face mask and ear pugs- essential tools for the trade of hosteling.

Apprehensions of the Uninitiated

My first experience staying in a hostel was way back 2009 in Munich, when I was an elderly 28 years old and had some slight trepidation about my advanced age, not to mention I had no idea what to expect after seeing the aforementioned movie. I was concerned whether I would be welcome, fit in or know what to do; or if I would stand out like a wrinkled and senile sore thumb.

Well, here I am at 35, still staying in hostels and thoroughly enjoying it. I quickly realized that my preconceived notion that only kids under 22 stayed in hostels was completely wrong, and people of all ages, and I mean all ages, use hostels. I’ve seen folks from 17 to 70 staying in hostels. Ok, the 70-year-old traveler is more of a rarer breed, but the young-at-heart adventurers in their 30’s to 50’s are healthy and multiplying.

So, a piece of advice- don’t be too concerned about your age when booking travel housing of any kind, because age ain’t nothing but a number- like Aaliyah sang back in 1994. Did I just age myself again… geez.

Benefits to Hosteling

My absolute favorite thing about staying at hostels are the friends I’ve made from all over the world (you know who your are), the socialization that the dorm and common spaces encourage, and the off-beat tours and popular excursions that the hostels promote and provide.

Additionally, hostel owners know that their guests are budget-minded travelers, looking to see the world and have great experiences on limited resources. So, there is very little pressure to buy food, drinks or upgrades (though some hostels don’t allow outside alcohol if they sell it on site). For this reason, I think hostels are an essential resource for all types of travelers with the inkling to socialize, experience different cultures, save some money and explore this incredible housing option that so many have been using all over the world for decades.

Hopefully, I’ve kicked open the door and shed some light on this vagabonding lifestyle and introduced some of you to this extensive, yet close-knit community of travel accommodations. Hostels are a huge part of the long-term travel experience and like travel, they can get you out of your comfort zone and into meeting people from all over the globe. So pack your bags, book a ticket to a far away land, and start practicing the art of hosteling!