Josh and I enjoy a variety of accommodations when we travel. However, we have realized that when we first decide to visit a destination we always tend to look up hostels first. While it’s true that not all hostels are created equal, there are some pretty great ones out there. So we thought we would just give a quick overview of why we enjoy staying in a hostel over many hotels.
1. Easy on the Budget
We enjoy spending our money on experiences and activities, not where we sleep (most of the time anyway). Besides, when we travel we are hardly in the room anyway. So hostels are a great option to help travelers who want to save some cash – especially solo travelers.
Also many hostels have kitchens, and we enjoy having the option to purchase food at local markets and being able to cook it ourselves. Not only does this save some cash, but it can also be kinda fun! Some hostels even have free or inexpensive meals! For example, on a recent stay in Seattle we had free breakfast, and at a hostel on Miami’s South Beach they had a burger BBQ each weekend!
2. Convenient Location & Transportation
When we travel, it’s important for us to be in the middle of the action. We do not want to waste time if we don’t have to. Many hostels are located in central areas, nearby popular attractions. Some are even in historic buildings or districts where hotels can be very expensive. So hostels are a great way to get the location, without the high price tag. Lastly, hostels are typically near public transportation. Making it extremely easy to get around.
3. Home Away From Home
The more we stay in hostels, the more we appreciate the homey atmosphere that many of them have. Having a kitchen to make yourself some coffee or tea, curling up on a comfy sofa watching a movie or playing a board game, it’s a wonderful way to relax while traveling. Sometimes hotels can just feel so lonely, stale, and impersonal; so hostels just offer a warmer atmosphere altogether. Now, not all hostels are created equal – so do your research. Some are extremely basic, while others are more homey and comfy.
4. Social Atmosphere
While we’ve grown a bit out of the party hostels, we do enjoy the social atmosphere very much! It’s great to meet other travelers from around the world and make new friends. Lastly, many hostels put together activities – such as tours or happy hours. So there is always something to do!
5. Informative Workers & Guests
Over the course of our travels, we have discovered that some of the best advice we’ve received has been from other travelers at hostels. We’ve learned about hidden restaurant gems, as well as tourist rip offs or scams. We have also noticed that workers at the hostels seem to be very helpful with maps and advice, without sending you to places just so they can get a kick back.
So those are our top reasons for staying in a hostel when we travel. We may not choose a hostel every time we travel, but it is definitely the first type of accommodation that we research. We do strongly recommend that you review multiple websites and hostel reviews because hostels vary widely in their amenities, service, and prices. You get what you pay for, and some of our experiences have been better than others. Customer reviews are valuable for this type of accommodation.
Not sure if a hostel is right for you? Check out our most popular post: What Are Hostels? 5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe
Happy Travels!
How / Where to Book
In the past, hostels were not included in most mainstream hotel booking engines. However, times are changing! You can now find many hostels easily book them online.
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