What is a Hostel? 5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

Being the frequent travelers that we are, we often get asked how we can afford to travel so much.  And while we enjoy the good life of luxury hotels as much as anyone, the fact is we couldn’t afford to travel if we stayed in luxury hotels. Honestly, we often choose to stay in lower budget accommodations, including hostels. When we say this, people are shocked, usually because they have some misconceptions about what a hostel is.  So what is a hostel?  Well, let us dispel some of the myths out there.

The Mahjong Hostel pic 2

When talking about hostels with people, one of the first things we realized is that people don’t really understand what a hostel is, or how much they vary in quality and amenities.  While some generalizations about hostels could be true, in many cases they are not.

What is a Hotels?  Then vs. Now

Hostels originated in Germany back around the early 1900’s.  They were specifically developed for the city youth so that they could get out of the city and explore the outdoors.  To keep prices down, kids typically helped with chores and basically ran it themselves.

Nowadays, that original model is more of the exception rather than the norm.

In fact, more and more hostels are starting to look like boutique hotels, and they are adding amenities such as swimming pools and saunas!  However, the rule “you get what you pay for” definitely applies for hostels.  So if you are looking for more amenities, then you will likely pay higher prices.

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BackHome Hostel: Clean, Modern and Cool Elevated Walkways with Greenery – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The reason we like hostels is that it puts the power back in the hands of the traveler; choosing what matters to you, and how much you are willing to pay for it.  There is such a variety of hostel properties out there now, all at different price points.  So in the end, it all comes down to tradeoffs and personal preferences of the traveler.

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Myths About What a Hostel Is

While some people have a general idea about what a hostel is, there are often a lot of misinformation out there!  From our experience, here are the top 5 myths we hear when talking to people about hostels.

1. Hostels are only for Young Travelers

While some hostels originally had an age requirement (and some still do), many do not.   Josh and I are in our 30’s, and we stay in hostels quite often.  But we’ve seen many older people staying in hostels as well, even up into their 60’s!  The saying “age is nothing but a number” applies here because all hostel-goers have one thing in common…a sense of adventure!

2. Hostels are only for backpackers or solo travelers

While many hostel guests are backpackers looking for cheap accommodation, we’ve seen many other types of people staying there.  We’ve seen married couples, families with kids, and even people on business staying in hostels.  In fact, this last weekend we met someone in Asheville staying at our hostel who was a lawyer!  So you don’t have to fit into a certain stereotype to stay in a hostel.

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Enjoying the view from our private balcony at Plus Florence Hostel – Florence, Italy

3. Hostels only provide dormitory accommodations

Yes hostels tend to have dormitory environments, but many hostels now offer additional options to appeal to a wider variety of travelers.  Typically, these room options are at varying price points.

We’ve stayed in dorm rooms where there were 12 bunks, and in other places, we’ve stayed in a room with only 4 bunks.  We’ve also seen unique “pods” that are similar to bunks, but offer more space and privacy with walls on three sides and a sliding curtain to block out light and noise.  And many hostels even have private rooms, yes private rooms!

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Private Room at BackHome Hostel – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bathrooms are another item that you should take into consideration because hostels vary.  Some rooms (dorm or privates) will have an ensuite bathroom, while others will just have bathrooms on the floor that you share.  Personally, if we are in a large dorm we prefer a shared bathroom outside the room because it is less disturbing to our bunkmates.  But if you splurge on a private room with an ensuite bathroom, then its just the same as being in a typical hotel room.  Every property is different and personal preferences are different, so be sure to check in advance & pick what is best for you.

4. Hostels offer no amenities

With regard to amenities, again it depends on what matters to you and how much you are willing to pay.  Many hostels will provide coffee and tea, and others may offer a basic breakfast too.  Some have a restaurant or bar, but most of them will at least have a kitchen area that you can use.

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Open kitchen makes it fun to meet fellow travelers over a cup of coffee at Sweet Pea Hostel – Asheville, NC

We recently stayed at a hostel in Seattle that provided us with all the ingredients for breakfast (eggs, bread, and pre-made pancake batter) so that we could make our own breakfast when we woke up!  Kitchens are a great amenity if you are staying in an area for an extended amount of time because it can be expensive to dine out for every meal.  Plus, we actually love going to local markets and buying food, so having a kitchen is super convenient!

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Cooking in the common kitchen at The Green Tortoise Hostel – Seattle, Washington

Other amenities we have run across through our hostel stays include: swimming pools (indoor and out), hot tubs, saunas, rooftop terraces, nightclubs (in the basement), free bicycles, free movies, free walking tours, free dinners (taco night or spaghetti night), games, book exchanges, group activities/events, and of course wi-fi.  Overall, not a bad deal, right?!?!

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Great place to come back to after a full day of trekking – The Siem Reap Hostel in Cambodia

5. Hostels are only in Europe

This is a very common misconception.  While hostels originated in Europe, they have quickly expanded around the world.  We’ve stayed in some very nice hostels in Asia and even the United States.  Yes, there are hostels in the US; this is a shock to most people!  Most hostels in the US are limited to the big cities, or at least areas that have a lot of tourism.  We’ve stayed in hostels in Asheville, Seattle, and will be staying in one on Miami’s SouthBeach next month!

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Additional Benefits to Hostels

Besides price, hostels offer a number of other benefits that you don’t get in most hotels.  First, hostels are known for having a communal and homey atmosphere. They have common areas where travelers get together to visit and share travel tips.  This is a great way to learn about sights to see (or avoid) during your trip. I’ve gotten some of the best tips from fellow travelers over the years.

Related post:  5 Perks of Staying in a Hostel

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Inviting common living room at the Sweet Peas Hostel. Great place to drink your morning coffee and relax by the windows. Asheville NC

Another perk to staying in a hostel is that they are typically centrally located near all the best sights and tend to be close to public transportation.  The last thing you want when you travel is to go halfway around the world to be staying on the outskirts of town.  If you are anything like us, you want to be able to step out your door and be in the middle of it all!

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Sometimes it all about location and practicality. Historic Dublin District – Barnacles Hostel Dublin

Words of Warning

Now, while we are preaching the benefits of staying in hostels we must say that they are not for everyone.  There is no daily maid service (in most hostels), things aren’t always perfect (although this is true for many hotels too), and at some hostels guests are asked to help out (such as making your bed and removing your bedding when you leave).  Some hostels may not provide towels, or will ask that you bring your own lock to keep your items secure.

Every single hostel is different.

Our best piece of advice is to review the amenities carefully and decide what matters most to you.  We also highly recommend that you read the reviews and the ratings of the hostels.  Not all hostels are created equal, so hearing what other travelers have said about the hostel is very important and can help set your expectations.

If you can’t deal with these quirks or variance in amenities and quality, then a hostel probably isn’t for you.

How / Where to Book a Hostel

Many hostels aren’t listed on the popular online hotel booking engines, like Expedia.  However, we have had luck with finding hostels listed on Agoda.com — one of the most popular and comprehensive booking engines for accommodations that we have discovered!  There are also some hostel specific booking engines, like hostel bookers.

Click the banner below to search their hostel offerings around the world.
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Our Favorite Hostel Stays – Check Them Out!

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5 Myths About hostels

17 thoughts on “What is a Hostel? 5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe”

  1. Lance | Trips By Lance

    I wouldn’t know you guys if not for staying at my first and still only hostel in Toronto. I’m torn on it, but I think it’s because I’m just not sure what my wife would think about it. I’m really interested in the one you stayed at in Asheville. Looks solid.

    1. Hey Lance! That’s right – and after meeting you at the hostel in Toronto we convinced you to join us at a nearby bar for a drink! Great conversation and good beer. Thanks for joining us – we enjoyed it! 🙂

    2. Oh – and the one in Asheville is great. But go for the Pods or the private rooms. Great place, but located on top of a bar that can get loud on the weekends. But the private rooms are sure to be much quieter. We stayed out on the bunks with no walls – so the band from downstairs may have well been in bed with us!

  2. love this post! i had such great hostel experiences in italy while i was in college, but i really haven’t considered hostels since then (and that was awhile ago :)). i am looking at a few larger international trips soon, and will check out some of these links – thanks!

    1. Thanks! Yes, we’ve had some really great experiences in Hostels – even as we get older. They are just so much more social and have a cool vibe. Some of the slightly more expensive hostels really give you the experience of staying in a boutique hotel – for a fraction of the price. So you don’t have to give up a lot of comforts. We can’t wait for our next international trip too!

      Happy Travels!
      Liz & Josh

  3. Great post! We get the same reactions sometimes when we tell people we often stay at hostels on our travels. We have to remind ourselves that sometimes there still is a negative stereotype out there of what a hostel really is. Many places that have “hostel” in the name are really more like B&Bs or boutique hotels. At this point, we usually get a private room, so that’s probably even more true. We’ve never stayed at a hostel in the US, so it’s interesting to hear about those. How did you find prices at US hostels? Similar to a cheap hotel?

    1. Thanks! Yes, many hostels (especially if you get a private room) are like boutique hotels or B&Bs. But the great thing is that you have a choice — if you are really on a budget, at least you have a choice for a cheap bed!

      Hostel prices in the US vary greatly by the city and the location. Typically, I’d say they are less expensive than a B&B or Boutique hotel — but some of them are just as expensive as a “budget hotel” — although in my opinion, “budget hotels” are terrible because they vary in quality so much and you never know what you are going to get! I actually find hostels to be a better option because typically you can read the reviews ahead of time and know exactly what you are getting into.

      I believe we typically pay about $20 – $30 per person, per night for a US hostel. Although, we just came across a hostel in Miami’s South Beach that is about $15 USD per night (for a shared room). Great price for an awesome location!

      Happy Travels!

      Liz & Josh

  4. Great piece. I had forgotten about the fact that, back in the day, you would have to pitch in to do the chores. No more!!! As well, virtually all hostels have eliminated the age limit – I think it only exists in some Bavarian hostels, which try to be under 26.

    1. Thanks for the comment Vanessa!

      I remember helping out at hostels when I was younger as well. It is really nice that most hostels no longer have an age limit. I would feel so sad to be left out of affordable, unique accommodation just because I’m old! We’re young at heart, the age is just a number…right?!?!

      – Liz

  5. I sort of forget sometimes that this isn’t common knowledge. The fact that hostels have private rooms, Wi-Fi, free coffee, etc, etc, seems normal to me, but I have to explain it to people who have never been near one. Not in a bad way, but they just plain don’t know.

    1. Thanks for the comment! Yes, everyone seems to think that they are plan dormitories with no amenities – but some of them are really quite nice. And you just can’t beat the price, especially is some of the larger cities. I’ve stayed in hostels that are probably nicer than some of the hotels nearby in the heart of a big city!

      Happy travels!
      – Liz

  6. This was so enlightening! Thank you for the information and advice. I recognized Dublin the instant I saw your photo – how was the Barnacles Hostel?

    1. Thanks Jess!

      We liked Barnacles. It was a fantastic location, the people were nice, and it was clean. It is right next to THE Temple Bar, so at night it was loud with the music from the band next door, but we didn’t mind because we were enjoying the music. If you are a light sleeper, then it may not be the best — but if you are a night owl and want to enjoy the pubs in the area, it’s perfect!

      Cheers!
      – Liz

  7. Hey guys,

    I stayed in a hostel for the first time some days back in Goa, India and now when I read your post, its like nostalgic! I had an amazing time at the hostel and made so many friends. If not always, we must try putting up in one every once in a while. Good learning experience. Lovely post. 🙂

    1. Thanks for reading and for the comment Naina! So glad you enjoyed the post – and yes, it really is a good learning experience. And we love meeting so many other travelers. It makes staying at hotels feel a little stale and boring sometimes.

      Cheers!
      – Liz

    1. Thanks for reading. We hope you found it helpful Emily. Hostels are a really great option for travelers and it’s great to be able to help dispel some myths and misinformation out there.

      Best of luck to you!
      Liz

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