Why Stay in Hostels? 8 Fun Hostel Benefits

Many travelers, including digital nomads and long-term travelers often choose to stay in hostels. They are popular for a reason—there are many benefits of staying in a hostel during your trip! If the word “hostel” has a bad connotation for you, think again.

Don’t skip the hostel experience—you’ll make a ton of friends!

If you’ve heard bad things about the concept of hostels, just think that there are thousands of hostels in the world and each one of them is unique. While it is true that mainly budget travelers stay at hostels, many other types of travelers choose to stay at hostels—they know that hostels are the easiest way to meet people while traveling.

The hostel industry has improved a lot over the years and it’s continuing to improve thanks to travelers who favor social and cultural experiences.

Do its advantages outweigh the disadvantages of staying in a hostel? Just like any other , it all depends on what you are looking for.

Are hostels safe?

When you are booking accommodation, you should do your research and read the reviews, both good and bad. This goes for hostels as well.

While doing your research, you should check if the hostel has security and lockers in the rooms, especially if you’re staying in the dormitories. Researching if it is located in a safe neighborhood is also a good idea. Many hostels are located in the city center with 24/7 security, so safety can actually be one of the benefits of staying in a hostel!

So, are hostels safe? The short answer is not very complicated actually —they’re just as safe as any other accommodation if you do your research and pick the right one!

Why stay in hostels?

Make friends and fight off loneliness during solo travel by staying in a fun hostel.

There are many reasons why staying in hostels is something you should try, at least once. First of all, hostels are great places to and to have a more social experience. Plus, they’re one of the cheapest types of accommodation, so you get to save money during your travels.

Most hostels have dormitories where you would share your room with other people. The number of the people you would share your room with would change from hostel to hostel but it’s usually between four and twenty (and a rule of thumb is that the more beds in the room, the cheaper the room is).

Sharing a room in a hostel is the cheapest option if you’re . Nowadays, a lot of hostels have private rooms if you have a higher budget or are traveling with a partner or a friend.

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8 benefits of staying in a hostel

1. Hostels are budget-friendly.

Bunk beds aren’t the most comfortable, but they’ll save you a pretty penny.

Accommodation is one of the most costly aspects of travel. Staying at a hostel would help you save money you would have spent on accommodation otherwise. For example, in Cancun, one of the most expensive cities in Mexico, you can book a hostel for less than $10 per night. Other popular destinations where you can find hostels for less than $10 include Bali, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

2. Hostels have kitchens and common areas.

Especially if you’re planning to travel long-term, a kitchen at your accommodation will come in very handy as you would be able to cook your own meals and save money. Almost all hostels have kitchens but some come with many other perks such as a common room, a game room, a pool, and sometimes even a bar.

3. It’s easy to meet people at hostels.

People who stay at hostels are usually travelers who are keen on meeting others. In comparison to a hotel where everyone hangs out in their room, people tend to hang out in common areas in hostels. So one of the major benefits of staying in a hostel is that you get to meet people from all over the world!

4. Hostels often organize events for their guests.

As we said before, hostel guests are generally people who want to meet others and hang out with others. Hostel owners know this very well so they organize different activities inside and outside the hostel. These can be movie nights, city tours, beer pong nights, cooking classes, and more.

5. There are a lot of different types of hostels all over the world.

Peaceful work space? Raucous party place? Either way, there’s a hostel for you.

So it’s not your thing to share a room with others but you still want to get the hostel experience. No problem! Many hostels offer private bedrooms. Or maybe you are working online while traveling? You can choose a hostel that has a coworking area, just like various . There’s a hostel for every type of traveler, from luxury hostels to adventure hostels, party hostels to family hostels.

6. The hostel staff are generally friendly and they know their way around the city.

There are many hostel owners who have created their hostel out of their love for traveling and hostel life. They have probably stayed in several different hostels in their lives and created their hostel in their hometown or a city that they love. If you have a question about the city you’re in or how to get from Point A to B, it’s likely that they know the answer.

7. Hostels have a sense of community.

Interacting with other people and having a community might make the travel experience more fun and smoother. It might also help you deal with travel problems or homesickness in an easier way, should you experience any.

8. Hostels can provide a more immersive travel experience.

With all the interesting people you will meet and all the cool activities you will do, you will discover the city in another light. Maybe you will get a super helpful insider tip from someone or maybe your hostel will take you on a tour to somewhere you would have never found by yourself. The possibilities are endless!

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Are there disadvantages of staying in hostels?

If you check into a hostel you don’t vibe with, you might have a bad time.

Besides its advantages, there are some disadvantages of staying in a hostel as well.

1. Sharing a room with a lot of people is difficult.

You probably won’t get the best sleep of your life if you share a room with many others, especially people you don’t know. There might be people who are snoring, talking loudly, setting alarms for early in the morning, or turning on the light late at night. Privacy and personal space are also hard to get in a dorm room!

2. You may not enjoy it as much if you don’t click with people.

Not everyone gets along well with everyone but since one of the main reasons for staying in a hostel is to meet people, you won’t get much of the experience if you don’t get along with the others. In order to avoid this, try booking a place that aligns with your travel style. For example, don’t book a party hostel if you want a quiet night in.

3. No matter the security, there’s always the risk of theft.

Try not to leave your stuff around when you’re not in the room and make having a locker your priority while searching for a dorm room in a hostel. If you’re really freaked out about having your stuff taken, ask the check-in staff about their policies regarding stolen property—just in case.

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Hostel experiences are a great way to make friends and save money!

You know what they say—don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it!

Traveling on a budget? Want to meet people from all over the world? Why not stay in a hostel then? It checks both boxes! You can set your priorities and search your hostel according to that and no doubt, your hostel experiences will become some of the most unforgettable experiences of your travels.

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