Hostel-Hopping How-To:

The in’s and out’s of staying in hostels is not difficult to grasp, but it is important to know before beginning that dive into the world of dorm beds and new definitions of privacy.

Fun fact: For far too long I used to think that ‘hostel’ was just the word hotel spelled wrong. I kept thinking “Wow, so many sites aren’t properly proofreading. How embarrassing!” Turns out I was the embarrassed one once I figured that one out haha.

But after lots of experience staying in hostels, I am here to share with you the things I wish I knew before staying in hostels during my first trip abroad…

Finding the best deal

I have had scenarios where I was staying in a dorm bed that I spent $18 for while the girls in the next bed over had spent $40. This is because the hostel prices fluctuate constantly. Every time before booking a dorm bed I will look at the price on HostelWorld, Booking, and then call the hostel to inquire about the price of booking directly through them.

Take Reviews with a Grain of Salt…

While it is important to read the hostel reviews before booking, don’t treat everything you read on the Hostelworld review page as gospel. That being said, there are some immediate red flags such as bedbugs, lack of security, or rabid dogs on the property (to name a few). But these reviews can be posted by literally anyone. So someone’s “weird vibes,” “rude employees,” or general complaints about the atmosphere can be completely subjective. Unless the entire page is riddled with terrible reviews, don’t rule a place out from one or two negative comments.

Recommendations are everything

Every time I meet someone that I vibe with abroad, one of the major questions I ask is “Do you have any hostel recommendations for (insert city here)?” They will either tell you where or where definitely not to stay. Either way, you’re gaining valuable information.

Decide on what kind of hostel you are looking for

Every hostel is different-- social, party, quiet, family-vibes, hotel vibes, small, large, central, secluded… The list goes on. First decide on what you’re looking for. And this decision can change dramatically from place to place. Some locations I wanted to be right in the center of town with a free tequila shot upon arrival and others I wanted the smallest and simplest shack as far from civilization as possible. Your hostel can be as little as a bed to sleep in and as much as a sick spot to spend your whole stay.

What are you willing to pay extra for?

When I first began staying in hostels, I always opted to book the absolute cheapest places. And while that saved me a bit of money, I realized that sometimes it’s worth the extra couple of bucks for things I find very important for my quality of living. Some of the things that I found are worth the extra cost are:

• Included kitchen: This one is actually essential if you are traveling on a budget or simply love to cook. Trust me, it will save you heaps of money in the long run.

• Air Conditioning: Sometimes in very hot or humid places, AC is essential to a good nights sleep.

• Included breakfast: It’s not only nice to wake up and have breakfast all ready for you, but it also saves you valuable shopping, cooking, and cleaning time to allow you to simply eat and start your day with minimal thought.

• Random included perks: Some hostels offer free tours, yoga classes, bike rentals etc. For a little bit extra you could save a lot of money on day-time activities.

• Vibe Check: As I mentioned earlier, every hostel is different. If you need to pay a few extra dollars to stay at the hostel that is blatantly calling out your name, then trust me, it’s worth it.

Stop the Hop…

Anddd If you are traveling for a long period of time and find a magic hostel in a wonderful location, ask if you can volunteer for them! I guarantee you that virtually all hostels need volunteers to help them run the place. Think about it… they are gaining free labor and you get a free place to stay and sometimes other perks like meals and laundry! Odds are they will either accept your help on the spot or give you a time frame for when they will have volunteer availability.

So now, I challenge you to hop on HostelWorld, type in your next travel destination and begin checking out all of the cool accommodation options for your next dream trip.