Thursday, 30 June 2011 22:21
The Good Far Outweighs The Bad at Hostels
In parts of the world where accommodation is relatively expensive, hostels are a great way to save money while still getting the opportunity to see the world. The rule 'you get what you pay for' definitely applies here though. If you're paying a fraction of the price of an average hotel room rate, you shouldn't expect the same quality and service. That said, there are many intangible benefits that you will never get at more upscale hotels. The more research you do prior to selecting a hostel, the better off you'll be. Below are some valuable tips on what criteria to look for when picking a hostel.
Why Many Won't Stay at Hostels & Tips on Making Your Stay Enjoyable
Room Sharing / Lack of Privacy
Many people don't like sleeping in bunk beds with a bunch of strangers and sharing washroom facilities, which is understandable. One thing to remember about hostels, however, is that they are all different. Many have different sleeping options at various price points. The cheapest option is always shared accommodations in a large room with a number of beds. The most expensive option is, of course, a private room (usually with shared bathroom, but sometimes you can find ones with a private bathroom).
Tip:Do your research! Knowing that different hostels have different options, find the one that best meets your needs in a price range that you are comfortable with. If the town you're in only has one hostel, inquire about different room options.
Theft
When sharing a room with a large number of people, it's not surprising that things get stolen, but remember that theft is a problem at hotels and at hostels. If you make a conscious effort to make it more difficult for thieves, chances are you will leave the hostel with all your goods.
Tip:Carry a lock with you. Many hostels have lockers and/or safety deposit boxes. Another option is to buy a Pacsafe backpack & bag protector and lock the bag to your bed if no lockers are available.
Tip:Don't leave anything of value in plain sight, even if it's just for a moment while you go to the washroom. It only takes a few seconds to grab an iPod and walk away.
Location
Many hostels are located on the outskirts of town. This is often necessary to offer you affordable pricing. Because the cost of land/rent is typically lower outside of town, hostels on the outskirts usually either have better rates or bigger facilities.
Tip:Make sure you look at a map and determine how far the hostel is from town. A hostel outside of town that is cheaper might end up costing you more than one in town if you have to take public transportation to get everywhere.
Curfews
Hostels have varying rules regarding curfews. The strictest ones (often Hostelling International (HI) hostels in my experience) will have a closing time and if you do not make it back by then you will be locked out until the morning. I have seen this enforced and people being 'forced' to spend the night at bars, unable to get back to their beds. To compound this issue, many close their doors in the afternoon in order to clean up the rooms. This means that when you show up at 6:00 AM after a night of partying, you will be forced out again before you're able to get a proper amount of sleep.
Tip:Think ahead about what you'll likely be doing in the evenings and choose your hostel accordingly.
The Advantages of Hostels
Despite all of the inconveniences listed above, hostels can be a great source for entertaining stories and making new friends. Some of my greatest travel stories center around experiences I've had with people I met at hostels.
Social Aspect & Travel Resources
Hostels are a great place to meet fellow like minded travellers from around the world. Many hostels also have their own bar area, which is a great spot to share travel stories after a day of site seeing. There is always a character to meet, or potential future travel buddies to get to know. The people you meet are also a great source of travel advice. Having taken a different path, they'll often have tips and/or ideas of places to visit that you might not have considered. I ended up in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, on the advice of a few people at a hostel and to this day it remains one of my favorite travel destinations.
Unexpected Surprises & Funny Stories
Many of the stories I tell people about my travels through Eastern and Western Europe revolve around interesting characters that I met at hostels - from Dan the trippy philosophical cowboy in Amsterdam to the naked sleepwalker in Venice. The bizarre, often entertaining, and always uncensored behavior that you see at hostels can't be beat!
Sometimes your hostel will even come with a little bonus surprise. A place I stayed at in the Czech Republic had a free keg night once a week. Given that I was only paying a few dollars (even though my room consisted of a mattress in the attic), it was like they were paying me to stay there! You definitely won't see that at any fancy hotel!
