Let’s Stay at a Hostel

1. Embrace the international community

You’ve been wanting to do this trip for a while, but all your friends are either too busy, in a relationship, or saving money for other things. Sounds familiar? If you’re reluctant to travel on your own, don’t worry, hostels can guarantee you meet other solo travellers. And just like you, they will be open to new adventures and new friendships. Also, most of them will be from different parts of the world so you can practise their language, learn about their culture, or taste their traditional food. Who knows, maybe on your next trip you won’t even need accommodation as your new international friends might invite you to their home. So, take a chance and buy that darn plane ticket!

2. Enjoy a free tour or event

At almost every hostel you will be able to participate in free daily events which attract a larger group of travellers. By having a common purpose, guests can strike up a conversation easily which potentially leads to laughs and good times. Hostel activities are very diverse and can include activities such as the now traditional pub crawl, local food cooking classes, board game parties (with free drinks included), yoga sessions, stand-up comedy shows or concerts, and a lot more. The hostels usually hire guides to lead you to all the local spots and give you some inside tips about the best cheap eats and bars.

3. Get comfortable

While meeting other travellers can be very enjoyable, it is sometimes hard to initiate the first contact. After a long day of sightseeing or an exhausting six-hour bus journey, mustering the energy to approach strangers can be a real motivation challenge. This is where a hostel will give you tremendous help by creating the perfect environment to facilitate interaction. Common areas tend to be furnished very cosily and are beautifully decorated with local art. Lounge, dining room, kitchen, movie room, poolroom, or patio and more, are usually very spacious and provide an extra source of entertainment but can also be used to tune out the world and spend some quiet time with your book or computer.

4. Choose the room you want

Many people believe hostels are all about big bedrooms with plenty of bunk beds, where you can forget about privacy and a good night’s sleep. While there might be some hostels like that, most of them will offer a range of possibilities when it comes to the type of room you can choose. Depending on your needs, you may ask for a single or double room with private or shared bathroom, a room for three, four, and up to ten guests or more. The bigger the room, the cheaper it usually is! If you opt for a shared room, most hostels should have lockers (locks also available for rent) to keep all your personal belongings safe.

5. Get the good deals

Often, hostels offer discounted prices on accommodation or travelling services. If you’re a student, you might get a 10% off if you present your student ID. A lot of hostels will have partnerships with local service providers and museums so that their guests can enjoy a maximum of attractions for a friendlier price. For example, youth non-profit association Hostelling International offers a 10% reduction for its members on all hostels booked through HI in more than 80 different countries. They also give discounts on top local museums and galleries, car rentals, transportation, and many more, so make sure you get their annual international membership when you stay at their hostels.