Since I started traveling the world, I’ve stayed in thousands of hostels. Over time, I’ve learned to quickly determine whether a hostel owner knows what they’re doing, or if they’ve simply decided “Let’s open a hostel. That sounds nice”.
While hostels are first and foremost a people business, there are things managers can do to make their hostel the perfect setting for a better experience. Shared rooms, group activities and kitchens are among the things that make hostels unforgettable, while push-button showers, dirt and unintelligent staff can be unforgettable, if not worse. My favorite hostels all have things in common that make them the best hostels in the world.
Here’s an overview of my hostel requirements to help you choose the best hostel for your next trip:
1. Is there a common room?
I love meeting new people when I travel. Since I usually travel alone, I need to meet new people if I want to socialize. Youth hostel lounges make this easy. They help me find people to talk to, ask advice from, go to events with and even travel with.
The common room is also a great place to have fun. There’s usually a pool table or games console, TV/movies (perfect for rainy days), foosball, table tennis and comfy sofas (comfy sofas are a must!). If you want to socialize, make sure there’s a good communal lounge (or several) where you’re staying. It’s the best place to easily get in touch with other travelers.
Open-air communal areas are also very popular in warm destinations. Rooftop bars, terraces, barbecue areas, swimming pools – any outdoor social space is a must.
2. Is the hotel centrally located?
Location, location, location. When looking for a new hostel, I always make sure it’s close to where I want to go. I don’t want to spend all my time commuting to a new place. That’s why I always make sure my hostel is centrally located and close to public transportation. That way, I don’t have to worry about taxi fares and it’s easy to get around. This is especially important in big cities where public transportation is limited.
3. Is it clean?
While we love to do business, budget travelers don’t like to get dirty. While hostels have come a long way in recent years, there are still many that are poorly maintained and in need of a thorough cleaning. Since it’s easy to get sick while traveling, it’s important to avoid dirty and poorly maintained hostels. Even if the hostel is cheap, dirty showers and bathrooms, and the increased likelihood of bedbugs, aren’t worth it. Invest in your well-being. You deserve a clean room!
Since the photos posted by hostels on their websites and social media can be misleading, be sure to read reviews on sites like Hostelworld for cleanliness advice. If only one person complains, it might not be a big deal. However, if multiple reviews mention a lack of cleanliness, it’s something to be concerned about.
4. Have you read the reviews? Always read the reviews before booking. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a party hostel or a chill hostel? Are the beds comfortable? Do the bunk beds creak? You can usually answer all these questions (and more) by reading the reviews.
Sites like Hostelworld and Booking.com offer numerous reviews that can help you find the hostel best suited to your needs and budget.
While you should take their advice with a grain of salt, as people love to complain, they will definitely help you choose the best hostel. Be sure to leave…
5. Does it organize group activities? If you want to meet new people and plan to stay in a social hostel, choose a hostel that organizes group activities. These can include hiking trips (my favorite), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking classes, or barbecues. These activities are a great way to meet other travelers and learn more about the destination.
My favorite activity is hosting an event at a social hostel. It adds excitement and fun to your trip!
6. Is it possible to check out late? Never stay at a hostel with a 10:00 a.m. checkout time. The best hostels have an 11:00 a.m. checkout time, and the really good ones let you check out at noon. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep, as you won’t get enough while traveling. Hostels with later checkout times are aware of this and are generally more relaxed. It’s not a good idea to leave early in the morning if you’re asked to.
7. Is there a bar?
A bar isn’t a hindrance to traveling—many good hostels don’t have one—but it’s a good place to meet other hostel guests. If a hostel has a bar, they often want their guests to have fun, socialize, and get into the vacation spirit.
If you want to meet people, you absolutely must choose a hostel with a bar.
8. Are there lockers? Surprisingly, I’ve stayed in hostels that didn’t offer lockers or charged for them. These days, lockers should be the norm. Security should never come at a price. This is an important question for me (especially since I travel with electronic devices). Also, you should bring a lock with you when lockers are available.
9. Is there a kitchen?
Try to find hostels with kitchens, as you’ll be able to cook your own meals, save money on food, and eat with new friends. There’s nothing like sharing a meal (and a few drinks) to bring people together.
10. Is breakfast included? Find a place that serves a proper breakfast—not just bread and cheese—or at least one that starts and ends when people are actually awake (breakfasts that start around 8:30 a.m. usually last all morning). Breakfast is also a good way to prepare snacks for the day and save on your food budget.
11. Do you have a four-poster bed?
The days of creaky metal bunk beds are over. If possible, look for hostels that offer pod-style beds. These beds offer better privacy, reduce ambient noise, and help you sleep better. They also tend to have curtains, which I’ve always found to be a great advantage.
12) Are there individual power outlets and lamps? Before booking, check if the dorms have individual outlets and lamps.
This will not only allow you to charge your devices without competing for space, but also allow your travel companions to turn on their own small light instead of the main room light. Use a bedside lamp or a torch! I don’t need all of these things in a hostel, but a really good hostel that understands the needs of travelers should have most of the things listed above.
Also, as more and more people work remotely, hostels are starting to offer accommodations for long-term travelers who work on laptops. If you work remotely, these hostels are a great place to stay because they have fast Wi-Fi connections, making it easy to connect and network with other digital nomads. However, if you don’t work online while traveling, don’t stay in these hostels because most people work on their laptops, and it would be a bit boring if you didn’t work online either. Instead, you can stay in specialized backpacker hostels. This will be much easier for you.