Even in the most expensive cities around the world, there will be a handful of cheap hostels that will give weary travellers a place to stay for a few days. The social and monetary incentives to stay in a hostel are great and young backpackers aren't the only ones taking advantage of these low-priced beds. However, hostelling won't be a good choice for everyone. Some travelers won't be used to trusting strangers. Others will not like the idea of paying lots of extra deposits and fees. This article will look at the highs and lows of staying in a hostel.
A Hostel Has a Communal Atmosphere
There's no better place to meet travelers from all over the world than in a hostel. They're open to individuals in all age groups, so there are likely to be older and middle aged guests. Most hostels have a shared kitchen and a common room with furniture. Interacting with people will be natural because in this environment, travellers trade stories about attractions, tours, and other hostels.
Travelers Can Get More Information
Hostel staffs are usually younger, and have probably done some travelling themselves. Hotel receptionists may only provide a map and a few directions, but when the people at a front desk in a hostel go to great lengths to help guests it can make the experience memorable. If they are native to the area that the hostel is in, chances are they will really know their stuff and can tell visitors the best places to eat and drink, what tourist traps to avoid, and what guided tours to take.
Shared Kitchen Facilities and a Bar
A good, modern hostel will have a kitchen that every guest can use. Everything that's needed to store and cook food will already be in place. This will trim food costs quite a bit for travelers. Not every hostel has one, but if there's a bar it means the staff put lots of emphasis on making sure the people staying there are having fun.
Noisy Rooms
This is a justified concern of travelers who can't fall asleep unless it's absolutely quiet. Some hostels are party palaces where sleeping isn't an important consideration. With all of the people who come and go until the front doors are locked for the night, a hostel might not be the best place to get a good night's rest.
Hostel Curfews
Not all hostels do this, but some of them lock the doors. This can be an unpleasant surprise for a jet lagged traveler who arrives in a foreign city in the middle of the night and has no idea where else to go. Older travelers will probably not enjoy staying in a place that imposes this kind of policy.
Lack of Security
Sketchy backpacker hostels won't offer lockers of any kind to store important valuables. Even if they do, some won't be free and others won't have locks. Hostels attract a colorful group of characters and not all of them will be trustworthy. Travelers can invest in a money belt and carry their documents that way.
Hostels aren't as ritzy as upscale hotels, but they can offer lots of things that hotels can't. The opportunities to socialize with other guests and to save money are the biggest advantages of staying in a hostel.
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
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