As I hang out in my hostel room bed, I begin to hear a loud commotion going on downstairs. Curious to what all the ruckus is about, I eagerly leave my room and head towards the noise. Walking into the common room of the hostel, I am welcomed to a long dinner table set up with massive amounts of food and was surrounded by travelers who were staying in the hostel. Everyone was laughing, drinking beer, eating food, dancing to music, and covered in smiles. Nobody knew each other, but the atmosphere at this hostel brought everyone together. It made people feel free to share about their lives and be friendly to a complete stranger. I grabbed a seat at one end of the table and right away met a group of solo travelers. Little did I know that 2 of these travelers would end up tagging along with me for the next 3 weeks to explore Vietnam.
I can say that staying in hostels is one of the greatest things to do while traveling. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a friend or group, you must take advantage of hostels. This might even seem crazy, but I think that they should be even more expensive than hotels. If i had the choice, I would gladly pay more to get a hostel experience rather than be in a hotel.
There can be a lot of misconceptions about staying in hostels. Could it be from that horror movie “Hostel” back in the day? Probably not, but I think it’s really because most people don’t honestly know what a hostel is like. In this post I will explain what a hostel is and the reality of sleeping in one. There is a long list of amazing opportunities that can be taken advantage of. All it takes is to be aware of everything a hostel offers.
What is a Hostel?
Example of a little higher class dorm room.
Hostels are basically college dorms, but for travelers of all ages. In simpler terms, it’s shared accommodation where you rent a bed and stay in a dorm, sharing the room with others. A hostel usually consists of a common area, kitchen to share, and multiple dorm rooms. The rooms can be gender mixed as well as one-sex. A lot of hostels also provide organized events that assist travelers in seeing the city which it resides.
You can find a hostel in most likely every country you visit around the world. They are a budget-friendly form of accommodation compared to hotels or Airbnb. However, there can be many other functions that come with a hostel besides being just a place to get some sleep.
The Reality of Staying in a Hostel
Here is what to expect once you arrive at a hostel. As you enter into the reception area you’ll be greeted by either a local working in the hostel or a traveler who is volunteering there in exchange for free accommodation. They check you in, give you an explanation of all the amenities & rules, some hostels will offer you opportunities to attend organized tours by them, and others will give you a customized map of the city you’re visiting. Then you will be escorted to your bed and be given a mini-tour of the room. Here you’ll meet the travelers who you’ll be sharing a room with so it’s always best to introduce yourself in order to provide everyone with a sense of security knowing a bit about who you are. Check out your bed, make sure all the sheets look clean and new. Examine whether you have your own outlet, headlamp, or even a curtain to provides a little bit of privacy.
In the most average hostel room, there are usually lockers assigned to each bed. You can lock up your main backpack in yours and travel around the city with just a daypack carrying your essentials. Once you arrive back to the hostel you can check out the common area where people from each room hangout. This is usually the spot where you have the biggest chance to socialize with others.
As far as how the actual sleeping part is. It really depends on the type of hostel you’re staying in. There are party hostels which could be loud till late hours. In this type of hostel, people will probably be coming in and out of your room and making noises because they’re drunk. Then there are the calm quiet hostels where people go to bed early, there are rules on making noise past a certain hour, and not much socializing is being done. There is nothing wrong with either hostel, it all depends on what you’re trying to get out of it.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Hostel Experience
- The receptionist is your best friend! Whether they are a local or tourist living in the city. They can both provide you with suggestions on where to go, what to see, places to eat, etc. Make sure to ask as many questions as possible about the place you’re visiting. They can even call you a cab to anywhere you like.
- If you’re a confident cook, you can use the shared kitchen to make yourself some food or even serve others. This is a great way to meet people and make friends through cooking. It’s also a good way to save money if you’re traveling on a tight budget. Just make sure to clean up after yourself.
- Look into whether the hostel has organized tours. A lot of times the hostels provide tours to the top things in the city. For a single fee, they can provide you with transportation and a guide to that specific activity.
- Be aware of all the amenities the hostel has. You can get a free towel, buy cheap food or get a free breakfast, charge up all your technology, use the Wi-Fi, and possibly even get your laundry done for free.
- Take advantage of the fact that hostels are filled with other travelers like yourself. You can learn so much information from another person who has also done their research. Sometimes you can even end up going somewhere together and creating a long-lasting friendship.
There are just too many reasons to why everyone should give hostels a try while they are traveling. They really do unlock so many amazing experiences that might otherwise be missed. As long as you’re knowledgeable about what the hostel life is like, how to make the most out of it, and go in with a positive outlook. Your whole travel experience will improve because of it.
