12 Methods to Keep away from Staying in a Dangerous Hostel in 2025

I like hostels. Even after over nineteen years touring the world, I nonetheless keep in hostels as a result of they’re one of the simplest ways to satisfy individuals and the most affordable lodging choice in a lot of the world.

However what makes a good hostel?

And the way do you keep away from a unhealthy hostel?

After staying in over a thousand hostels since I first began touring the world, I’ve grow to be adept at determining in a short time if the hostel homeowners know what they’re doing or if they only randomly wakened in the future and mentioned, “Let’s open a hostel. It appears like enjoyable.”

Whereas hostels are all concerning the individuals, administration can do a couple of issues to make their hostel the right framework for making your expertise higher. Sure options make a hostel memorable (frequent rooms, group actions, kitchens) whereas others could make them forgettable — or worse (push-button showers, basic filth, unknowledgeable employees).

All of my favourite hostels share frequent traits that make them among the finest on the planet.

Right here’s a breakdown of what I’d search for in a hostel that can assist you decide the perfect one in your subsequent journey:

1. Is There a Frequent Room?

I like assembly new individuals after I journey. Since I normally journey solo, I must exit of my option to meet individuals if I need to be social. Frequent rooms in hostels make that simple. They assist me discover individuals to speak with, get ideas from, do actions with, and even journey with.

Plus, they’re good for simply having enjoyable. They normally have pool tables or online game consoles, TVs/motion pictures (good for wet days), foosball, ping pong, and comfortable couches (comfortable couches are a should!). If you wish to be social, be sure you keep someplace that has a good frequent room (or a number of). It’s the perfect place to simply join with different vacationers.

In hotter locations, a standard space outdoors can also be a giant plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas, a pool — any social outside house is a should.

2. Is It Centrally Situated?

Location, location, location. At any time when I’m on the lookout for a brand new hostel I guarantee that it’s close to the issues I need to see. I don’t need to spend all my time commuting after I get someplace new. For that motive, I at all times ensure that my hostels are in a central location and that they’re near public transportation. That method, I can get round simply and don’t want to fret about having to waste cash on taxis.

That is particularly vital in giant cities the place issues are unfold out and while you’re on a shorter journey and time is of the essence. Sure, they may value more cash, however you’ll lower your expenses on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are normally the extra standard ones, making them higher locations to satisfy individuals.

Don’t waste your trip in transit; ebook someplace central!

3. Is It Clear?

Positive, finances vacationers like issues low cost — however that doesn’t imply we like issues soiled. Whereas hostels have come a great distance in recent times, there are nonetheless many which are poorly maintained and in want of an intensive scrubbing. Because it’s simple to get sick on the street, keep away from soiled hostels. Gross loos and showers (in addition to the elevated threat of mattress bugs) aren’t definitely worth the threat — even when the hostel is reasonable. Put money into your self. You deserve a clear room!

For the reason that images hostels submit on their web site and social media could be deceptive, ensure that to particularly learn opinions on websites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If only one individual complains, possibly it’s not a giant deal. But when quite a few opinions point out the shortage of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Learn Critiques?

All the time learn opinions earlier than you ebook. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a celebration hostel or extra laid again? Are the mattresses comfortable? Are the bunk beds squeaky? You may normally reply all of those questions (and plenty of extra) by studying opinions.

Web sites like Hostelworld and Reserving.com have tons of opinions that can assist you discover the hostel that most accurately fits your wants and finances.

Whilst you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt (individuals like to complain), they’re positively useful relating to selecting the perfect hostel. Be sure you depart opinions too — good opinions assist hostels develop and unhealthy opinions can warn your fellow vacationers in order that they don’t make the identical mistake.

Moreover, be sure you solely keep at accommodations with a lot of opinions. A hostel may need a excessive score on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 opinions then I’ll seemingly avoid it (it’s simple to faux scores like that). Nonetheless, if a hostel has lots of (or hundreds) of opinions and nonetheless has a score of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a great signal it’s a strong place to remain.

Usually, I attempt to solely ebook hostels with a score of 8 or larger on Hostelworld.

5. Do they Arrange Group Actions?

Should you plan on staying at a social hostel and need to meet individuals, select a hostel that gives group actions. These could possibly be strolling excursions (my private favourite exercise), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking lessons, or BBQs. These occasions are a good way to satisfy different vacationers and find out about your vacation spot.

My favourite hostels are at all times social hostels that set up occasions. It simply makes your keep way more enjoyable and vigorous!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. The perfect hostels have 11am checkout occasions, and the actually good ones allow you to try at midday. Sleep is effective on the street since you’ll hardly ever get sufficient of it. Hostels with late checkout occasions perceive this and are sometimes extra relaxed environments. There’s simply one thing fallacious a few hostel asking you to be packed and out so early within the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

Bars are usually not deal breakers and there are lots of fantastic hostels with out them, however they make for an incredible place to socialize with different hostel visitors. Often if a hostel has a bar, they put a powerful emphasis on ensuring the individuals staying there are having enjoyable, interacting, and being festive.

Should you’re trying to be social and meet individuals, you’ll need to keep someplace with a bar.

8. Do They Have Lockers?

It’s stunning, however I’ve truly been in hostels that don’t present lockers or will cost you for them. These days, lockers must be normal. You must by no means pay for safety. It is a deal-breaker for me (particularly since I journey with electronics). All the time convey a lock with you as nicely, so you should utilize the lockers when they’re offered.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Attempt to search for hostels with kitchens since you possibly can then put together your individual meals, decrease your meals finances, and share a meal together with your new mates. Nothing binds individuals nearer collectively than a shared meal (and some glasses of wine).

10. Do They Supply Breakfast?

Search for a spot with a good breakfast (i.e., greater than bread and cheese) or at the least one which begins and ends when individuals are truly awake (breakfasts that begin round 8:30am normally go late). Breakfast can also be a good way to load up on snacks for the day, slicing down your meals finances.

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, steel bunks. At any time when attainable, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present significantly better privateness and dampen the noise round you so you possibly can sleep higher. They normally have curtains too, that are at all times a giant plus in my ebook.

12. Are There Particular person Lights & Retailers?

Earlier than you ebook, discover out if the dorm bunks have their very own outlet and lightweight. Not solely will this guarantee you possibly can cost your units with out having to combat for house, nevertheless it means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as a substitute of the room’s foremost gentle. (I hate it when individuals flip the lights on in the course of the night time. Use your mattress’s lamp or a flashlight!)

I don’t want a hostel to have all these items, however a really fantastic hostel that understands what vacationers are on the lookout for has the vast majority of the issues listed above.

Moreover, as an increasing number of individuals shift to distant work, hostels have began to accommodate long-term vacationers who work on their laptops. Should you’re a distant employee, these hostels are nice locations to remain as they’ve quick Wi-Fi and make it simple to attach and community with different digital nomads. Nonetheless, for those who’re not working on-line whereas touring, keep away from these hostels since most individuals will simply be on their laptops working and that’s form of boring for those who’re not doing it too. As a substitute, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It is going to be way more satisfying and also you’ll have a better time assembly individuals.

Ultimately, what actually makes a great hostel are the individuals and even the worst hostels can be nice for those who meet good individuals. However eradicating the individuals from the equation, I search for hostels which have among the above qualities in them. Hostels that know what you need as a traveler are there to reinforce your journey expertise, not merely take cash from you in change for a mattress. I’d somewhat keep at a spot that’s trying to verify I’ve a great time.

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