12 Ways to Avoid Staying in a Bad 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 best ways to fulfill individuals and the most affordable lodging possibility 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 started traveling the world, I’ve develop into adept at determining in a short time if the hostel house owners know what they’re doing or if they simply randomly awoke at some point and mentioned, “Let’s open a hostel. It appears like enjoyable.”

Whereas hostels are all in regards to the individuals, administration can do just a few issues to make their hostel the proper framework for making your expertise higher. Sure options make a hostel memorable (widespread rooms, group actions, kitchens) whereas others could make them forgettable — or worse (push-button showers, common filth, unknowledgeable workers).

All of my favorite hostels share widespread traits that make them a few of the finest on this planet.

Right here’s a breakdown of what I’d search for in a hostel that will help you decide one of the best one in your subsequent journey:

1. Is There a Frequent Room?

I like assembly new individuals after I journey. Since I often journey solo, I must exit of my approach 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 often have pool tables or online game consoles, TVs/films (excellent for wet days), foosball, ping pong, and comfortable couches (cozy couches are a should!). If you wish to be social, ensure you keep someplace that has an honest widespread room (or a number of). It’s one of the best place to simply join with different vacationers.

In hotter locations, a standard space exterior can be a giant plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas, a pool — any social out of doors area is a should.

2. Is It Centrally Situated?

Location, location, location. Every time I’m in search of a brand new hostel I ensure 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 cause, I at all times be certain that my hostels are in a central location and that they’re near public transportation. That approach, 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 could value more cash, however you’ll lower your expenses on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are often the extra common ones, making them higher locations to fulfill individuals.

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

3. Is It Clear?

Positive, price range 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 highway, keep away from soiled hostels. Gross loos and showers (in addition to the elevated threat of mattress bugs) aren’t well worth the threat — even when the hostel is affordable. Spend money on your self. You deserve a clear room!

For the reason that pictures hostels submit on their web site and social media could be deceptive, be certain that to particularly learn critiques 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 critiques point out the shortage of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Learn Critiques?

All the time learn critiques earlier than you guide. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a celebration hostel or extra laid again? Are the mattresses cozy? Are the bunk beds squeaky? You’ll be able to often reply all of those questions (and plenty of extra) by studying critiques.

Web sites like Hostelworld and Booking.com have tons of critiques that will help you discover the hostel that most accurately fits your wants and price range.

When you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt (individuals like to complain), they’re undoubtedly useful in the case of choosing one of the best hostel. Be sure you go away critiques too — good critiques assist hostels develop and unhealthy critiques can warn your fellow vacationers so that they don’t make the identical mistake.

Moreover, ensure you solely keep at motels with a number of critiques. A hostel may need a excessive score on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 critiques then I’ll possible steer clear of it (it’s simple to pretend scores like that). Nonetheless, if a hostel has a whole bunch (or hundreds) of critiques and nonetheless has a score of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s signal it’s a stable place to remain.

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

5. Do they Arrange Group Actions?

When you plan on staying at a social hostel and need to meet individuals, select a hostel that gives group actions. These could possibly be walking tours (my private favourite exercise), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking courses, or BBQs. These occasions are an effective way to fulfill different vacationers and study your vacation spot.

My favorite hostels are at all times social hostels that set up occasions. It simply makes your keep far more enjoyable and energetic!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. One of the best hostels have 11am checkout occasions, and the actually good ones allow you to try at midday. Sleep is effective on the highway 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 unsuitable a couple of hostel asking you to be packed and out so early within the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

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

When you’re seeking 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 really been in hostels that don’t present lockers or will cost you for them. These days, lockers must be normal. It’s best to 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 effectively, so you need to use 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 price range, and share a meal together with your new associates. Nothing binds individuals nearer collectively than a shared meal (and some glasses of wine).

10. Do They Provide Breakfast?

Search for a spot with an honest breakfast (i.e., greater than bread and cheese) or a minimum of one which begins and ends when individuals are really awake (breakfasts that begin round 8:30am often go late). Breakfast can be an effective way to load up on snacks for the day, reducing down your meals price range.

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, metallic bunks. Every time potential, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present a lot better privateness and dampen the noise round you so you possibly can sleep higher. They often have curtains too, that are at all times a giant plus in my guide.

12. Are There Particular person Lights & Shops?

Earlier than you guide, discover out if the dorm bunks have their very own outlet and lightweight. Not solely will this guarantee you possibly can cost your gadgets with out having to combat for area, but it surely means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as an alternative of the room’s essential mild. (I hate it when individuals flip the lights on in the midst of the evening. Use your mattress’s lamp or a flashlight!)

I don’t want a hostel to have all these items, however a very fantastic hostel that understands what vacationers are in search of has nearly all of the issues listed above.

Moreover, as increasingly individuals shift to distant work, hostels have began to accommodate long-term vacationers who work on their laptops. When 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, should you’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 type of boring should you’re not doing it too. As a substitute, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It is going to be far more gratifying and also you’ll have a better time assembly individuals.

In the long run, what actually makes hostel are the individuals and even the worst hostels shall be nice should you meet good individuals. However eradicating the individuals from the equation, I search for hostels which have a few of 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 trade for a mattress. I’d relatively keep at a spot that’s trying to ensure I’ve time.

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