Things To Know About Hosteling

Hosteling: tips and tricks for lodging on the cheap.

When it comes to hosteling, some important things to consider: What kind of experience do you want? Boisterous? Social? Quiet? Are you traveling with friends or alone? It’s typically harder to meet people at smaller hostels, so if you’re with a bunch of friends this could be a good choice.

1. Not all hostels are created equal.

The dirty, grimy hostel stereotype exists for a reason. Some are filthy and disgusting, and you won’t know what a hostel is like simply by Google imaging it or looking at its website. There are numerous websites you can use to view all of the hostels in an area and read hundreds of reviews on different people’s experiences there (Hostelbookers is my personal favorite.)

If you want to meet people and do a lot of socializing, a bigger hostel is probably the way to go. What sites do you want to see and what activities do you want to engage in? You can save a hefty amount of money by cutting down on travel costs by staying at a hostel near the things you most want to see and do.

Also, it’s always a good idea to stay somewhere near nodes of public transport; it saves cab money and makes getting around easier. Is there a common room? Common rooms facilitate social interaction and exchange, making it a lot easier to meet people. So if you want to make some cool new friends, it’s best to stay somewhere with a large, thriving common room (you can figure out if a hostel has one by reading reviews online.)

Remember there will be give and take; you’re most likely going to have to make some tradeoffs between qualities that are important to you. But keep in mind what is most important to you, do your research, and you’re bound to have a great experience.

2. Leave the heels behind.

This saying doesn’t just apply to girls. It’s a phrase to remind you that hosteling is not glamorous and you only need the bare necessities. You’re most likely going to be around a large, diverse group of interesting, adventurous, down-to-earth folks.

Over-indulging in material frills has several downturns. Fancy clothes, accessories and gadgets take up a lot of room in your bag and it really sucks to schlep all of that stuff on and off trains and up and down staircases. (Take it from someone who dragged an eighty pound suitcase all around Italy. NO ONE needs that much stuff, and most hostels don’t have elevators. You’re going to have a lot more fun getting to know the awesome people around you than playing on your iPad. The people around you are “down” to expand their minds, share ideas and experiences, socialize and have a good time.

If you’re stumbling along behind the group in five-inch heels or surfing the net on your laptop half of the time, you distance yourself from the best part of hosteling, which is hanging with amazing people you would never meet anywhere else.

3. Bring shower shoes.

A few things are essential for hosteling and not all are totally apparent. Here’s your list:

Shower shoes: communal bathrooms with numerous strangers from all corners of the globe, enough said.
A lock: many hostels have lockers and it’s good to keep as many of your belongings as possible locked in it. I’ve never had a problem with people stealing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Towels and cheap sheets: not all hostels offer them and if they’re selling them there, they are going to be expensive. (And you don’t want to use questionable, pre-used bedding or towels.)

4. That Old Creepy Guy.

Every hostel has one. He’s some old, hippie, free spirit, rebel-against-the man guy who looks like he hasn’t showered since Woodstock and has been staying in the hostel for over three months. He sits in the corner of the common room all day on his computer drinking beer from a tall can and refusing to make eye contact with anyone. However, he loves to get his philosophizing on late at night around cocktail hour and tries to hang with the cool youngsters (a.k.a you) when you’re having a few beers before going out. The only thing to do is to appreciate the local color, accept his presence and pray that you don’t get put in the same room as him.