These places have a lot more going for them than what is expected.
Photo: maxpixelFor some travelers, hostels might seem like a slightly unappealing option when it comes to preference for accommodations. This attitude is fair enough given the stereotypes, but what many people don’t realize is that these places have a lot more going for them than what is expected.
You see hostels are a classic part of any traveling adventure—whether you’re a student doing the backpacker gap year, a lost soul going through a quarter-life or mid-life crisis and wanting to get away from it all for a while, or just someone wanting to see a bit more of the world. Many people looking to travel this year will be tempted by Airbnb, which is all very modern and pleasant, but for that real travel vibe it just has to be a hostel. Here are three reasons why hostels are the best way to travel!
1. The Community Spirit Of Hostels Cannot Be Underestimated
What you get in the hostel is a community and you’ll meet all sorts of people here; some wacky, some lovely, some with pretty odd ideas about life, but that’s all part of the charm. If you go for an Airbnb or a fancy hotel you just won’t mix in the same way. This is particularly true if you’re traveling solo.
Some amazing friendships are formed at random just through sharing a hostel, and even if you don’t make friends for life you’ll end up sharing experiences, advice about where to go and where to avoid. It’s similar to a really cool club or beach that you’ve got to check out. You don’t get that kind of bond or information when you stay in the relatively isolated accommodation that is a hotel or B&B.
2. It’s An Atmosphere Full Of Adventure And Excitement
Photo: flickrThe whole point of traveling is to have an adventure, right? Now that might sound corny and there are certainly other ways to express the idea; but ultimately if you feel the inclination to travel it’s most likely because you’re wanting to get out of your usual groove, escape the tedium of ordinary, civilized life and try something new that makes you feel alive. With a hostel this is exactly what you get. Forget the massive double beds of plush hotels and enjoy shared rooms with bunk beds (most of which are much more comfortable than you might imagine) and the whole adventurous spirit therein.
3. Staying At Hostels Means Saving Lots of Money!
Obviously, one of the best things about staying at hostels is that you’ll save money. You don’t want to let concerns over budget and rate of spending dominate your experience while traveling, but at the same time you’ve got to be reasonably sensible about your money if you want to have enough left at the end of it all to make it back home again!
The key to this is striking a balance and staying at hostels, which allow you to do just this and help you relax knowing that your accommodation is already sorted out without fretting that it’s going to drain your precious funds. Of course there’ll always be a range of prices and it might be a good idea to not go with the very cheapest option available. All in all, hostels will always be a great option for travelers. There’s a ton of great advice on how to find cheap accommodation here, too!
Photo: flickrIf you’re still not convinced then do bear in mind that you don’t have to stick with one kind of accommodation the whole time. Feel free to stay at a hotel or B&B every now and then if you feel it’s all getting a bit too much. Don’t forget, you write your own rules when you travel and that’s the beauty of it!
