Travelers backpacking Europe are presented with a large variety of lodging options. You can stay in a cheap hotel, cute inn, bed and breakfast, campground, room for rent, or pensione, couch, guesthouse, luxury resort, or hostel. I have stayed in all types of accommodation, but my favorite is to rest my head in a hostel, also called a backpackers, youth hostel, or hostal, depending where you are in the world. There are many reasons to stay in a hostel whether you are a first-time traveler who is green behind the ears or an experienced globetrotter; here are my top 8 reasons:
- Hostels are cheap. Besides camping and couches, hostels are the least expensive type of lodging around the world. Saving money on your accommodation means that you have more dough to put towards neat experiences or a longer trip.
- B&B’s are too personal, and hotels are not personal enough. I don’t want to be forced to chitchat with a bed and breakfast owner over pancakes, but sometimes I do feel like making a friend at dinner, which is hard to do in a sterile hotel setting.
- Hostels usually have kitchens, laundry facilities and book exchanges, so not only do you save money on lodging itself, you will save money by cooking your own breakfast and doing your own laundry.
- Hostels are rich with insider information: maps, bulletin boards, and other travelers’ resources are the norm- not to mention the hostel manager who probably knows the area better than anyone in town, from the cheapest grocery store to the beach where seal pups hang out
. - Hostels are located in cool places that hotels are not. Small, out-of-the-way locations often aren’t big enough to support an inn but will have a hostel, catering to backpackers and creating a solid budget travel infrastructure and a mini-culture around it.
- When you stay in a hostel you have access to free activities. Bikes, tours, and surfboards are often there for the borrowing, and many hostels will set up pub crawls, wine tastings, trivia nights,free yoga classes and travelers’ info sessions on a regular basis.
- Hostels are often in unique buildings that will add to your travel experience, like converted bakeries, monasteries, prisons, insane asylums, and trains. There are hostels that are spiritual retreats in the mountains, tepees in the forest, and surf schools on the beach.
- The very best thing about staying in hostels are the fellow travelers you will meet, like-minded backpackers who like to travel close to the ground. You will meet people to party with for the night, backpackers to travel with for the next leg of your itinerary, and friends you will have for the rest of your life
So what are you waiting for, book your hostel today!
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FAQs
Hosteling is especially great for solo travelers on a tight budget: While a single hotel room costs nearly the same as a double, in a hostel you pay by the bed. Hostels come with an instant circle of potential new friends from around the world, making it easy to find companions for dinner or sightseeing.
Why would tourists prefer to stay in hostels? ›
Cost-Effective: Hostels are generally more budget-friendly than hotels. They offer a cost-effective option for travelers, especially those on a tight budget. You can often find dormitory-style rooms with multiple beds, which are cheaper than private hotel rooms.
Why are there so many hostels in Europe? ›
Hostels are located in cool places that hotels are not. Small, out-of-the-way locations often aren't big enough to support an inn but will have a hostel, catering to backpackers and creating a solid budget travel infrastructure and a mini-culture around it. When you stay in a hostel you have access to free activities.
Where do people stay when they backpack in Europe? ›
Most backpackers in Europe choose to stay in hostels because they are generally the most affordable option. Other possible places to stay for even less include homestays and work exchanges, which you can find on sites like Worldpackers.
Do you need a sleeping bag in Europe hostels? ›
In fact, many hostels forbid outside linen and sleeping bags, due to hygiene concerns. Always carry your own towel. Most hostels provide kitchen facilities where you can cook, eat, and store your food. Write your name and room number on your food.
Who usually stays in hostels? ›
Hostels have become a budget-friendly alternative to hotels praised by many travellers. However, who are hostels really intended for ? Numerous hostel customers are single travellers. Indeed, this type of accommodation suits their needs by offering comfortable but reasonably priced individual lodgings.
What are the pros and cons of a hostel? ›
Hostel Stays for Work Trips – Pros & Cons
- Pro: Hostels are budget-friendly. ...
- Con: Privacy can be a challenge. ...
- Pro: Strong Wi-Fi abounds. ...
- Con: Most likely, you'll share a bathroom. ...
- Pro: Hostels are conveniently located. ...
- Con: Parking can be hit or miss.
- Pro: Highly social hostels are great for meeting new contacts.
Who stays in a hostel? The typical hostel-goer tends to skew on the younger side. The average age is probably somewhere between 18 and 25, although you'll definitely find travelers much older than that as well! I have even witnessed full families with young children staying in hostels.
Are hostels in Europe clean? ›
Hostels vary in size, quality, and character. If a hostel is an official member of the venerable Hosteling International organization, it's probably big, institutional, and a bit rule-laden, but predictably clean, well organized, and family-friendly (it probably also takes in lots of school groups).
What is the average cost of a hostel in Europe? ›
Hostels will often offer dorms of varying sizes. In a major city, such as London or Berlin, a hostel can cost anywhere between $50 and $100 per night during the summer. These prices will drop during the shoulder and winter months. Hostels can be less than $20 per night in a more Eastern city like Budapest.
Things NOT to pack for your hostel stay
- Oversized suitcase. If you prefer a suitcase to a backpack while travelling, keep it reasonably sized. …
- Bedding. Most hostels now give you bedding. ...
- Sleeping bag.
- Lots of hostels don't let you use sleeping bags. This always depends on the hostel.
- Full-sized toiletries.
- Giant towel.
To avoid germs, dirt, dust mites, weird smells, or just the thought of sleeping in sheets with someone else's body grime it's best to just pack your sheets and change them once you arrive at your hotel, Airbnb, or hostel room.
Do you share a room in hostels? ›
Experiences vary from hostel to hostel but essentially you rent a bed in a shared dormitory-style room. Dorms can range from 3 beds all the way up to 12 (or more). The good news is that the more beds there are in a room, the cheaper your nightly rate usually is.
Why do people go in hostels? ›
Cost-effectiveness
Paying for one bed in a shared hostel room is often cheaper than staying in a private room in a hotel. And if you're traveling with someone, you can opt for a private room. Beyond low-cost rates, you can also take advantage of shared facilities that allow you to save money by cooking your meals.
Why do travellers stay in hostels? ›
Benefits of staying in hostels
You'll meet people easily. Traveling long-term as a couple can leave you craving new people to talk too. It's cheap. Typically these kinds of accommodations have lots of reviews which means you can book your stay with confidence.
Why do people sleep in hostels? ›
Well, hostels are no-frills, low-cost accommodation, renting beds (usually bunk beds) in more or less big shared dorms. They usually are super friendly, funny, and guest-oriented places. As with hotels, there's a wide range of hostels and quality, prices and services may really go from heaven to hell…
What are the benefits of hostels? ›
Everything you require is nearby: Near hostels are bakeries, gyms, playgrounds, libraries, & even washing machines. The main advantage of living in hostels is having access to all essential amenities close at hand. You don't have to waste energy and time traveling far to acquire what you need.
