12 Ways to Avoid Staying in a Bad Hostel in 2025

I really 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 fulfill 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 started traveling the world, I’ve change into adept at determining in a short time if the hostel homeowners 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 a couple of 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 greatest on the planet.

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

1. Is There a Frequent Room?

I really like assembly new individuals after I journey. Since I normally journey solo, I have to exit of my approach to meet individuals if I need to be social. Frequent rooms in hostels make that straightforward. They assist me discover individuals to speak with, get suggestions 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/films (good for wet days), foosball, ping pong, and cozy couches (comfortable couches are a should!). If you wish to be social, ensure you keep someplace that has a good 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 outside area is a should.

2. Is It Centrally Positioned?

Location, location, location. Every time I’m in search of a brand new hostel I make it possible for 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 be sure 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 could value more cash, however you’ll get monetary savings on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are normally the extra standard ones, making them higher locations to fulfill individuals.

Don’t waste your trip in transit; e-book someplace central!

3. Is It Clear?

Positive, funds vacationers like issues low-cost — however that doesn’t imply we like issues soiled. Whereas hostels have come a good distance lately, there are nonetheless many which might be poorly maintained and in want of a radical scrubbing. Because it’s straightforward 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 reasonable. Put money into your self. You deserve a clear room!

For the reason that images hostels put up on their web site and social media may be deceptive, be sure to particularly learn evaluations on websites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If only one individual complains, perhaps it’s not a giant deal. But when quite a few evaluations point out the dearth of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Learn Critiques?

All the time learn evaluations earlier than you e-book. 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 possibly can normally reply all of those questions (and lots of extra) by studying evaluations.

Web sites like Hostelworld and Booking.com have tons of evaluations that can assist you discover the hostel that most closely fits your wants and funds.

Whilst you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt (individuals like to complain), they’re positively useful in relation to selecting one of the best hostel. Ensure you go away evaluations too — good evaluations assist hostels develop and unhealthy evaluations can warn your fellow vacationers in order that they don’t make the identical mistake.

Moreover, ensure you solely keep at lodges with a lot of evaluations. A hostel may need a excessive ranking on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 evaluations then I’ll possible keep away from it (it’s straightforward to faux rankings like that). Nevertheless, if a hostel has a whole lot (or hundreds) of evaluations and nonetheless has a ranking of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a superb signal it’s a strong place to remain.

Typically, I attempt to solely e-book hostels with a ranking of 8 or larger on Hostelworld.

5. Do they Set up Group Actions?

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

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

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. The very best hostels have 11am checkout instances, 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 instances perceive this and are sometimes extra relaxed environments. There’s simply one thing mistaken a couple of hostel asking you to be packed and out so early within the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

Bars will not be deal breakers and there are plenty of fantastic hostels with out them, however they make for an amazing place to socialize with different hostel visitors. Normally if a hostel has a bar, they put a robust emphasis on ensuring the individuals staying there are having enjoyable, interacting, and being festive.

Should 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 truly been in hostels that don’t present lockers or will cost you for them. These days, lockers needs to be commonplace. You must by no means pay for safety. This can be a deal-breaker for me (particularly since I journey with electronics). All the time deliver a lock with you as effectively, so you should utilize the lockers when they’re supplied.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Attempt to search for hostels with kitchens since you may then put together your personal meals, decrease your meals funds, 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 Supply Breakfast?

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

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, metallic bunks. Every time attainable, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present significantly better privateness and dampen the noise round you so you may sleep higher. They normally have curtains too, that are at all times a giant plus in my e-book.

12. Are There Particular person Lights & Shops?

Earlier than you e-book, discover out if the dorm bunks have their very own outlet and light-weight. Not solely will this guarantee you may cost your units with out having to battle for area, however it means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as an alternative of the room’s major gentle. (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 this stuff, however a really fantastic hostel that understands what vacationers are in search of has the vast majority of the issues listed above.

Moreover, as increasingly more 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 straightforward to attach and community with different digital nomads. Nevertheless, in the event 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 sort of boring in the event you’re not doing it too. As an alternative, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It is going to be rather more pleasant and also you’ll have a better time assembly individuals.

Ultimately, what actually makes a superb hostel are the individuals and even the worst hostels shall be nice in the event 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 boost your journey expertise, not merely take cash from you in change for a mattress. I’d quite keep at a spot that’s trying to verify I’ve a superb time.

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