12 Methods to Keep away from Staying in a Dangerous 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 satisfy folks 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 began touring the world, I’ve develop into adept at determining in a short time if the hostel homeowners know what they’re doing or if they only randomly awoke at some point and mentioned, “Let’s open a hostel. It appears like enjoyable.”

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

All of my favourite hostels share frequent traits that make them among the greatest on the earth.

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

1. Is There a Widespread Room?

I like assembly new folks once I journey. Since I often journey solo, I must exit of my option to meet folks if I need to be social. Widespread rooms in hostels make that simple. They assist me discover folks to talk with, get suggestions 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/motion pictures (excellent for wet days), foosball, ping pong, and cozy couches (cozy couches are a should!). If you wish to be social, be sure to keep someplace that has a good frequent room (or a number of). It’s the very best place to simply join with different vacationers.

In hotter locations, a typical space outdoors can be a giant plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas, a pool — any social outside house is a should.

2. Is It Centrally Situated?

Location, location, location. At any time when 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 once I get someplace new. For that motive, I at all times make certain my hostels are in a central location and that they’re near public transportation. That means, I can get round simply and don’t want to fret about having to waste cash on taxis.

That is particularly vital in massive cities the place issues are unfold out and if you’re on a shorter journey and time is of the essence. Sure, they may price more cash, however you’ll get monetary savings on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are often the extra widespread ones, making them higher locations to satisfy folks.

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

3. Is It Clear?

Certain, 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 an intensive scrubbing. Because it’s simple to get sick on the street, keep away from soiled hostels. Gross bogs and showers (in addition to the elevated danger of mattress bugs) aren’t well worth the danger — even when the hostel is reasonable. Spend money on your self. You deserve a clear room!

For the reason that images hostels publish on their web site and social media will be deceptive, make certain to particularly learn critiques on websites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If only one particular person complains, possibly it’s not a giant deal. But when quite a few critiques point out the dearth of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Learn Opinions?

At all times 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 possibly can often reply all of those questions (and lots of extra) by studying critiques.

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

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

Moreover, be sure to solely keep at lodges with plenty of critiques. A hostel may need a excessive ranking on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 critiques then I’ll probably steer clear of it (it’s simple to faux rankings like that). Nonetheless, if a hostel has tons of (or hundreds) of critiques and nonetheless has a ranking of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a great signal it’s a strong place to remain.

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

5. Do they Manage Group Actions?

For those who plan on staying at a social hostel and need to meet folks, select a hostel that gives group actions. These may very well be strolling excursions (my private favourite exercise), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking courses, or BBQs. These occasions are a good way to satisfy different vacationers and find out about your vacation spot.

My favourite hostels are at all times social hostels that arrange occasions. It simply makes your keep way more enjoyable and vigorous!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. The perfect hostels have 11am checkout instances, and the actually good ones allow you to take a look at at midday. Sleep is efficacious on the street 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 incorrect a few 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 variety of fantastic hostels with out them, however they make for an awesome place to socialize with different hostel friends. Normally if a hostel has a bar, they put a robust emphasis on ensuring the folks staying there are having enjoyable, interacting, and being festive.

For those who’re seeking to be social and meet folks, 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. Nowadays, lockers ought to be commonplace. It is best to by no means pay for safety. It is a deal-breaker for me (particularly since I journey with electronics). At all times deliver a lock with you as nicely, so you need to use the lockers when they’re supplied.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Attempt to search for hostels with kitchens since you possibly can then put together your personal meals, decrease your meals funds, and share a meal together with your new associates. Nothing binds folks nearer collectively than a shared meal (and some glasses of wine).

10. Do They Provide Breakfast?

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

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, steel bunks. At any time when potential, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present significantly 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 & Retailers?

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 units with out having to combat for house, but it surely means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as a substitute of the room’s major mild. (I hate it when folks flip the lights on in the midst of the night time. Use your mattress’s lamp or a flashlight!)

I don’t want a hostel to have all these items, 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 folks shift to distant work, hostels have began to accommodate long-term vacationers who work on their laptops. For those who’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, when 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 form of boring when you’re not doing it too. As a substitute, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It is going to be way more pleasant and also you’ll have a neater time assembly folks.

Ultimately, what actually makes a great hostel are the folks and even the worst hostels will probably be nice when you meet good folks. However eradicating the folks from the equation, I search for hostels which have among 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 trade for a mattress. I might slightly keep at a spot that’s trying to ensure I’ve a great time.

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