5 Reasons to Stay in a Hostel While Travelling

Last updated on 6 July 2024

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Book yourself in to stay in a hostel while travelling

If you want to save money, meet other travellers, and land yourself somewhere central, a hostel does all three better than most other options.

When it comes to accommodation abroad, there’s no shortage of choices, and it usually comes down to your travel budget, your travel style, or what you actually need for that trip. You’ve got everything from luxury hotels to Airbnb, budget motels to sleeping on a friend’s couch. And then there’s the hostel.

Usually, when I’m travelling, I stay with friends first, and if that’s not an option, a hotel is next on the list (I love a good hotel!). But on my trip to Amsterdam, I did it: I booked myself into a hostel. And since then, I’ve stayed in many a hostel, all over Europe.

What is a hostel?

A hostel is a budget-friendly style of accommodation for travellers, offering everything from shared bunk rooms to private doubles, usually with shared bathrooms down the hall (though some rooms have their own). Beyond the beds, most hostels also have communal spaces and often throw events that make them feel a lot more social than your average hotel.

A lot of the time the hostel is branded as for the ‘young people’. You’ll often hear the words ‘youth hostel’ thrown about, and it’s because of those intrepid travellers on their big overseas experience, or gap year, who tend to be younger, perhaps in the early 20s.

But it’s not just ‘youth’ who stay in hostels; hostels are a fantastic way to save a bit of cash (great if you’re travelling on a budget!), meet other people from all over the world, and position you centrally in the city for maximum exploring.

Let’s dive into those pros to hostels a little bit more.

5 reasons it’s worth booking yourself in to stay at a hostel while travelling

1 | Saves money

Hostels are known for being cheaper than other accommodation, and definitely cheaper than hotels. If you’re travelling on a budget, or you’re willing to save some money on your accommodation, then booking yourself into a hostel is a great option.

There are usually a lot of different options when it comes to hostels. As mentioned above, you can get a large room, shared with other strangers, a smaller room (for example, 4 beds), or pay more and have your own room.

Some hostels will provide meals at a cost, others will provide a kitchen for you to make your own food and prepare drinks while you’re staying. Often you can pay extra for breakfast for example, but if you’re willing to wander in the morning you should be able to find food for cheaper than they might charge in their own kitchens.

If you want to do a city on the cheap, hostels are the way to go.

2 | Meet other people

Staying in a hostel is one way to meet new people on your travels. Especially if you’re sharing a room with them.

But even if you’ve opted for your own room, then you’ll be bound to meet people about the hostel. Even if you’re an active traveller and you like nothing more than to spend every single minute of the day exploring new places, visiting museums and galleries, and taking rides and tours … you will spend some time in the common areas at the hostels. And it’s here that you’ll meet a tonne of new people, and maybe even make some new travelling buddies.

What I love about them is the range of countries and cultures that gather in hostels. I went to Amsterdam and came home with hiking tips for Sweden and travel stories from Cyprus and the Philippines I never asked for. In the best way! Not only is it awesome just chatting about this new city with them, but you also get to hear about their own countries and their own travelling stories.

3 | Hostels put on events

Rainy day? Not up for another exhausting day of exploring? Feeling like a day inside? Hostels will often have events on in the evenings such as open-mic nights, games nights, dance parties … you name, the hostel is likely to put it on. Sometimes a hostel will put on cultural events, too, which is such a great opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of other countries.

4 | Tours!

I visited Amsterdam for just a few days, but one of those days was a Saturday, and the hostel put on a walking tour in the morning.

This was the highlight of my trip to Amsterdam; I was able to join a group of other travellers and go on a walking tour with people who worked at the hostel. They shared local knowledge, indicated points of interest as we went along, took us to some popular tourist spots, and were sure to give us tips for exploring the rest of the city.

Many hostels will offer walking tours, or give you maps and tips for things you should check out while you’re exploring their city. If you can jump in on a walking tour, I highly recommend it.

👉🏻 Check out: Take a Walking Tour of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona

5 | Hostels are central

Usually, a hostel will be very central. The public transport and the main sightseeing places are likely to be on your doorstep or at least a short trip away.

This is fantastic, as it means you can spend the entire day out exploring, and know that you only have to take a 10-minute walk or a short train ride at the end of the day to get back. The last thing you need when you’re travelling is a long hike back to where you’re staying.

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While a huge shared room full of bunk beds is not my idea of a great holiday, a smaller hostel room that you can share with 1 or 2 strangers, or your travelling party, is definitely my way to go. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the hostel in Amsterdam and would definitely do it again.

Have you stayed in hostels before? Where were you and what was your experience?

Questions about hostels you’re definitely googling right now

Are hostels safe?

Generally, yes. Reputable hostels have lockers, key-card access, and staff on hand, and the shared, social nature of hostels means you’re rarely truly alone, which a lot of solo travellers actually find reassuring rather than daunting. As with any accommodation, it’s worth reading recent reviews before you book. I’ve never felt unsafe in a hostel before.

Do hostels have private rooms?

Most do. Alongside the classic shared bunk rooms, the majority of hostels also offer smaller shared rooms or fully private doubles for a bit more money, so you don’t have to share with strangers if that’s not your thing. I’ve stayed in everything from a 12-bed room to a 4-bed hostel.

What’s the difference between a hostel and a hotel?

The room itself is the main difference; hostels lean towards shared bunk rooms with shared bathrooms, while hotels are private by default, but the bigger difference is the vibe. Hostels come with communal kitchens, lounges, and often organised events, which makes them a lot easier to meet people in than a typical hotel. Hostels are usually cheaper, too.