What is a Hostel?
A hostel is an establishment that provides inexpensive food and lodging for specific groups of people such as students, travelers, and workers.
Most hostels are dormitory style rooms, with travelers booking a bed instead of a room. That is why the price is cheap! Hostels utilize bunk beds, allowing the room to hold from 4 to 12 people. Many hostels offer female-only dorms, but coed dorms are often cheaper.
Most hostels offer a basic free breakfast: cereal and toast. However if you are planning to stay at a hostel for a while, travelers are encouraged to buy groceries and cook in the kitchen.
How to Choose a Hostel
Reviews
Hostelworld.com is a great resource to find hostels and compare prices
Read all the reviews before deciding if the hostel is right for you
Location
Is it close to the places you are considering touring?
Is it near public transportation?
Will you feel safe traveling back to this hostel at night?
Price
Do you want a private room or a bed in a dorm?
Hostels are meant to be cheap, look around for the best prices!
Type of Hostel
Is it family friendly or meant for college students?
If you like to get up early, don't book a hostel meant for those who will be partying all night.
Facilites
Is breakfast included or is there a kitchen to make your own food?
Are there lockers provided in the dorm rooms?
Is there laundry on site?
Are there female-only dorms?
Can you store luggage there after check-out?
What to Pack for a Hostel
Travel Towel & Toiletries- Unlike hotels, most hostels do not provide any form of toilitries or towels! I did not know this until I did my research. There are tons of travel towels that fold up very small and these become very handy when you're hopping from place to place!
Flip Flops - Hostel life is similar to college life. You most likely will have communal showers and so flip flops are a must.
Locks- Most hostels provide cages under the bunks for people to store their luggage when they are not in the room. You can always buy locks at the hostel if you forget yours, but it's easier if you have your own. You can also lock your bag shut, or lock the bag to the bed if your hostel doesn't provide lockers of some type.
Eye mask- I was lucky enough to have very considerate roommates in all my hostels, but some people are not as kind. You may want an eye mask if you need to hit the hay earlier than most. You never know when a drunk hostel-goer will come into your room at 2 AM and flick the light on.
Earplugs- Hostels can be loud due to other guests or the proximity to nightlife. If you are a light sleeper earplugs could come in very handy.
Sheets & Pillows- Most hostels only provide a comforter for your bunk. This was fine for me but others may prefer to bring a top sheet with them. You also will only get one pillow, and if you are like me and sleep with at least two pillows at home, you will not have much head support. My hack was to fold my pillow in half to make it fluffier, but if you have room to pack a small pillow that would be helpful.
Extra Long Phone Charger- This was a lifesaver for me! Although most hostels have lots of plugs, some may not be close to your bed, especially if you have a top bunk. A six of ten foot long charger will come in very handy in these situations.
I've Checked In... Now What?
Pick the bottom bunk
You'll be closer to charging ports and can keep a closer eye on your belongings.
Introduce Yourself
If you get to your room and there are people there already make the effort to introduce yourself! This is a great way to meet other solo travelers, listen to stories, and get tips for your current city. Maybe you can even tag along if they have plans.
Take Advantage of Concierge
There are so many free activities hostels can help you find if you are new in a big city. Most hostels sponsor cheap pub crawls and free walking tours. These are great ways to meet fellow travelers and try to make friends. Also the hostel concierge will know the most information about how to get around the city. I used my concierge to help find the cheapest public transportation from place to place.
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