Travel on the Cheap: Hostels

For much of our trip to South America this spring we are staying in hostels, and I have had so many questions about it. I think sometimes hostels are known as these places college kids go to party and all of the furniture is a testament of such happenings. Well, sometimes that’s true. But to say that all hostels are like that is like saying all hotels are just like a Super 8. It simply isn’t a fair representation.

In college, I had the opportunity to study abroad a few times so I spent time in my fair share of hostels. When you only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three months in Europe, you see a few hostels. Sure, sometimes I stayed in a bunk bed and brought my own towel. I also met people from all over the world who became my best friends for the a weekend. I can’t say I have kept in touch with all of them, but they surely made my visit all the more meaningful. I also stayed in hostels that were essentially hotels but posted their information on hostel sites to get more people to stay there. My point is, the possibilities are endless. One hostel will not be like the next. Sometimes it’s worth it to book a hotel and sometimes your greatest experience will come from a hostel.

Here’s what you should know about hostels:

• You might make amazing friends or you might just stay for a night and go about your way on your own without meeting hardly anybody. Each hostel has its own vibe, but it’s also dependent on who is staying that evening.
• Hostels may have rules, like a curfew to be back in bed by, an age limit (either too old or too young) or time during the day you are not allowed to be in the hostel (usually so they can clean). Make sure you understand the rules before you book, but also know that these rules aren’t all bad.
• Many have rooms full of bunk beds but some also have the option of a private room with twin beds or a double bed. Check the booking options but also realize that you pay per person staying.
• Some are upfront about being a loud environment–if this is what you want, great! If not, heed their warning and don’t be surprised. Others can be quieter so check the reviews to get a good feel for what you might experience.
• Hostels are all over the world, which means they are also in the United States!

My hostel experiences have ranged from okay to awesome, so I would definitely recommend looking into it. As long as you understand the setting and shift your mindset from what you might expect at a hotel, you’ll be good to go!

*Some of the above links contain affiliate links. I have stayed in plenty of hostels and stand by everything I just said. Should you happen to decide to book a hostel through one of these links, then I get a percentage of the sale.