The Most Memorable Hostel Experiences: The Good, the Bad, and the Unforgettable!
Written by: Thor Pedersen
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Time to read 5 min
A good hostel enhances the travel experience, while a bad one can be disastrous. I've stayed at hostels worldwide for their budget-friendly options. Although common in most places, hostels may be unfamiliar in the Caribbean, parts of Africa, and smaller Pacific islands. They provide affordable food and lodging for specific groups like students, workers, or travelers. Typically, a hostel offers bunk beds, free WIFI, and serves as a base for resting, planning, and regrouping.
I've noted the best hostels I've stayed at. In Warsaw, Poland, back in 2013, there was a cool, clean, and comfortable hostel called Helvetia. It felt like home, with friendly staff who were helpful and had a free coffee/tea station. They even assisted me in finding accommodation in Suwalki, Poland.
Traveling on a $20USD a day budget, I aimed for hostels under $10, although some cities made it challenging. In Reykjavik, Iceland, I stayed at Bus Hostel, which had great rooms, soundproof doors, comfortable beds, clean showers, and a vibrant common room. It allowed me to connect with fellow travelers and explore Iceland together.
I recall VIP House in Cusco, Peru, with clever small lockers that had built-in electrical outlets. It provided security while charging devices. However, even with a Pacsafe backpack, leaving devices in a crowded dorm room still posed a risk of someone unplugging them.
Helvetia Hostel Room (Image from Expedia)
Finding a Value-Packed Hostel
My favorite hostels offered excellent value, like a $5 hostel with a comfy bed, strong WIFI, free tea/coffee, inclusive breakfast, quiet atmosphere, central location, knowledgeable staff, and clean facilities. If you find one or stayed at a really good hostel, let me know!
The Bad: Challenging Hostel Experiences
Hostellima in Peru was chaotic! It attracted unruly young travelers who disregarded the rules. It felt like a party hostel, with late-night disruptions, shouting conversations, and lack of cleanliness. A group of at least ten people dominated the place, behaving as if they owned it, while the staff did nothing to maintain order. It was impossible to get any rest there.
During my sister's visit to Turkey, we encountered an unfortunate incident at one hostel. Despite booking two beds in a small dorm room, her bed was infested with bed bugs. We reported it to the staff, who acknowledged the problem and apologized.
In Australia, at Sydney Backpackers, I felt uneasy during my stay. The men's dorm room had questionable individuals—unhoused, drug addicts, and people with mental health conditions. Thankfully, I had my Pacsafe EXP35 anti-theft travel backpack to secure my belongings. While most people were friendly, there was an underlying vibe that kept me alert.
Tips for Choosing the Right Hostel
Balancing Quality and Price
There are excellent hostel apps that provide reviews. Like most things, quality and price align in hostels. Sometimes, a budget-friendly hostel lacks a great location, making it worth paying a little extra for convenience. Larger dorm rooms increase the likelihood of snoring, late-night disturbances, noisy packers, light switches, and theft. Smaller dorm rooms foster familiarity and tend to promote higher levels of respect.
Considerations for Dorm Room Size and Atmosphere
Hostels range from party atmospheres to quieter ones, so it's important to choose based on personal preferences. Some hostels cater exclusively to women, while others offer mixed or gender-specific dorms. Ventilation varies, impacting the dorm environment with wet towels and odors. Bathrooms range from regularly cleaned to outright disasters. The hostel's structure depends on well-trained staffwho enforce rules on food, smoking, noise, and cleanliness. Guest reviews often reveal these aspects.
While many hostels provide board games and entertainment, the common sight is guests mindlessly scrolling on their phones, raising questions about why people travel to distant places.
Making the Most of Your Hostel Experience
Connecting with Fellow Travelers
Starting conversations at hostels is generally easy. Common topics include asking about someone's origin, travel duration, and destinations visited. People are usually eager to share experiences and offer advice. However, the prevalence of individuals absorbed in their phones can hinder conversations. Choose opportune moments. It's common to find fellow travelers interested in similar sights, day trips, or markets, allowing for joint exploration. Remember, a stranger can become a newfound friend.
Taking Advantage of Hostel-Organized Activities
Hostels often organize group tours and offer social activities, but some travelers prefer to venture off the beaten path and decline such opportunities. Assess whether hostel offerings provide a good value or if you can do better independently.
Respecting Dorm Room Etiquette
To be considerate to dorm roommates, refrain from turning on lights when others are sleeping and minimize noise. Packing your belongings the night before departure, rather than early in the morning, prevents disturbing others' sleep. Hostels have rules posted at the reception or on dorm room doors. Read and respect them, striving to be the best version of yourself. Keep in mind that different cultures have diverse customs and perspectives. Practice tolerance, understanding, and engage with others when appropriate. Sometimes, respecting someone's privacy is the politest gesture. It's all about finding a balance.
Safety and Security Considerations
Safeguarding Belongings in Dorm Rooms
Hostels, in general, provide a safe environment. A reputable hostel ensures door locks, restricts dorm room access, utilizes cameras, and maintains attentive staff. Personally, I follow the principle of not tempting anyone by leaving valuables exposed. To safeguard my belongings, I prefer the top bunk as it offers better concealment. When taking a quick bathroom break, I cover my laptop, phone, charger, or other items with a blanket or pillow or I put them inside my anti-theft backpack.
Traveling with Pacsafe for Added Security
I always travel with my Pacsafe padlocks to secure my bags. While the ultimate security is provided by a Pacsafe bag, which functions as a portable locker or safe, simply having a locked bag can deter thieves. After all, most thefts in hostels occur opportunistically, and thieves are unlikely to cut open a backpack or break a padlock.Throughout my travels to various countries, I have never had anything stolen from my ordinary backpack with a padlock. However, since acquiring the Pacsafe EXP35 with its lockable zippers and PopNLock Security Clip, I can't imagine traveling without it. Once, my regular backpack was taken from my hotel room, and I believe it could have been prevented with a Pacsafe security clip. I appreciate the added security feature and now prefer having it with me, just in case.
Balancing Trust and Caution
As my father always advised, "be good, but don't be a fool." It's unnecessary to be suspicious of everyone in a dorm room. The majority of people you encounter are no more likely to harm you than you are to harm them. However, it's wise to hide valuables or keep them with you if you're uncertain about your dorm mates. If I have any doubts, I sleep with my backpack in my bed for added peace of mind.
The Author: Thor Pedersen
Award Winning Traveler, Speaker & Adventurer. Sole person to reach EVERY country in the world completely WITHOUT FLYING.
