HOW TO CHOOSE A HOSTEL
Still not convinced on staying in a hostel? Check out my article on why hostels are a great option!
Choosing a hostel can often seem like a daunting task. After all, there are so many options and one looks just as good as the next. But pictures can be deceiving, and the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined because of one bad choice. So follow my step by step guide to getting a good hostel:
First things first, go to HostelWorld.com. I like booking through Hostel World for a few different reasons. They offer free cancellation for bookings, they have a secure checkout, and they have many customer reviews. I also think it provides the comparisons between one hostel to the next.
Okay, so now you type in your location and the days in which you want to travel. Voila, you have one trillion places to pick from. So how do we narrow it down?
First I adjust some of the filters. I put the ratings bar from a 7.5-10. I really never stay in anything with less than an 8 rating. These ratings are determined by people who have actually stayed there, so it’s safe to assume that they rate accurately.
Next I go to the facilities filter tab. For me, free wifi and luggage storage are extremely important. They also have other options like free parking, air conditioning, free breakfast, etc. Decide whats important to you and check that box! Another amenity that might be important to you is the type of rooms they offer. Sometimes as a girl staying in an all-girl room is vital. If this is the case, go under the rooms tab and select accordingly.
After that I look at the popular places filter. Now this might take some research of the city, so you’ll want to look at some city guides or blogs to determine the best location to stay in. This is sometimes more important in some cities than others. Some cities have great places spread out or others have one specific center, it just depends! But if you’re really not sure just leave this filter blank. The reviews usually state whether or not the hostel is in an ideal location.
Next I go to the price tab. This can vary from city to city as well. So before I decide my price range I scroll through to see the average cost. If things are looking like they’re ranging from 20 euros to 100 euros then I’ll set it for somewhere in between like 50 euros. Though, I typically never pay more than 30 euros/night. But also keep this in mind, if you’re traveling with a big group it might be most efficient to stay in an Airbnb or hotel.
Okay— now it’s time to look through your options. Compare pictures, extra freebies like bar crawls or free breakfast, and most important customer reviews. These reviews are your bible. If someone said that the place had sucky wifi, believe them. If someone said that the place smelled like eggs, believe them. Basically what I’m saying is, you usually have so many options that you are looking for anything to narrow down your search. Now, if you don’t have so many to pick from, then decide what’s the most important. For me, that would be cleanliness. I’d rather stay 10 minutes further with crappy wifi than get bed bugs… you know??
I’ve really never had a bad experience at a hostel using this system, but at the end of the day just remember… you get what you pay for. Don’t be expecting a 5-star hotel if you’re paying 20 dollars a night!! But, you can always expect a clean room and a nice staff!! Happy hostel hunting!