12 Methods to Keep away from Staying in a Dangerous Hostel in 2025

I like hostels. Even after over nineteen years touring the world, I nonetheless keep in hostels as a result of they’re the easiest way to satisfy individuals and the most affordable lodging possibility in a lot of the world.

However what makes a good hostel?

And the way do you keep away from a dangerous hostel?

After staying in over a thousand hostels since I first began touring the world, I’ve turn into adept at determining in a short time if the hostel homeowners know what they’re doing or if they only randomly wakened sooner or later and mentioned, “Let’s open a hostel. It feels like enjoyable.”

Whereas hostels are all concerning the individuals, administration can do just a few issues to make their hostel the right framework for making your expertise higher. Sure options make a hostel memorable (frequent rooms, group actions, kitchens) whereas others could make them forgettable — or worse (push-button showers, normal filth, unknowledgeable workers).

All of my favourite hostels share frequent traits that make them a number of the greatest on this planet.

Right here’s a breakdown of what I might search for in a hostel that can assist you decide the most effective one to your subsequent journey:

1. Is There a Widespread Room?

I like assembly new individuals after I journey. Since I often journey solo, I must exit of my option to meet individuals if I need to be social. Widespread rooms in hostels make that straightforward. They assist me discover individuals to speak with, get suggestions from, do actions with, and even journey with.

Plus, they’re good for simply having enjoyable. They often have pool tables or online game consoles, TVs/motion pictures (excellent for wet days), foosball, ping pong, and cozy couches (comfortable couches are a should!). If you wish to be social, ensure you keep someplace that has an honest frequent room (or a number of). It’s the most effective place to simply join with different vacationers.

In hotter locations, a typical space exterior can also be a giant plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas, a pool — any social outside area is a should.

2. Is It Centrally Situated?

Location, location, location. At any time when I’m searching for a brand new hostel I make it possible for it’s close to the issues I need to see. I don’t need to spend all my time commuting after I get someplace new. For that purpose, I at all times be certain my hostels are in a central location and that they’re near public transportation. That manner, I can get round simply and don’t want to fret about having to waste cash on taxis.

That is particularly necessary in massive cities the place issues are unfold out and if you’re on a shorter journey and time is of the essence. Sure, they could price extra money, however you’ll lower your expenses on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are often the extra standard ones, making them higher locations to satisfy individuals.

Don’t waste your trip in transit; e-book someplace central!

3. Is It Clear?

Certain, price range vacationers like issues low cost — however that doesn’t imply we like issues soiled. Whereas hostels have come a great distance in recent times, there are nonetheless many which can be poorly maintained and in want of an intensive scrubbing. Because it’s straightforward to get sick on the highway, keep away from soiled hostels. Gross bogs and showers (in addition to the elevated threat of mattress bugs) aren’t well worth the threat — even when the hostel is affordable. Spend money on your self. You deserve a clear room!

Because the pictures hostels submit on their web site and social media will be deceptive, be certain to particularly learn opinions on websites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If only one particular person complains, possibly it’s not a giant deal. But when quite a few opinions point out the dearth of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Learn Evaluations?

All the time learn opinions earlier than you e-book. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a celebration hostel or extra laid again? Are the mattresses comfortable? Are the bunk beds squeaky? You’ll be able to often reply all of those questions (and plenty of extra) by studying opinions.

Web sites like Hostelworld and Reserving.com have tons of opinions that can assist you discover the hostel that most accurately fits your wants and price range.

When you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt (individuals like to complain), they’re undoubtedly useful in the case of selecting the most effective hostel. Be sure you depart opinions too — good opinions assist hostels develop and dangerous opinions can warn your fellow vacationers so that they don’t make the identical mistake.

Moreover, ensure you solely keep at lodges with numerous opinions. A hostel may need a excessive score on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 opinions then I’ll doubtless steer clear of it (it’s straightforward to pretend rankings like that). Nevertheless, if a hostel has a whole bunch (or hundreds) of opinions and nonetheless has a score of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a great signal it’s a strong place to remain.

Typically, I attempt to solely e-book hostels with a score of 8 or increased on Hostelworld.

5. Do they Arrange Group Actions?

In the event you plan on staying at a social hostel and need to meet individuals, select a hostel that gives group actions. These might be strolling excursions (my private favourite exercise), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking lessons, or BBQs. These occasions are an effective way to satisfy different vacationers and study your vacation spot.

My favourite hostels are at all times social hostels that manage occasions. It simply makes your keep way more enjoyable and vigorous!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. The most effective hostels have 11am checkout occasions, and the actually good ones allow you to try at midday. Sleep is effective on the highway since you’ll not often get sufficient of it. Hostels with late checkout occasions perceive this and are sometimes extra relaxed environments. There’s simply one thing incorrect a couple of hostel asking you to be packed and out so early within the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

Bars aren’t deal breakers and there are plenty of fantastic hostels with out them, however they make for an excellent place to socialize with different hostel friends. Often if a hostel has a bar, they put a powerful emphasis on ensuring the individuals staying there are having enjoyable, interacting, and being festive.

In the event you’re trying to be social and meet individuals, you’ll need to keep someplace with a bar.

8. Do They Have Lockers?

It’s shocking, however I’ve really been in hostels that don’t present lockers or will cost you for them. Nowadays, lockers ought to be normal. You must by no means pay for safety. This can be a deal-breaker for me (particularly since I journey with electronics). All the time deliver a lock with you as properly, so you need to use the lockers when they’re offered.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Attempt to search for hostels with kitchens since you’ll be able to then put together your individual meals, decrease your meals price range, and share a meal along with your new mates. Nothing binds individuals nearer collectively than a shared meal (and some glasses of wine).

10. Do They Supply Breakfast?

Search for a spot with an honest breakfast (i.e., greater than bread and cheese) or no less than one which begins and ends when individuals are really awake (breakfasts that begin round 8:30am often go late). Breakfast can also be an effective way to load up on snacks for the day, chopping down your meals price range.

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, steel bunks. At any time when doable, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present significantly better privateness and dampen the noise round you so you’ll be able to sleep higher. They often have curtains too, that are at all times a giant plus in my e-book.

12. Are There Particular person Lights & Shops?

Earlier than you e-book, discover out if the dorm bunks have their very own outlet and light-weight. Not solely will this guarantee you’ll be able to cost your units with out having to struggle for area, but it surely means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as an alternative of the room’s most important gentle. (I hate it when individuals flip the lights on in the midst of the night time. Use your mattress’s lamp or a flashlight!)

I don’t want a hostel to have all these items, however a very fantastic hostel that understands what vacationers are searching for has the vast majority of the issues listed above.

Moreover, as an increasing number of individuals shift to distant work, hostels have began to accommodate long-term vacationers who work on their laptops. In the event you’re a distant employee, these hostels are nice locations to remain as they’ve quick Wi-Fi and make it straightforward to attach and community with different digital nomads. Nevertheless, in the event you’re not working on-line whereas touring, keep away from these hostels since most individuals will simply be on their laptops working and that’s type of boring in the event you’re not doing it too. As an alternative, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It will likely be way more satisfying and also you’ll have a neater time assembly individuals.

In the long run, what actually makes a great hostel are the individuals and even the worst hostels might be nice in the event you meet good individuals. However eradicating the individuals from the equation, I search for hostels which have a number of the above qualities in them. Hostels that know what you need as a traveler are there to reinforce your journey expertise, not merely take cash from you in trade for a mattress. I might slightly keep at a spot that’s trying to verify I’ve a great time.

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