12 Methods to Keep away from Staying in a Unhealthy 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 one of the best ways to fulfill folks and the most cost effective 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 develop into adept at determining in a short time if the hostel house owners know what they’re doing or if they simply randomly awakened at some point and mentioned, “Let’s open a hostel. It feels like enjoyable.”

Whereas hostels are all concerning the folks, 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 finest on the planet.

Right here’s a breakdown of what I’d search for in a hostel that will help you decide one of the best one in your subsequent journey:

1. Is There a Widespread Room?

I like assembly new folks once I journey. Since I normally journey solo, I have to exit of my option to meet folks if I need to be social. Widespread rooms in hostels make that straightforward. They assist me discover folks to talk with, get suggestions from, do actions with, and even journey with.

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

In hotter locations, a typical space exterior can 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. Each time I’m searching for a brand new hostel I ensure that it’s close to the issues I need to see. I don’t need to spend all my time commuting once I get someplace new. For that cause, I all the time make certain my hostels are in a central location and that they’re near public transportation. That method, I can get round simply and don’t want to fret about having to waste cash on taxis.

That is particularly necessary in giant cities the place issues are unfold out and once you’re on a shorter journey and time is of the essence. Sure, they may value more cash, however you’ll get monetary savings on transportation. Plus, the extra centrally-located hostels are normally the extra standard ones, making them higher locations to fulfill folks.

Don’t waste your trip in transit; ebook someplace central!

3. Is It Clear?

Positive, finances vacationers like issues low-cost — however that doesn’t imply we like issues soiled. Whereas hostels have come a good distance lately, there are nonetheless many which are poorly maintained and in want of an intensive scrubbing. Because it’s straightforward to get sick on the street, keep away from soiled hostels. Gross loos and showers (in addition to the elevated danger of mattress bugs) aren’t definitely worth the danger — even when the hostel is affordable. Spend money on your self. You deserve a clear room!

For the reason that pictures hostels put up on their web site and social media may be deceptive, make certain to particularly learn opinions on websites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If only one individual 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 ebook. 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 possibly can normally reply all of those questions (and lots of extra) by studying opinions.

Web sites like Hostelworld and Reserving.com have tons of opinions that will help you discover the hostel that most accurately fits your wants and finances.

Whilst you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt (folks like to complain), they’re undoubtedly useful in terms of selecting one of the best hostel. Be sure you go away opinions too — good opinions assist hostels develop and dangerous opinions can warn your fellow vacationers in order that they don’t make the identical mistake.

Moreover, be sure to solely keep at accommodations with a lot of opinions. A hostel may need a excessive score on Hostelworld but when it solely has 10 or 20 opinions then I’ll possible keep away from it (it’s straightforward to pretend scores 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 ebook hostels with a score of 8 or larger on Hostelworld.

5. Do they Arrange Group Actions?

When you plan on staying at a social hostel and need to meet folks, select a hostel that gives group actions. These could possibly be strolling excursions (my private favourite exercise), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking courses, or BBQs. These occasions are an effective way to fulfill different vacationers and study your vacation spot.

My favourite hostels are all the time social hostels that manage occasions. It simply makes your keep rather more enjoyable and vigorous!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

By no means keep at a hostel with a checkout time earlier than 10am. One of the best hostels have 11am checkout instances, and the actually good ones allow you to try at midday. Sleep is effective on the street since you’ll hardly ever get sufficient of it. Hostels with late checkout instances perceive this and are sometimes extra relaxed environments. There’s simply one thing unsuitable a few hostel asking you to be packed and out so early within the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

Bars should not deal breakers and there are numerous great hostels with out them, however they make for an incredible place to socialize with different hostel friends. Normally if a hostel has a bar, they put a powerful emphasis on ensuring the folks staying there are having enjoyable, interacting, and being festive.

When you’re trying to be social and meet folks, you’ll need to keep someplace with a bar.

8. Do They Have Lockers?

It’s stunning, however I’ve really been in hostels that don’t present lockers or will cost you for them. These days, lockers needs to be customary. You need to by no means pay for safety. This can be a deal-breaker for me (particularly since I journey with electronics). All the time convey a lock with you as effectively, so you should utilize the lockers when they’re supplied.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Attempt to search for hostels with kitchens since you possibly can then put together your individual meals, decrease your meals finances, and share a meal along with your new pals. Nothing binds folks nearer collectively than a shared meal (and some glasses of wine).

10. Do They Provide Breakfast?

Search for a spot with a good breakfast (i.e., greater than bread and cheese) or a minimum of one which begins and ends when individuals are really awake (breakfasts that begin round 8:30am normally go late). Breakfast can be an effective way to load up on snacks for the day, slicing down your meals finances.

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the times of sleeping on creaky, steel bunks. Each time doable, search for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds present a lot better privateness and dampen the noise round you so you possibly can sleep higher. They normally have curtains too, that are all the time a giant plus in my ebook.

12. Are There Particular person Lights & Retailers?

Earlier than you ebook, discover out if the dorm bunks have their very own outlet and lightweight. Not solely will this guarantee you possibly can cost your gadgets with out having to struggle for area, however it means your fellow vacationers can activate their very own small lamp as a substitute of the room’s fundamental gentle. (I hate it when folks flip the lights on in the midst of the evening. Use your mattress’s lamp or a flashlight!)

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I don’t want a hostel to have all this stuff, however a really great hostel that understands what vacationers are searching for has nearly all of the issues listed above.

Moreover, as increasingly folks shift to distant work, hostels have began to accommodate long-term vacationers who work on their laptops. When 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, should 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 should you’re not doing it too. As a substitute, keep at a hostel that caters to backpackers. Will probably be rather more pleasant and also you’ll have a better time assembly folks.

In the long run, what actually makes a great hostel are the folks and even the worst hostels will probably be nice should you meet good folks. However eradicating the folks 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 alternate for a mattress. I’d somewhat keep at a spot that’s wanting to ensure I’ve a great time.