Pros and Cons of Staying In A Hostel: Hostels provide a place to sleep for travellers and residents alike. Often rooms are shared, with bunk beds and communal bathroom and kitchen areas. They are scattered all over the world, in some of the most desired tourist destinations, but are they just for the young and carefree? Here are the pros and cons of staying in a hostel:
Pros
Location
Like hotels, you can find hostels in some of the best locations in the world. They can be central, in the outskirts of town or in the middle of nowhere. The central hostels are usually more expensive and busier so it’s more difficult to get a bed, but booking in advance is often available. From hostels in the middle of Amsterdam’s red light district to Swedish prisons converted into rooms, there is a whole range of experiences to discover.
Price
This is what most attracts people to staying in a hostel in the first place. The prices are almost always unbeatably cheap. You pay by the night so there are no commitments to stay any longer than one night if you don’t like it. They are perfect for quick one night stops if you don’t want to spend the money.
Community
Especially around the summertime, hostels will be full of all sorts of different people from all over the world. The social butterflies will be in their element. Hostels provide communal areas sometimes with activities, games or even bars, which are great areas for meeting new people and making a few friends.
Cons
You Get What You Pay For
When you book into a hostel, you are not paying for a whole room. You pay for a bed for the night and the use of the facilities. Some hostels may charge extra for you to have a towel or breakfast. The whole hostel is shared between the guests, which includes the bedroom and bathroom.
With such a huge amount of young people making the most of the low priced accommodation, there are bound to be a few late nights. You will have to put up with whoever you share a room with. There is no luxury in a hostel, expect bunk beds and living out of a suitcase.
Security
Alongside having to share the room comes an inevitable security issue. Essentially you don’t know the people you will be staying with, or what they might do. Most hostels offer some sort of locker or security option for an extra charge, but it is always important to be mindful about your belongings.
Late Nights
A hostel is not the best choice if you’re looking for a good night’s sleep. There will be people arriving and leaving at all times of the day and night. Some hostels will have a curfew, but these are not enforced and just to try and control the noise. This may be easier to tolerate when you are the same age, but not with a family or if you have an early start.
With the influx of budget hotels and apartments available to rent, low cost holidays and trips away are more and more accessible. Unless you are on a really tight budget or don’t need a proper night’s sleep, you can get a lot more comfort and value from low cost hotels. Hostels will never provide the same minimum standard that hotels do and sometimes they are not as cheap as you think. Where you go makes all the difference as well. Hotels in Tenerife or similar places are usually really good value for money, but expect higher prices, even in the hostels, in bigger cities.
Do you think there is an age limit on staying in hostels?
Katie Hopkins is a lifestyle blogger who has spent a fair share of time in European hostels. Share your view on “The Pros and Cons of Staying In A Hostel During Travel” in the comment section below.
