I have been traveling around Europe for the past three years and have had many different experiences with both hotels and hostels during my time here. Lots of people think hostels are the best way to travel because of the price difference, but currently, there isn’t much of one when it comes to hostels vs hotels in Europe. Especially if you are traveling with another person. Because of this, I think it is really important to make a conscious decision when it comes to hostels vs hotels based on the experience and the location you are going for. When comparing hostels and hotels I am not referring to 5-star hotels, but many two and three-star ones that are abundant and typically very nice located in most European cities.
When to Stay in a Hostel?
I think hostels are a great option, especially on girls’ trips when you want to go out and or go clubbing. Many hostels have organized nights where they take you on a bar crawl and then to a club. This is a great and safer way to explore a new city. Typically younger locals work at the hostels and they know the best spots to go. You are also out with a group of people and can all walk back to the hostel together which is great. When I was in Barcelona I stayed at Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Barcelona is not the safest at night. I am so happy that I stayed here and went out with the group from the hostel.
Staying at a hostel is also a great way to meet lots of new people from all over the world. I have met new friends from staying at hostels and learned so much about life all over the world. While you can get lucky and be with a lot of people around your age, there is always the chance that you will be in a dorm with people, much older or younger. Or you will just not get along with the people in your room. Normally people who stay in hostels are there to have a good time. Being woken up at 4 in the morning by someone coming in should be expected.
If you are looking to save money on food, staying in hostels is another great option. In most hostels, you will have access to a kitchen. This way you can prepare your own food instead of going out. This is an especially great feature for longer trips or if you are traveling somewhere where you are not too thrilled about the food scene. While this is not normally a bonus for me as I usually want to eat as much local food as possible. Although it is always comforting knowing I can save some money and make a yogurt bowl at the hostel for breakfast.
What to Look for When Choosing a Hostel?
Curtains Curtains Curtains
To me, this is the most important thing when looking for a hostel (besides it being clean of course). I have no clue how not all hostels have these yet. When looking for a hostel you should look at the photos or call and ask to make sure that the bunks have blackout curtains. These will make all the difference. The first few times I stayed in a hostel they were there so I kind of just expected them universally but boy was I wrong. Sleeping with these curtains (especially on the bottom) gives you so much more privacy. It also protects you from being woken up by people turning on the lights in the middle of the night. I promise curtains will make all the difference in your hostel experience.
Female vs Male Dorm and Big vs Small
I think it is normally best (if you are traveling with members of the same sex) to try and book the dorm of your sex. Unfortunately, all girls’ dorms are often more expensive so if it is the price that you are worried about, you should be fine sleeping in a mixed-sex dorm. If you are ever uncomfortable with your dorm mates you can ALWAYS talk with the front desk to make arrangements.
When picking out the room of a hostel you can usually select between 4 beds to up to 16 beds (some places even have 20+ in a room but it is pretty unusual). I have always gone for a smaller room option but it also depends on what your budget is. There are pros and cons to both though. When it comes to a smaller room, fewer people are coming in and out throughout the day and night. Although if you plan to stay out all night this isn’t relevant. The pro to a larger dorm is there are more people there. It is very common for friends to travel in hostels. So if you are in a four-person dorm, there is always the chance that it is 3 friends, which can sometimes be uncomfortable. The major bonus of this though is that it is typically a bathroom and shower shared with three which is much preferable then 16.
Private Rooms in Hostels
Many hostels also offer private rooms. This photo is of a three-person hostel room that I recently stayed at. It is pretty common for hostels also to offer rooms to accommodate three people. These are a nice way to get the hostel experience while still having more comfort and privacy. It is worth knowing that these rooms are typically more expensive than a comparable room at a hotel. This is because hostels often give you lots of activities to participate in that you would not get by staying at a hotel. I normally wouldn’t recommend doing this because of the price, but on my last trip I did and it was really nice. It was at a surf hostel and I think especially with this situation it is a good idea because you get the beach community and knowledgeable young staff but still have privacy and guaranteed sleep at night.
Pod Hostels
Pod hostels are becoming more and more common nowadays. These are an interesting type of hostel where all of the rooms are private small spaces and typically stacked on top of each other. I have stayed at one pod hostel, This Ho(s)tel, located in Amsterdam. While the location of the hostel wasn’t my favorite, staying in the pods was a very interesting experience. It is definitely not for the claustrophobic type because when you are in the bed you are unable to fully sit up. But it was a nice private(ish) alternative to staying in a hostel. There were bathrooms on each floor with separate showers for each gender. I was pleasantly surprised that they were quite nice and clean, additionally, I never found myself waiting for a shower stall.
While you gain privacy and comfort in the pod hostel, you lose the social aspect. I saw and interacted with almost nobody else in my 2-night stay. So if you are traveling to be social, I’d stick to a traditional hostel. Of course, a hotel will always be more comfortable. I would usually recommend a pod hostel over a hotel only if it is either cheaper or you want to experience part of the hostel experience.
What to Bring When Staying at a Hostel
Body products! While the hostel might supply some body products it can range from just soap to nothing so I recommend bringing your own. When traveling at a hostel it is also good to travel light. I have seen large varieties of storage from having a closet to a medium-sized locker. I think the average amount of space would be somewhere to put a carry-on-sized suitcase + another small compartment but this can range so much. So even if you are traveling heavily I would recommend not bringing a lot of valuables just in case.
Another big tip for staying in a hostel is to always bring a lock (or two)! Some hostels will have a code or key system, but there is always the chance that you need a lock. You do not want to be searching around a new city where you cannot find a lock right after traveling. So always bring a lock just in case.
How to Book a Hostel?
I love Hostelworld for booking hostels. Many hostels don’t even have their own sites because Hostelworld is so commonly used. It is great when searching for hostels because they have a rating system that goes through all different categories. The key categories to look are are atmosphere, cleanliness, location, and facilities. There are also many reviews. When booking a hostel it is almost essential to check the reviews on Hostelworld first. Via the reviews, you can also look at the past guests. Here you can see if they were male or female as well as their age. This is a great way to find out what kind of people you can expect in your hostel.
What if the area you are looking for is not on Hostelworld? In smaller towns, some hostels are not connected to Hostelworld so you can look at their Google reviews. It can be a great tool to look for a hostel both on its website as well as on Hostelworld to find the best deal. Normally it is better to book directly but Hostelworld runs promotions for different destinations frequently and is the most trusted way to book hostels.
When to stay in a Hotel?
On trips where your goal is to see lots and explore the city staying at a hotel is better. If you are traveling with more than one person (especially in Europe) a mid-range hotel is normally cheaper and more comfortable.
Only you can decide if a hotel or hostel is better for you. Think about the goals of your trip as well as your priorities to make this decision. I hope that I helped with making your decision easier, and feel free to ask me if you have any other questions on this topic.
Final Thoughts
Hostels will always be a bit of a gamble. There is no way to predict your hostel mates, or if you will get any sleep. I think staying in hostels is great if you are going to a place more just to hang out during the day and go out at night. Hostels in beach communities are also normally really fun as well. Lots of them have surfboards that you can rent, surf lessons, and activities like yoga.
Depending on where you are going it is also a fantastic way to meet like-minded individuals. Something gave all of you the idea to go to that place and pick out that particular hostel. Also if you are traveling with mostly girls it is typically much safer to stay at a hostel if you are planning to go out at night. When staying in a hostel do not have to go out alone but can go out in a bigger group either organized by the hostel or by people whom you meet.
