10 Reasons Hostels Provide The Best Travel Experience

With hostel websites offering as high as 50,000 listings in cities all over the world, it’s no wonder hostels have become a go-to for the traditional traveller. Hostels offer a completely different experience from your standard hotel, and this could potentially be daunting for a first time hostel user, but it’s an experience which I think should be lived at least once in a lifetime! Here’s a list of the 10 reasons why hostels provide the best travel experience to help you get on board.

1. You Meet People

Whether you’re travelling alone, with friends or with your partner, hostels are an amazing way to meet people from all around the world. Being able to connect with fellow travellers in a city with is new to each of you is a really priceless experience which will broaden your horizons in more ways than one. You will also have the opportunity to share travel tips and gain insider knowledge.

2. They’re Cheap

It can’t be denied that hostels are a really affordable option when it comes to travelling. Of course, just like hotels, some are cheaper than others, and you do have the choice between slightly fancier and thus more expensive hostels as well as your more basic affordable ones. Either way, opting for a hostel means you’ll have more money to spend getting to know the city you’re visiting!

3. They’re Usually In The Know

From my experience of staying in hostels, they are usually very much in the know of what’s going on in the city and can offer many recommendations. You’ll normally find leaflets for various bars, restaurants and tours, and the staff offer valuable local knowledge for travellers needing a bit of help planning their time in the city.

4. You Can Go Alone

Travelling alone takes a lot of courage, and hostels can make the experience that little bit more comfortable! As opposed to staying in a hotel on your own, you’ll have the chance to meet and speak with people, especially if you opt for a shared dorm.

5. Friendly Staff

Being in an environment where the staff are friendly and of a similar age to yourself is a real advantage about staying in hostels. The atmosphere is much more laid back and less formal than in a hotel, and the staff are generally very helpful and approachable.

6. Security

This is something which I’m sure puts a lot of people off staying in hostels – the issue of security. I’d say it’s definitely a false perception that hostels are unsafe, as guests will always be provided with lockers to store their valuables and the main entrance to the building will normally be locked for security during the evening, only being accessible to guests. I’ve never had to worry about security!

7. Wi-Fi

OK, so you get Wi-Fi most places nowadays, and it’s maybe a good thing to have limited access when you’re on holiday (living in the moment and all that), but in hostels you’re pretty much guaranteed a good Wi-Fi connection to keep your holiday snaps going up on Instagram.

8. Sense of Community

Many hostels offer communal activities such as film nights, live music, and bar crawls. Each of these things help you to feel part of the traveller’s community, and I can say that some of my best memories on holiday have been from within the hostel I was staying in!

9. The Location

I don’t know how they do it, but more often than not hostels nab the best locations in hundreds of cities around the world. Every big city has at least a handful of hostels to select from within the city centre, giving travellers easier access to tourist sites and nightlife!

10. Kitchen Facilities

It’s nice to have the option of a home-cooked meal while travelling, especially if you’re on a budget! Kitchen facilities in hostels mean you can easily nip to the shop and buy some pasta and sauce to prepare for a cheap and easy meal.

What do you think of hostels? Tell us in the comments!

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