My experience with Hostels

               A fun hostel in Budapest

People are sometimes concerned to hear that I will probably be spending most of my time on my big trip staying in hostels. 

They have a bad rep; often they are avoided for fear of being dirty, run-down, and full of loud and inconsiderate backpackers. They could never be as luxurious as hotels. While all of these stereotypes can be true, I've found that they are generally better than people expect them to be, (often even better than hotels) and they are a fantastic option for the budget-friendly traveller.

Another common misconception about hostels is that there is absolutely no privacy with hostels. This may be true in the case of some huge 10-bed mixed dorms, however you can in fact book private single rooms in hostels that are very similar to hotel rooms at a fraction of the price. For dorms, some hostels have privacy screens or curtains across the beds. Capsule hotels are particularly popular in Asia, where you might find yourself with slightly more privacy in pods.

My experience with hostels has been a mixed bag. I've stayed in them for school trips, uni tours, and my first solo trip last year. They have ranged from tiny 6-bed dorms where the plug sockets don't work unless you lean on them- to sleek, hotel-standard rooms with free breakfast. So it is about doing some research and choosing a hostel with all the amenities you could need, and more importantly, good reviews.

The best thing about hostels is their benefit of being a great way of meeting new people, especially as a solo traveller. On my first solo trip to Rome, I met two guys from Argentina in my hostel dorm room. We went out for dinner and I learnt a lot about their culture and their journey, something I would never have experienced without staying in the hostel.

           The lovely Mosaic hostel in Rome

However, hostels can come with their disadvantages when compared to hotels. You do often have to worry about people in your dorm being noisey when you are trying to sleep, which is why it's important to do your research and don't choose a party hostel if you are looking to get some sleep! Often, I'm actually the one who's being noisey (surprising I know), so likewise do your research and don't pick a family hostel if you are looking to be stumbling in at 3am! As was the case with our hostel on tour in Berlin, the staff were not too happy with how loud we were being as it was not a party hostel.

Overall, for the great value for money and ease of meeting other people, hostels will be the perfect accomodation for me on my trip. They certainly don't deserve the bad reputation that they get!

Shepp x