Tips for Booking A Great Hostel
When traveling on a budget, hostels are a great option but are usually cast to the wayside. There are a ton of stigmas about hostels and that movie, yes that one, didn't help. Outside of horror films and spring break docuseries, hostels are a great budget-friendly option, when you pick wisely. There are a few steps you can take to ensure you pick a great hostel and have an amazing, though not a traditional vacation.
Tip 1: Look at targeted hostel sites
Unlike booking a hotel, you won't find many quality hostels on Expedia or booking.com. The best places to find hostels are hostelbookers.com and agoda.com. Sites like these have a more comprehensive list of hostels with customer reviews that can help you make your decision.
Bonus Tip: When searching for hostels, use keywords like "budget-friendly" or "backpacker." This will help you weed out hostels that may be a little more expensive than you're looking for.
Tip 2: Review the reviews
Be sure to read the hostel's description and reviews before booking. This will give you an idea of what to expect. Hostels can vary greatly in quality, so it's important to do your research. There are hostels for everyone from all-night partiers to sunrise yogis but they won't be at the same place. When someone in a review says the rooms smell like weed, believe them. This is why reading the reviews thoroughly is important. A young hipster might consider the underground bar that shakes the whole building as 5 stars because they love a party, but that may not be the vibe you're going for. Hostels also offer perks for reviews so focus your energy on the ones with comments.
Tip 3: Get to know the area
Hostels are generally located in great areas, but it's important to do your research before booking. Make sure the hostel is in a part of town that you're comfortable with and be aware of your surroundings. Trust that if a hostel is in a party district, like downtown Phuket, they will attract party-goers. If you're looking for a more relaxed hostel look at the surrounding attractions. Usually, hostels in the historic, arts, or business districts are more chill.
Bonus Tip: Download an offline map using apps such as google maps to have continuous access to a map of the city you're visiting. This will help you get around when you're not on wifi. You can also star the hostel and other points of interest to calculate the travel distance.
Tip 4: Consider a larger chain hostel
Though hostels can vary greatly in quality, hostels from larger chains are likely to be of a higher standard. Two of my favorite chains are Generator hostels and Plus hostels. They have a strict code of conduct and safety procedures that must be met by each hostel before being approved for the chain. This provides ease of mind when booking and during your stay.
Bonus Tip: If you're traveling in a large group, look for hostels that offer group discounts. Hostels are great for groups because they offer more communal areas and activities than hotels do.
