Traveling Takeoffs: How to Stay in a Hostel

By Claire Weston

Edited by Taylor Morgan

SHOBHIT SHARMA / Unsplash

Traveling on a budget can be difficult. Many money-conscious travelers choose to stay in hostels to alleviate extra costs and stay on track with spending. 

Hostels are a fantastic place to meet people from around the world, to stay somewhere spectacular and bucket-list worthy, all while staying budget-friendly. However, some travelers are weary at the thought of staying in a room full of strangers.

Here are my tried and tested ways of booking and staying in a hostel as a young woman who loves to travel:

Step One: Find the Location 

Every trip starts with an idea. Say you have always dreamed of visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia. Let’s figure out how to get you there. 

First, you need to plan the time you want to visit. If you want to travel in the summer, I would recommend booking your flight in the fall (or even earlier if possible). If you want to visit in the winter, I would recommend booking your flight in the spring. 

Next, you need to figure out how long you will stay. Keep in mind that some hostels only allow stays up to a certain number of days. 

Now that you have a ticket and a plan, it’s time to figure out where you want to stay. 

Step Two: Download Hostelworld or another hostel site

Once you have opened the website, you can search for any location in the world. The site will have you fill out the city, the dates of your stay and how many guests are attending (keep in mind that Hostelworld automatically defaults to two guests, so adjust if you need fewer or more).

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Step Three: Book Your Room

After searching for hostels, the site will list all properties available in the city you have picked during the time frame you have listed. 

I would recommend sorting and filtering the hostels based on your needs! You can filter by prices, ratings, room types, facilities and property types. Keep in mind that the prices listed on the main page will be the cheapest for the hostel. For example, it’ll say “Dorms From $__,” and this is the minimum price they have. 

Each hostel has a rating. This will be on a 10-point scale and is fueled by visitors’ reviews of the hostel. You can read each review to gain insider information about the hostel’s safety, cleanliness, facilities and so on. 

Once you have selected the specific hostel, the site will lay out all available rooms. Typically, hostels have options ranging from 12 Bed Mixed Dorms to 4 Bed Female Dorms (the cheapest rooms are normally higher-numbered bed mixed dorms). Pay close attention to the markings if a room is non-refundable or has free cancellation. 

Notes:

• Most hostels use gendered communal bathrooms (like a dorm hall).

• Most dorm rooms use bunk beds. Some even have three-tiered bunk beds. 

• Bedding is typically provided. Towels are typically NOT provided. 

• The rooms will have lockers of some kind for you to store your belongings. (I recommend bringing a lock for extra security). 

When you find a suitable room, you will proceed to a payment page. Most hostels charge a Pay Now deposit. It will be a small portion of the total cost. The rest of your payment is due when you arrive at the hostel. 

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Step Four: Arrive at the Hostel

Before you arrive, check through the hostel’s policies. Here you will find out their check-in and check-out times, non-allowed items and any facilities the hostel offers (some have free walking tours, free luggage storage, bar crawls, etc.). 

When you arrive, visit the hostel’s check-in desk. Here, a worker will check your passport, explain a bit about the hostel, give you a room key and take the rest of your room payment. (Note that some hostels require a key deposit that will be returned at the end of your stay). 

I would recommend asking the workers about any upcoming events, activities and tours they host. It’s the best way to meet people at the hostel. 

When you finally go to your room, don’t be shy. Say hello to those in your room! Ask questions, invite them to your plans, just make an effort. Most people stay in hostels to make traveling friends. 

Step Five: Stay Safe and Enjoy the Trip

If you feel uncomfortable at all, let the staff know! They should immediately help in any way they can. They can switch your room, relocate you or get you further help if needed.  

Happy hostel traveling!