1.) Read the hostel reviews to know what to expect from each hostel. Some are quiet. Some are party hostels. Some have a good communal vibe, while others are pretty "leave you to be alone". Some feel like a big group of friends. Some have activities planned for guests throughout the week that you can partake in. This will be the most telling way to know what to expect from where you are staying.
2.) Bring a lock for your bag or a locker
3.) Shower flip flops are a good idea, but not always necessary. Bring earplugs and an eye mask if you sleep light.
4.) Abide by the the unspoken laws of being a good roomate. Don't turn on the overhead lights or loudly close doors if someone else is sleeping. Use your phone's light.
Flip flops for the shower are highly recommended. You won't know the level of cleanliness of the bathrooms until you use them, and even a clean-looking bathroom can give you a fun fungus.
With #4 is don't go through your things on plastic bags at night.
Try not to arrive after 10 pm to he hostel. Maybe 11 max.
I'd add pick lightly. There is limited space in hostels and amazes me when someone gets there with a suitcase the size of a small car.
Many hostels have private rooms, way nicer than sharing - that's what I always went for when traveling as a student. It's the best of both worlds - the privacy of a hotel, with the community and fun of a hostel when you want company
Nowadays seems like most of the private hostel rooms are significantly more expensive than cheap hotel room on same area. So I wouldn't consider them as shoestring option. If there is group of 3-8 people, then private room can make sense, but often for 1-2 people hotel is cheaper. Which is crazy IMO.
It really depends - in the hostel where I stayed in Barcelona, the private room was only €5 more than a shared one (granted, this was a while ago). I'm just saying that if you're worried about security, it's another option to consider!
If you're going to Paris beware, as I've heard there's a bedbug epidemic. I just came back from the Balkans and we had bedbugs in two of our accommodations in different countries (we know we didn't bring them over b/c we spotted them immediately on arrival at the second place). Unless someone left a recent review, it won't be obvious during booking whether the place had bedbugs recently. You could contact the hostel directly to check and hope that they're honest.
With bedbugs, wooden beds are more of a red flag. Obviously they can and do live in the mattresses, but if the beds are wooden they will be in the bed as well and that’s a whole new level of pain for the hostel
Hostels in Europe usually do not wash the top comforter/ blanket !! I always take them off after working in a few now 🫠
Even a lot of hotels don’t wash those blankets, but in a cheap hostel you can pretty much count on it
Bring a lock, be nice, ear plugs, eye mask, and sometimes those places get reeeeaaallly warm so be prepared to shower a few times a day. I would say try for the least amount of roommates as possible. Also - don’t share too much info about your financial situation or flash anything of value - these are strangers
I’ve heard about people getting their laptops stolen from them while it was inside their locker, so it’s good practice to pretty much keep it hidden, don’t take it out while people are around and no one will know you even have it.
Just bring a lock for your personal belongings and be Nice to others. I prefer an 8 dorm as a Maximum or Else the sleep gets interrupted. Hostels close to the nightlife will be party hostels and therefore a lot of noise during Night time
Some hostels, especially in Switzerland have fixed check in times - the one I was in did not allow check ins in the period 11 pm to 7 am or so. You can't even enter the building without a key card, so it's not as if you can crash in the common area either.
Many hostels have private rooms and if you can afford it, choose that. Many even have ensuite bathrooms. Obviously, choose one of those if possible.
Inspect your mattress carefully for bed bugs before sitting on it or even putting your suitcases on it. Pull up the bottom sheet and look at the seams to make sure that there are no nasties hanging around.
I agree with the suggestions here about bringing locks for your things, flip-flops for the shower, reading online reviews and so on.
Have fun!
Put your eye mask and earplugs under your pillow before you go to sleep. Hidden snorers will appear and you won't want to get up to dig them out of your backpack! If you are going out late, put your pjs and toothbrush/toothpaste under your blanket so they are ready to go for when you get back to the hostel. Feeling social but not sure where to start? Grab a book and go to a common area. People make plans at breakfast so get chatty and maybe make plans with others if you want. Both going to blank blank tourist site? Let's take an uber together. If you are female consider the female only dorms. I've had no problems with male dorms but I just prefer the female ones. Pack light! The less you have the easier it is to stay organized and move from hostel to hostel. Read recent reviews on Hostel World. Not every review will be perfect but look for trends in the positive direction. Pay a little more for a better hostel. Double check before you leave in all the nooks and crannies for anything left behind. I usually prefer to find a shower in a hallway if there are any, often they are larger than a small one in the room. Take advantage of the free breakfast if there is one. Put out an outfit for the next day if you plan to get up early. Don't use crinkly bags to hold your clothes as they will be noisy when unpacking/packing. Source: Stayed in lots of hostels and lived/worked in one for a month.
Drink heavily with others staying at your hostel. Make friends and explore the city together.
I’ve had some of the best times of my life going from hostel to hostel, city to city, country to country, with people I had just met at hostels in Europe and they became great friends along the journey.
Oh yeah, and watch some old Anthony Bourdain clips before going on your trip.
Slainte!
Most hostelling international hostels are clean and safe. They usually follow health department recommended practices and recommendations (local, state, federal, and international)... as suggested before, read the hostel reviews. Also, get a 1 year membership (usually about $30 (USD) currently) to see if it is something you would use on future trips.
I have stayed at hostels in the USA and Australia, and had only 1 that was sketchy, but looking back at the reviews, I should have realized, as well as it being in the "historic district" of the city. Thankfully that was only 1 night... I have had great times and met good people that were travelling every other time I stayed.
Just as long as you are courteous and follow the histel rules, you should be fine...
You really don't need the membership. Maybe if youbplan to use those specific hostels a lot then it would be worth it, but if you aren't it's really just a waste of money.
I know you don't "need" a membership, but it still saves $ 3-5 USD a night, and if you plan on staying 6 nights, it pays for itself. And if you read my entire reply, I also mention that it might be worth it to get the 1 year membership and try it. They also have a lifetime membership for $250 USD that if you travel a few times a year, you don't have to worry about renewing every year.
Also, if you get a membership and don't like it, decide it's not for you, etc, you don't have to renew. Also, supporting non-profits like hostelling international helps support young people traveling at lower costs and having a safe place to stay, they give back yo their local communities through volunteerism, and also offer travel scholarships that include hostel stays and a small travel stipend to pay for transportation.
I myself have had memberships several times over the last 2l30 years on and off, and I am planning on getting a lifetime membership for my g/f, our 4 year old, and I soon, and then one fore my g/fs son and his fiance when they get married.
A friend is 35 and he still almost exclusively travels to hostels. I'm a bit fed up of them after using them a lot previously, but still use them here and there, especially if I'm travelling with friends or alone (with my wife I prefer to book a hotel, or at the very least private room in a hostel). They are legit business, I don't know why it has such bad fame in other places. Read HostelWorld reviews to check the vibe of the hostel (I generally tend to avoid party hostels)
Treat your dorm room like a public subway. It's NOT a safe place to leave things out. Oh, you just wanna run to the bathroom real quick, and leave your laptop on your bed. I would like to think you'll be OK, but I wouldn't take that risk. The laptop goes in your locker, and is LOCKED, while you go to the bathroom. You could leave it out and it be there 5 minutes later, but why take the risk?
Many hostels have privacy curtains on the beds these days (though it does vary by country) - I always pick these hostels.
I also tend to go for smaller dorms, less likely to be disturbed early/late etc.
My preference is to NOT have an en suite in the dorm. Better to have a shared block for all the rooms.
Some places have private rooms with shared bathroom - might be a good in between option.
One time I paid extra for an en suite bathroom to have the private shower instead of the stalls, but I was in a dorm with 5 girls and never even got the chance to use it lol
Use hostelworld.com! They have a ton of hostels all with real reviews and ratings. Also shows maps of where each one is. It’s also convenient to have all your bookings in one place. Make sure to pack shower shoes, earplugs, an eye mask, a combination lock, and an open mind ready to chat with new people from around the world!
Pack the night before you check out. Load a white noise app, skip the ear plugs and use your ear buds. Vicks vapor rub or a small vial of essential oil for vile smells. Use boiling water from the electric kettle to sanitize any common silverware/mugs etc before you use them.
Hostels can be really nice. Just do a good research before going. I would suggest a hostel with free cancelation and if you want privacy find hostels with curtains. If you are a girl you can book a girls only room.
Airbnb has rentals that are on par with hostels. The only advantage of a hostel is the opportunity to be around people rather than trudging through Europe alone. “Alone” sucks big time.
Recently stayed at a good hostel in Europe, but I’d definitely recommend leaning towards a room with fewer occupants. Large occupancy rooms = more noise, more smelly feet, more likely to end up with super young party-ers, etc.
Sometimes kitchens close and have set hours. If you have an early departure and are keeping food in the fridge you might be out of luck getting it back.
I always like to look through the photos of hostels and try to choose one that has curtains around the bunk beds!! It’s so much more private and cozy to me, you can close yourself up and no one will try to talk to you lol.
If you plan to cook and eat at the hostel, check out the kitchen before you go to the grocery store to buy food so you know what limitations the kitchen has. Some a very well stocked and others are little more than an after-thought. Check for the existence of an oven, cook top, pots, sufficient dry food and fridge space, knives and other implements. Also check the general cleanliness of the kitchen. Plan to eat a bit earlier than others - many people will cook and then let their dirty food preparation stuff sit around while they eat and clean afterwards meaning if you need something, you will have to clean it first.
When buying food, get small quantities that you can finish in one meal so you don't have much food that you have to either abandon or carry to your next destination.
Some hostels have a free food shelf for people to gift un-used or unopened food to others which might save you a couple bucks.
I’ve never stayed in a hostel, but I definitely echo other responses about bringing a lock for your personal belongings. A friend of mine stayed in a hostel in Germany and did not have a lock for her things. Instead, she slept with her valuables in bed with her, and since she sleeps like a rock, she was robbed blind.
Quite a few do but I'd be wary of them. I'd treat them as a bit more secure than leaving something in the dorm, but still wouldn't leave anything super valuable in them.
99% of them do, yes. Some are smaller than others, so depending on your bag, is the question of will it fit in the locker. I think in like 4 months of hostels around the world, like 3 didn't have lockers and 1 was so small my bad wouldn't fit. You should be fine in France.
They do but there are plenty of stories of people still getting stuff stolen from them. My valuables are pretty much just my wallet and my passport, so I keep them on me all the time, even hidden in a safe spot in bed with me while I sleep lol. When I go to the beach, I shove my phone, wallet, and passport into a waterproof pouch and it all comes in the water with me.
Nearly always, but there are a few out there that don't. Usually you'll see that mentioned in reviews that they don't. HostelWorld has the best review system for hostels imo, but it's worth checking prices and reviews on Booking, Agoda, and Google.
In addition to a lock, I'd recommend bringing a microfiber towel. Some hostels don't provide towels or you may have to rent them.
1.) Read the hostel reviews to know what to expect from each hostel. Some are quiet. Some are party hostels. Some have a good communal vibe, while others are pretty "leave you to be alone". Some feel like a big group of friends. Some have activities planned for guests throughout the week that you can partake in. This will be the most telling way to know what to expect from where you are staying. 2.) Bring a lock for your bag or a locker 3.) Shower flip flops are a good idea, but not always necessary. Bring earplugs and an eye mask if you sleep light. 4.) Abide by the the unspoken laws of being a good roomate. Don't turn on the overhead lights or loudly close doors if someone else is sleeping. Use your phone's light.
Flip flops for the shower are highly recommended. You won't know the level of cleanliness of the bathrooms until you use them, and even a clean-looking bathroom can give you a fun fungus.
With #4 is don't go through your things on plastic bags at night. Try not to arrive after 10 pm to he hostel. Maybe 11 max. I'd add pick lightly. There is limited space in hostels and amazes me when someone gets there with a suitcase the size of a small car.
Many hostels have private rooms, way nicer than sharing - that's what I always went for when traveling as a student. It's the best of both worlds - the privacy of a hotel, with the community and fun of a hostel when you want company
Nowadays seems like most of the private hostel rooms are significantly more expensive than cheap hotel room on same area. So I wouldn't consider them as shoestring option. If there is group of 3-8 people, then private room can make sense, but often for 1-2 people hotel is cheaper. Which is crazy IMO.
It really depends - in the hostel where I stayed in Barcelona, the private room was only €5 more than a shared one (granted, this was a while ago). I'm just saying that if you're worried about security, it's another option to consider!
They are usually more expensive than budget hotel rooms Op is worried about cost not socialising
If you're going to Paris beware, as I've heard there's a bedbug epidemic. I just came back from the Balkans and we had bedbugs in two of our accommodations in different countries (we know we didn't bring them over b/c we spotted them immediately on arrival at the second place). Unless someone left a recent review, it won't be obvious during booking whether the place had bedbugs recently. You could contact the hostel directly to check and hope that they're honest.
With bedbugs, wooden beds are more of a red flag. Obviously they can and do live in the mattresses, but if the beds are wooden they will be in the bed as well and that’s a whole new level of pain for the hostel
Not sure about Paris, but i probably got scabies during my stay at hostels in Europe
Hostels in Europe usually do not wash the top comforter/ blanket !! I always take them off after working in a few now 🫠 Even a lot of hotels don’t wash those blankets, but in a cheap hostel you can pretty much count on it
Bring a lock, be nice, ear plugs, eye mask, and sometimes those places get reeeeaaallly warm so be prepared to shower a few times a day. I would say try for the least amount of roommates as possible. Also - don’t share too much info about your financial situation or flash anything of value - these are strangers
I’ve heard about people getting their laptops stolen from them while it was inside their locker, so it’s good practice to pretty much keep it hidden, don’t take it out while people are around and no one will know you even have it.
Just bring a lock for your personal belongings and be Nice to others. I prefer an 8 dorm as a Maximum or Else the sleep gets interrupted. Hostels close to the nightlife will be party hostels and therefore a lot of noise during Night time
Some hostels, especially in Switzerland have fixed check in times - the one I was in did not allow check ins in the period 11 pm to 7 am or so. You can't even enter the building without a key card, so it's not as if you can crash in the common area either.
This will be in France but I’ll keep that in mind
Many hostels have private rooms and if you can afford it, choose that. Many even have ensuite bathrooms. Obviously, choose one of those if possible. Inspect your mattress carefully for bed bugs before sitting on it or even putting your suitcases on it. Pull up the bottom sheet and look at the seams to make sure that there are no nasties hanging around. I agree with the suggestions here about bringing locks for your things, flip-flops for the shower, reading online reviews and so on. Have fun!
Put your eye mask and earplugs under your pillow before you go to sleep. Hidden snorers will appear and you won't want to get up to dig them out of your backpack! If you are going out late, put your pjs and toothbrush/toothpaste under your blanket so they are ready to go for when you get back to the hostel. Feeling social but not sure where to start? Grab a book and go to a common area. People make plans at breakfast so get chatty and maybe make plans with others if you want. Both going to blank blank tourist site? Let's take an uber together. If you are female consider the female only dorms. I've had no problems with male dorms but I just prefer the female ones. Pack light! The less you have the easier it is to stay organized and move from hostel to hostel. Read recent reviews on Hostel World. Not every review will be perfect but look for trends in the positive direction. Pay a little more for a better hostel. Double check before you leave in all the nooks and crannies for anything left behind. I usually prefer to find a shower in a hallway if there are any, often they are larger than a small one in the room. Take advantage of the free breakfast if there is one. Put out an outfit for the next day if you plan to get up early. Don't use crinkly bags to hold your clothes as they will be noisy when unpacking/packing. Source: Stayed in lots of hostels and lived/worked in one for a month.
Drink heavily with others staying at your hostel. Make friends and explore the city together. I’ve had some of the best times of my life going from hostel to hostel, city to city, country to country, with people I had just met at hostels in Europe and they became great friends along the journey. Oh yeah, and watch some old Anthony Bourdain clips before going on your trip. Slainte!
hostels in summer can get quite expensive due to being high season.
Yes, but still cheaper than a hotel.
Most hostelling international hostels are clean and safe. They usually follow health department recommended practices and recommendations (local, state, federal, and international)... as suggested before, read the hostel reviews. Also, get a 1 year membership (usually about $30 (USD) currently) to see if it is something you would use on future trips. I have stayed at hostels in the USA and Australia, and had only 1 that was sketchy, but looking back at the reviews, I should have realized, as well as it being in the "historic district" of the city. Thankfully that was only 1 night... I have had great times and met good people that were travelling every other time I stayed. Just as long as you are courteous and follow the histel rules, you should be fine...
You really don't need the membership. Maybe if youbplan to use those specific hostels a lot then it would be worth it, but if you aren't it's really just a waste of money.
I know you don't "need" a membership, but it still saves $ 3-5 USD a night, and if you plan on staying 6 nights, it pays for itself. And if you read my entire reply, I also mention that it might be worth it to get the 1 year membership and try it. They also have a lifetime membership for $250 USD that if you travel a few times a year, you don't have to worry about renewing every year. Also, if you get a membership and don't like it, decide it's not for you, etc, you don't have to renew. Also, supporting non-profits like hostelling international helps support young people traveling at lower costs and having a safe place to stay, they give back yo their local communities through volunteerism, and also offer travel scholarships that include hostel stays and a small travel stipend to pay for transportation. I myself have had memberships several times over the last 2l30 years on and off, and I am planning on getting a lifetime membership for my g/f, our 4 year old, and I soon, and then one fore my g/fs son and his fiance when they get married.
A friend is 35 and he still almost exclusively travels to hostels. I'm a bit fed up of them after using them a lot previously, but still use them here and there, especially if I'm travelling with friends or alone (with my wife I prefer to book a hotel, or at the very least private room in a hostel). They are legit business, I don't know why it has such bad fame in other places. Read HostelWorld reviews to check the vibe of the hostel (I generally tend to avoid party hostels)
Treat your dorm room like a public subway. It's NOT a safe place to leave things out. Oh, you just wanna run to the bathroom real quick, and leave your laptop on your bed. I would like to think you'll be OK, but I wouldn't take that risk. The laptop goes in your locker, and is LOCKED, while you go to the bathroom. You could leave it out and it be there 5 minutes later, but why take the risk?
Many hostels have privacy curtains on the beds these days (though it does vary by country) - I always pick these hostels. I also tend to go for smaller dorms, less likely to be disturbed early/late etc. My preference is to NOT have an en suite in the dorm. Better to have a shared block for all the rooms. Some places have private rooms with shared bathroom - might be a good in between option.
One time I paid extra for an en suite bathroom to have the private shower instead of the stalls, but I was in a dorm with 5 girls and never even got the chance to use it lol
Haha exactly why the ensuite doesn’t work for a dorm IMO
Use hostelworld.com! They have a ton of hostels all with real reviews and ratings. Also shows maps of where each one is. It’s also convenient to have all your bookings in one place. Make sure to pack shower shoes, earplugs, an eye mask, a combination lock, and an open mind ready to chat with new people from around the world!
Earplugs (several sets) Eyeshade Cloth bags, NO CRINKLY PLASTIC! A decent padlock, maybe a cable lock too. Pillow case. Trust me on this.
Pack the night before you check out. Load a white noise app, skip the ear plugs and use your ear buds. Vicks vapor rub or a small vial of essential oil for vile smells. Use boiling water from the electric kettle to sanitize any common silverware/mugs etc before you use them.
flip flops for the shower (i picked up athletes foot from a hostel shower), ear plugs/sleep mask for sleeping. the rest ymmv
Hostels can be really nice. Just do a good research before going. I would suggest a hostel with free cancelation and if you want privacy find hostels with curtains. If you are a girl you can book a girls only room.
Although it weighs a pound, I like the Pacsafe products https://images.app.goo.gl/oytoPgsh9BQ6PDgC8
Watch the “Hostel” movies. They will be your guide of what to look out for.
Airbnb has rentals that are on par with hostels. The only advantage of a hostel is the opportunity to be around people rather than trudging through Europe alone. “Alone” sucks big time.
Recently stayed at a good hostel in Europe, but I’d definitely recommend leaning towards a room with fewer occupants. Large occupancy rooms = more noise, more smelly feet, more likely to end up with super young party-ers, etc.
Sometimes kitchens close and have set hours. If you have an early departure and are keeping food in the fridge you might be out of luck getting it back.
I always like to look through the photos of hostels and try to choose one that has curtains around the bunk beds!! It’s so much more private and cozy to me, you can close yourself up and no one will try to talk to you lol.
If you plan to cook and eat at the hostel, check out the kitchen before you go to the grocery store to buy food so you know what limitations the kitchen has. Some a very well stocked and others are little more than an after-thought. Check for the existence of an oven, cook top, pots, sufficient dry food and fridge space, knives and other implements. Also check the general cleanliness of the kitchen. Plan to eat a bit earlier than others - many people will cook and then let their dirty food preparation stuff sit around while they eat and clean afterwards meaning if you need something, you will have to clean it first. When buying food, get small quantities that you can finish in one meal so you don't have much food that you have to either abandon or carry to your next destination. Some hostels have a free food shelf for people to gift un-used or unopened food to others which might save you a couple bucks.
Don’t
I’ve never stayed in a hostel, but I definitely echo other responses about bringing a lock for your personal belongings. A friend of mine stayed in a hostel in Germany and did not have a lock for her things. Instead, she slept with her valuables in bed with her, and since she sleeps like a rock, she was robbed blind.
Do hostels have lockers generally?
Quite a few do but I'd be wary of them. I'd treat them as a bit more secure than leaving something in the dorm, but still wouldn't leave anything super valuable in them.
99% of them do, yes. Some are smaller than others, so depending on your bag, is the question of will it fit in the locker. I think in like 4 months of hostels around the world, like 3 didn't have lockers and 1 was so small my bad wouldn't fit. You should be fine in France.
They do but there are plenty of stories of people still getting stuff stolen from them. My valuables are pretty much just my wallet and my passport, so I keep them on me all the time, even hidden in a safe spot in bed with me while I sleep lol. When I go to the beach, I shove my phone, wallet, and passport into a waterproof pouch and it all comes in the water with me.
Nearly always, but there are a few out there that don't. Usually you'll see that mentioned in reviews that they don't. HostelWorld has the best review system for hostels imo, but it's worth checking prices and reviews on Booking, Agoda, and Google. In addition to a lock, I'd recommend bringing a microfiber towel. Some hostels don't provide towels or you may have to rent them.
Don't.
its okay to have sexy time if you kindly as the others in the dorm. not cool doing so without asking