Comments on: Why Are People so Afraid of Hostels?

By: Micamyx|Senyorita

Micamyx|Senyorita — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:28:50 +0000

Blame hollywood for the major misconception

By: The 5 travel personalities you must know in 2010 | Art of Backpacking: Backpacking Independent International Traveler

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:27:07 +0000

[...] Travel is the aspiration to motivate other travelers. As travelers, we want to tell the world that hostels are okay and you shouldn’t wait to travel. Luckily, those questions can be answered thanks to [...]

By: Backpacking Basics Part 3: What Is A Hostel? | foXnoMad

Backpacking Basics Part 3: What Is A Hostel? | foXnoMad — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:50:00 +0000

[...] a few people are afraid to stay in hostels due to several misconceptions about them. Most of them revolve around the idea that hostels are [...]

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:15:38 +0000

That’s wonderful!I loved Rome a lot and I’m sure you will have a fantastic time there (and save a lot of money staying in a hostel).

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:21:33 +0000

I live in the US and am traveling my first time to Rome in March, I am 39 and just booked a hostel for my arrival. I am looking for a new experience and just went for it. I think most of the comments on this post are correct about Americans. We know nothing about Hostels and could learn a lot about the way world travelers experience the world. I bet I am in for an experience I will never forget.

By: alexis

alexis — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:53:31 +0000

Great article! There should be more pro-hostel articles! i wish more people were educated about hostels here in the US. Hostels are a great way to travel. You learn from other travelers your meet and make memories! A hostel I stayed at had karaoke night on Thursdays and my friends and I had a blast. People who are afraid are missing out!

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:26:23 +0000

Oh wow, that must be so interesting. I do get tired of explaining to people the ins and outs of what a hostel is so I can imagine that getting old!

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:05 +0000

I work part-time in a hostel in what I shall just call a “rural” region…and the myths and stereotypes are even further perpetuated here. Nobody in the immediate area really has a clue what a hostel is and I spend a good portion of my summer season explaining to locals what on earth I actually do! Most of them think I say hospital and after about this is repeated about twenty times, I just sigh and let them think I’m a nurse. ha.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:33:37 +0000

Hi Ekua! The shared bathroom thing generally doesn’t bother me. I did it for years back in college after all!

Good reminder about the hotel safes.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:31:59 +0000

It would say it definitely depends on where you are traveling. In Europe hostels are your cheapest option by far most of the time.

By: Holgs

Holgs — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:23:08 +0000

Myth #6 – Hostels are cheaper
I’ll stay in hostels when it makes sense to do so – but sadly one thing I’m finding is that hostels are constantly going up in price, while budget hotels aren’t. In South America I found examples where a dorm bed in a foreign-owned hostel was double the price of room in a locally owned hotel across the road. Unfortunately that’s not an isolated example. It pays to shop around.
.-= Holgs´s last blog ..Sneak Preview: http://www.digitalnomadsforum.com =-.

By: Ekua

Ekua — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:03:32 +0000

Awesome post! I would add that if people are scared about their belongings, a lot of hostels have lockers. If I have to make a decision between staying in a motel or a hostel, I usually go with a hostel because it's more likely to be clean even if it is basic or rustic. Motels always seem to be dirty. I usually request the smallest dorm possible when I hostel and "splurge" on a private room every so often when I want a little quiet. I think as for sharing bathrooms, if you are traveling for awhile, you tend to get used to it. .-= Ekua´s last blog ..Wanderful Words No. 12 =-.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:33:56 +0000

Neat! I’m adding the opal mine and the treehouse to my maybe list for next year.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:31:12 +0000

I know, I think a struck a nerve with this one!

By: brian

brian — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:52:50 +0000

You know I’m a huge advocate of hostels and agree 110% with everything you said.

Nice catches on the quirky hostels. That opal mine sounds like a fun place.

Jumbo Hostel in Stockholm is a hostel made from a jumbo jet. Seriously. http://www.jumbohostel.com
.-= brian´s last blog ..Guest Post – I Love Japan but it is Time to Go =-.

By: Candice

Candice — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:17:39 +0000

Damn Steph, your site is blowing up! Good job. I agree 100% with everything you said, and have often argued the points with my prudish friends. You really cannot beat the community of a hostel, and I think I'd continue using them even if I could afford hotels. .-= Candice´s last blog ..Mystery and Murder in St. John’s: A Review of The Republic of Doyle =-.

By: DTravelsRound

DTravelsRound — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:45:39 +0000

Great post! I love hostels. Some of the best memories and the best people I have met in my travels have been at the hostels I have stayed at. I know there are so many preconceived notions that hostels are dirty, scary, etc. but they aren’t. Even the ones with the less than stellar reputations aren’t terrible. I think doing some research before you go is a great way to learn what hostel is a fit for you and what isn’t. In terms of budget travel, I agree — hostels (and guest houses) are the best way to go, aside from couch surfing for people who want to save money. The tree house in Turkey sounds AMAZING!! I think I’m going to have to add it to my list!
.-= DTravelsRound´s last blog ..Booze, boobs and a beach bar =-.

By: aelle

aelle — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:43:04 +0000

Having both travelled on a budget and for business with expenses covered, I’ve tried a wide range of accomodations. I’ll take the hostel any day. Beyond hotels and guesthouses, the quality to price ratio just keeps degrading – a hotel that costs you 4 times the price of a guest house hardly offers twice a better service – and that’s just dissapointing.

The only exception to this are traditional Japanese inns. Best thing ever.
.-= aelle´s last blog ..Welcome, 2010 =-.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:09:52 +0000

Oh! I stayed in a hostel in Chicago. It was actually a lot of fun, but a completely different experience from the hostels in Australia/New Zealand & Europe that I've also been to. .-= Adam´s last blog ..My Tentative Itinerary =-.

By: Cornelius Aesop

Cornelius Aesop — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:01:28 +0000

I once thought the same way, my only knowledge of hostels was from the movie and I never actually saw the movie itself. I just assumed the worst, which meant that it wasn't hard to surprise me at how amazing my first hostel was. Since then I've become an advocate, in fact my last trip to Paracas, Peru I had to convince the family of my friend that she would be safe in the hostel. More people should read this article, so I'm off to tweet this! .-= Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..Water Show in Lima =-.