Are Hostels Better than Hotels?

If you’re having trouble deciding if staying in a hostel is the right move for you, allow me to give you some insight into the hostels vs. hotels debate. Which is better?

If you have traveled in any capacity, you’ve stayed in a hotel or a motel. I’m not going to spend a ton of time explaining hotels here. This post is for people who are new to the idea of staying in a hostel.

I grew up staying in hotels. My family traveled a lot. You could say I was lucky. When I started traveling as an adult though, and I mean really traveling, I started staying in hostels.

Let’s get into what makes a hostel different from a hotel, so you can decide if staying at a hostel is the right move for you.

What is a Hostel?

A hostel is a lodging option that is designed to be easy on the wallet. How do they do this? With shared spaces. Shared spaces are the most noticeable difference between a hostel and a hotel.

When I say shared spaces, I’m not just talking about a common room. I mean everything! The bedroom and the bathroom too. If it sounds weird or intimidating, bear with me, I used to think so too. Now, I’m a hostel enthusiast.

The average hostel dorm room sleeps four to ten people, though I’ve seen rooms that hold twenty or even more! It can be overwhelming, even for experienced travelers, but remember everyone is there for the same reason: to see the world and save money doing it.

There’s usually a shared common area too in the form of a sitting area, dining area, or workspace. Some of the nicer ones have all three separately. These are great places to hang out and relax between activities.

Why Should I Stay in a Hostel?

One of the things that I love about hostels is that they are geared towards travelers. I’ve said before that I believe travelers and tourists are two entirely different groups of people. Hostels are aimed squarely at travelers.

It’s a budget-friendly lodging option in the first place, so they’re inclined to have all the budget-friendly answers for the rest of your trip too. I’ve found that conversations with hostel staff have led me to great tour options, transportation options, and restaurants.

Tourists might get stuck paying $20 for a shuttle or a taxi from their hotel to that tourist attraction nearby. But the hostel staff will likely recommend a bus or collective that will get you there for a fraction of the price.

Are Hostels Cheaper than Hotels?

The short answer here is almost always yes! Hostels in general carry a lighter price tag than hotels. Are there exceptions to this? Sure. There are some pretty nice hostels that are more expensive than a bad or even mediocre hotel.

Why are they cheaper? Well, they have far fewer rooms, and the per guest cost of a hostel is much lower. When there are ten people in one room sleeping on five bunk beds and sharing a bathroom, the cost is lower.

How much lower? The average cost of a hostel (and the sweet spot for quality, in my opinion) is between $9-$12 U.S. I’ve seen them as low as $5 or $6 (you’ll want to stay away from most of these) and as high as $30.

What are the Other Benefits of Hostels?

In the hostels vs. hotels debate, the main topic that comes up is privacy. But as an introvert myself, let me tell you that the lack of privacy is not necessarily a bad thing or a reason to steer clear of hostels.

The hostel crowd is made up of people from all over the world. I’ve made some lifelong friends with people I’ve met in hostels. Staying in one is a great way to meet people and make friends on a trip, especially if you’re solo traveling, which a lot of the people in hostels are.

Again, everyone is there for the same reason. That makes it incredibly easy to make friends. Everyone is likely doing a lot of the same activities. Talking to roommates at the hostel is a great way to find restaurant recommendations, specific activity recommendations, or just a great spot to take a picture.

Don’t forget to share what you know too! After all, with hostels, sharing is the game.

Are Hostels Safe?

I have an entire post on hostel safety, but I’ll summarize it here.

With all the sharing, it might lead you to believe that it can be unsafe. Especially if you’ve seen those damn movies that stigmatized the word hostel. I urge you to reconsider that train of thought. Again, everyone is there for the same reasons, so there’s no reason to worry about your roommates.

If fact, in some ways, I’ve found hostels to be safer than hotels. For starters, when you check in at most hostels, they’ll put a wristband on you to identify you as a guest. As a general practice, the front desk won’t let anyone in who doesn’t have a wristband. You won’t find this type of security practice in a hotel.

Sure, there could be an occasional stolen item issue. But that’s the case anywhere you go. And frankly, I’m just as likely to lose or misplace an item as have one stolen, maybe even more likely. Stolen items are also completely preventable.

Almost every hostel has lockers. Bring your own lock and lock up anything you’re worried about. You’ll be surprised to see most people don’t really use them and leave all their stuff out. I do not do this and still choose to lock up my things when I go out for the day.

Like anywhere you go, including the area you’ll live, if you’re smart about what you do and where you go, you’ll be just fine. Knowing and practicing hostel etiquette will help with some of your safety concerns as well.

Are Hostels Family Friendly?

If family-friendly is important to you, you might be better off in a hotel. Generally, when you travel as a family, you want to stay somewhere with amenities. If you’re looking for a nice pool and a restaurant and somewhere the kids can get some sleep, I’d advise you to go with a hotel.

If you’re traveling with older teenagers, fifteen or sixteen and above, you could do a hostel, thought I’d go with a private room. This will be a good way to give an older teenager an authentic travel experience while still having the appropriate amount of privacy for a minor.

I’m a huge advocate of hostels, but if you’re traveling with children, I’d go ahead and take hostels off your list until they’re older or you’re traveling alone.

Is Staying in a Hostel Right for Me?

This is ultimately going to be the decision you’ll have to make. I’ve given you some information to base your decision on, but let me also tell you why I started staying in hostels.

I booked my first hostel when I was intimidated by it and not sure what to expect, which is probably what you’re feeling if you’re reading this.

Then I remembered my reasons for traveling in the first place. I wanted to experience something new, push my comfort zones, and ultimately see the world. So, I did it!

And what I found was a more authentic travel experience than any hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Staying in hostels is what led to my theory that travelers and tourists are not the same people. The people you meet in hostels, roommates and staff, are different than the people you meet (if you meet any people at all) at hotels.

If you’ve never tried it, and it’s on your mind, I strongly recommend you give it a try. Open up to the experience and the people you’ll meet along the way. If you need help choosing a hostel, I’ve got you covered for that too.

Have fun out there!