This is a guest blog submitted by the_prestigiator Many people traveling and studying abroad wonder the same thing. Should I spring for a hotel or save my much needed dollars for a better activity?
And many of them, whether for financial reasons, location, or convenience, settle on the hostel.
So are hostels as crazy, dirty, and dangerous as Hollywood has portrayed them? The 2005 horror flick Hostel sure set many hearts a-tingling by using a hostel as the setting for murder, vice, and hedonistic tendencies. Just about anyone I knew did not wish to relive those scenes.
Still, truth be told hostels are not bad at all. I've stayed in loads of them and they were fine, especially since I was doing the tourist thing most of the day. Usually, just like hotels, they offer various accommodations including a continental breakfast, a bed, a bathroom, and most of the time, Internet.
The only difference is that you usually have to provide your own sheets and towels, you share a room with various strangers, and you can't order room service. Still, despite lack of such small comforts hostels are totally worth it since they often come with a small price tag.
And like hotels, you have your nice places and your rat holes. Obviously, you're not in the market for a luxurious stay but you probably do want a nice clean and fun place. I stayed at a horrible one in Nice, France once because I blindly booked a spot. I saw how cheap it was (10 euros) and lost my mind. The trick is to do your research ahead of time and read reviews about the hostel before making a reservation.
Most travelers and backpackers rely on
lonelyplanet or
hostelz for honest assessments about specific hostels, their cleanliness and safety. Read about the place and then make a well-informed decision. A little planning will turn your visit into an amazing stay! You'll meet people from all over the world, make new friends, and have a memorable experience.
Peace and hostel love, amigos.
Would you ever consider staying at a Hostel? Did the movie
Hostel make you afraid of them?
Comments (8)
When I went on a three week trip to europe, all i stayed in were hostels. i never had to share a room with strangers though. but it's SOO much cheaper than staying in a hotel if you aren't planning on being there until you sleep.
I love, love, love, love, love hostels. I love them so much I stayed in one on my honeymoon. I volunteer for HI-USA and I have stayed in hostels as far and wide as Korea and France! :0) Never saw that movie.. and I never will, but I don't like being scared :0)
I travel to tennis tournaments all over europe usually and it's very expensive staying a week in each country at hotels even if they give us a special rate, so whenever I can , I stay at pensions. I've never stayed with strangers in a ROOM but in a house yes. Where we would all share a bathroom. It's not that bad really. Some even have breakfast included and if they don't, I just buy from supermarket and put it in the kitchen (they usually have kitchens), so it's so much better.
I refuse to watch movies like Hostel... but I would definitely stay in one! It sounds like the experience of a lifetime.
I have never stayed at one but I've looked into them. I would prefer to get a friend's advice before I stayed at a particular one... or at least read the reviews (which is kind of hard because there are always both good and bad reviews). I would consider staying in one, but to be honest I do prefer the comfort of an apartment or a hotel, especially since I like to be comfortable when I sleep.
@LucyWrites@xanga - I think if you're staying somewhere longer it definitely is nicer to get a temporary apartment but always read hostel reviews. I couldn't agree with you more!
I LOVED staying in hostels when I went to Europe. They are so much cheaper, and better, than hotels, because the food is local and great, you get to meet and hang out with and have meals with people from all over the world, and you get to save your money for what's really important - seeing and doing the things you came to see and do. We had absolutely NO problems when we stayed at hostels. It was a very rich experience. We didn't only run into people from other places, we ended up hanging out, going places and doing things together, and found spots to see and things to do we wouldn't have known about otherwise.
i have never stayed in a hostel when i travel. but i would love to when i go to new york next time. i have been searching on the internet for some decent ones. it can save so much money and should be an interesting experince :)