Note: That is indeed the same gentleman at a hostel and at a hotel on two various occasions.Hostels all around have been recognized in other countries besides America as a frugal way to find a place to stay while traveling. In America, it is often recognized as "That crazy 2005 movie." Often, hostels are catered for young travelers gallivanting across the world on a backpacking trip.
Although hotels in some countries might be significantly cheaper than hostels, often they opt for the cheapest possible room, even if its $10/night for a Ramada in Beijing, as opposed to $5.00/night in a hostel.
For me, a hostel is a lot more than just saving money for a cheap room. Its the lifestyle that seals the deal. Your room, or bed might be in a room with plenty of strangers, but the excitement is sharing your stories every day and making new friends along the way. I stayed in a hostel in Montreal, Canada last November on a backpacking trip with my significant other. We could easily afford a room at the Holiday Inn, but opted for a hostel for $20/night. We made so many new friends and found the lifestyle to be so exciting. There might be less privacy, but the joy of having people to hang out with late at night made up for it. For me, it is comparable to having a dorm in college.
Obviously, the plus of staying at a hotel is more privacy and more amenities. Having a room that housekeeping cleans all the time is a great luxury. Also, some hotels might have a indoor heated pool, perfect when traveling in the winter months.Some people feel more comfortable in a hotel, since its the preferred and most common way to travel. Some people will pay more for that familiar sense of security.
Would you stay in a hostel to save money? If it were a slight difference in price, would you be frugal or stay at a comfortable hotel?
Comments (32)
Im cheap. Hostel.
i think.....i would be kind of scared sharing a room with a stranger especially in a place i've never been to. :)
if i was traveling with a group of people, i think i'd feel safer staying in a hostel than i would if i was alone, or with a friend. if i felt safe, than a hostel sounds like it'd be fun!
@noree_n@xanga It was scary at first, because its so open. The place I stayed was like a big loft space with bunk bed everywhere, but its very cozy! Everyone has a little bit of personal space so its not like you're on top of each other!
Where in Montreal, Canada?
I think all of you have a good point, I guess, for me it comes down to; Am I on vacation, or an adventure? When I book a trip to go on vacation, I would rather be catered to, in turn, if I want to venture out for a couple of weeks to a few cities, I think a hostel would be awesome. I want to go to Rome and then venture out to many cities throught Italy, however, my problem is I can't get my significant other to go to a hostel
... oh well
@Luscious_Life@xanga - Do you remember the name of it? My friends and I are trying to go to NYC for a weekend and I think staying in a hostel would be the best option :)
I'm going to be in Europe from August-December...my school friends and I will be hitting up hostels, definitely, cause we're poor college students
@kachino@xanga http://www.lesousbois.com/ a very cute hostel!
@luisatieso Hey! Thanks for commenting! I'm sure we could convince mr. bill to stay at a hostel! There are some high end ones that are a little pricier, but nonetheless cheaper than a hotel!
@my0nlyh0p3@xanga Thats awesome! Have fun you will absolutely love it! I'm so jealous haha!
@B1ANCACACA@xanga hostelworld.com is a great site to look up hostels. Sometimes I have to stay in one in NYC if I'm going out really late or if I have a friend coming over. Read the reviews its prime to understanding what the real deal will be!
i guess it sort of depends on the occasion. if it was a business trip, i'd want to go back to my hotel where there's no noise. if i was staying for long periods of time, i'd choose the hotel, too, just to be more comfortable in the long run. but a hostel sounds kind of fun. (: if i needed a place to stay for a night or two, i'd definitely choose that. or, if i was going to go shopping the next day, i'd choose a hostel just so i'd have more money to buy things with. ;D
I like a hostel better simply for the people....
I would totally stay in a Hostel. When I backpack through Europe after Senior Year, I'm definitely doing it. I love making friends.
Two various occasions? Two separate occasions? I didn't know you could have two various ones. :P
I would go with a hostel, but usually the people I'm with are too finicky and prefer a private hotel room, or they're paranoid.
Hostel all the way. Those things are great.
I've stayed at several hostels and I've had experiences both good and bad. The Good: we made some fantastic acquaintances, and stayed up until three in the morning rip roaring drunk singing. The Bad: In another hostel, we had our camera stolen. Bummer.
So research your hostels. I personally prefer B&B or guest houses, but as far as price goes not much can beat a hostel.
Dang, I'd try out a hostel if I thought there was a chance that chick in white would be there. But minus points for that homeless-looking dude.
Hostels....they are a lot more fun and you learn a lot more because you have to share a room with people from all over the place which makes the trip a lot more fun! I love them so much that I became a lifetime member of Hosteling International.
id like to stay in one, atleast once in my life. Im up to try anything new, atleast once. But like others have said, id probably feel more comfortable if i went with a few friends rather than alone.
I'd stay at a hostel..
I don't see anything wrong w/ it..
It seems like it would be kind of fun if anything..
Temporarily living/ Interacting w/ different personalities from different places..
at a good pay as well..
sounds good to me..
I stayed in this great hostel in Belfast when I was in the UK...LOVED IT. It was fun. It was 4 of us girls, hanging out, immersed in the lifestyle. We were only there a few days before we packed up and headed back to London (where we lived in student flats), but it was a great experience for me. And we saved SO MUCH MONEY by staying there...we had looked at hotels, and I'll tell you, that was NOT money I wanted to spend. Now, that's the only hostel I've ever been to, so I'm not sure how the rest of them are, but based on that experience, I'd do it again.
Hostel + Hotel + Motel = Motstel