Hostel V’s Hotel
The travel industry has changed so much over the last few years with cheaper flights and accommodation making it a lot easier for everyone to embrace and explore new places more, now travel is not completely reserved for people with wads of cash but for those with smaller budgets too.
There is a whole host of accommodation available in various Cities just waiting for people to visit them including hostels, hotels, boutique hotels and airbnbs to name a few. In particular hostels have changed massively over the years with many swish, high spec and modern ones appearing, which are a lot cheaper than the alternatives available.
Do you prefer a hostel or a hotel when traveling?
Personally, I love staying in both but it really depends on the situation, circumstances and my budget at the time too.
However, I have taken several trips which I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford if I hadn’t stayed in a hostel, which is slightly weird, as I hadn't ever contemplated staying in one or actually knew they existed until visiting a friend in Madrid many moons ago and then it was like a whole new world had opened up to me.
FIRST HOSTEL EXPERIENCE
My first hostel experience was in Madrid whilst visiting a friend and he had a full house, so I needed to stay somewhere on a limited budget, hello hostel. I was quite apprehensive, as I hadn't stayed at a hostel before but I wanted to stay in Madrid for a few nights so it was a sensible option. The main criteria was to feel safe, secure and for the place to be clean, all pretty basic but often seem unattainable. It did take quite a while to find one I actually wanted to stay in and felt comfortable. The reception of the first hostel we found reminded me of waking up at a rave, the people looked tired, wired and very eager to speak to me. It was all a touch too much, so I gave it a miss and finally found one which was fairly central, affordable at 20 euros a night and on face value seemed a lot calmer.
It really didn’t turn out to be the best hostel at all, the bathrooms were cramped, sheets a little tired and it took me a while to get to grips with the communal washing areas, as it had been a time since I was at school and this is basically what it reminded me of.
I stayed in this hostel for 3 nights over the weekend and whilst I was there the guy in the bed above me slept pretty much the whole time, true story. I embraced the dutch boys that came in at 3am and ran around the room dressed only in their pants and had no manners or respect for others. (and hoped they’d shut up very soon and turn the light off, they didn’t).
Despite all of this, the stay in Madrid was an enjoyable one and staying in a hostel enabled me to spend 4 days there with my friend at an affordable price whilst being able to spend a bit more money on food, drinks and exploring the City, which wouldn't have been possible if I had stayed in a hotel.
As it was my first hostelling experience, there were moments I felt not well travelled enough or relaxed enough but putting all this aside my first time hostel stay was eye opening, interesting and enjoyable. I never knew what to expect from day to day, it challenged me a little, some people were friendly, some weren’t, pretty much like daily life but in a more confined space.
Extra activities taking place in hostels from Chrizo tasting, bar crawls and oragami making
Since my first hostel experience I have stayed in many hostels and doing so has allowed me to explore places I wouldn’t have been able too otherwise. For me, there are many positives to staying in a hostel but I still LOVE staying in a hotel too, there are just differences between them.
I have listed some of the highlights and lowlights from staying in hostels.
HIGHLIGHTS OF HOSTELLING
A great way to meet new people from different cultures
Exchanging tips and stories from fellow travellers
Great conversations with roommates (hopefully!)
Usually there is a communal area to meet fellow traveler’s
Its a good way to instantly meet people
A brilliant way to travel on a budget
Spend the money saved on accommodation on food/day trips
Finding people who you have things in common with
You may make friends for life
Great interiors, interesting activities and fun get togethers
Free breakfast in some hostels
LOWLIGHTS
You have to listen to a lot of rubbish conversation
Your roomies aren’t necessarily guaranteed to be great
Inconsiderate roommates - the ones who think it’s perfectly ok to come in at 2am and put the lights on.
You may have the displeasure of sharing a room with a horrendous snorer (This has happened to me a few times)
Meeting the unique, quirky and strange
You may share a room with someone who is ultra quirky (not always in the best possible way!)
Those who choose to share a room but do not know how or want to share anything!
Inconsiderate people who feel the room is actually just for them and no one else
When people seem to be living in the hostel
When you share with people who do not want to converse or be polite
You may catch someone doing something they really shouldn't be doing (insert here)
TIPS FOR STAYING IN A HOSTEL
Always take a padlock, often hostels provide a space to put your things to keep them safe and secure
Remember your towel
Wearing nightwear is good, just in case of fire alarms and such
Flip Flops are handy for the rooms and shower areas
I have had both good and bad experiences in hostels, mainly good and the bad ones haven’t been too bad ( or perhaps I have tried to blank them from my memory)
Staying in a hostel requires a certain amount of tolerance, being open and friendly which is not everyones cup of tea, in these cases, I would recommend staying in a hotel.
It doesn't suit everyone but to me, its a sure fire way of being put in a situation where you have the possible opportunity to meet new people from different cultures and exchange stories which isn't always possible in a hotel.
The thing about staying in hostels, much like life, you don’t know what you’re going to get when you arrive in the shared room and the best thing to do is embrace and enjoy it - or change room if necessary! (or stay in a hotel).
I like to embrace it, enjoy the conversations and money saved by staying there.
Have you ever stayed in a hostel? What do you prefer hostels or hotels? Any great or hostel horror stories? or highlights or lowlights to add to the list?
Here are a few of the hostels I have stayed in recently, had the best time and would definitely go back!
Some of the best
Great sites to book or use as a resource