Barnacles Temple Bar House, Dublin, Ireland

When most people think of a hostel, they think of a tiny dorm room that smells like feet, overcrowded with backpackers sleeping on top of one another. Of course, those hostels do exist and they are not pleasant, but in reality, the hostelling industry has changed quite a bit over the past couple of decades. These days, most hostels aren’t considered “youth” hostels anymore, nor are they solely “backpacker” joints. Most hostels have a friendly atmosphere with a variety of rooms on offer and are open to travellers of almost any age (note: many hostels are not child-friendly).

The trick to hostelling is picking the right hostel in the first place. If, like me, you’d prefer not to sleep in a room that smells like dirty socks with 16 other people, you have to play your cards right. When searching for your hostel, use the following criteria:

• What types of dorm rooms are on offer? If they have dorms with more than 8 beds, steer clear.
• What are the prices like? Look for a mid-range priced hostel, don’t just go for the cheapest one out there.
• Where is it located? Some of the best hostels are not totally central, but a little ways from the city centre.
• What type of description is included? If the hostel’s description is written in good English, that’s a good start. Look for keywords like “quiet”, “oasis”, “relaxed” and stay away from hostels that boast a party atmosphere or are “good for meeting other travellers” (this phrase is code for “loud”).
• What are the reviews like? Gauge the hostel’s quality by the reviews. There is always going to be one guest that hated their stay, had a leaky faucet, or just isn’t cut out for hostelling, but if the reviews are by and large good, you can usually count on the hostel to be quality.
• What are the photos like? Stay well away from hostels that don’t offer large, good quality photos of all their rooms, bathrooms and the common area. If they only show you a picture of the garden or a close up of the sparkling clean sink, stay away!

(Featured photo: Barnacles Temple Bar House, Dublin, Ireland – Map | Book)

Hostelling FAQ

Are hostels safe? Generally speaking, most hostels are as safe as hotels. As with any situation in contact with strangers, be careful of your belongings and don’t leave expensive stuff in plain sight or out while you’re not there.

Do I have to sleep in a dorm room? No, not necessarily. Nowadays, many hostels offer private rooms for a little bit more money. They also offer a range of dorm rooms, such as 3 or 4-bed dorms.

Will I have a private bathroom? If you choose to stay in a dorm room, odds are, you will also have a shared bathroom open to all hostellers. Usually, these bathrooms are down the hall or nearby. Some hostels offer dorms or privates with their own bathrooms, meaning you’d only have to share with the people sleeping in your room. Lookout for the word “ensuite”, which means “attached bathroom”.

Do I have to shower or get naked in front of strangers? Absolutely not! The majority of hostels offer community bathrooms with plenty of showers that have their own stalls where you can get clean or get changed in private.

I’m a modest person. Where do I change clothes? That’s really a judgement call, but in most hostels, you’ll want to take advantage of the toilet stalls or shower to change. You might notice some experienced hostellers have developed the talent of changing clothes under the covers, too.

I’m not a youth traveller. Should I even consider a hostel? Definitely! Most hostels offer a relaxed environment and the chance to get plenty of information in English, as most hostel staff speak one or more languages very well. And as is noted above, you don’t necessarily have to sleep in a dorm room to stay in a hostel.

Is it going to be dirty? I’m not going to lie, some hostels are dirty, but most are not. Use the criteria above to help you choose a hostel that other travellers have vetted and has reliable photos.

I’m not a people person. Do I have to chat with lots of strangers? Nope. In this case, go for a hostel that looks pretty big and has plenty of space for relaxing, such as a garden, terrace, bar or large common room where you can escape if your dorm gets too busy. If you really want your privacy, opt for a private or small dorm room.

Do I have to be a backpacker to stay in a hostel? No way. Though lots of hostel-goers are backpackers, there is no rule that says you have to be one thing or another to stay in a hostel. As long as you are a tidy, respectful person travelling on a budget, you can take advantage of hostelling.

What types of facilities do most hostels have? A good hostel should have both dorms and private rooms available, clean toilets and bathrooms, a free-use kitchen open for guests to cook in, a common room with a TV/DVDs, internet access and computers, a place to store luggage and a friendly front desk where you can get plenty of information in English about the city you’re in.

I’m not comfortable staying in a room with people of the opposite sex. Is there an option for me? Sure. Some hostels still offer same-sex dorms for people that prefer not to mix. Look for “female dorm” or “male dorm” when booking your hostel, and steer clear of the phrase “mixed dorm”, which means open to both men and women.

What do hostels provide and what should I bring? When booking your hostel, you should find a list of amenities provided by the hostel. In general, most (but not all!) hostels will provide bed linens and pillows free of charge, and some hostels have in-room lockers for each guest to keep their belongings safe. You’ll need to bring a towel and your own toiletries.

Where do I go to book a hostel? There are plenty of great websites for hostel booking, including Hostelworld, Hostelbookers and Hostels.com.

Look out tomorrow for our hostelling etiquette guide for first-time hostellers.

Did I miss your question? Please leave your questions in the comment section below and I’ll respond with answers right away!