How to Choose: Hostels

Hostel Styles

Party Hostel:

Party Hostels are exactly what they sound like. One big party. The hostel often runs a bar crawl or other drinking activities every night to bring everyone together. They are very social and lively! Many of these hostels will have volunteer "party reps" whose only job it is to ensure everyone is having a good time. They help run the drinking games and organize the activities. At the intense party hostels, they will knock door to door pouring free shots in everyones mouth to entice people to get down to the bar and start drinking (this was my role back in the day lol). 

These hostels play loud music late into the night and they are generally less clean due to the partying. I would recommend shower shoes if you catch my drift. People will be loud when coming back from the bars into the rooms and may possibly make the bed bounce. wink wink. But at least the mornings are quiet as everyone is hungover. 

You will be able to decipher if a hostel is a party hostel by looking on the HostelWorld app and reading the description. It will be quite obvious but if its not, then read the reviews. 

Pros:

-Great way to meet people and socialize (especially if you are traveling solo)

-Typically they are cheaper than other hostels 

-Always something to do as there are nightly activities

-If you love to party, it's super fun!! 

Cons:

-If you are not there to party, it can be very annoying 

-loud music 

-interrupted sleep by drunk/loud/snoring boys 

-not the cleanest 

-brings in a younger crowd 

Social Hostel:

Social Hostels are hostels that are still fun and social but not solely centered around partying. They may have drinking events on the activity calendar but they also have other options too such as a trivia night or a city walking tour. Its possible they have volunteer reps here as well but they are not as pushy to drink. Their role is more to encourage people to sign up for the activities so everyone feels included (I've also volunteered doing this job and it's way chiller).

These hostels tend to be a bit nicer and cleaner. Their rating on Hostelworld will be higher as it caters to a wider group of people. Both drinkers and non-drinkers. Pro tip: If you want to party but also value good sleep, I would stay at a social hostel but then go to a party hostel for their bar crawl etc. Best of both worlds. 

Pros:

-Great for meeting new people 

-Fun events that don't always center around drinking

-Cleaner and nicer overall 

-Quieter at night so better sleep

-Good mix of people, bit older crowd than a party hostel

Cons:

-Might have quiet hours so if you are drinking you will have to go elsewhere

-Bit more expensive, mid range prices 

-Can't think of any more cons, these hostels are my personal favorite! 

Boutique Hostels:

These hostels feel more like hotels with dorm rooms. They are usually very nice and very aesthetic. They often have a pool, cute garden, cafe or some other fancy feature that makes them stand out. They are the most expensive of the hostel options and because of that they bring in a slightly older crowd. More couples or friends traveling in a duo or trio. Often digital nomads who want a relaxing place to work.  These hostels tend to be much quieter and don't host activities. Therefore it's much harder to meet people here. I find that whoever stays here generally keeps to themselves and is not in the socializing mood. 

I often stay in these hostels if I need a self-care moment without breaking the bank. It feels like a little retreat. Usually these hostels have some extra ammenities like towel service, free breakfast, yoga classes, bike rentals etc. 

Pros:

-Very clean and super cute vibe/ aesthetic

-Quiet and peaceful 

-Beds are typically very comfy 

-Extra ammenities 

-Might have a co-working space or cafe attached 

Cons:

-Most expensive option

-Not social, hard to meet people 

-No social activities 

-No partying/drinking (stricter rules)

 Cheap-o Hostels:

Not their official name but they don't have their own category other than being cheap. These hostels don't offer much other than being the cheapest option. It's a bed and thats about it. If you are on a strict budget or low maintenance and don't really care where you stay, then this is a great option. These hostels might not have a cute vibe but they serve their purpose of giving you a place to sleep and store your stuff. The beds won't be the comfiest and it might not be the cleanest, but it's dirt cheap so hey you get what you pay for. 

Pros:

-SUPER cheap ($2 to $5 a night)

-Might meet some interesting people/ true travelers who don't care about the fluff

-Run by locals so you are giving your money directly to them rather than a big company run by foreigners

Cons:

-Beds are eh and prob not the cleanest 

-No social activities 

-Might not be the most popular place to stay so could be hard to meet people 

Guesthouses:

Guesthouses are not actually hostels but they are another great option for accomodation. Guesthouses are run by locals and are very affordable. They don't offer dorms, only private rooms so if you are traveling in a duo it's very cheap. If you are solo, its obviously a bit more expensive but still much cheaper than a hotel. Since they are run by locals it can be an immersive way to interact with them and get more of an authentic experience. I've stayed in guesthouses where I've stayed up with the owners and talked about their life and culture over some beers. Its very wholesome but can also be very quiet if you are looking for a social vibe as there is not activities like a hostel.  

Pros:

-Very affordable for a private room

-Great way to meet locals/give $ directly to locals 

-Quiet, calm, and clean

-Often have included breakfast 

Cons:

-Not social and hard to meet other travelers 

-No activities 

-No dorm room options 

As you can see, there are quite a few options when it comes to accomodation. Of course there are hotels too, but those are self explanatory.  When it comes to hostels, I go on the Hostelworld app or website, and click through a few of them to see what vibe I like the best. I always always always read the reviews!! The reviews are from other travelers who have stayed there so people are very honest. Of course take the negative reviews with a grain of salt, but if you see a load of 10/10 reviews then I say its a safe bet! 

I will say, some pictures can be deceiving so always imagine that it will look slightly worse once you arrive. Better to lower expectations and be happily surprised.  

I usually only book 1 or 2 nights to start and then once I arrive I'll see if I want to stay longer. If so, I'll book at the front desk as it's always cheaper to book direct. Hostelworld does take a small fee so take that into account. You will pay a deposit online and then once you arrive, you will pay the remaining balance. Many hostels are cash only (especially in Asia and Central America) so make sure you have cash upon arrival. 

Feel free to look on other sites as well like Booking.com or Agoda. Not all hostels will be on there but occasionally you can find a better deal. 

The best way to choose a hostel is through recommendations from other travelers. A lot of blogs I've read have outdated reccs or they are just using affiliate marketing and haven't even stayed there. The popular hostel can change year to year so always show up at your first hostel and then ask around where the next best place to stay is. 

Hopefully this guide made it a bit more clear on how to choose which hostel is right for you!