In the world of budget travelling, hostels represent safe and affordable accommodation that’s available to anyone. The idea is to give the traveller a means to sleep safely at night without them having to fork out to stay at an expensive hotel, and they’ve become extremely popular around the world over the last few decades.
Not all hostels are the same, however, and while some might be the perfect fit for a traveller, there are just as many that are lacking in both facilities, safety, and comfort. Here are some great tips that the budget traveller can use to make sure they always have the best experience when staying in hostels.
The Price
Obviously, the most appealing aspect of a hostel is that it’s generally a lot cheaper than staying at a hotel, but it’s still important that a traveller take the time to do their research and make sure that the prices are actually better than what local hotels offer. It’s not uncommon for a hostel to advertise prices that are much higher than they should be, with the hopes that a foreign traveller will not know enough about the area to make a more informed decision. Therefore it’s always a good idea to double check the prices before making a booking.
The Facilities
Of course, a traveller that’s getting around on a tight budget can’t be expecting 5-star treatment at a hostel, but there are some basic facilities that should be expected. A comfortable bed is one of them, and while it certainly doesn’t have to be a large double bed complete with down feather duvets, a traveller should still be warm and comfortable during their stay, even if they want to stay indoors and enjoy Canadian online slots.
Ablutions are also an important consideration, especially when we consider that there are often a number of people staying at a single hostel at a time. This is why it’s worth checking what kind of ablution facilities are offered.
Along with this, it’s also important to keep in mind that while most hostels don’t tend to house shady types of people, it’s not uncommon for theft to take place, which is why it’s common for hostels to offer their guests lockboxes so they can keep their valuables locked up while they’re away.
Keep It Light
Another aspect of hostels that’s easy for a traveller to forget is that space is extremely limited, and they should make sure that they don’t pack too much before leaving the door. There might be a single lockbox and some cupboard space, but for the most part the traveller will need to learn to live directly out of their backpack, meaning that they will need to travel with just what they need and nothing more.
It’s become incredibly popular in recent years to one-bag, which means travelling the world with a single bag, making it much easier to keep track of everything while not having to haul around too much.