In 1909, Richard Schirrmann, a German schoolteacher formed the idea of youth hostels, needing overnight accommodations for his students. He wanted them to see new things while having new experiences outside the classroom and felt that one learns best by observing. He pursued the dream until it came to fruition in 1912 and soon after hostels quickly began to spring up all over Europe.
The rest is history, and today there are upward of 15,000+ hostels worldwide, covering just about every corner of the globe. Whether you’re a first-time backpacker or seasoned globe trekker, hostels are a lodging option for everyone and can truly enrich your travel experience. Here are 23 reasons why the Bros Around The Globe choose to stay in hostels.
1. You Will Meet Tons Of New People
Guaranteed! Hang out in the common room and say just say hi! It’s really that easy. Before you know it, you’ll be connecting with strangers and bonding over excitement for the new location you find yourselves in.
Most travelers who stay in hostels are looking to meet new people and are very open to having a friendly conversation. So pop a squat on a barstool, wake up for breakfast, get involved in the kitchen, and introduce yourself to your roommates. Hostels provide a social edge not found in hotels and one of the best reasons to stay in a hostel is to meet new friends!
2. Group Events Are Planned
So you’ve just arrived… Where do you even begin to explore that new city? No worries, Hostels have your back! Many hostels will organize all sorts of events and activities for their guests. They will handle the planning and all you have to do is show up. An opportunity to get acquainted with your hostel mates!
Pub crawl, free walking tour, food tour, booze cruise, adventure activity or sightseeing, hostels always have an activity going on where you can spontaneously join in on the fun.
3. Sense Of Community
Hosteling creates a global sense of community where you can bond with like-minded individuals. Hostels can be a creative space to connect with travelers who share the same passion as you!
During our travels, we’ve come across, homely hostels, party hostels, boutique hostels, traditional hostels, and even 5-star hostels. From adventure activity hostels to family hostels and lifestyle hostels from surfing, art, and yoga. Niche hostels are where it’s at. Whatever it is you’re into, there’s a hostel for you.
4. They’re Cheap
This one speaks for itself, but unless you’re Couchsurfing, you won’t find a better way to save than staying in hostel dorms. We stayed in some incredible hostels for as little as $2 dollars! I know, we couldn’t believe it either, but they are out there. Usually, the larger the dorm, the cheaper the price but this will certainly vary based on the hostel and location. Stay longer and travel deeper by traveling cheaper! Your travel budget will thank you later!
5. The Party Vibes
Drinking games, theme nights, & hostel events. All the legwork is done and the party comes to you. Hostels draw a youthful crowd of excited travelers who want to have a good time and re-ignite their stoke…Just don’t fall into the trap of partying too much and never leaving the hostel. After all, ticking a few items off your bucket list is worthy of a celebration.
6. The Chill Vibes
Just because you’re staying in a hostel, doesn’t mean you can’t be private and chill solo if you’d like. Hotels are also a place where you can re-charge the batteries and rest up for your next adventure. Hop in a hammock with a good book or crush some NetFlix, it won’t be hard to find your chill zone wherever you may be staying.
7. Sustainability
Many hostels are employing environmentally friendly initiatives, and sustainable practices, leaving a low to zero impact on the planet. Eco-friendly features include recycling facilities, biodegradable cleaning products, water-conserving showerheads, sink taps with automatic shut-off, and full composting programs. Reduce your carbon footprint and stay in a hostel. Now that’s sustainable travel!
8. Sharing Travel Tips & Stories
Around the fire or over a few cold ones, your fellow traveler is always down to share their experiences and tips on attractions in the region. Where to go next and what to see that’s close or how to make the most of your time. You may even discover and travel to places simply based on a stranger’s suggestions! You’ll get a fellow traveler’s insight and perspective on a place without having to read a guidebook.
BROS TIP: We’ve met travelers quick to tell us “don’t go here” or “you must go there.” Always take these suggestions with a grain of salt. Everyone’s experience is their own, and yours may differ. Something so little as being hangry or waking up on the wrong side of the bed will influence your feelings about a certain place. So never go or not go to a place because someone else liked it or hated it. The journey is yours and yours alone, so choose your own adventure!
9. Location, Location, Location
Usually a hop skip and a jump from a transit station, urban hostels can be centrally located giving you access to all the best a city has to offer. On the contrary, they can be located on a beach, atop a mountain, or in the middle of a jungle. The best part is, the choice is up to YOU. Close to the action or secluded for peace and serenity, hostels always have the best location to get the most out of your travels, giving you the experience you want to have.
10. Free Food
Free breakfast, free snacks, and even free happy hours. There’s usually free coffee or tea 24/7 which is a nice touch. We’ve had our decisions swayed on if a hostel has free breakfast or not. Any seasoned budget traveler knows, when a hostel is offering free anything, you sign up.
11. Safe & Secure
Booking.com & Hostelworld.com are stacked with hostels and reviews so you know exactly what you’re getting. Sort by rating and choose from the plethora of options based on what will suit your needs. More often than not, hostels will have large lockers or cubbies to lock up your belongings while you’re out exploring.
Throughout our travels, we’ve never experienced a single issue with safety or our things getting stolen in hostels. However, we have witnessed it happen to others, so just lock your shit up and keep everyone honest.
12. Friendly Staff
If there’s anyone you can count on to get you sorted in a new location, it’s the knowledgeable hostel staff, always ready to help get your bearings down and settle in. Usually, they’re travelers who know what’s up and their hospitality can rival those of 5-star hotels. Helping with anything and everything from booking and providing access to reliable local transportation or the best tours, activities, and deals in the area.
Hostels will even double as a full-on travel agencies. We’ve lost track of the times we’ve gone down to the front desk to extend our stay.
13. The Option For A Private Room
Light sleeper? Sharing a bed with a partner? Looking to lay low for a while but still want to kick it with some travelers on your terms? Private dorms give you the best of both worlds, having the atmosphere of a hostel, but allowing you to escape at any time. Hotel privacy at hostel prices! It will certainly cost a little more, but sometimes you have to treat yo’ self.
14. Pets Around The Globe
Just like a therapy dog, the hostel dogs and cats you’ll find all around the world provide comfort and relief when you’re on the road. It’s always a bonus to show up to a hostel and be greeted by a puppy or kitten. The only downfall is that it makes it harder to leave and say goodbye to your new furry friend.
15. The Hostel Kitchen
Another way to save cash while traveling is to cook your own food and there’s no better place than the hostel kitchen. We’ll be honest, it can get hectic in there. But, cooking is super fun when you’re on the road because you can experiment and sample new local ingredients and flavors. You’re bound to meet some new friendly people in the kitchen, just remember to wash your dishes when you’re done.
16. Support Local Business
Many times, hostels are run by a local family or tightly-knit group. By staying at these smaller mom-and-pop hostels, guesthouses, and B&Bs, you’ll be doing your part to support local and not some big hotel chain. They’re built from the ground up by hardworking locals who want to share their special home with others. Your business is essential to their survival.
17. Judgement Free Zone
Dress however the hell you want, sleep all day if you please, or crack a beer for breakfast. Hostels are a judgment-free zone, and you’ll have the freedom to be yourself without having to worry about social norms nor judgment from others. Make sure to respect all guests and don’t put your roommates and other hostels goers in an uncomfortable situation, because that’s not cool.
18. WiFi
A sure shot to have all your internet needs, 99.9 % of the time hostels will have solid Wi-Fi. And every traveler knows the importance of Wi-Fi as it’s essential to your journey. Probably the first question you will ask after you check-in will be, “What’s the WiFi password?!” It makes you wonder what it must have been like to travel back in the day without it.
BROS TIP: Before you head to your next destination, be sure to download an offline map of the surrounding area via the Google Maps App. No phone service, no wifi, no problem. When you’re half-asleep after getting off a long-haul flight, train, bus, or ferry, you won’t need to figure out where your new hostel is. Just simply search you offline Google Map and you’re on your way. It functions just like the map would if you had wifi or service from your cell carrier. Google Offline Maps are a lifesaver!
19. Friends For Life
Some of the most incredible people we’ve had the pleasure of meeting throughout our travels, we’ve met in hostels. Sometimes, there’s a certain vibe when everyone is clicking and you know you’re going to be friends. We’ve even met up with our new hostel friends while traveling in different countries and now have places to say all over the world. Sharing an experience by being in the same place at the same time is a powerful bond you won’t forget. You never know who you’re going to meet!
20. The Hostel Bar
Drinking at any hour is acceptable and you may even encounter multiple happy hours a day. We even stayed at hostels equipped with a dance club on site. Sometimes the hostel bar is the coolest hangout in town and you’ll find locals and travelers from other hostels swinging by for a drink. It’s always the number one stop before and after a night out on the town. Remember to tip your bartender!
21. Unique Accommodations
Out of the ordinary, quirky and weird, but all re-furbished of course. Hostels offer some of the most unique accommodations in the world. Take your pick from tents, trailers, historic landmarks, treehouses, prisons, schools, monasteries, caves, boats, planes, pods, libraries, and much more. There’s a fair share of one-of-a-kind lodging when it comes to hostels. Each offers something unique and different, particular to its location.
22. Billiards
A pool table can be a deciding factor for the Bros when booking a hostel. Shooting pool is fun at any time of day. Newbie or pool shark, billiards are a great way to spend some downtime and relax in the hostel. When you’re traveling long-term, you’ll fine-tune your craft and maybe even hustle a few fellow travelers. You’ll be exposed to different styles and variations of the game, maybe even win a hostel Billards tournament (true story).
23. Meeting Locals
The opportunity to get to know the real location is through the locals who live there and many times, they’ll work at the hostel. We’ve found when spending an extended time in hostels, our experiences were elevated through the local people we met hanging and working there. Being invited to dinners, events, and even to their homes. We truly felt like we became a part of the family. This is a strong emotion to tie to a location because it will enrich your time there tenfold.
Ready To Travel The World & Stay In Hostels?
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