#hostels

A new job, a new place ~*

Good evening friends! how have ya been? it’s been a while I know but life has been rather hectic since I got back from the holiday and all that jazz. I hope ya’ll are still enjoying the summer wherever you are and if you are back at school/college or uni then I hope that you’re doing well for now…

After I got back from my holidays, (and here is where I am not sure whether I covered this part in…

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Hostels are basically cheap hotels where you rent a bed rather than a whole room. They’re also the nerve centers of the backpacking community, and if you do any traveling in Europe you’re eventually going to be spending a few nights in one. Two useful sites are HostelworldandHostelbookers.

• When you’re searching for a hostel, read the reviews. In particular, look for two things. The first thing is reviews written by travelers like you: ‘solo female backpacker’, ‘mixed group of college students’, etc.
  
• The second thing to look for in reviews is the word ‘bedbugs’. If you see that, fuck right off.
  
• The ideal hostel has a kitchen, and is located within walking distance of the city center. A location near a bus/metro stop or other transportation center is fine too, but make sure you know when transportation shuts down for the night and starts up in the morning.
• Hostels are usually pretty cheap. They’re always cheaper than a hotel, and usually cheaper than Airbnb. The typical price range for a bed in a dorm is €10-20 a night (although this changes depending on whether it’s high or low season, a weekend or weekday, a big room or a small one, etc.)
  
• The guests tends to be largely college-aged and friendly. It’s not uncommon for groups of strangers to spontaneously go see attractions together, or go out drinking. This is a great way to see nightlife if you don’t want to go alone! Just make sure you’re reasonably comfortable with the people you’re with, and that you know your way back, or at least have the hostel address written down.
• Hostels are good if you’re traveling alone and want to socialize; stay in the kitchen or common room. But they’re also good if you’re traveling solo and just want to be left alone, goddammit. If you’re on your bunk in the dorm, most of the time no one will bother you.
• I’ve never personally had a bad experience in a hostel, barring the one time I ended up accidentally watching The Ring in Budapest with forty Russian girls (and this was bad less because of the situation and more because I cannot handle horror - I was diagnosed with insomnia when I was a teenager because I was too embarrassed to tell the doctor that the PG13 Scary Movie 3 was the reason I pretty much hadn’t slept for three months). Just keep your expectations low. It’s not a hotel, it’s a roof over your head and a clean bed and a safe place to store your bags. Sometimes they can be genuinely luxurious, but don’t expect anything special.
  
• Rooms are sorted by number of beds (usually 4 to 16), mixed or female-only, public or en suite bathroom, and public or private room. Don’t book private rooms; it’s not worth the money. I usually stay in the largest mixed dorms, and although I realize this isn’t for everyone, as a single female traveler I have never had a bad experience. Regardless, many hostels have female-only dorms, which I know makes some people feel much more comfortable.
  
• The workers at a hostel are often travelers themselves! They’re great resources if you want advice on what to do in the city, where to get a really good meal, and things to see off the beaten track.
  
• Who you’re sharing a room with is a grab bag. They might snore, or leave/arrive early in the morning, or have their stuff spread around half the room, or start fucking on the bunk above you. On the other hand they could be silent, sweet, and polite.
• If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs. Even if your roommates are quite, hostels in the city center can have a lot of ambient city noise.
• Because you’re sharing a room with strangers, security is a concern. I’ve never had anything stolen, but it’s always worth being paranoid. Many hotels provide lockers; if you have a small padlock you can lock up anything worth stealing overnight. If there’s no locker, put your valuables in your purse and use it like a pillow.
• Some cities have a guest tax (Rome charges €3 a night) that won’t be included on the booking service, and has to be paid on arrival.