Many people have the misconception that as in the movies, if you stay in a hostel you’re putting yourself in grave danger. In reality, this is not the case. Hostels are, however, for the adventurous ones. I enjoy staying at hostels sometimes because this is the ideal place to meet people from all around the world. A hostel is a great option particularly if you’re looking to be surrounded by a young crowd (generally 20s to mid 30s). A lot of hostels have daily and weekly social events such as tours and bar crawls. This makes meeting people fairly easy if you’re willing to put yourself out there. On Christmas night years ago, I ended up bar crawling with two people from South Africa, one from New York, two from New Zealand, and one from India. An experience like this may not have been possible if I wasn’t open to embracing the hostel lifestyle. 

Even if your first hostel experience isn’t as glamorous as you’ve imagined, please don’t be deterred. I am from New York City and my first hostel experience was on an impulsive trip to Toronto, Canada with friends years ago. I was 18 at the time and knew nothing about hostels or how to find a decent one. We ended up in a hostel with a shared bathroom that had a door that didn’t lock. It’s safe to say I’ve made much better hostel choices since then. I’ve now stayed at over 10 hostels around the world. However, if I would have given up on the hostel experience back then, I would’ve missed out on many of the travel experiences that I’ve had to this day.

When choosing the hostel where you’d like to stay, there are many things that you should consider. Firstly, I recommend finding one that has a common area such as a bar or lounge area so that you can easily meet fellow travelers. Some hostels get super creative with their communal spaces. My favorite hostel in Amsterdam, for example, had a communal TeePee tent lit with Christmas lights in its lobby. My hostel in Bali had a hammocks, bean bag chairs, and a pool. My hostel in Phuket even had a boxing ring. 

The key to finding a hostel that’s unique is all about doing your research. Hostel booking websites offer ratings, pictures, and reviews of hostels worldwide. You may notice that the higher-end hostels will be a bit more pricey. In my experience, they’re worth it because you’ll be able to get the hostel experience while still being in a safe, clean, and comfortable environment. Secondly, location is very important when looking for a great hostel. When you’re planning where you want to stay, make sure you pick a location that is central to the sights you want to see or one that easily accessible by public transportation. Lastly, make sure you pick a hostel option that has WiFi. This way, you can keep in touch with your loved ones at home and the potential friends you may meet while traveling.

Some people are deterred from staying in hostels for safety reasons. When booking your hostel, always keep in mind that hostels generally have public or private room options. Please be sure to book in advance so you can get the option that you want. If you choose to stay in a shared room, many hostels have safes or locked cabinets in which you can put your valuables. Always bring a lock just in case! If you’re worried about staying in a room with people that you don’t know, there are ways around this. You generally have the option to book a private double or twin room. Usually I’m traveling with one other person so this option works best for me. This way, my valuables are safe and I can have my privacy but I can still interact with new people when I  want.

You’ll never truly understand why the hostel experience is so unique until you experience it yourself. Now it is up to you. Next time you’re traveling, give the hostel experience a try. You never know where it will take you!

My favorite hostel recommendations around the world: Ecomama (Amsterdam, The Netherlands); ClinkNOORD (Amsterdam, The Netherlands); Lub d Patong (Phuket, Thailand); Stayokay (Amsterdam, The Netherlands); Times Hotel (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) ; 360 hostel (Barcelona, Spain); Puri Garden Hostel & Hotel (Bali, Indonesia); Casa Movida (Cartagena, Colombia); Maloka Boutique Hostel (Cartagena, Colombia); Selina (Tulum, Mexico)