An American’s Guide to Hostel Living
Spoiler alert: they aren’t as scary as you think.
By: Beth Turnbull
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love staying in hotels. I have an unexplainable affinity for Hampton Inns. Don’t ask me why; I just love them. I’ve been lucky throughout my travels with my family to stay at hotels like the Hampton Inn or vacation rental properties.
Last summer, I traveled with my family throughout the United Kingdom staying at cushy hotels in each city. I remember being surprised by the many differences between hotels in America and Europe (the toilets having two flush options, room key-operated light switches, etc.) So, suffice to say, I thought I was well prepared for this trip.
When I saw the word ‘hostel’ on our accommodation list, I had a couple of concerns. The general perception of hostels, at least for me, is that they are dirty, crowded, and a bit risky. Who wants to stay in a crowded, dingy room? Not this privileged girl.
But, I was not going to let these concerns distract me from the adventure at hand. Going to Italy with your classmates is not something that will likely happen again, and you cannot let fear get in the way of an adventure.
So, what exactly is a hostel? Our tour manager Matteo Troiani broke it down this way:
“A hostel offers, in general, less expensive accommodations in dorms where people of the same gender, or not, will be together,” Troiani said. “Dorms can have from four up to 20 beds and shared bathrooms. Many hostels also offer the chance to book private rooms with a private bathroom.”
I was surprised to find that many hostels include the same amenities as a hotel, including Wi-Fi, breakfast, communal kitchens and laundry facilities.
According to Troiani, hostel rates are constantly changing depending on the time of year and the hostel’s location.
“Hostels can start from 20-25 euros to 60-70 euros per night in dorms. In private rooms you can easily pay from 70-80 euros up to 130-140 euros per night,” he said. “Hotels usually do not charge less than 80-90 euros per night, and these prices can easily increase in high season.”
Our group’s accommodations where selected by our tour company, Cultural Connections, as well as Troiani, due to their prices and locations relative to items on our itinerary.
There are several factors that go in to booking the accommodations for these trips. Jan Getz, the trip’s academic coordinator and a retired Point Park faculty member, explained it this way for those who were curious about the selection process: “We have to work within a budget, and we want the best and safest location possible. This usually means we want to be near the city center with easy access either with public transportation or walking,” said Getz. “We need separate beds for each person, and the place needs to have enough rooms for enough nights for whatever size group we have in the correct configurations for men and women.”
Because we were traveling in such a large group, we did not have the dorm hostel experience, but we did have our share of adventures moving from city to city and hostel to hostel. Each hostel brought a new discovery, some more enjoyable than others.
Let me break it down.
The “this is actually pretty nice.”
Our first hostel in Rome, the Hostel TrustEver seemed like a challenge at first. No elevators to help us with our luggage, no soap in the bathroom. What was this strange European place? Let me just tell you know — This was the nicest of the hostels we would stay in.
The Wi-Fi was strong, the shower had walls, and the free breakfast buffet was nothing to scoff at (a Nutella pump for toast, yes, please.) So, we adjusted.
The “oh wow is that really our shower?”
This is where we went wrong. The previous night in Assisi was spent at an absolutely gorgeous hotel, not hostel. So, when our exhausted group first laid eyes on PLUS Florence, it was a bit of a letdown. I believe I called it a ”prison” in my sleep-deprived state.
This is the place I picture when I think of hostel. I never had to make my own bed before when traveling. I never had to go outside to get to the lobby from my room. I had never seen a shower head in the middle of the bathroom wall with nothing surrounding it. Although this was not the case in every room, it was an adventure for those of us who are used to state-of-the-art bathrooms.
That being said, this hostel was in the best possible location. You could walk for less than 10 minutes and be in the heart of the city, and that was unbeatable. It also had a nice pool and sauna situation that we took full advantage of. So, we survived the showers and moved on.
The “I guess this really is a hotel.”
Other than great hotel in Assisi (alas, though, only a one-night stay), the rest of our trip was spent in tiny hotels that almost could have been hostels. We should note here that our hotel in Assisi was a true hotel. Let’s call them ‘hostels with more free soap.’
The Hotel M14 Padua and Hotel Viva Milano (which was actually very modern and nice) taught me that it’s not a guarantee that your suitcase will fit between the bed and the wall, showers don’t have to have four doors, and when you’re traveling abroad it doesn’t really matter where you stay – It only matters that you’re there at all.
I would not trade this trip for 100 stays at a Hampton Inn. We were lucky to experience Italy in a way that was relatively affordable and extremely convenient. I would much rather spend my money on things like food and experiences when traveling, not a fancy hotel.
Sure, hostels aren’t for everyone, and I’m sure I’d feel differently if I were traveling alone, but I think it was a worthwhile experience. Next time I’m traveling, I’ll know that there are cheaper, viable options out there. I would have never thought to stay in a hostel if not for this trip.
According to Troiani, Booking.com is a go-to resource for those traveling alone and seeking accommodations in hostels.
“Booking in advance can guarantee good rates,” Troiani said. “But in some cases, taking the risk of doing a last-minute online booking can result in a fortunate deal as some hotels sell the very last rooms at a lower price when they are almost full.”
So, what have we learned?
If you’re looking for your own hostel adventure, do your research, read reviews, and be prepared to bring shower shoes, soap and washcloths. Hostels are not only cheaper than hotels but offer many of the same services, so think wisely on how you’d like to spend your travel money and don’t be afraid to stay somewhere out of your comfort zone.
And for what it’s worth, hostels have earned this American’s stamp of approval.