How to avoid a bad hostel in 2025
I love hostels. What makes a hostel good? How can you avoid bad hostels? After staying in more than a thousand hostels, I can tell if the owners are experienced or just randomly decided to open a hostel one day. While hostels are primarily about people, the management can make the hostel the ideal framework to enhance your experience. Some hostel features are memorable (group activities, common rooms), while others make them forgettable (push-button bathrooms, filthy conditions, unknowledgeable employees). Here’s what I look for when choosing a hostel for my next trip. Does the hostel have a common room?
I enjoy meeting new people while I am traveling. As I travel alone, I have to make an effort to meet new people. They make it easy to meet people. They can help me meet people to talk with, ask for tips, go on activities or travel with. These rooms usually include pool tables, video games, TVs/movies, foosball and ping-pong. They are also equipped with TVs/movies, which is great for rainy days. You can be social if you choose a hotel with a good common room. In warmer locations, having a common space outside is also an added bonus. Rooftop bars and patios, BBQs, pools, or any other outdoor social space, is a must. Is It Centrally Located?
Location, location, location. When I am looking for a hostel, I always make sure it is near the places I want to visit. I don’t like to waste time on the commute when I am in a new place. To avoid this, I make sure that my hostels are located in a central area and near public transportation. So I don’t have to spend money on taxis and can easily get around. This is important, especially in big cities with many things spread out. It’s also useful when traveling on a short trip. You’ll spend more, but save on transportation. Book centrally located hostels to avoid wasting your vacation on transit. Is it Clean? Many hostels are not well maintained, and need a thorough cleaning. Avoid dirty hostels because it is easy to become sick while traveling. Even if the hostel’s price is low, the risks of staying in a hostel with dirty bathrooms and showers are not worth it. Invest in your own well-being. You deserve a clean bedroom! It’s okay if only one person complains. If you see that there are many reviews mentioning the lack of cleanliness then take this as a sign. Did You Read Reviews?
Always read reviews before you book. Is it quiet or loud? Is the hostel a party or laid-back one? Are the mattresses comfortable? Are the bunkbeds noisy? By reading reviews, you can answer these questions and many others. You can find reviews on websites like Booking.com and Hostelworld to help you choose the hostel which best fits your budget and needs. While you should take reviews with a grain (people are always complaining), they can be very helpful in choosing the right hostel. Make sure you leave reviews too — good reviews help hostels grow and bad reviews can warn your fellow travelers so they don’t make the same mistake.
Additionally, make sure you only stay at hotels with lots of reviews. If a hostel has a good rating on Hostelworld, but only 10 or 20 reviews, I will likely avoid it. If a hostel is rated 8 or 9 on Hostelworld despite having hundreds (or even thousands) of reviews, that’s an indication it’s worth staying at.
I try to book only hostels that have a rating higher than 8 on Hostelworld.
5. Do they Organize Group Activities?
If you plan on staying at a social hostel and want to meet people, choose a hostel that offers group activities. Walking tours, pub crawls (my favorite activity), trivia nights, cooking lessons, or barbecues are all possible. These events allow you to learn more about your destination and meet other travelers.
My favourite hostels are social hostels who organize events. This makes your stay more exciting and fun!
6. Is There Late Checkout?
Never stay at a hostel with a checkout time before 10am. The best hostels allow you to check out by 11am, while the very best ones will let you leave at noon. You’ll never get enough sleep on the road. Hostels that offer late checkout understand this, and they are usually more relaxed. It’s not right to ask you to leave the hostel so early in morning. Is there a bar?
Bars do not have to be present in order for the hostel to be considered good. They are just a nice place for guests and staff alike. If a hostel offers a bar they will usually make sure that the guests are happy, having fun and festive. If you want to meet new people and be social, then you should stay at a hostel with a bar. Are there lockers?
It is surprising that I have stayed in hostels where the lockers were not provided or charged for. Lockers should be a standard in this age. Never pay for security. This is unacceptable to me, especially since I travel with electronic devices. Bring a lock so that you can make use of the lockers if they are available. Are there kitchens?
Seek out hostels that have kitchens so you can cook your own meals, save money on food and enjoy a meal together with new friends. A shared meal can bring people together (and even a few glasses wine).
10. Do They Offer Breakfast?
Look for a place with a decent breakfast (i.e., more than bread and cheese) or at least one that begins and ends when people are actually awake (breakfasts that start around 8:30am usually go late). Breakfast can also be a good way to stock up on snacks throughout the day and reduce your food budget. Are there Pod-style beds?
The days of creaky metal bunks are over. If possible, choose a hostel that has pod-style beds. These beds offer better privacy, and they also dampen noise so that you can sleep more peacefully. The curtains are usually included, which is a huge plus for me.
12. Are There Individual Lights & Outlets?
Before you book, find out if the dorm bunks have their own outlet and light. This will allow you to charge your devices and not have to compete for space. It also allows your fellow travelers the option of turning on their small lamps instead of the main room light. I hate when people switch on the lights in the middle night. Use the lamp in your bed or a flashlight. )
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I don’t think a hostel needs to offer all of these features, but it should have the majority.
Additionally, as more and more people shift to remote work, hostels have started to accommodate long-term travelers who work on their laptops. These hostels are ideal for remote workers, as they offer fast Wi-Fi. They also make it easy to network and connect with other digital nomads. If you are not working on the internet while you travel, you should avoid these hostels as most people are working from their laptops and it can be boring. Stay at a hostel that is geared towards backpackers. You’ll find it more fun and easier to meet people. When I remove the people, I only look at hostels with the qualities listed above. I would rather stay at a place that is looking to make sure I have a good time. My New York Times Best-Selling Travel Book will show you how to save money and always find great deals. It’ll also help you to have an enhanced travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. Skyscanner is my favorite search engine, because it searches all websites and airlines in the world.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Booking.com is the best option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel. It consistently offers the lowest rates for hotels and guesthouses.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
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