Rooftop view from our hostel in Arequipa, Peru
We all know the United States isn’t known for gap years or career breaks (that finally seems to be changing though). When mentioning long term travel, many think it can only be done by retirees or college students studying abroad.
When people find out that we, a young, married couple, quit our jobs and took off on a year long RTW trip, they have questions. Lots of questions. Family members, co-workers, friends, friends of friends, and even strangers are always intrigued when they find out about our adventures.
One of the questions people ask is where we stayed while traveling for so long? Many Americans are so unfamiliar with the term hostel that we usually get weird, inquisitive looks. Once we start talking about it, the questions start rolling in.
A hostel is like that movie, right?
A hostel is not really like the horror movie
In short, no, at least I don’t think so. I don’t know, I haven’t seen any of the Hostel movies. But I know neither of us has been bludgeoned to death while staying at one, which is what I believe the movies are about.
Many people have grave misconceptions of what a hostel actually is. The horror movie franchise (God, I can’t believe it’s actually a franchise) doesn’t help matters, while our doom and gloom media doesn’t exactly change perceptions either.
Too many people have this weird vision of what a hostel is without having ever been to one or spoken with anyone who has stayed in one. There are others who have some idea of what a hostel is, but when they find out that we, a married couple in our late 20′s/early 30′s, stayed in one, it throws them all off.
So it’s for college kids, kind of like a dorm?
We have gotten this question as well, and it’s usually combined with a judgmental look or smart-ass comment after we told said person that we stayed in hostels for the better part of a year.
While some hostels have similarities to a college dorm, what most don’t know is that ALL hostels are different. We have stayed in hostels in 16 countries across 4 continents, and ALL were unique in their own way. Most did NOT resemble a college dorm.
But you sleep in a room with other people, right?
99% of the time that answer is NO. We are married, a bit older than gap-year travelers, spring breakers, and study abroad students, so we like our privacy. While we have slept in dorms with other people, it was done a handful of times in more expensive places in the interest of saving money (like Patagonia and Europe in high season). But the vast majority of the time we had private rooms with our own bathroom.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, that sounds like a hotel
Hey, hey, we have a genius on our hands here! Most hostels have a lot more similarities to hotels than college dorms, particularly in places like South America, New Zealand, and SE Asia. The great thing about hostels is that they can be like a hotel, but for outgoing people who love to drink socialize.
So they aren’t like college dorms?
All hostel rooms are different
Well, that depends. Most hostels have options for rooms, just like a hotel, except those options are a bit different. If you’re one of those gap year travelers or college students traveling during your summer break, you have the option of sleeping in the aforementioned dorm rooms. Some may have 4 beds, 6 beds, 10 beds, even 20 or more in a single room. The more beds in a room, the cheaper that bed is.
While some hostels only have dorms, there are many which have private rooms as well. Some may have their own bathrooms, some may have shared bathrooms. Some may be tiny, closet-like rooms. Some may be huge. Some may have tv’s with cable and desks. Some may only have a bed and that’s it. Some beds may have sheets and blankets and pillows, some may just be the mattress (see, I told you they’re all different).
That sounds pretty nice, actually.
Most of the time, it is. Some of the times, it’s like the YoYo in Valparaiso, Chile, the worst hostel we have ever stayed in. We took an overnight bus there and arrived at 7am, greeted by a worker holding a glass of vodka in his hand, still trashed and drinking from the previous night (he was actually highly entertaining). I’m also pretty sure there was dried up vomit on the wall of our room. And let’s not talk about the bathrooms.
Um, OK, maybe I don’t want to stay in a hostel?
That was 2 nights out of 358 (yeah, I know, I can’t believe we stayed the second night either). Like a hotel, there’s always a risk. Most people who have traveled extensively and don’t have a high budget have hotel horror stories as well. So it’s all relative really. We’ve stayed in some pretty nasty, dingy hotels here in the good ol’ US of A.
There are some huge benefits for staying in a hostel, whether you’re young, single, married, or even traveling with kids. We LOVE hostels. Honestly, in our future international travels, I can’t see us NOT staying in hostels. Even when we’re 40, 50, and older. Even when we have kids and bring them on our travels with us.
The view from the window in our room in our favorite hostel-Hostel Pudu in Bariloche, Argentina
Really? Why do you love them so much?
There are so many reasons that hostels are better than hotels, in my opinion. The only real benefit to staying in a hotel is that if you travel enough and stay in a particular chain enough times, you know what to expect. The consistency of hotels is a major positive for many people. But that lack of consistency is one of the reasons I really love staying in a hostel.
- Hostels are always different- They all have their own unique flair to them, which is pretty cool. You never know what you’re going to walk into when going to a new hostel. This is a risk, but if you have the time and aren’t traveling in a particular region during high season, it’s nice to walk around a city and check out several places until you find the right one.
- Hostels are great for meeting people- Common areas, communal kitchens, included breakfasts, and a bar are all amenities that many hostels offer. These are all aimed at getting the patrons to chat with one another and make friends. In hotels, people typically stick to themselves, and that’s OK, but when traveling long term, it’s nice to be able to meet other like-minded travelers. We have had so many great times just hanging out with other travelers from our hostel.
- Hostels are cheap- Even if you are staying in a private room with private bath, a hostel is going to be considerably cheaper than a hotel. Since all are different, sometimes this works out well, sometimes not. The room may be tiny, and the bathroom may not have a vanity, but at a quarter of the price, it’s worth it to budget travelers. We averaged about $25US/night for accommodations during our year long RTW trip. Try coming anywhere close to that staying in hotels for a year.
- Hostels have Communal Kitchens- A good number of hostels have communal kitchens for travelers to use to cook meals. Obviously this saves money, which is always a plus. But this is also a great way to meet new people. Kitchens are typically small with limited amenities, so sharing and helping is the norm in a hostel kitchen. It’s always a cool experience to work with one another to make dinner in a cramped kitchen with two pots and three pans and 20 other backpackers trying to do the same. To some, this may not sound like the most ideal cooking conditions, but there’s something about the communal aspect of helping each other out that brings out a camaraderie amongst everyone.
- Hostels have bars- If you like to imbibe with some adult beverages while traveling, then the hostel bar is usually a good place to start. Many hostels have a bar somewhere on the premises, and partaking in some cheap drinks with your fellow travelers is always a good way to start the night.
- Hostels have tons of information- From the owners to the workers to the travelers staying there, there is always a wealth of information around every turn for those staying at a hostel. For us, the people staying there typically travel in the same style as us, so getting tips or information from those people makes more sense than if we were to stay in a hotel. It’s usually easier to get the ins and outs of street food, markets, and grocery stores, plus the low down on bus and train travel from those working and staying at a hostel.
Even as a married couple, staying in a hostel is a great idea for those travelers who like to meet new people and save some money in the process. Private rooms are available in most places, and privacy has rarely been an issue for us. We have simply felt more a part of the local community when staying in a hostel as they are often owned and staffed by locals. No matter how old you are, what your relationship status is, or even if you have a family, consider staying in a hostel next time you take a trip. You may be surprised at what you find.
This is a great article, and one that I will share with our Canadian family and friends who just don't understand as well. My husband's brother bought us some vacuum-packed dried food to take with us on our travels…I don't think he quite understood that we would have access to food! Haha! I think he still believes we've been camping this whole time. =)
It's funny how some people just don't have a clue. We were the same way before our first trip to Europe. Hilarious about your brother-in-law giving you vacuum packed food. Another funny thing is how people think you need to take everything possible with you from your home country as if other countries don't have stores, pharmacies, and the like.
Hi Adam!
My name is Sarah, and I know this is an old thread and I am not sure ill get a reply but I have just spent the last half hour reading your article and the comments. You seem to have a lot of hostel experience so I have a question for you.
My husband and i are in our early-mid twenties and do not have a lot of travel experience, however since our 4 week honeymoon in thailand last year the travel bug has latched on and I want to see more of the world. My husband’s feelings are mutual, therefore we’ve opted to travel europe for 2 months before I commence study and we have kids.
I have been researching as we have no idea about europe travel and that has led me to your article but my main concern at present is, what is the security like in most hostels? Do they have safes to put valuables in such as passports laptop computer or cameras? If so, does the room come with a safe or does the owner of the hostel have the key? I was considering taking a basic notebook to type updates and backup photos. And in some instances like going to the beach we may only want to take enough cash for a few drinks and a bite and not bring along any other valuables as well be swimming.
I would love to know your thoughts on this, and if you think taking valuables such as a laptop into a hostel is wise?
Thankyou
Great post. You did a nice job of articulating all the reasons us married travelers have for opting for hostels. When I've traveled to countries where hostels are not the norm, I've realized even more how valuable they are. For me, the biggest benefit is the ease of access to information–from hostel staff as well as the other travelers. The common room areas make it so much easier to meet, mingle, and exchange info than a hotel, where we're all tucked away in our own rooms most of the time.
Thanks Theresa! I totally agree with you, and when we travel in the US, I hate having to pony up $100-$200/night just for accommodation. It just kills the budget. Not to mention the fact that I feel like I simply don't get all the other benefits of a hostel, like access to info and the meeting of others–just like you said.
We would always prefer to stay in hostels although every now and then we'd splurge for a B&B. We love how easy it is to make new friends at a hostel and after being on the road for awhile with your SO, it can be a welcome relief to talk to other people (is that mean to say? But it's true)
Nothing wrong with splurging every once in a while, we do the exact same. Sometimes you just want to know exactly what you're getting into, and hotels and B+B's are great for that. And no, that is not mean to say AT ALL. It's a necessity of travel, particularly long term travel. As much as I love my wife, I do need others to talk to at times.
We've been asked this question a hundred times – glad you got around to explaining it properly! During our 12 months on the road we stayed in hostels about 80% of the time, and out of that time, we stayed in a dorm twice, only because the hostel was at capacity. Many people don't know that hostels have private rooms. Good on you for dropping some knowledge!
Why thank you! The private room thing is the one that always gets people. Non-travelers just assume that all hostels are big, giant, barrack-style dorm rooms and can't fathom why a 30+ year old married couple would want to stay in one (if they were like this, we WOULDN'T). Thanks for the comment!
Great article! We always stay in hostels because we love the community of other travelers, there. We meet some of the coolest people at hostels and the owners always take the time to explain stuff to us. I explain hostels to people as “bed and breakfasts but without the old people and kitsch.”
I love that description, and I'm totally stealing it!!
Great article Adam.. I visited Adam and Meg when they were in Bangkok (I'm Adam's mom) and I had no idea what to expect. I too was thinking of dorm type rooms but I was pleasantly surprised. Hostels were definitely not what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised and if I have a chance to travel like that again, I would stay in hostels anytime and I was 58 years young at the time. Great experience!!!!
Meet my Mom everyone! I know she always reads, but she never comments.
I have to say that my Mom was a trooper in Thailand. We made her stay in a very “rustic” cabin-like structure in Koh Chang, Thailand that didn't even have a room over the bathroom, and she totally rolled with it. We were super impressed. But we did stay in some nice hostels, and obviously it was awesome to have you and Andrea experience part of our trip with us.
Thanks for commenting, Mom!
You make some great points here… I only stayed in a hostel once, and that was because of a “budget travel” story I was doing.
Give it a try again, Glen, you'll be surprised!
This is a great article! It seems like so many people (mostly Americans) think of hostels as being only for kids who just graduated college. I've seen people of all ages–even retirees and families–stay at them before. They're a great way to save money and meet new people.
Absolutely! We met people of every age group. Our favorite was in a hostel in El Chalten, Argentina. We met a British man who was in his 60's and had bought a car in Ecuador and drove down to Patagonia. He was just going to drive all around South America and then sell it when he was done. It was so cool to meet and talk to him. He had some awesome stories, and he had no issues at all staying in a hostel.
We met several families as well, which was cool, too. One of the reasons we took our trip when we did was because we wanted to do it before we had kids. We didn't think it was possible to travel long term like that once we did have kids, and so many families proved us wrong, which was great. Now we have talked about taking a similar trip down the line when we have our own family. What a great education for those kids!
Great post Adam – as a couple we haven't stayed in a hostel before but plan on using them on our upcoming travels. We'll be paying for a private room as well, usually the cost isn't that much more expensive than two beds in a dorm.
We've been researching destinations in the US for our visit and have been very surprised by the lack of hostels outside of the major cities. I guess there's more of a motel culture over there, is that right?
Unfortunately the US is horrible for hosteling it and budget travel in general. Yes, there are cheap motels around, but some are a bit shady and unclean (you can certainly find good ones though). I'm not sure where you plan on going in the US or how you plan on traveling, but feel free to send me a message through the contact form and I can try to give you some pointers. The cheapest way to travel here, unfortunately, is to have a car, drive, and camp your way around the country.
Love this post! Through our planning, we found that most of time hostels are in prime locations too! We are staying in a few on our trip and it was great to learn that they offered rooms as well as dorms. Being an American, we assumed that hostels were just for college kids. We were pleased to find them as cost effective alternatives to stuffy hotels!
Thanks so much Melissa! We assumed the same exact things before our first international trip, so you certainly aren't alone. And yes, being in prime locations is awesome, too, I didn't even mention that, so thanks so much for bringing it up. The thing we loved was when we were in a place in low or shoulder season and could just wander the streets looking for the perfect place. Just popping in and out of different hostels and checking them all out and getting a feel for the city as well.
Good article, and I hope Todd gives you a good mark! I would!
Thanks John!
Hi Adam!!
Really good article. I do not understand why people sometimes have the strictly need to stay in a hotel. They end up paying a lot of money that can be used on other trip related items. And anyway, you spend most of the day outside your room. I love those $20 -$25 rooms. The cheapest I have paid for a private rom is $14.
But let's face it. I think travel accomodations are a status thing for a lot of people. I have a lot of friends who travel independently and most of them stay in hotels. I think they would not travel if they cannot afford to stay in a hotel. And if the stay at a hostel, they will never tell. Common, some people cannot even admit they have stayed in Vegas $30 rooms. They say they stayed at the MGM or Hilton.
This spring I am going to Rio and have already a list of hostels I would like to stay.
Thanks so much for commenting, Ruth! You bring up some great points, but this is my favorite:
“They end up paying a lot of money that can be used on other trip related items”
That is precisely why we first starting staying in hostels. We just wanted to spend our money on food and activities as opposed to a posh place. But then we realized just how much we really like staying in a hostel. Good luck on your trip to Rio. Brazil is a place we have not yet been, but we've heard some great things about it. Have fun!!
Great article Adam! I think even if I had millions of dollars, I would still stay in hostels every now and then, just for the atmosphere. There is always some one to talk to, every one is excited and happy, you can meet people from all around the world, and there are usually lots of social dinners, tours and parties happening. It is a warm and friendly environment. We've rarely had a bad experience!
I totally agree about having millions of dollars and still staying in a hostel every once in a while. Like you, meeting new and interesting people from all over the world is just awesome. I can't believe I didn't mention that in my post. Thanks so much for bringing that up, because without a doubt that is one of the best reasons for staying in a hostel.
This is exactly what I always have to explain to friends when they ask about my travels, but never have I done such a thorough and entertaining job of it as you do here Adam.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate the nice comment!
Great article. I like the way you'd recommend hostels, even for people with kids.
I've stayed in hostels in Europe and Asia, traveling alone and as part of a couple. Apart from two nights (one in Geneva, one in London), I've had a great time and met some great people. (Oh, just remembered the third terrible terrible night, in an Edinborough dorm with the loudest snorer in the world.) Hostels will definitely be part of our RTW trip next year.
P.S. Hi Adam's Mum! Will we see some guest posting from you?
Thanks so much Barbara! Like I said in a comment below, it was inspiring to see families with children traveling long term and staying in hostels. Just awesome. We have certainly had some awful nights in hostels as well, but we've had awful nights in hotels, too.
And thanks for saying what's up to my Mom! Maybe I will have her guest post sometime. That's a really good idea. Having her and my sister visit us in Thailand was a major highlight of our trip.
i found it very strange the first time i travelled overseas that north americans didnt really know what a hostel was. i guess its just not a part of the travel scene there. we love them! couldnt agree more on all the points you covered. great post!
Thanks a bunch, Jaime. Appreciate the kind words!
Great post, Adam. Love this as your pillar post and totally agree with all your points. Most of our friends were turned off by the idea, too. But when I told them that Bob and I could stay in a hostel for three nights in London and then stay at an awesome, private B&B in Iceland for a week- it made a little more sense to them. And, I totally agree with you on ALL hostels are different. Even by the same company in the same city! Reviews are key if you are scared and always look at pictures!
Great points, and that's the thing, people just don't know until they've stayed in them, us included. Reviews and pictures are great, too, as is word of mouth. I'm going to have a post going up next week about our favorite hostel in the world, and we found that because several people suggested it to us, and in turn we have turned a bunch of people on to it as well. Plus, if you have the time and arrive at the right time, it's always great to not make a reservation and just wander around, looking at places until you find the right one.
Great post Adam. I need to show it to my boyfriend I think, since he recently looked horrified at my suggestion of staying in hostels to save money. His eyes need opening! I've stayed in some great (and some slightly less great admittedly) hostels over the years. Your point that they are a great place to meet people is certainly true too.
Great post Adam. I need to show it to my boyfriend I think, since he recently looked horrified at my suggestion of staying in hostels to save money. His eyes need opening! I've stayed in some great (and some slightly less great admittedly) hostels over the years. Your point that they are a great place to meet people is certainly true too.
Thanks a bunch for the comment, Liv. I think you should definitely show your boyfriend this post and the comments. Many of the people who have commented here are older, some married, some with families even, and most if not stay in hostels a lot when traveling. As long as you do your research, you can find some real gems. And of course there's always a risk of getting a bad one, but that's also true of hotels. And if it is bad, it's a hell of a lot easier to stomach when you're only paying a quarter of the price.
Totally agree with the private room in a hostel thing for couples – a great solution where affordability is an issue and where cleanliness is enough. Luxury is all well and good but if an addiction to it stops you going where you want to go then you are missing a trick.
Totally agree, Robin. I don't want anyone to get the impression that I'm too good for nice accommodations cause I am certainly not. I love a posh place just as much as the next guy, but if money is an issue, then I'd much rather have the experiences.
Great roundup Adam. One of the main thing's I love about hostels is the assistance you often get from the owners. Many of these people go so far out of their way to try and help you arrange your travel plans and have an enjoyable stay. It's fantastic!
You're so right, Andrew. At the first place we stayed on our RTW in Lima, Peru, the owner sat down with us for over an hour, with a notebook and pen, drawing maps and pictures and creating possible itineraries for traveling in Peru. It was incredible. We met and chatted with and hung out with numerous owners and workers who were just spectacular.
We definitely prefer hostels over hotels. It is kind of funny and different being a slightly older married couple, especially if the dominant numbers at the hostel are younger singles in their early twenties. Much different than when we were those young singles. But you always find people to meet and chat with. I think for us, especially being on the road for a long time, the homely feel of a hostel is certainly preferable to the cold, secluded, impersonality of hotels. This is a great post…hopefully more married couples like us will stay in hostels and enjoy the experience.
Totally agree with everything you said. It can get a bit weird at times when we're the only ones who aren't in our early 20's, but we manage to adapt, and most of the time there were at least some other travelers around our age.
We stay wherever is cheapest!
If we do stay in a hostel, we're like you and get a private room. We're 36 now – I have to draw the line at dorms. I don't mind socialising in the common rooms but when bedtime comes, I want my own bed in my own room.
Julia
We like to stay wherever is cheapest, too, and yes, at 32, I totally understand not wanting to stay in dorms. We don't do it anymore unless we absolutely have to.
At 33 I still find hostels the best way to travel, especially when you are on your own, a hotel would be far too isolating.
Yeah, I couldn't imagine traveling solo and staying at hotels. It's just so much easier to meet like-minded folks at hostels.
This is a great post! I LOVE hostels too! I think that part of that comes from my desire to do a real backpacking trip and travel and meet a bunch of travelers just like me.
I have stayed in many hostels in my last two years of travel and some of them weren't as great as the other but really you get what you pay for, whether it's nice amenities or a great location. I have never had a really horrible experience but that's not to say they aren't out there.
My boyfriend and I usually do stay in dorms because we live together at home we don't mind giving up a bit of privacy to meet other travelers. It's always situational though, sometimes we opt for private rooms and on a long-haul trip I think we'd find ourselves splitting it half and half!
Thanks so much for the comment, Annie! We sound quite similar in the way we travel. Meeting other like-minded folks is one of the best reasons for staying in a hostel.
haha great post, good read. I wonder if I could ever convince my parents to stay in a hostel….. mmmm I'm thinking no
Hahaha, you never know. I didn't think my mom would be staying in a place where the bathroom didn't have a roof, but alas, she did. You'd be shocked at what your parents are capable of!
I have to explain the “a hostel is not like the movie and I'm not going to get murdered in one” thing all the time. I'm so glad that there are other married travelers out there. Lord knows we get strange looks when we talk about our trip.
It is so funny, isn't it? The main reason for this reaction is simply that people have never stayed in one and just don't understand what they're all about.
“Hostels are great for meeting people”
This is so critical for couples traveling as it can be tempting to isolate yourself and succeed in missing great opportunities. In all my travels, the best adventures came from overhearing and jumping into a conversation in the kitchen, lounge, canteen of a hostel. All the more so when you think you're already traveling with the person that you want to hang out with the most.
[...] resort, most of the time that simply isn’t possible because of the budget we travel on. We have really grown to love hostels, despite the fact that we are both over 30 and a married [...]
We totally agree with your post. If for some reason we can't camp then we stay in hostels and always find great people and interesting conversation.
Well I just had my first hostel stay in a backpackers in Lusaka Zambia at 53 years old and loved it! To be honest my son had just persuaded me to open a dorm room in our little lodge in Mfuwe, Zambia, cos he wanted to attract more young travelers, so we did and out of curiosity I went to stay in the next closest when on a business trip and enjoyed it so much that I spent a few nights! I had a private room, but that was more not to scare the young travelers! Look us up on http://www.marulalodgezambia.com.
I work in a “nice” expensive hotel but i loved stay in hostals, theres always great people and nobody complains like the rich people do.
actually im not a backpacker, but when i have to travel i preferd a hostal.
Good post!
Interesting post. One thing to keep in mind is that in many parts of the world, a private room in a hostel can cost way more than a room at a small, family-run hotel that actually has better amenities. We stayed in YHA hostels in New Zealand and Australia (when not camping), but never stayed in hostels in SE Asia and very rarely in South America.
[...] as a couple has its many advantages. Private rooms, a companion to share everything with, and someone to help you through those difficult travel times [...]