Defending Hostels
This post is by Kay Boatner, one of our contributors.
I blame Hostel.
You know, the gory 2005 movie about two kids named Paxton and Josh, and their fellow backpackers traveling around Europe that meet a rather disgusting end in a Slovak—you guessed it—hostel.
Until recently, the only hostel I had ever stayed in was in Europe. It didn’t even occur to me to book one on a recent trip, as I was staying in the country. It seems hostels are more frequently used by Europeans, whether the hostel is stateside or abroad.
Why are Americans so averse to hostels, especially in their own country? One little horror movie featuring some severed fingers and a chainsaw can’t be to blame for American travelers’ dependence on pricey resorts and room service.
My well-traveled companion, Laura, suggested booking hostels for our trip to the Pacific Northwest, and I’m so glad she did. Besides being practical—hostels are typically cheaper than hotels and conveniently located—we reaped so many social benefits from our choice of lodging.
In Portland, we bunked with four other travelers, most of which changed on a nightly rotation. The majority were Europeans and Canucks, but we did meet a few New Jersey kids one night. In Seattle, we bunked with six people every evening. We spent one very memorable weeknight downtown with a Frenchman, a handful of Brits and Scots, some Welsh kids and a girl from China. Laura and I were the sole Americans. (There wasn’t a business man/killer in the bunch.)
The only thing more exciting than discovering a new city is discovering it with new friends. Hotels don’t afford you the same opportunity to mix and mingle with likeminded travelers. Both hostels we stayed in had common rooms and kitchens designed to encourage such interaction; both places also organized daily excursions that anyone could sign up for.
Laura and I split up on a few occasions, and we both survived just fine on our own. The presence of other people made it far less likely that we would get sick of each other on our nine-day jaunt. We left the West Coast with a handful of new Facebook friends and not a single fight between us.
Besides the buddy benefits, hostels are small and non-luxurious. These negative-sounding qualities are actually kind of awesome. The space and lack of amenities are two major reasons not to waste away the day in your room. You’re traveling—get out and explore your new surroundings! I know I’ve been guilty of enjoying a hotel’s indoor pool and 100+ cable package while some exciting new destination was right outside my door. But with just the basics—a bed and a bathroom—you’ll be out of your room more than you are in it, which is exactly what should happen when you’re traveling.
That said, many hostels do offer private rooms and extra bells and whistles for those who wish to partake of them; most also offer free breakfast every morning. The majority of hostels are also clean, safe and frequently inspected. Do your research beforehand and make sure you book the hostel that’s the best fit for you.
For your next trip, I hope you at least consider trying a hostel. If nothing else, you’ll have a better experience than poor Paxton and Josh did.
-post by Kay Boatner
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RESOURCES:
A special shout out to Portland’s Northwest Portland and Seattle’s the Green Tortoise for so positively shaping my perspective of American hostels. If you’re thinking of staying in a hostel for your next trip, the following sites are great resources:
- Hostels.com: In addition to their comprehensive hostel database, Hostels.com is home to interesting travel stories, a travel newsletter and a FAQ on hostelling and backpacking.
- Hostelling International USA: HI-USA operates a network of nearly 60 hostels throughout the United States, in partnership with more than 4,000 hostels in over 80 countries. While this list is smaller than some of the other sites, HI-USA belongs to the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), meaning their venues are routinely inspected and are guaranteed to be quality accommodations.
- Hostel World: HW’s database of over 25,000 hostels in more than 180 countries means you’ll find a place to stay, no matter what your destination.
8 Comments
I am big fan of hostel, they are much closer to the local people than hotels
I love private rooms in hostels when travelling as a couple. Often cheaper than a hotel AND you sometimes get free brekky. Plus meeting people is a bonus.
I have stayed in hostels on and off for 15 years, but it’s a great point you bring up — now that I think about it, I have never stayed in one in the US!
I had never stayed at a US hostel until 3 years ago when I visited LA. I kept having to remind myself that I wasn’t in Europe because I had associated hostels with international travel but I really enjoyed meeting people from around the world. I’m a big fan!
Hostels are great for a certain type of traveler, but they’re not for everyone. If we had to stay in hostels even half the time, I don’t think I could live on the road like we do now. We travel slowly and spend no less than a week in one place (and ideally a month or more) because we need the downtime to get work done and for our own sanity. Hostels can also often be more expensive for a couple – we’ve had more luck renting short-term apartments and housesitting.
I totally agree about meeting people, though – I think that’s the thing hostels are best for.
You bring up a really good point. I’ve never traveled for months at a time but I can see how jumping from hostel to hostel could get tiring after awhile. Def agree with you that they are ideal for meeting people!
I’ve stayed in a few hostels in the US, though I don’t remember much about them. One in DC and one in Atlanta. I have stayed in quite a few in Europe to really good effect. So even if you do happen to choose to avoid hostels in the US, definitely don’t when abroad.
That all said, I think I am getting to the point that I would rather rent an apartment for a week or two rather than a hostel bed. I like my quiet. The lack of social just has to be made up in a different way.
I agree Andrew. Hostels abroad are definitely a great option! I think renting an apartment is a good idea and an ideal way to feel like a local. I have this dream of moving to Paris for a few months, renting an apartment and re-learning the language…we’ll see if it happens!