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How to Book the Perfect Hostel Every Time: A Step by Step Guide

Last Updated: March 13, 2021

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

New to hostels? Looking for a step by step guide on how to book a hostel on your own for the first time, and pick the best ones? Read on for a full beginner’s guide to booking hostels.

Once upon a time, I was terrified of hostels.

Genuinely, the paranoid princess in me believed that they were (without exception) dirty cesspools of booze-soaked backpackers, not to mention a sure precursor to becoming 1/3 of a human centipede.

But, surprisingly, when the paranoia subsided, I braved my fears and travelled around Europe for 6 weeks in 2014… the majority of which was spent calling hostels home.

From then on, I was hooked. 

These days, hostels are still my go-to when I solo travel. There’s legitimately no better way to make friends and meet likeminded travellers.

My fellow princesses, if you haven’t tried the hostel life for yourself, I urge you to give it a go.

There is so much more to hostels than just bunkbeds! My advice?  Master the art of sniffing out the good ones, and you’ll never go wrong.

SO, if you’re eager to give it a try, here’s a guide on making sure you book the perfect hostel every time.

A few things you should understand first aBOUT bOOKING hOSTELS

Before we tackle the step by step of how to book a hostel for yourself, here are some basic must-knows about hostel life that every beginner needs to know.

1. Hostels are a very different way to travel

You have to keep in mind that hostels aren’t just ‘crappy hotels’.

Rather, they’re a chance to mingle with new friends, enjoy fun/cheap outings, and a whole lot more. Before you stay in a hostel, you should know that much of its appeal has to do with the social experience (which is why I love it for solo travel).

If however, all you want to do is save some money and do your own thing, then it might be more worth your while to look into alternative accommodations like AirBNB. ( Check out my beginner’s guide here ).

2. There are many types of hostels, and rooms within these hostels

Before you dismiss hostels as a whole, you should understand that the hostel spectrum is massive. 

There are the classic party backpacking hostels, but also super sleek ones with private rooms that are pretty much hip, budget-friendly hotel rooms.

So, if you still want the social component of a hostel, but aren’t wanting to sacrifice comfort/privacy, there are plenty of options.

How to find the perfect hostel

So you’re keen to jump into the hostel life, my friend?

Here’s a golden guide to picking and booking the perfect hostel one each time. In all my years of travel, I’ve only stayed in one or two hostels I didn’t love. Here’s how!

Option A: LOADS of research on Hostelworld

Hostelworld  has always been my favourite website for hostel bookings, simply because their site is so easy to navigate and you can sort properties by price, rating, etc. with ease.

Here’s the process I usually follow:

STEP ONE: Decide what your priority is. Do you want something centrally located? The cheapest possible option? Something quiet and non-party like? As I said before, there’s a lot of different hostel types, so clarifying what your needs are will help you find the perfect fit.

STEP TWO: Enter your dates and city.

STEP THREE: Depending on your priorities, make use of the different sorting functions and then shortlist some properties.

For me, I usually first sort by cost and then shortlist some of the highest rated ones still within a reasonable price range/decent location.

STEP FOUR: Examine your shortlisted contenders and read reviews.

It’s important to look at not just the rating number but also to read individual reviews, since the rating is just an average number, and people might rate low or high based on a variety of factors.

For instance, you might see a 1 star review for an otherwise really well-rated property just because the person didn’t know it was a party hostel.

Read reviews thoroughly while also keeping an eye on the amenities they offer.

For me, it’s always important that the hostel has WiFi and lockers. Free (or cheap) breakfast is always a nice bonus!

At this point, also look at the different rooms that are available.

It could be that the super cheap price you saw was for a 30 person dorm, with more private options being much pricier.

Don’t get your hopes up until you check!

STEP FIVE: Choose a “winner” and then double check its reviews.

Based on examining those shortlisted properties, pick one that seems to fit the bill.

Then, before confirming and booking, be sure to read its reviews on other websites like Tripadvisor, because there are rumours that properties can pay to remove bad reviews on Hostelworld.

After you’ve confirmed that this place is in fact, the beautiful wonderland that you’ve imagined in your wildest dreams, then go for the booking!

BONUS STEP FOR THE EXTRA PARANOID: Go absolute stalker on the property you’ve chosen and scope them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – whatever it takes to get a feel for the vibe! THEN book.

STEP SIX: Wipe the sweat off your body and revel in the fact that you did it!

Yes, you did it! A successful hostel booking! You go, Glen Coco.

Option B: Word of mouth

If you’re travelling to popular backpacking destinations like Europe, Southeast Asia or South America, odds are someone in your social network has done the same.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend/friend of a friend to ask about their experiences and where they stayed.

Often they’ll have a stellar recommendation for a hostel or place that changed their life. A few caveats though: be sure to only ask advice from people with a similar ‘travel style’ to you.

Don’t ask the crazy partyer for his favourite hostel because that might not work for you (unless a crazy party is what you’re looking for).

Option C: Sleuth around travel blogs

Often travel blogs will provide more detailed reviews on hostels.

These can often be buried by Google when simply Googling “x hostel review” so try queries like “x hostel blog review”, etc, or even give YouTube a try!

Sometimes it’s nice to see more photos, videos and read in-depth experiences.

Awesome hostel booking resources

Hostelworld.com: as I previously mentioned, this is my go-to for hostel research. It organizes all the information so neatly, and the site is super easy to use.

Booking.com: Unlike Hostelworld, reservations made on Booking.com don’t require you to put down a deposit of any kind. If you’re a commitment-phobe, this might be a better fit for you.

So, would you be keen to give hostel life a try? Have I missed any of your favourite tips? Let me know in the comments!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

10 thoughts on “How to Book the Perfect Hostel Every Time: A Step by Step Guide”

I’ve only stayed in a hostel once in Seoul and it wasn’t bad at all – the hostel was clean and the people were friendly – but I have such a low tolerance level… I can’t stand not having my bathroom and I know it’s my own problem. My friends were all completely fine with it. Because of that, I’ve always avoided hostels, which has caused me to miss out on many backpacking trips. What a shame! This is a great guide, maybe I’ll actually give hostels another try next time. I do love the social aspect of them! – Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog https://charmainenyw.com

Haha I feel you! Luckily there’s tons of hostels with private ensuites so sharing bathrooms isn’t always an issue. You should look into that as an option next time!!

this guide is so dang handy!! love your tips! I am a big fan of hostels and think everyone should try one, especially in Europe!

<3 <3 YES, European hostels are a whole new world. Thanks for reading, Helene!

That’s an excellent step by step guide! I would love to hear your thoughts on Hostelgeeks and the 5 star hostels. I’m pretty sure you’d like them!!!

Thanks for the tip, Matt 🙂

Hey Christina,

This is such an excellent guide, a great one to get started with hostels. I love it that you showcased Marken Gjesthu, a 5 Star Hostel.

As I see it, you would LOVE more of the 5 Star Hostels. I just read bit through your blog, and it seems like you would be totally in for that. What is your next destination? Would love to hear your thoughts on the 5 Star Hostels like the ECOMAMA in Amsterdam, the Wallyard Concept Hostel in Berlin or the Dragon Dive Komodo Hostel in labuan Bajo, Indonesia! 🙂

Cheers, Matt

Hi Matt, as it so happens, I’ll be in Amsterdam next month. ECOMAMA looks lovely. Shoot me an email and we can go from there!

this is so useful ! thanks for sharing !

Great post! Thank you for always posting articles that end up helping so many of us out!

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14 Essential Tips for Booking Hostels in 2024 (incl. Apps, Discounts and Hacks) – The Starter Guide

Booking hacks for hotels and flights became really popular, but booking hacks for hostels? Booking hostels has become more and more complex over time.

There are more hostels to choose from now than there were years before. And there are several hostel websites and booking portals you can use…

YET : which hostel booking site is the best and the cheapest?

We discovered different ways to book hostels and budget accommodation in a smarter and cheaper way.

(Our other guide to the best hostel booking sites also looks at this question in detail.)

Wanna see how?

We will present you here different hacks, techniques, tips or whatever you want to call them for booking a hostel like a pro. Some of these recommendations might be very basic, whereas others require more work and are very specific.

Hence, this is our basic hostel booking guide you want to read ’til the end.

Update : detailed guide on how to book hostels with Hostelworld .

We even included the different best hostel booking sites and hostel finder. And we follow the question: Is there a such thing as a “cheapest site” to book hostels?

This article is part of the ultimate guide to hostels .

Here we cover topics like the essential hostel packing list and pros and cons of female-dorms .

Never stayed in a Hostel? Read our guide on staying for the first time in a hostel

1. Booking hostels:

• Hostel Discounts with Hostelgeeks
• Hostelz.com
• Promo Code for Hostelworld
• Newsletters
• Discount for Airbnb
• All Availability and Services
• Overbookings
• Pre-payments
• Travel Blogger
• When to book?
• Special Discounts
• Hostelgeeks hack
• Discount for Promotion
• Go with the flow
• 15€ Booking.com Promo Code

2. Best Hostel Websites

• Hostelworld
• Hostelz.com (Price comparison)
• Hostelbookers
• Booking.com
• Hostelsclub
• Hostelgeeks

3. Is there a “cheapest hostel booking site”?

4. Things to remember when booking

• Hostel type
• Prepayments
• Cancellations
• Room type/ Bed type
• Confirmation email
• Check-in time
• Extra Payments at hostels
• Be Safety Smart

5. Summary and further information

Booking Hostels like a Pro in 2024

Yes, this guide is up to date and as fresh as a cold coconut on the beach in Koh Phangan. Alright, you see we have a lot to go through and to cover. Worry not, it is all much easier than it might seem. Are you traveling frequently? Then this is a must-read to book the smart way and save money.

NEW : A detailed guide to the Best Hostel Booking Sites out there.

Let’s get started:

1. Exclusive Hostelgeeks’ discount

We at Hostelgeeks receive special discounts for our readers. Those are exclusively for our readers – yes – such as YOU!

These discounts usually work super simple. We at Hostelgeeks share the promo codes in our free newsletter, Instagram or here on our website. Only in our newsletter you will receive ALL discount codes for hostels! Subscribe, it is free.

We occasionally receive promo codes for specific hostels. You can find all our valid hostel promo codes here .

Here we have a special site showing all the current promo codes for Hostelworld.com . Super handy to save money!

2. Hostelz.com – Hostel Price Comparison

Keen to find the cheapest price for your chosen hostel? Hostelz.com will never let you down!

This is the only hostel price comparison website out there, collecting reviews, prices and availability from major hostel booking sites including:

Simply search for hostels in your chosen destination, select your dates and let Hostelz do the rest.

There is much more: They have a so-called Comparizon Tool to compare hostels side-by-side. SUPER HANDY!!

Pick up to 3 hostels and compare them next to each other.

We go into more detail about Hostelz.com further down in the best hostel websites section.

3. Promo Code for Hostelworld

Hostelworld is the #1 website for actually booking hostels.

They have the widest selection of all hostels. The downside is they also include hotels, guesthouses, camping sites and more. So make sure you pick the right accommodation type for you.

They run different contests and there is even promo codes for hostelworld. We have created this special page where we collect all current discounts of Hostelworld .

When we receive special discounts, we will share them as well in our sexy, fresh, free and exclusive newsletter . Yes, that’s 4 adjectives!

That brings us to our newsletter…….

Ohhh, hold on, almost forgot : The Hostelworld App is epic. You should download it, too. You can download the app here .

We wrote a big, detailed guide  introducing the app . They now offer as well this super cool social feature where you can connect to fellow travelers in the same hostel and city BEFORE you get there. Super cool.

4. Sign up for Newsletters

This is a little „ trick “ to get discounts and special promotions straight to your inbox! We already mentioned our own newsletter, but there are obviously more. Sign up for newsletters at booking portals like

• as well as newsletters written directly by the hostel (although not common)

This hack can also be adapted to airlines like RyanAir and Vueling, and other airlines. Read our guide on how to find cheap flights with Skyscanner .

Why is it a good idea to sign up for newsletters?

An email is way easier for you to find again rather than a random post on Facebook or Twitter.

Yes, we know you may already have too many emails, and this is why you should be picky!

Here is another great advantage of these newsletters: as soon as you notice these received emails are completely useless, you can simply unsubscribe with one simple click! You are not stuck with these promotions for life.

Good to know : We also have a very useful and powerful newsletter here at Hostelgeeks.

Here we share more insight knowledge on how to score cheaper deals.

Whether it’s transport, accommodation, tours, activities…we share all the secrets to budget travel in style – in our newsletter. And again, we share here our hostel promo codes too .

5. Get a $35 discount on AirBnb

AirBnb, another giant in the accommodation industry. With this referral link you can score a credit of $35 for your stays all around the world. That is absolutely amazing. Make the math.

We wrote a big guide on how to use Airbnb, including an Airbnb Coupon Code that works .

Airbnb can be great for booking a full apartments or unique accommodations. But, there is a downside to it. These apartments can be illegal, meaning they do not have a proper tourism license.

More importantly for you might be the fact, that Airbnb’s are completely different types of accommodations. You won’t have the hostel lifestyle, meeting fellow travelers and joining their events. Of course, it always depend on your mood, your current situation, your destination. And sometimes there is simply no good hostel in a city or town.

Before staying at a bad hostel, it is worth it to take a look at Airbnb.com

We love to mix it up by staying in Airbnbs as well as hostels.

6. Is there an App?

Isn’t there an app for everything? There is even an App for Joop, the Hostel Cat of Cocomama Boutique Hostel in Amsterdam .

Seriously, some hostels have their own app. Have a look at the AppStore for iPhone or Android Google Play.

Big websites and booking portals like Booking.com have their own app, offering once in a while mobile booking discounts. There is not any specific app we know about with lower prices though. (If you have come across one, please drop us a comment!)

As mentioned before, we highly recommend installing the Hostelworld App . It is so useful and esy to use. You can also connect to fellow hostel mates before you arrive.

We wrote a big, detailed article about the app . They now offer as well this super cool social feature where you can connect to fellow travelers in the same hostel and city BEFORE you get there. Super cool.

Good to know: When Vueling, a major Spanish Airline, launched their new application, they had a special promotion.

They sent us an email about a big discount when booking by a mobile device using the app.

ALRIGHT, we wanted to book a flight anyway. So, we saved a bunch of money plus we got to test their booking app, which is pretty convenient and handy by the way!

Read : our favorite best travel apps in 2024

7. Get all the availability and services

What on earth does this even mean?! you may ask…

Well, here is some inside knowledge: this is another advantage from hostelz.com

Booking platforms can only sell the rooms and dorms the hostels allocate to them.

Yes, read this sentence again!

This means some websites may only offer a certain percentage of the actual availability. Some may even only have a specific roomtype, specific number of rooms allocated to them and so on.

Don’t be fooled!!!!

Therefore, you should always check as well Hostelz.com! They check both Hostelworld and Booking.com. It can save you money AND stress!

*How about an example?*

Let’s call the hostel “EPIC FUN Hostel”.

Our Epic Fun Hostel wants to sell beds and rooms aka. welcome you as guests. In order to sell more beds and rooms, the hostel gives platform A and platform B the rooms and beds to sell.

• Epic Fun Hostel gives platform A only 2 out of 4 private rooms to sell for the price of 20€.
• Epic Fun Hostel gives platform B only 8 out of 10 the beds in dorms to sell for the price of 10€.
• On our own website we have both 4/4 private rooms for 18€ and 10/10 beds for 9€.

Now imagine platform b sells all their 8 beds…this means, the hostel still has 2 beds free that the platform cannot sell.

Do you see where we are going with this?

This is why actually using Hostelz.com makes so much sense. You have all beds and prices at a glance.

*Example END*

Although the hostel does not seem to be available, it might be. The solution is Hostelz.com. They check Booking.com, Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and more to get ALL the availability. When we were staying in a hostel in Medellin, this girl wanted to stay in the same hostel as our group.  On Hostelworld it says the hostel was not available. BUT, it was available on Booking.com.

She checked it with Hostelz.com. Fantastic! This way we could all stay together in the same hostel. WUHU!

FYI, it is also pretty common for hostels to save some beds for walk-ins!

Another quick Anecdote : This happened to us in Hvar, Croatia.

The super cool hostel we wanted to stay at was fully booked….OH NO!!!

We dropped them a message anyways via Facebook. The result? They gave us a private room in an apartment right next door in a separate house. We paid the same as a private room, but we had a full apartment PLUS we got to enjoy the social life of the hostel!

8. Avoid so-called “Overbookings”

Do you know what the term „ overbooking “ means?

It refers to the fact the accommodation sold more beds and/or rooms they actually have available. This means some travelers will arrive at the hostel, facing the fact there is an issue with their booking: no room or bed!

Do you remember the example from above? Imagine the hostel sells 12 out of 10 beds…that leaves 2 travelers sleeping on the floor.

A simple way to avoid this is to book with the booking portal and NOT with the hostel directly.

This way your reservation is confirmed 100%, and they cannot let you down.

Also good to know : When your hostel of choice is sold out on the main hostel booking sites, but you find a bed or room on a tiny hostel booking site…well, then we recommend you not to book this. This is what we mentioned in #7.

The availability may not be up to date.

To be absolutely sure, you can also call the hostel directly and double-check!

Those are the under-bed lockers at Mountain Hostel Tarter in Andorra .

9. Booking via Email or Phone (we would not do this though…)

No accommodation wants to read this one, but to have this list complete, we need to share this hack with you as well. When booking through a reservation platform or with the hostels website you will most of the time pay via credit card.

It is totally normal to pay a deposit which is non-refundable.

Meaning, if you cancel, you won’t get your prepayment back!

A way to avoid this? In theory, you could book via email or phone. Although many hostels do not accept these types of bookings except with use of a credit card, some budget accommodations still do.

At Booking.com you can book many hotels and hostels without any prepayment. Some of them even allow bookings without credit card.

Hostelworld offers two different ways when reserving.

• Non-flexible Booking Your deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel your booking.
• Standard Flexible Booking Your deposit is protected so you can use it to make another booking if you cancel.
• Update : They now offer as well free cancellations .

Read : A review on how to use Hostelworld

The second option, however, is at an extra (low) fee.

Please note : Needing to cancel a reservation has happened to everyone – for us too!

The flight is delayed, plans change and so on.

However, no accommodation likes canceled reservations. The room/bed has been reserved over a period of time only for you, so nobody else has been able to book this spot. A last minute cancellation therefore, can leave a hole in the pocket of the hostel.

Why did I mention we at Hostelgeeks do not book via Phone or Email?

Simply because you have no proof of reservation. Some hostels could not honor your reservation and give your room or bed to another guest who books it on Hostelworld. We heard this so many times!

Therefore, Hostelworld and Booking actually save you this hassle. It is 100% confirmed.

This traveler enjoys the free WiFi at Maverick City Lodge in Budapest , the 5 Star Hostel in Budapest.

10. Are you a (good!) Travel Blogger/ Influencer?

So you are an influencer with an audience or a travel blogger looking to work with hostels?

Then please read this.

In case your blog fits with the style of the hostel you are approaching, there is a chance you can get a special deal. ONLY THEN!

And here is how : Have a look on their website, and see what you could possibly improve with your writing/ photography skills.

Maybe a hostel does not have a blog post about their free tour?

Well, this is something you can offer in exchange for accommodation!

You could offer cool new photos to the hostel. Show them your photography skills. Some hostels could be very interested in updating their photos.

This could be a big plus for them.

BUT : Be realistic and don’t be cocky! Lots of Hostels love to cooperate with bloggers, but keep in mind that you have to offer more than simply “ exposure ” through your blog.

Nobody can live from exposure and it is such a fluffy term, it almost does not mean anything. And no, you cannot pay with kisses and hugs.

Also but: Do not try to be that #Influencer that wants free stuff in exchange for a night for free. Hostels and Hotels are not up for this really. Unless your instagram is super relevant and really famous, just skip that part.

“Only reach out to hostels if you can actually offer real value!”

Good to know : Drop your desired hostel a tweet and follow them on Instagram. Get to know some details, find out what they might be interested in, and then go for it. If you are interested in more co-operations with hostels, you can get in contact with us as well – we love to work with fellow bloggers!

11. Book your hostel in advaaaaaance (or as soon as you can!)

Other than booking flights, most of the time the prices for hostels do not change. As soon as you have booked your flight, train or donkey, get your hostel booking done.

Make sure you know what type of hostel you want to stay at , and then go ahead!

But why book in advance?

Simple : you will have a bigger selection of hostels to choose from. The most popular hostels are usually sold out soon – why take the risk?

12. Barter Deal: Discounts or even a Free Stay

Lollis Homestay in Dresden is one of the best hostels in Germany , and run by genuine backpackers. They offer 10% discounts if you can show that your office or home does not run on nuclear power – simple as that.

Also, can you entertain the hostel crowd for 1 hour? Then your bed is on the house! Just send Lollis Homestay an email and you can figure out the details.

The cool part is, many hostels offer these kind of deals.

They are called “barter deals”.

We once walked into a hostel that offered a free night for translating their website to your native language.

13. Use Hostelgeeks! „Call me hack, please!“

Whenever you have a doubt about hostels, you can drop us a tweet, comment, message, letter pigeon!

We ARE Hostel Geeks. This name is no coincidence.

We are happy to help you…

• to find the best hostels in the world
• with any hostel questions you have
• to travel for longer and do so safely.

Check out our full Hostel Guide .

Here we cover so many topics, hopefully EVERYTHING you want to ask. You can find all hostel discounts here .

There you will find everything about Hostels you need to know!

Again : This way you can keep it simple and find directly a superb design conscious hostel in town.

You can find the best hostels in the world here .

What if there is a no hostel in your upcoming destination?

Then we created a huge hostel guide, called the “ best hostels in guides ” for this spot.

Still no hostel here?

Then shame on us. Get in contact , we will recommend you the coolest hostel that we’ve found so far – go on, challenge us!

A female solo-traveller enjoying one of the best hostels in Phuket, Thailand .

14. Discount in exchange for social promotion

We already covered this before in the “Influencer” section. This is an updated version.

This is a booking hack for the masters of social networks. Do you have many followers or fans on your social networks like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?

Get in contact directly with the hostel, and point it out to them.

Send them a tweet, and give them a hint about your existence and your interest in staying at their accommodation! Instagram is also a great way to connect.

Check out these  29 amazing Hostels through the Instagram filter .

First of all they will be thrilled to give you additional information or great photos of their accommodation. Second, you might score some special discounts or freebies such as free drinks. A general rule in case you are thinking about approaching hostels for this one:

You have to have roughly

• more than 5.000 twitter followers
• plus 10.000 Instagram followers
• more than 1.500 fans on Facebook

Again, these numbers are not a fix number or a guarantee. It is a number based on our experience! If you have any questions here, drop us a comment below! And hey, buying those followers for some coins won’t work!

Quick Anecdote : We receive many emails from travelers looking for such a discount with the 5 Star Hostels. Please ONLY try this one if you have a substantial amount of followers, and something cool to offer.

Otherwise, I’m afraid this reach-out is pointless.

The photo shows Jacobs Inn, one of the best hostels in Dublin, Ireland .

Okay okay, we just gave you a bunch of tips and tricks to book hostels. But, what about all the hostel websites out there?

Is there any difference? Does it make a difference to you?

So, here you go:

1. Hostelworld

When it comes to hostels, you will most likely come across Hostelworld.com very soon.

It is the world’s biggest platform for booking hostels. It has the widest selection of hostels. They also offer a handy application for iPhone and Android that helps you to book and manage your bookings.

One of the cons though is the information. It can be overwhelming to pick out the best hostel in town.

Therefore, we did our research, narrowed it down for you and created different hostel guides with the

• best hostels in Paris
• best hostels in Seoul
• best hostels in Melbourne
• best hostels in Seville , Spain

Here we focus on the top 3 hostels in a destination, with some added extras such as party hostels & hostels for solo travellers.

Find all guides to best hostels in the world here.

Remember, as for the 5 Star Hostels, we only pick the most amazing hostel in the city. Find all 5 Star Hostels here .

Pros of Hostelworld:

• It is the #1 reservation platform for hostels
• It is easy to use
• They offer a free and useful app for your bookings

Cons of Hostelworld:

• They also list hotels, guesthouses and such. Make sure you pick the right type of accommodation you want
• Can be overwhelming with all hostels to choose from

Our verdict : Hostelworld.com is super useful and reliable. No wonder so many travelers use it.

Here is our big guide on how to use Hostelworld .

When it comes to hostel price comparison, Hostelz.com is the only one to turn to.

As we previously mentioned, Hostelz collates information from the major hostel booking websites (Hostelword, Booking.com, Hostelclub), and compares prices in one easy click.

Every single hostel in the world is listed here!

We really enjoy the user-friendly set up which is super simple and fast. Everything you need to know about a hostel is included, such as:

• Genuine reviews (from booking sites & Hostelz.com guests)
• Hostel website
• Current availability
• Hostel photos (+ guest photos)

Update 2021 : They know have exclusive content for signed up members and you can make a profile. We did ours already, check it out here . 

And of course, the best available price for your travel dates!

Note : This is not a booking system. It simply helps you find the cheapest price for your chosen dates. So, for example, if you decide to book through Hostelworld, you will be taken to their website to complete your booking.

There are many cool and unique features to help save you time in your search.

We particularly enjoy the “suitable for” section under the filter tab. This is where you can choose your hostel type, such as Party Hostel, Boutique Hostel, Female Solo Traveller, Couples etc. Super handy!

3. Hostelbookers

Update : This website does not longer exist.

Hostelbookers is nowadays the little brother of Hostelworld and is owned by them as well. Back in the days, Hostelbookers (or HB for short) used to be a strong competitor of Hostelworld. Now, it is basically the same in a different design. You will find the same hostels and availability on both pages.

Our verdict : No real need to use Hostelbookers, sorry.

4. Booking.com

The giant of the industry also lists hostels. When using Booking.com for your hostel bookings, it is recommended to use the left sidebar with the filters. Filter by “hostels” and then “ratings better than 8 stars”.

This basic setup will give you a selection of budget accommodations, hence, hostels to choose from.

What we like more on Booking.com is their reviews. The users of Booking.com are usually older while the hostelworld user is younger, generally speaking.

Meaning, when you are looking for hostels for adults, Booking.com might be the better place to compare ratings.

When comparing Hostelworld and Booking.com, you might notice the difference in ratings. The hostelworld ratings tend to be higher, therefore better, while the reviews on Booking.com are lower.

Again, this might be the case because of the Booking.com being more critical.

5. Hostelsclub

With a strong focus on hostels, Hostelsclub does also list hotels, campsites, B&Bs, guesthouses and apartments.

However, the generic search will show the user a list of hostels. The simplicity of the site means it’s easy and quick to find great hostels in your desired destination.

This site has over 30.000 accommodations across 176 countries, so it’s certainly a good option in your search.

Bonus : they have a dedicated blog section which is both useful and fun for a range of traveller types.

Our verdict? There is similarity in speed, ease and efficiency between Hostelsclub and Hostelz. However, Hostelz.com has the added bonus of price comparison which saves even more time (and money!).

6. Hostelgeeks

Last but not least, let us have a closer look at, well, us!

Hostelgeeks is the only website for hostels that does not offer any hostel booking service . We are a brand of the finest hostels in the world, but do no provide any service to confirm bookings.

We are your community and gateway to the best hostels, the 5 star hostels ; nothing more, nothing less.

Not only that, but because we are genuine hostel geeks, we’re always finding new ways to deliver tips, tricks and hacks to the hostel world. Because we want YOU to save on time, money and energy. And well, because we love hostels!

Here is our complete guide to hostels .

Our city guides will give you endless ideas for exploring top destinations on the cheap.

And lastly, have a look at our resources section. This covers everything from cheap flights, travel insurance, visa information and booking tickets to major sights.

Basically, the Hostelgeeks have got you covered!

This photo shows CAVELAND Hostel in Santorini , Greece. It is the #1 hostel on the island. Read our big comparison guide on best hostels in Santorini .

A common question, is there a cheapest hostel booking site?

The answer is: NO!

There is no cheapest hostel booking site that ALWAYS gives you the best price. This is simply impossible.

The prices are put up by the hostels themselves. Meaning, a hostel puts for instance the price

• 10€ to Platform A
• 11€ to Platform B
• 10.50€ to Platform C

They do this to increase maybe their revenue, to receive more bookings, save on booking commissions and more. Therefore, we have to disappoint you: There is no cheapest hostel booking site.

Having said that , Hostelz.com is a real contender when it comes to finding the best price. It’s a price comparison site for hostels, comparing the major booking sites so you can find the best price, fast!

Just remember, this is NOT a booking site; it’s a price comparison site and you will be required to complete your booking on the major booking site of your choice i.e Hostelworld.

Keep comparing, it is worth it to save some money on your bookings.

The solution to find the cheapest price?

Always compare the websites we mentioned above.

Especially with the 5 Star Hostels, you find cheapest prices always with Hostelz.com. This way you can score the best deal. Also, on Hostelgeeks we give you several booking platforms to compare. We always try to give you the cheapest option.

Just keep an eye on our hostel reviews .

It is your best bet on hostel finder.

4. Things to remember when Booking Hostels

Again, this article is your basic 101 hostel booking guide. Below I list the very basic when it comes to your actual booking.

Do follow these steps and you will never have an issue (hopefully…):

1. Pick your right Hostel Type

Remember, there are 7 different types of hostels .

Make sure you select the right type of hostel you want.

For instance, when you are looking for a super fun night out with pub crawl and drinks, you should skip the family-hostel-type. The same goes vice-versa.

Read : a collection of the best party hostels in the world

If you want a tranquil night in, but you end up in the craziest party hostel the world has to offer, then cheers, you better wake up!

Makes sense, right?

The 7 types of hostels are:

• Cheap Hostels
• Homely Hostels
• Boutique Hostels
• Party Hostels
• Traditional
• 5 Star Hostels

Read : A fun guide to Hostels from A to Z – all you need to know

2. Pre-payments

Many hostel websites require a so-called pre-payment. This payment confirms your booking and may not be refundable. Make sure you read what you are exactly paying.

There are also different types of payment.

• You can pay everything BEFORE you arrive.
• You can pay nothing, not even leaving a prepayment and pay everything by arrival.
• Or you pay a few % prepayment and the rest when arriving.

Whatever it is, make sure you’re clear on how much you’re paying and when.

3. Cancellations

This brings us to cancellations. Before typing in your credit card details, make sure you read the cancellation terms. Sometimes you will lose 100% of the money, when you do not show up.

Hostels and platforms call that a “no show”.

4. Room type/ Bed type

Another common mistake is choosing the right room type or bed in a dorm. When you would love to have a private double room for you and your partner, make sure you select this – and not 2 beds in a dorm.

Pay a little attention, because many many travelers do this mistake once in a while.

Read : Overview of different hostel room types

5. Confirmation email

Always check your confirmation email for errors.

If you, for any reason, made a mistake in date or room type, you may be able to fix it.

Yet, always pay attention BEFORE confirming your booking. This is much easier than changing an existing booking. Some websites might even charge for extra changes.

6. Check-in and Check-Out time

Another very important thing to remember when booking hostels: Have a look at the check-in time and check-out time.

This is very important especially when it comes to check-in.

If arriving late to a destination, you need to be sure your hostel actually allows late check-ins. A 24 hour reception is your best choice then. Some hostels even charge an extra late-show-up fee.

What is the Check-in Time?

The check-in time gives you the time the hostel has the room or bed ready for you. This time is usually somewhere between 13:00 and 16:00 (1pm and 4pm).

What is the Check-Out Time?

The Check-Out time refers to the time you have to leave the room or bed and sometimes even the hostel. The average check-out time is between 10:00 and 11:00 (10am and 11am).

Therefore, make sure you avoid extra late-show fees. What if you arrive super early? Or what if you want to hang out the hostel until your bus is leaving?

Many hostels offer luggage storage. But here is the thing: Some, or let’s say many hostels charge an extra luggage storage fee. It is a way for hostels to make a few extra dollars.

Therefore, our recommendation: Check hostels with 24 hours reception and a free luggage storage.

This brings us perfectly to our next point about extra fees…

7. Extra Payments at Hostels

Have you ever been to a hostel that charges for EVERYTHING extra?

If you haven’t, congrats. ‘Cause this is so annoying.

Some hostels, and usually the cheapest hostels in town, charge extra fees.

Extra fees for what? You may ask.

• Sheets and linen
• Internet and WiFi
• Breakfast (that’s fair, just keep an eye on it!)
• Luggage Storage
• Late Check In
• Late Check Out

Keep an eye on the reviews. Make sure you make a list of what is important for you before booking hostels.

Read : 46 Tips for identify fantastic Hostels Worldwide

For instance, you always want

• Free breakfast,
• Free WiFi and
• 24 hour reception.

Then make sure you pick the right place.

Good to know : Many many destinations in this world charge a so-called “tourist tax”. This is a tax that is charged by the city. Most of the time, this tax is not included in your price you see online.

However, do not get mad when a hostel charges you something here extra. This can happen. On the other hand, make sure this is a legal fee charged by the city – and not a shady hostel.

How much is tourist tax? There is no generic rule. To give you an idea, in Barcelona the tourist tax is between 0,45 Euro – 2,25 Euro per person, per night – but only up to 7 nights.

8. Be Safety Smart

There are a few things to consider before booking a hostel, as well as before arriving there.

For instance, have you checked the hostel location? Aside from convenience to local attractions, airport etc, it’s also a good idea to do a bit of research of the surrounding neighborhood. Is it safe, or known to be a bit dodgy? Check reviews!

Does the hostel offer lockers? Or perhaps a small safe for passports, money, laptop etc? Don’t forget to pack a padlock !

Is the hostel secure at night with 24hr staffed reception and/or keycard access at the main door?

Read our full guide : Are Hostels Safe? With 13 handy safety tips to consider when booking hostels.

Summary: Hacks and Tips for Booking Hostels

We wanted to give you an overview of the different possibilities on how to hack the hostel booking process.

Overwhelmed? We hope not. Even if this was a lot of information, this article won’t go away. You can always come back, and read it again.

As you can see there are some different approaches here. Some of them may take some time and experience. Once you have applied them, you will see how effective they can be.

Do you want to learn more? Check out the ultimate guide to hostels .

Wondering how to book sights and activities? Read our review of Tiqets.com

If you’re travelling in Europe or North America, we highly recommend using Omio for transport (busses, trains, planes). Here’s our full review of Omio .

Here we cover EVERY hostel-topic…

• Ultimate hostel packing list (with 23 items to pack)
• Netflix and Chill – The 10 Do’s and Dont’s
• How to travel Europe Cheap? 51 tips and tricks
• WHAT is a hostel – meaning and definition
• In 22 steps: how to be the worst hostel guest ever
• Hostel Etiquette : 18 unwritten rules for making friends
• Full Guide to Hostels in Europe – Book smart, stay safe & have fun!

Do you know any other hack for booking hostels? Wonderful! Please leave us a comment.

Safe travels, The Hostelgeeks

Pinterest is your friend. Pin the “Hacks for Booking Hostels like a Pro”

We are 100% Independent: Some links on Hostelgeeks are so-called affiliate links. If you decide to book through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you . Your support allows us to keep producing high-quality, independent content free of influence from hostels or external advertisers. Learn more here . 🙏

✏️ Read our Editorial Guidelines

Thanks for the great tips for booking a room to stay in. I love how you said that the hostel will probably have extra rooms only available on their own site. We’ll have to make sure to check those actual sites when we start looking for places to stay during our vacation next year.

Glad you liked it, Silas! Of course, we always try to give a full picture, and non-bias info.

Take care and safe travels, Matt

Awesome article!

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When to Book Hostels? For Spontaneous Souls & Pre-Planners

No doubt you're contemplating when to book hostels for your upcoming backpacking trip. This is one of the most commonly asked questions that people have when they start planning their adventure - you're not alone!

We hear it asked again and again in emails to us, as well as in various travel forums. It's difficult to give a simple absolute answer, but we'll do our best to share our advice based on our years of hostel travel experience.

Of course it depends a lot on your personality. Perhaps you're an avid planner, or you prefer to just wing it and let the wind carry you. No matter your style, you'll find it covered in this article.

It's likely that every new traveller will have similar burning questions:

• Should I book hostels before I travel?
• Is it better to book hostels in advance?

Yes and no. It's certainly situation, country and time-of-year dependent.

Come on, let us talk you through it so you no longer need to worry about it and can discover why hostel life is better than real life .

When to Book Hostels... for the Pre-Planners

Alrighty, let's kick start by helping out those of you that love to plan every last detail before you can hit that relax button. We understand you!

We're going to assume that if you're a pre-planner, you already have your trip itinerary in place.

In which case, it's probably best to go ahead and book your hostels as soon as you have your final plan alive and kicking. If you book your hostels at least 1-2 months in advance , you'll almost always be able to find available beds at even the best top rated hostels.

(By "top rated", we mean hostels that have a high Hostelz.com Combined Score, since those tend to be the most popular hostels).

You find our comprehensive guide to all best hostels in the world here .

What if you can't book that far in advance?

Even in the high season (typically during the hottest, driest months of the country), you can usually still find available beds at most of the top rated hostels if you're booking at least a week in advance. Occasionally some popular but small hostels might start filling up.

Yet in most cases, many hostels will still have some available beds a week before, especially during weekdays. Weekends are more popular, especially in a party hostel that offers live music, for example.

When to Book Hostels... for the Spontaneous Souls

What if you don't want to plan your trip in advance, and want to keep your options open for wherever your travel adventure takes you?

Never fear, you can make that work, too!

What we recommend is that you at least book your first hostel at your arrival city well in advance. Because let's face it, arriving somewhere new at (potentially) an unreasonable hour after travelling for a long time is exhausting. Add having to find a hostel in to the mix and that's a recipe for a bad mood.

IMPORTANT: Avoid this - book your first hostel in advance!

And then as you continue your trip, consider booking your next hostel at least 2-3 days in advance . Either that or check the hostels in your next destination and get an idea of what's available.

It will most likely be easier to book hostels last minute in a small, not-so-popular town than it would be to book hostels in Europe cities such as Paris, for example. So "should I book hostels in advance in Europe?" Probably.

Can I book hostels on the day?

We're often asked ' can you book hostels last minute ', and the answer is, in many cases, yes .

Just check out the city here on Hostelz.com . We show you ALL available hostel beds on the major, trustable website Hostelworld.com and Booking.com

Great tip: Download as well the Hostelworld App . You can compare prices on Hostelz, and use the app for your final reservation.

However, there are a few disadvantages:

the difference between booking a few days in advance and turning up on the day will be room you end up in. You're more likely to end up in a bigger dorm, for example. This is important to think about if you find it difficult to sleep when it's noisy, or you're a female solo traveller that doesn't enjoy mixed dorms.

The Top Hostels will be gone

The top hostels are sold out easily 2-3 in advance, for sure. This goes especially for high season like August in Barcelona or May/June in Bali. This means, if you want to stay super spontaneous, this comes at the price of missing out the super-cool fun hostels.

Restrictions

Be mindful that age restrictions exist in some hostels , ranging from minimum age requirements to maximum age limits, often around 35+ years. If these age considerations are relevant to you, it's wise to plan ahead. Booking your hostels earlier can ensure you find accommodations that welcome guests of your age, making for a smoother travel experience.

When is the best time to book hostels?

Once you've arrive in a city, it's a good idea to get a sense of the place (and hostel!) and see if you feel like staying longer than the one day.

You may decide quickly that you don't like the city. Or you love it and want to stay longer, but would prefer a different hostel.

Worst case, you may find that the hostel you want is full for a couple days and you may need to adjust your plans a bit and stay in your current hostel for a little longer. Either that or head of to new places and then come back at a later date.

But that's all part of the adventure of spontaneous travel right? If you're willing to compromise, spontaneous souls can make it work.

Where to Book Hostels? It matters

The most popular hostel website to make your final reservation are:

Hostelworld.com

Booking.com

Great tip: Download as well the Hostelworld App

However, you should always compare hostels BEFORE making your final reservation. And there are several reasons for this.

• compare prices for ALL hostels
• get 100% of the availability

By using Hostelz.com, you'll always be able to find even that last available bed at the very best hostel, at the very best price!

If you stick with any booking platform, chances are high that you miss on the availability of some hostels. Meaning, you cannot make a reservation although this hostel might be available on a different platform.

Remember! Hostels typically only put a portion of their beds in each of the booking systems.

Here are 7 Reasons to use Hostelz for Finding Hostels .

So although a hostel may be " sold out " on one booking site, it will likely have a few beds left on another booking site. So in order to know for definite whether your favourite hostel is completely booked up, you'd need to check all major booking platforms. Time consuming, right?

Not only that, but each platform will have different prices on their availability.

However, luckily for you Hostelz.com is the only site that searches all of the hostel booking websites for you, so you don't have to.

Here's a guide to the 10 types of hostels listed on this site. It's designed to help you save time finding your perfect hostel type.

So no longer do you need to question how to book hostels; Hostelz is the one and only website you need. It's free to use, and doesn't require a credit card for creating a membership.

Take Note of Holidays and Festivals

Whether you're planning on travelling to New Zealand, Costa Rica, Chiang Mai or the United States, it's important to always be aware of local holidays, festivals, and special events.

These obviously change considering the country, culture and time of year. If you're coming from Western Europe and travelling to the East, chances are the local customs and celebrations will be very different to what you're used to.

If you're planning to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, the Holi Festival in India, or La Tomatina near Valencia, that changes everything. For huge, popular events such as these you may need to book a hostel as much as 6-12 months in advance . Yikes!

Read : 13 Ideas for Saving Money for Long-Term Travel

Holidays such as New Year's Eve can mean full hostels in many countries all over the world.

Unless you are specifically travelling to this place to join in on the festivities, we suggest changing your travel dates if possible. Otherwise, you risk getting caught up in mass gatherings, public transport closures and higher crime rates.

So watch out for holidays and events of all kinds, and consider booking farther in advance if there's something on the calendar when you plan to be in town.

Top tip : Contact the hostel via their email address (found in hostel listings on this site) and enquire about holidays happening during your stay.

Beware of Weekends

People on vacation often forget about weekends. Mondays no longer count and there's no need to look forward to Friday!

After-all, when you're on vacation a weekend feels pretty much the same as a weekday. But don't forget that people who live in the region you're visiting are more likely to make their trips on the weekend .

So pay attention to the calendar, and book a little further in advance for Friday and Saturday night accommodations. This is especially important if you're looking to book a party hostel - most of the social events happen at the weekend.

Private Rooms are a Different Story

The above advice was based on the assumption that you're booking dorm beds.

If you're looking for a private room at the hostel, be aware that hostels usually only have a limited number of private rooms. That makes sense, because...

• Hostels focus on social, inclusive atmosphere unlike hotels
• They can make a lot more money off of a room full of dorm beds

Even larger hostels sometimes only have a few private rooms, if any. So if you prefer booking last minute but are set on getting a private room, it might not always work in your favour.

Here are 17 Tips for Staying and Sleeping in Hostels .

Be aware that you'll need to book further in advance if you want to gaurantee a private room at your chosen hostel.

We are collecting the best hostels with private rooms in many major cities around the world.

As an example, check out

• best hostels in Madrid with Private Rooms
• best hostels in Lisbon with Private Rooms
• best hostels in London with Private Rooms

Is it Cheaper to Book Hostels in Advance?

Booking hostels in advance has its advantages, and getting a cheaper deal can be one of them. Yet this is not guaranteed. For instance, it can sometimes be cheaper to book last minute as the hostel would rather sell the last few beds at a reduced rate than not at all. However, this first of a big gamble. And 2nd, the great top-hostels will not do this.

Meaning, even if you find a last-minute better deal, chances are high you will end up at a mediocre hostel at best.

Read : 21 Ways to Save Money while Travelling

Once again, we suggest always using Hostelz when it comes to finding the cheapest rate for your dates. We compare all of the booking platforms so you have an overview of prices in one easy click.

How much are hostels?

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to that question. It really depends on many factors such as:

• The hostel destination (country, city, location)
• Hostel type (party, poshtel, budget)
• Which room you choose (dorm versus private)
• Time of year (busy or quiet season)

Take these things into consideration, do your research and compare general prices of countries. For example, the cheapest hostels in Europe will still be more expensive than hostels in Thailand.

Can you Book Hostels too Early?

Who hasn't daydreamed about future plans for next year? Or started planning the next big trip before the current one has even ended. It happens to the best of us. Sounds like you may have contracted itchy-feet syndrome.

However, we have some bad news for you; it is possible to book hostels too early.

Simply put, most hostels will not let you book their accommodation more than a year in advance. So with that in mind, you won't find them listed on booking systems for dates +12 months from now.

Yet, if your trip is less than 12 months away and you're sure of your plans, then it's not too early to start making bookings if you would like. No one is stopping you, even the booking system!

Can we make a suggestion? Don't bother booking hostels more than 6 months in advance unless you will DEFINITELY be travelling there, say for a wedding or something more set-in-stone. You never know what might change in that time, and unless you're super organised, it's easy to forget you've already booked and further down the line will create duplicate bookings. This equals money and time lost.

Summary: When to Book Hostels

We hope this guide on when to book hostels was helpful and gave you a bit of an insight.

As you can see, it really depends on a lot of things as to when is the right time to book hostels. Ultimately, only you can decide for yourself what feels right!

Before you go anywhere, have a look at our packing guide and make sure you haven't forgotten to pack something important.

About the author: Dormitory Dave

Hey there, I'm Dormitory Dave – a backpacker and hostel aficionado at heart. I absolutely love exploring new places, meeting new people, and sharing travel stories over a pint of beer. For me, the sense of community that hostels provide and the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world is what makes my travels so enriching. In fact, some of my closest friends were made while staying in hostel dorms around the world. When I'm not on the road, you can find me reminiscing about my travels over a plate of spicy street food or working on yet another travel article for Hostelz.

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Home » Europe » Best Hostels

Best Hostels in Europe: FULL Hostelling Guide & Review for 2024

Europe has a lot of hostels. Like,  a lot . Even the lesser ventured areas of Europe still offer the intrepid explorer a whole range of accommodations (at cheaper prices) to rest their weary brain.

So that’s why I’ve rounded up this list of the best hostels in Europe and it truly features a bit of everything! From famous European hostels to unique offerings to the cheapest, it’s really got something for everyone.

Even better – and something I’m particularly proud of – is the area covered! This is a post about hostels in Europe that  actually covers Europe . It ain’t just Paris, London, and Amsterdam: east, south, north, and west – I got some of it all! (Except Russia… I skipped Russia.)

But hold the phone: there’s more! (Oh, yes.) Before I even get to the roundup, I wrote a full guide to hostelling in Europe just for the newbies.

If that doesn’t interest you, I’ll give you a convenient link to skip the humdrum, but if you’re new to staying in hostels, there are tips and information in there to make your first youth hostel adventure as smooth as a German man’s shaved chest.

It’s all about that smart-casual.

Skip to the roundup of the  Best Hostels in Europe!

What is a Hostel? The Overview.

Hostel life: like real life but with more shenanigans, what is a hostel in europe like the specifics, how to book hostels in europe, the best hostels in europe from my roundup, the top hostels in europe as per real travellers, the best party hostels in europe for gettin’ down, some unique hostels in europe, some more reading before hostelling in europe, closing the guide to europe’s hostels.

A hostel, at its core, is accommodation built for travellers, by travellers. It doesn’t always work out like that, but that’s still the general premise. Low-budget accommodation that celebrates backpacker life.

Staying in a hostel means staying in a meeting point for travellers. Hostel prices are kept cheaper and emphasis is placed on creating a space for people to gather.

Although the vibe changes, commonly shared features of most hostels around the world include:

• Shared sleeping spaces (dorms)
• Common room
• Tourist information for the local area
• Events or meals to gather people
• Drinks (also food but booze)
• Yoga… there’s always yoga

Who Stays at Hostels?

That’s a tougher question. Rather than saying who stays in hostels, it would be more apt to say that the target audience is backpackers. Solo backpackers in Europe as well as groups and couples of ANY age are the kinda people you’ll find in hostels.

The actual types of people staying in hostels vary wildly on the hostel itself and what part of the world it’s in. Kathmandu brings in a lot of crazy; Jerusalem also brings in a lot of crazy… but in a different way.

The intended audience, however, is backpackers. I even have hostel owners often inform me (on the sly) that they much prefer the crowd brought in from Hostelworld over Booking.com – represent!

You’re going to find a little of all walks of life sleeping in hostels. Different cultural backgrounds, ages, financial nettings… pineapple-pizza-people, GTFO-pineapple-pizza-people, “I don’t care, just get in my mouth.” pizza-people. It’s a wide net.

Of this terrific collection of fine specimens, most will be younger – say under the age of 35 but generally somewhere in their 20s (some hostels even have an age limit; a practice I strongly take issue with) – and most will be on some form of budget-friendly travels , long or short-term. Some will be more experienced than you at travelling, some will not…

You know how in old fantasy games you always go to the inn first. There you can collect information, hear hot rumours, get heathenishly intoxicated on mead, and start tavern brawls with other equal renegade swashbuckling sorts.

Yep, that’s what a hostel is – the inn of the traveller world. You may even come away with a new party member!

What are Hostels Like? The Facilities Offered.

There’s no one-true guide to hostels and their onboard amenities, but since this is a guide to the best hostels in Europe , let’s talk about the facilities you’ll find there. Most of this is pretty standard and if your chosen European hostel lacks it, they were probably just the outlier.

Features common to most good hostels in Europe (and many places elsewhere) include:

• Sleeping quarters – I’ll go over this more in-depth in the next section but this could cover anything from a capsule-style 30-bed dormitory all the way up to private rooms.
• Kitchen – And generally fully-stocked too! (With cookware, not food.) Cooking for yourself is going to be a crucial tool in mitigating the hostel costs in Europe.
• Lockers – Generally standard and included unless the place is super grungy.
• Shared bathroom and shower spaces – Could be inside the dorm or outside. In my experience, they’re usually unisex.
• Bar – If not a bar, then probably some alcohol somewhere on the premises. But probably a bar.
• Laundry room – And nearly always costs extra.
• Free WiFi – Yes, hostels in Europe have WiFi. “Free WiFi” is not an advertisable perk in 2024 anymore.
• Chillout space – Spaces range from meh to top-tier tripper den ambience! Usually, you’ll find at least one of the following: books, games, hippy-philosophical quotes about the freedom of the road , pool tables, hammocks, Tibetan Buddhist flags, instruments.

Sleeping in Hostels

So this is one of the key reasons why hostels can, and do, offer cheaper rates for accommodation – dormitories i.e. shared sleeping spaces ranging from as little as four peeps to an excessive number of peeps. No two hostel dormitories are the same but there are similarities.

The standard is bunk beds and therein lies the number one tip for staying in hostels: nab the bottom bunk. I’ll go into this more in the ‘Pros and Cons of Hostel Life’ section, but if you’re new to the hostel experience, you’ll quickly learn why. They give you a bit more privacy, easier access, and you’ll feel less like you’re in a storm at sea if your bunkmate likes to engage in mortal combat with ninja-pirates in their dreams.

Although much more common in developed Asian countries, capsule-style dorms are making a rise in popularity in newer hostels in Europe. They’re kinda like a room in a room! A small enclosed space with a bed and usually with curtains so you can read a book or phone-veg in relative peace.

Grungier hostels aimed at people who prefer to use their hard-earned travel budget on smokable delights may even eschew the beds altogether in exchange for a simple mattresses-on-the-floor scenario. Honestly, this is infinitely better than bunk beds – simple and effective!

And, for those who prefer their privacy, or have a companion to share with, many hostels do offer private rooms. They won’t be as expensive as a hotel, but they will be more expensive than the dorm. The added perk is that you’ll still get to experience the full vibe of backpacker-centric accommodation.

Other Hostel Facilities

Some extra things that are definitely worth keeping an eye out for when booking hostels. Some will help you save cash in Europe , some are awesome, and some are just my personal faves:

• Free breakfast – Definitely not an “always” but something to keep a lookout for when booking a hostel.
• Free tea and coffee – See above. Free coffee is always a win (even though it’ll be shit coffee).
• Hostel events – Sometimes at an extra charge, sometimes free, hostel events are common and nearly always social. Could be anything from a pub crawl to a walking tour to a games night to a pyjama party. Hell, I stayed at a place in Israel where they ran a hummus workshop
• Dorm bed amenities – A personal light, charging port, and sometimes even a shelf by your bed is absolutely legendary
• Free towels – Sometimes hostels offer a towel for free (as they should) and sometimes they’ll charge you extra. If they charge you, I’d say it’s free game to steal it when you checkout. Better yet, skip the nonsense and just travel with microfibre towel .
• The vibe – Not so much a facility, but it warrants a special mention. Staying in the right hostel can make or break your trip. Know your vibe and seek it. If you prefer your travellers with dreads and tattoos, find where they congregate. If you want to get loose and dance to techno in Berlin , choose a party hostel. If you’re a bit insane, well… probably look for dreads and tattoos again.

Are Hostels Safe?

Yes. Super duper Oompa Loompa safe!

I’d say the only real issue you need to be wary of in hostels is theft. Be mindful of your valuables and the rest will be Willy Wonka.

That’s not to say that hostels are a hotspot for theft; more just that jerks are everywhere. Besides, you’re a traveller now! Mindfulness of your surroundings and perceptivity is gonna become second nature to you: it’s safe travelling 101!

The best part about traveller-centric accommodation is that you’re roommates are travellers! Generally speaking, you’re going to find that the feeling in hostels is chill and people are open-hearted and only looking for good vibes, just the same as you. No one is gonna shank you in your sleep or give you a wedgie when you enter the common room.

BUT (there’s always a but), I’m a dude i.e., I have a penis. The follow-up question really ought to be “Are hostels safe for women?” It’s an unfortunate truth of travel that the experience is not equal among the genders.

Yes, hostels are safe for women. In my years of travelling, I am yet to hear a single account of a woman having that sort of experience in a hostel. However, I guarantee you that isolated incidents have occurred.

Although sleeping in a shared space actually increases safety, many hostels still offer female-only dormitories. There are even female-only hostels! Do only what you’re comfortable with and remember:

Good vibes only.

So now that you know what to expect from hostels themselves, what’s the lifestyle like? You could think of it as a giant sharehouse, but that wouldn’t be quite fair.

In a sharehouse, most people have lives, jobs, and adulting to attend to. In a hostel, people are there primarily with the purpose of travelling. That means that, in a way, hostel life is their life .

Conversations between strangers are sparked on a dime and making friends is easy! Most nights present some sort of opportunity to get messy, even if it’s just drunk ‘Shithead’. (Tip number two for staying in hostels: get used to playing cards.)

It’s a shared space but not even the most communal places in the world that I’ve crashed at don’t compare. Whether you’re in the mood or not, someone is always around.

Of course, however, that means that sharing a space requires a level of shared respect.

Hostel Etiquette

I’m gonna drill this one in because it’s of particular importance to me. Don’t be a douchecanoe.

It’s a shared space. Everybody paid the same to be there and everybody deserves an equal level of respect (and sleep).

The variables are wild, however, and a guide to hostel etiquette is never uniform. A party hostel’s considerations of what is appropriate are going to be very different from one that advertises itself for chilling and gentle night’s sleep. Use your common sense and when in doubt, ask the number one question of yourself (all the way from kindergarten):

If someone else was doing this, would I be ok with it?

Here are some general guidelines on not being that guy:

• Clean up after yourself – Your plates, rubbish, or puke. I once asked a British lass to clean out the remnants of her previous night’s shenanigans from the bathroom sink. If you wipe your ass at home, you wipe it at the hostel.
• Headphones – Always pack decent headphones for hostels, when you’re vegging in the dorm especially.
• Be friendly and smile – Everyone is a long way from home and you never know what’s going on for them. A smile and “Good morning!” can mean the world.
• Be nice to the staff – A smile and a good morning for them too!
• Sharing is caring – It’s a traveller thing. Share your food, joints, invite people on adventures, and leave behind your excess packing.
• Leave the ‘-isms’ and ‘-phobias’ at home – Or better yet, 6 feet under. Hostels are open spaces for all people.

Hostel Etiquette: Dorms

Man, there’s a whole other article in here. I’d call it “Not Being a Knob: Dorm Edition”. Here are some basics on good hostel dormitory etiquette:

• Keep the noise down – Duh.
• DO NOT TURN THE LIGHTS ON WHEN PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING – Use your phone-torch or a backpacking headlamp . There’s a special circle of hell reserved for light-switcher-onnerers where they’re forced to eat wasps while someone shines a torch in their eyes for all eternity.
• Don’t sleep naked – Actually, personally, I couldn’t care less, but some people do.
• Night-owls and early-birds – A French exit (or entry) is the name of the game. If you’re waking up for a sunrise adventure, pack the night before.
• Alarm snoozers… – …should also eat wasps. Why set an alarm if you’re not going to get out of bed?

Hostel Etiquette: Backpacking Sex

This could also merit its own article. Oh, wait: bow-chicka-wow-wow! Sex in hostels (and dorms) is a pretty complicated topic so let’s set one basic rule: except for some party and cheap hostels and grungier locales where it’s accepted, not in the dorm room.

Take one of the private rooms, bang in the shower, go find a nice park… just not in the dorm. Nobody wants to watch you have sex and anybody that does, you probably don’t want to watch you while you have sex.

Getting Called Out and Calling Others Out

You’re well within your rights to call someone out for being a tosser just as someone is well within their rights to call you out. You’re equally within your rights to alert staff if someone is being disrespectful. Still, if you can mediate the situation yourself, that’s better.

Some people will take it too far with their expectations and that, in of itself, is douchey. Don’t spit the dummy – communication is key. Here’s a quick anecdote:

Once I was working on my laptop in a dorm in the early afternoon. A man who was napping (the same one who’d checked in at 3 A.M. the night before, turned the light on, and chatted with his friend before going to bed) asked me to stop working because the sound of the keyboard typing was annoying.

Now, I could have told him to smoke my pole, but I didn’t. I gave him an exasperated look, said “Sure,” and moved to the common room. Later on that night he shared his beer with me and asked me to join him and his friends for some chilling.

Taking the high road is never a wrong choice.

Tips for Staying in Hostels

Bonus tips time!

• Pack earplugs and a sleeping mask – Earplugs especially are a hostel packing essential for a better night’s rest.
• A microfibre towel – One of my personal travel essentials.
• A headlamp – Another travel essential and perfect for dorms.
• And a tough padlock – Hostels that supply these for your locker are a rarity.
• Make that bottom bunk a home – I like to hang up my shawl for a curtain and put a toy tiger on my pillow (his name is Jerry). It makes it feel more like my space.
• Tag your food in the fridge – That way, when the body of the person who ate your leftover burrito is found, the judge will empathise.
• Headphones are excellent – For a different reason though. When you need some downtime or introversion, pop those badboys in. Seriously, they’re like Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak!
• Working in hostels in Europe – If you have the appropriate visa (or passport), this is a fantastic way to mitigate the hostel prices in Europe. Get a paying job, or find somewhere you can volunteer for a bed and feed – many hostels are always looking for helping hands.
• If you’re not enjoying the hostel you’re staying at… – Just leave. Go find somewhere else; that’s the beauty of travel.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

The Pros and Cons: Problems of Hostel Life

The pros are all pretty obvious: cheap accommodation, social vibes, making new friends… that’s all great! But the biggest problem with hostel life is also its biggest draw: sociability. It’s a double-edged sword.

It’s really hard to be solo travellers in a hostel because you’re never alone. People will strike up a conversation over breakfast, even if you just want to drink your coffee and read the news. Strangers are gonna hear you poop. Nearly everyone you meet is going to ask you where you’re from, how long you’ve been travelling, and what your tattoos mean.

The longer you’ve been staying in hostels, the older this gets. If you need space or are just burning out, take it.

Go and book a cheap hotel room , or better yet, an Airbnb. Maybe just go camp in the forest. Either way, respect your need for solace.

Righto! Now you have a pretty damn good idea of what a hostel is like! So now I’m moving on to the really pertinent stuff – the guide to hostels in Europe!

Perhaps it’s your first time backpacking in Europe . Maybe, it’s your first time backpacking altogether…

Fuck. Yes. Good on you, you awesome creature! Ready for an adventure?

Whether you’re new to hostels or a veteran, European hostels will put you up nicely. Fun fact: the world’s first hostel was founded in Germany, so you’re in good hands. Since the early days, hostelling has only gotten easier and more accessible. There are plenty of amazing hostel chains in Europe that have really proven themselves over the years.

All around Europe, you’ll find excellent places to stay and there really is something for everyone. It helps that the competition is so fierce so truly terrible hostels are a rarity in Europe.

That said, some are better than others.

Youth Hostelling in Europe: The Vibe

You’ll be hard-pressed to find something truly crappy. Europe is a good introduction to hostelling before you get to the danker (and more adventurous) parts of the world. Generally speaking, you can expect all the amenities I listed above coupled with a clean environment and probably more.

Hostels in Europe are also safe and filled with young travellers, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. A lot of Europeans earn their traveller stripes on their home continent during a uni break or gap year and a lot of fresh Yanks too. Also, Australians, but only because they’re everywhere – sorry ‘bout that!

Even when not at one of Europe’s many party hostels, you’ll still find a pretty big party emphasis. Europe may be expensive but the drugs sure aren’t!

The last thing of note about European hostels is that Europe is big. Saying “European hostels” is about as meaningless as saying “Asian hostels” . Whether you’re comparing youth hostels in Western to Eastern Europe, Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, or the Baltics to Turkey (na, jokes, Turkey wishes), it changes a lot.

The culture, language, food, and, definitely, the cost of hostels change across Europe. The types of travellers that go to Berlin (and their reasons for doing so) are very different from the travellers that venture to Romania. It’s a real wide net.

European Hostels: It’s a Real Wide Net

I can’t very well break down Europe regionally (I could but that’d result in something more akin to a thesis than a blog post). I can, however, break down the types of hostels in Europe that you can expect to find.

Everyone and their mum tends to break these down differently but here’s how I consider the types of hostels:

• Budget Hostels – I class these differently from standard hostels. They’ll dump a few fineries and perks in exchange for lower prices.
• Standard Hostels – Hostels that represent everything hostel when you hear the word hostel.
• Boutique Hostels – There are plenty of names for these but they’re generally a lot more swanky-dank. Higher class design and some more luxury facilities at a higher price.
• Party Hostels – It’s in the name. These will generally lack a curfew and are much more accepting of rowdy behaviours, delicious substances, and copious amounts of sex.
• Chill Hostels – The yang to party hostel’s yin. The focus is on quiet and homely places to meet folks, read a book, and get a good night’s rest.
• Nature Hostels – Generally, just somewhere outside the urban sprawl of a city; perhaps on a mountain or in a nice town by a forest.
• Hippy Palaces – Dirtbag dens or grunge grottos are also appropriate names. This is where you’ll find the normal people. 😉

The Average Cost of Hostels in Europe

Let’s say, for the sake of numbers, that the average price of hostels in Europe is 15-30 USD . Again though, Europe is big and there is a lot of variation.

The classic destinations in Western Europe are pricey with hostels that can cost upwards of $40-$45 (in places like London, Paris, and Amsterdam). Head east, however, and things level out. You can find some of Europe’s best cheap hostel offerings here with places bottoming out as low as $5-$10 in countries like Romania, Poland, and Hungary.

Of course, you’re going to probably plan your travels in Europe based on your dream itinerary. It’s fair to say though that not all of Europe is crushingly expensive and there are definitely places to travel to if your budget is guiding you more.

Plus, I’d take Budapest over Paris any day.

Ok, so now that I’ve broken down what a hostel in Europe is (and what to expect), I bet you’re wondering about the best way to find one and book that sucker! (Other than this guide, of course.)

Instead of drowning you in sweet, sweet deetz, I’m making it simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to booking a hostel in Europe.

Step 1 – Research Phase: How to Find a GOOD Hostel in Europe

You could head to any hostel booking site and sort by ratings > descending. It’s a good starting point but I don’t recommend it as the best way to find a hostel – Europe or anywhere else.

I have two tried-and-true methods:

• Hit up Google and type in ‘best hostels in X’ (‘X’ being your chosen destination). You’re going to be presented with a range of roundups from TripAdvisor to blogs that have carefully selected their choices. If “thebrokebackpacker.com” is in the URL, you’re on to a winner.
• Dip into your network of trusted travel connections and get some recommendations. Generally, your friends like the same thing as you so that’s a good start and this is always my favourite method.

Step 2 – Research Harder: Revenge of the Research

Now that you’ve narrowed down the selection of the best European hostels, it’s time to get technical: start reading those descriptions!

Suss the vibe… Is there a free breakfast, movie nights, free walking tours, free tea and coffee, or bicycles to hire? Read the reviews and look for anything to tip you off as to whether it’s the right (or wrong) place to stay for you.

In particular, look for reviews from people that may seek the same thing as you or the opposite. For example, if I find a review that complains that the staff is always stoned and playing loud electronic music, I book dat shit!

Step 3 – Compare the Costs Before Booking that Hostel

Before you go hitting any confirm buttons, you want to make sure you’re getting the best price. Prices can vary between the different hostel booking sites for Europe (more on that in a sec) and even saving a few dollaridoos (euroidoos…?) goes a long way for your travel budget.

HostelZ is an excellent source for comparing costs and finding a hostel in Europe. Alternatively, you can check these things manually across the booking platforms.

It’s also definitely worth mentioning that, if there’s a vacancy, ye olde fashioned walk-in will sometimes net you the cheapest price simply by way of a last-minute reservation or by skipping the booking platform’s service charge.

The Best Sites for Booking Hostels in Europe

There are lots of these and they’re all the same but different:

• Directly booking through a hostel’s website – This will often net the cheapest price and is always worth checking out first!
• Hostelworld – The classical choice for backpackers worldwide and my number one choice.
• Booking.com – These guys work in a lot more fields than just hostels so you’re going to need to filter out all that hotel/villa/ ”I have too much disposable income” nonsense. Personally, I’m not a fan of Booking’s UI.
• Hostelling International – These guys focus on not-for-profit organisations and provide a nice range of youth hostels around Europe with the altruistic vibes to compensate.
• Airbnb –  Yup, Airbnb has hostel listings these days too!

Ok, you’re so informed on youth hostelling in Europe by now that you’re practically already practising your cheek kisses! It’s time to unearth that top pick of Europe’s hostel offerings for your adventure.

I’ve broken these down into several categories and the first is simply a lifting of the top hostel pick from some of our European content (namely, the most famous and frequented destinations in Europe). If you’re looking for a hostel in one of the major European cities that are a bit more unique and interesting, they’re coming up later – I promise you.

Don’t worry, boo; I gotchu! Now gimme that sloppy cheek kiss.

Wombat’s City Hostel – Best Hostel in London, England

As you hostel around Europe like a pro, you’re going to quickly discover some repeat offenders… of the crime of offering fucking awesome hostels! Wombat’s Hostels is a chain of the most famous hostels in Europe and they’ve won a bunch of awards too, so they gotta be doing something right!

So, yeah, they offer good hostels in Europe, and Wombats in London is no exception. Super clean, modern amenities (the dorms and lockers even have smart card locks), and private showers in all the rooms. They even got a buffet breakfast (two of my four favourite words in the English language) for an extra charge.

Wombat’s City Hostel, London, is in a dope spot for backpackers exploring The Big Smoke and is an all-round just a solidly awesome hostel. The only real downside I can think of is that you’re in London!

St Christopher’s Inn Gare Du Nord – Best Hostel in Paris, France

A hop across the channel and you’ll find yourself in Europe’s next most quintessential travel destination – The City of Lights. Right by the metro and in a dope spot of its own, St Christopher’s is one of the best places to stay both in Europe and Paris.

The dorms are sweet. Though not quite a capsule, the beds are their own personal space with curtains, reading lamps, and charging ports right next to your head! You’ll also be nabbing a discount on food at Belushi’s downstairs plus that sweet, sweet happy hour

For all help on unpacking the Parisian wonderland, there’s a 24-hour reception, and they can get you set up with both attraction tickets for both backpacking around Paris and onward travel tickets for elsewhere in Europe. Not bad, all in all!

ClinkNOORD – Best Hostel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Oh, Amsterdam – you knew it’d be on here. Like, it’s Amsterdam. Expect it to be on this list more than once.

This isn’t the most hedonistic place for what can only be described as the ‘ essential Amsterdam experience ’, but it is certainly one of Europe’s nicest boutique hostels. Comfortable beds and chillout areas and the space itself is pretty spectacular in its own right!

It’s close to downtown yet enjoys the vibe of the much more chill but vibrant places to stay in Amsterdam -Noord neighbourhood and ClinkNOORD is also close to some cultural hotspots to admire too (yes, Amsterdam does have culture as well). Other than that, it’s got all the amenities you would expect from one of Europe’s absolute best hostels.

Grand Hostel Berlin Classic – Best Hostel in Berlin, Germany

This is one of Europe’s cheaper hostels and not too shabby at all for budget travelers in Berlin ! And there are no bunk beds… dude, I’m in love!

Honestly, the whole setup is really damn cool; the building is old – dating back to 1874 – which means some real classical architecture but, of course, the amenities have been updated for modern Euro-backpacker standards. And there are no bunk beds – single beds with a nightstand. Just like home.

The free breakfast buffet (there’s my beloved BB again) costs a bit extra but considering the price of the hostel, that’s admissible. Besides, there’s a library bar and this is Berlin so that means you can get piss-drunk on cheap-ass beer while you catch up on some of the classics. Legend has it that Einstein, Kant, Nietzsche, and Marx rather enjoyed their cheap-ass beer too!

Onefam Paralelo – Best Hostel in Barcelona, Spain

Now we’re heading south to Mediterranean Europe. It’s still Europe down this way but the weather is better! Also, the people smile a bit more (I probably wouldn’t smile much either if I was from the country that spawned old Frieddy ‘Abyss’ Nietzsche).

Backpacking in Barcelona is a weird one – some people adore it, some loathe it – but it’s still a classic hit on the Europe itinerary tracklist and Onefam Paralelo is hella dope! Free dinners (I’m frothing), a cinema room with Netflix (for while you eat your free dinner), and free party-pub crawls. As a general rule, the more free stuff you’re getting, the better choice of a place to stay in Europe on a budget it is.

The dorms are good too – those semi-private semi-capsule style beds – and the real thing to write home about is the crazy friendly staff bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. It’s nothin’ but good vibes.

Sunset Destination Hostel – Best Hostel in Lisbon, Portugal

Though perhaps not quite as frequented as Spain, Portugal is excellent. It’s not strictly cheap but it ain’t gonna murder your budget either and it certainly helps that the drugs and festivals are top-notch! There are some dope-ass beaches too!

Sunset Destination is a boutique hostel located inside a train station so which makes travelling around Lisbon mind-numbingly easy. It’s also super close to the party district and, again, Portugal brings the goods in that department (plus those delectable Mediterranean genetics – wink-wink ). Expect free Sangria pre-drinks before you lose yourself on the pub crawl.

Dorm beds are semi-private pods, there’s a whole host of other awesome hostel events, and, overall, I just have a real soft spot for Portugal. So, yup, this is a damn cool hostel in Europe!

The Yellow – Best Hostel in Rome, Italy

So this is advertised pretty firmly as a party hostel and it honestly makes the cut as one of Europe’s best. It’s also the coolest hostel in Rome; the other honourable mentions just didn’t hold up. There’s a lot on offer here.

To start, it is a party hostel so there’ll always be something vibing. The on-site bar and nightclub gets live music, DJ sets, and even goddamn burlesque shows! There are plenty of other low-key events too like gelato making and yoga but considering it’s a party hostel, I’m sure no one will mind if you’d like to pre-drink before the yoga to spice things up.

Breakfast is cheap, the dorms are simple yet effective, and the location is in the city center which makes travelling around Rome and the major things to see a breeze. Overall, with or without the partying, The Yellow is still a kickass place to stay in Rome!

The next batch of sexy European hostels is coming up and these ones come straight from word of mouth. I got in touch with many of my globetrotting, island-hopping, continent-crusading, most-adventurous travel-friends (that have backpacked in Europe), and these are the recommendations that came in.

You’re going to notice a slightly different theme with these hostel picks: a step away from all the cliché ‘top of the charts’ tourist draws in Europe. Generally, I’d say that’s because backpackers of the broke variety steer clear of these places.

It’s accepted that the most adventurous parts of Europe – and the cheapest – are over on the other side (dun-dun-dunnn) . The failure of the Soviet State did wonderful things for the alternative-backpacker trail in Europe!

Plus Budapest. The crazies love Budapest.

Freeborn Hostel – Best Hostel in Timisoara, Romania

Instead of writing this myself, I’m just going to condense my friend’s recommendation because she nails it:

The good part about being located in Romania is that it’s crazy cheap. Freeborn Hostel is super tiny and it’s run by Raul and his mother and it’s Raul’s baby. He’s there every day, he gives out free shots of homemade Pálinka and tells guests about the history of the country which no one really knows about because nobody gives a shit about Romania sadly.

Raul is such a good bloke with a heart of gold. The place is super cosy, maybe 12 beds, and you can sit around and play Mario Kart and chess. It’s a little bit of a hippy vibe, but not really, with more of a total family vibe from being with Raul and his mother.

These are the hostels I travel for. Freeborn is, without a doubt, one of the coolest hostels in Eastern Europe.

Swanky Mint Hostel – Best Hostel in Zagreb, Croatia

That name sounds like something I’d come up with. Ridiculousness aside, my friend pitched this as a perfect first-time experience of staying in hostels in Europe and I totally agree! Everything is swanky mint!

Jokes aside, the facilities and the building itself are super yummy! You get sun terraces, a swimming pool, window gardens for a splash of nature in the city: it’s actually super pretty!

The vibe is social and you’ll catch a bit of a party here but it ain’t nearly as bananas as somewhere like Budapest.

The added bonus is that you’re staying in a hostel in Eastern Europe. Backpacking in Croatia (and the Balkans as a whole) is gorgeous and a nice departure from the usual backpacker stops in Europe. You even get a welcome drink of Rakija . Hospitality shots are true classical European style.

Copenhagen Downtown Hostel – Best Hostel in Copenhagen, Denmark

As my mate said: it’s a really price for the city it’s in. Yep, so visiting Copenhagen isn’t exactly the great off-beat journey through the Eastern Bloc (not even close), but it’s still a step away from the standard in Europe.

The price of this hostel is good for such an extremely expensive city in Europe and the facilities are equally on-point. The bar runs all night, there’s a fairly priced, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (absolute heaven), and there are even iPads to borrow!

Downtown Hostel is centrally located in Copenhagen’s old city which means it’s a perfect spot for anything you want to do from the local goodies to the tourist jazz. On top of all that, the atmosphere (and the staff) is super chill. There’s probably a reason it won ‘Most Popular Hostel in Copenhagen’ five times over.

Flying Pig Beach Hostel – Best Hostel in Noordwijk, The Netherlands

The friend that recommended Flying Pig in Noordwijk only stays at awesome places and she’s never led me wrong yet. If she says that here is dope, then dope is what it is. Being within walking distance to the beach is a nice plus!

They run a regular shuttle to and from Amsterdam so the partying is still on and you’ll find yourself some more low-key party vibes in the hostel itself too. The bar keeps it cheap, the facilities are good, and overall, it’s a very nice alternative for someone hostelling in Europe that still wants to do some things in Amsterdam but doesn’t quite want to dive headfirst into the craziness.

Grandio Party Hostel – Best Hostel in Budapest, Hungary

The friend I got this from is from my hometown and the thing about folks from Byron Bay… they’re wild. If she says this is a place to get loose, then you’re gonna get fucking loose!  Welcome to the Budapest backpacking experience .

Grungy, covered in graffiti, and filled with people looking to drown their brain cells and mortal terror in copious amounts of booze, this is one of the most fun hostels in Europe that you’ll stay at. Let’s be real, there’s little point coming here unless you wanna get messy.

Budapest’s most famous bars and clubs are a walking distance away and they can even organise a cheaper shuttle from the airport for you. That way, you can free up brain space for the throwdown.

Despite the grunginess, Grandio is still a totally safe hostel by European standards: lockers, electronic keys, and people just looking for a good time. The staff is equally onboard with the shenanigans too!

The Ginger Monkey – Best Hostel in High Tatras, Slovakia

A nature hostel in the mountains: yum yum yum. The friend who recommended Ginger Monkey likes long walks in nature without shoes, and I know for a fact that she’s had some pretty top-tier adventures in the wilds of Slovakia!

You get a beautiful outlook of the mountains from a place that feels more like a house than a hostel. Everything is cosy and the cutiepie pooch, Wally, only makes things feel even homier!

Slovakia has got some mind-blowing nature and the best part of this hostel is how close you are to it. There’s a whole range of activities you can do from like hiking, climbing, cycling, and even skiing and snowboarding in the winter! One way or another, it’s mega pretty!

I’ve already got a whole roundup of the most insane party hostels in Europe so I’d highly recommend checking that out if that’s the vibe ye be seeking. I’ve also already mentioned a couple (if you’ve been paying attention) but I hand-selected a few more. There’s a lot of culture and history in Europe but… who cares!

There’s a lot of MDMA and techno too.

Carpe Noctem – Best Party Hostel in Budapest, Hungary

Yep, so it’s Budapest and it’s another friend’s recommendation but I’ll be straight: I received five accommodation recommendations for Budapest and they were all off-the-hook party hostels. This one my friend described as “Anarchy”. I’m seeing a recurring theme with Budapest.

As well as a lively hostel, I’d say this is one of the best hostels in Europe for solo travellers purely for the atmosphere Carpe Noctem creates. It’s not just the sociability or the parties or the tight facilities (this hostel isn’t nearly as grungy): the owners cater themselves to travellers. They understand what it’s like to be a long way from home by yourself in a foreign land and their goal is to create a place that feels like home.

The added bonus on top of all that good stuff? Sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, they know how to lay down. Get ready for the bananas, cause that shit’s coming in hot!

Flying Pig Downtown – Best Party Hostel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Yup, we’re heading back to the Netherlands again but, I mean, it’s Amsterdam, right? It’s fair to say there’s a lot of beauty to see in Amsterdam outside the hedonistic debauchery, but you’re here for the hedonistic debauchery.

Flying Pig Downtown (sister hostel to the previous Flying Pig) is right in the thick of it; it’s only 10 minutes from the Red Light District! (You do you, man.) They host DJ nights and parties and they’re open 24-hours so you can rock up in any state at any time and, presumably, you’ll make it back to your bed in one piece.

It’s one of the top hostels in Europe for partying and it deserves a mention because… well… Amsterdam. C’mon…

Greg & Tom’s Hostel – Best Party Hostel in Krakow, Poland

With free breakfast and dinner, why ever leave the hostel? Oh yeah… To par-tay down!

Although one of Europe’s finest lively hostels, things are safe and clean and especially warm to solo travellers. And the drinks are cheap too! Actually, the list of freebies is pretty damn exhaustive (breakfast, dinner, earplugs, coffee/tea, computer use, ticket printing…); they really take care of you.

This is good because you’re going to be nursing your addled brain a lot. This is a party hostel in Eastern Europe and Krakow is another place to stay  to forget about all those pesky problems you left waiting at home. Let the good times roll! Among other things…

Get Insured Before Hostelling in Europe

Mmm, yum, drugs, booze, sleepless nights, and unprotected sex with strangers: my favourite!

Is that what you’re saying, hmm? Didn’t yo’ momma teach ya better? Mine did which is why I got travel insurance for Europe! (…Eventually.)

All things said and done, you should always consider travel insurance before travelling and hostelling ANYWHERE.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

In my journey to unearth the best hostels in Europe right around the continent, I found some pretty unique offerings. Choices that are a little bit out of the way or attempting something a little different from the standard backpacker affair.

I like places like that. Places like that deserve a shoutout. Here are a few shoutouts.

Hostel Celica – A Prison in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Wait… a prison? Yep, I’ve never slept in a cave nor have I slept in a prison! (I have slept in the back of a paddywagon though.)

So, it’s a unique prison hotel in Ljubljana – Slovenia’s capital. But it’s not just any accommodation… it’s a funky one! Yeah, so I’m a bit concerned there may be some mild haunting occurring, but I also once slept in a graveyard so it’s probably chill.

Dark and foreboding locations aside, they’ve actually won a crapton of awards and they’ve done a really good job of jazzing up something so morbid. You still get all the hostel goodies – plus a special price on experiencing Ljubljana Castle – except you’re in a prison! And, if you’re not comfortable sleeping in a prison cell, they have standard dorms too, though I do highly question why you headed all the way out to Slovenia to NOT sleep in a prison cell.

Kadir’s Tree House – Best Hostel in Olympos, Turkey

Wait, Turkey? Yeah, well, I felt kinda bad about that off-colour Turkey crack before plus I figured if you levelled up to Eastern Europe and you wanted to go deeper, I would highly recommend travelling to Turkey (and onwards to the Caucasus region) next. Also, sometime in the next decade Turkey is probably gonna be Europe anyway so I’m just future-proofing this post!

Anyway, located in Olympos on the Southern Coast of Turkey, the nature here is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous and you’re right in it! Stay in a treehouse (yes please), or camp or they even have private rooms with ensuites. That said, if you take private ensuite accommodation when there’s a cheap treehouse available, you probably need to rethink your priorities.

So yeah, I’m stretching top cheap hostels in Europe now, but I wanna give Turkey some love too. They seem to get a bad rap in a lot of places in the world and I really don’t know why. The country is phenomenally gorgeous and the Turks are super endearing; bookmark this for when Western Europe gets boring.

Wiki Hostel & Green Village – An Alternative Hostel in Rome, Italy

I wanted to put this down as the city’s best hostel, but it’s a short distance outside all of Rome’s central tourist areas so I relented. It’s a super pretty hostel, however, as well as a great hostel in Europe for families.

It’s sustainable, plastic-free, and this hostel boasts its own farm and cute critter-life. Located in the Roman Hills, there’s a wealth of gorgeous nature around and you can organise to get involved in hiking or just help out on the farm.

The freebies are a nice touch too: free rides to the train station, free breakfast, free sauna (boom)… there’s even a slackline! All these goodies combined with the nature yumminess and the distance from the city center of an admittedly hectic city means it’s a unique hostel in Europe not just for families but also couples seeking a getaway (on a budget).

Caveland – A Uniquely Setup Hostel in Santorini, Greece

I felt like Greece’s backpacking scene was being underrepresented and is oft forgotten by the Europe travellers, so I wanted to show them some love. I haven’t been to Greece, sadly; I did, however, fly through Athens and even the view from the airport terminal was stunning!

So what’s unique about this European hostel? It’s just, like, an escape… plus it’s in a cave!

Located outside the capital of Santorini Island, the whole place has a quiet-retreat vibe going on. They still have all the hostel goodies (free breakfast, events, a swimming pool) but you have the added bonus of being tucked away in a Grecian village with the locals.

Oh yeah, and the cave thing? There are eight traditional cave dwellings inside the historic complex. I have slept in a lot of weird places but I am yet to sleep in a cave!

• Best Hostels in London
• Best Hostels in Paris
• Best Hostels in Amsterdam
• Best Hostels in Berlin
• Best Hostels in Barcelona
• Best Hostels in Lisbon
• Best Hostels in Rome
• Best Hostels in Zagreb
• Best Hostels in Copenhagen
• Best Hostels in Krakow
• Best Hostels in Budapest
• Best Hostels in Ljubljana
• Best Hostels in UK
• Best Hostels in France
• Best Hostels in Germany
• Best Hostels in Spain
• Best Hostels in Portugal
• Best Hostels in Italy

What coverage! If you weren’t feeling the vibe of staying in hostels in Europe before, I bet you are now.

If all you’re seeking is the typical European backpacking hostel experience, that’s easy… Super easy. And you’ll have an awesome time too! Just because a lot of the classical capitals are tourist traps doesn’t mean they aren’t also filled with culture, history, and secrets to unearth from beneath the grime.

But, as I hope I’ve made clear, Europe is big and filled with countries I often even forget are countries. Just check out Eurovision! You wanna talk about bananas, there’re your goddamn bananas!

So go out there and get exploring: it’s a big continent. From the trance of Berlin to the trees of the Balkans, there is a lot to see. And since you’ll be exploring some of Europe’s finest hostel offerings, you’re going to meet a lot of fantastic humans too!

I’d even be so bold as to say that you’re probably going to make some friends. Just gotta head on down to ye olde inn – the backpacker hostel.

Bring a towel.

• Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Europe for a wealth of info!
• Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Europe to avoid any issues. 
• Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list .

Ziggy Samuels

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great article, well informed for a newbie, just venturing to Europe from the us…

what is the average size of the lockers? will it fit a full-size suitcase or a 65l back pack?

For the most part, yes. Lockers can generally accommodate your whole backpack.

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Staying In A Hostel: All The Tips You Need

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Feb 24, 2023 | Budget Travel , Travel Tips

Planning your first backpacking trip? Thinking of staying in hostels? If you have questions about hostel life, you’re in the right place.

I had these questions too when I first started traveling. This hostel guide should give you enough tips to help you enjoy your stay in hostels . 

I’ll answer all the common questions about hostels and I will try to demystify some of the myths associated with backpacking.

Keep reading this guide to hostel life to prepare for your next big adventure.

Staying In A Hostel For The First Time

In this section, I’ll show you what it’s like to be staying in a hostel for the first time. It should give you tips for staying in a hostel alone too.

PSST. Have you ever thought of volunteering in a hostel? You can exchange your time for free accommodation in hostels .

What’s A Hostel?

Hostels (also known as youth hostels) are a form of accommodation that usually has cheap rates and comes with social vibes.

You can think of it as a shared dorm including bunk beds (in most cases).

Nowadays, hostels have become super popular especially for budget travelers. You can find hostels that provide a common kitchen, private rooms, female dorms, pods, etc.

With a new era of “flashpackers”, hostels became more beautiful, modern, and comfortable over the years. You can even find what they call “boutique hostels”.

What’s The Difference Between A Hostel And A Hotel?

Hotels usually offer private rooms only. It’s a form of accommodation where socializing isn’t part of the features offered.

Hostels offer dorms and private rooms. Travelers pick hostels over hotels when they travel solo or with friends. It’s a great way to meet fellow travelers.

Are Hostels Clean?

Are hotels always clean? Ha! I got you there. Like any other form of accommodation, hostels can be super clean… or dirty. You should always read the reviews before making a booking. 

Hostels can have the reputation to be dirty – and this is mostly related to the fact that some of the bathrooms are shared. The cleanliness level depends on the hostel standards and on the number of guests.

Most of the time, the hostels are “dirty” because the backpackers don’t clean after themselves.

Here’s an example: if you use the common kitchen and don’t wash your dishes, the staff will do it – but it can take some time. So, you should be a “good guest” and clean after yourself.

Are Hostels Safe?

Overall – yes. Hostels are safe, but if you’re sharing a dorm, you might want to be cautious with your valuables.

That said, having a padlock to lock your stuff away is a great way to avoid any troubles. Sadly, your stuff could get stolen if you leave it out there.

As a woman, when the option is there – I always pick the female dorm. I prefer it as it’s quieter and I feel more comfortable.

Are Hostels Only For Young People?

What’s your definition of “young”? Hostels used to be limited to young people – some hostels used to have an age limit and sometimes, it is still the case. Overall, most hostels don’t have an age limit.

In my experience, if you stay in the cheapest hostel in town, you will find the younger backpackers.

If you pay a few dollars more, you will find a mix of young and older backpackers.  Usually, if you pay more, you will find backpackers with a bigger budget and often, they can be a bit older. 

I’ve been choosing “fancy hostels” for the past few years because when I travel solo now, I prefer to hang out with people around my age. Also, my budget is higher now.

Tips For Staying In Hostels

Ideally, if you’re about to stay in a hostel for the very first time, you should try and have a positive experience.

In the next section, you will find my top tips to pick a good hostel. I became pickier over the years and it is very rare that I don’t enjoy my stays in hostels.

Before we jump to the selection process – let’s sum up the things to keep in mind to have a positive stay.

• Lock your stuff away – You should always book a room that comes with lockers and you should have a padlock with you. You should always lock your stuff when you’re in the shower, or not in the room. You should not leave your phone charging if you’re not around.
• Bring the survival hostel kit – If you’re going to stay in a shared dorm, you should bring an eye mask and earplugs . It can be quite noisy sometimes.
• Read the reviews – I will not tell you enough – reading the views is super important when it comes to picking the right hostel.

Guide To Choosing The Right Hostel

Before jumping to the selection process, let’s take a few minutes to think of what is important to you. Answering these questions will help you select key features.

• Do you prefer to cook your own food? 

PSSST. Want to get FREE accommodation in exchange for work?

If the answer is yes, pick a hostel that provides a fully equipped kitchen. Take a look at our list of backpacking meal ideas for inspiration.

• Do you want to share a dorm?

If the answer is yes, you can pick a mixed dorm or a female-only dorm. If the answer is no, you can select the option to get a private room only.

• Do you want a locker?

If the answer is yes, make sure it’s listed or look at the photos to see the lockers.

• Do you want privacy?

If the answer is yes, try to pick a pod or a bed with curtains for privacy.

• Do you want a pool?

If the answer is yes, pick a place with a pool.

• Are you checking in after midnight?

If the answer is yes, pick a place with a 24h reception.

There are two main booking platforms when it comes to booking hostels. (There are more, but these are the two I personally use.) 

• Booking.com
• Hostelworld

Personally, I prefer Booking.com since I think they have more options. You can filter them easily and the reviews represent a wide range of people.

It feels more accurate with my own standards. On Hostelworld , you find mostly reviews from backpackers and I do not always agree with the reviews in there.

Experience showed me I relate more with the reviews found on Booking.com .

Real-Life Example

Let’s do an example to show you how to pick the perfect hostel. The destination chosen for this example is Chiang Mai in Thailand – which is backpacker heaven. 

I will come up with three main results – the best hostel in Chiang Mai, the hostel at the cheapest price, and the best private room in a hostel.

Here are the steps to follow using Booking.com :

Step 1 : Enter your destination and dates. Click on “Search”.

Step 2 : Decide if you’re looking for a private room or a dorm. If you’re looking into a private room, you can click “show private rooms only”. (Note that this option isn’t always available on mobile.)

Step 3 : If you click on the three dots button, you can select the top reviews to find the best-rated hotel/hostels.

Step 4 : Scroll until you see an option for a dorm. In this example, the number 4 listed is Baan Heart Thai with a review of 9.6 (492 reviews).

Step 5 : Select the interesting hostels and open them in new tabs. If you use Windows, you can press control and click on the hostel name and it should appear in a new tab.

Step 6 : Look at the photos. Check the rooms, but also the common areas. Lots of common area means it can be good for socializing.

Step 7 : Visit every new tabs open one by one and click on the guest reviews section. You will find all the information regarding cleanliness, wifi reliability and atmosphere.

Alternative for the cheapest hostel

Replace step 2 and filter the result with Price (lowest first). Then, you can scroll down and pick a review score that is good enough for the price. I try to go above 8 when possible, but again, reading the reviews should help you make the final decision.

In this example, the cheapest hostel is Jay Guesthouse and Restaurant with a review score of 6.8 (673 reviews).

Alternative for the private room in a hostel

During step 2, select the option to show private rooms only. Sometimes, the listings won’t be private, you might have to look at the description closer.

To find a private room in a hostel, you can look at the options for rooms – you should see dorms and private rooms.

I found The Entaneer Poshtel which offers both dorms and beautiful private rooms.

Benefits of Staying in Hostels

Over the years, I stayed in many hostels. I even worked in a few hostels and you can read about my experience working in hostels .

For solo travelers, it’s an excellent way to meet people . If you’re staying in a hotel, it’s going to be very hard to meet other people. Hostels are ideal for socializing.

I’ve met many good friends in hostels and it is really fun to do fun activities with other travelers sometimes. Solo travel doesn’t have to feel lonely.

Staying in hostels is usually cheaper than staying in a hotel. It’s a great way to save money so you can travel further and longer.

If you’re planning on cooking or doing some washing, many hostels offer laundry services or kitchen which means that you can save money and time by going to a hostel.

Some hostels offer a very cozy atmosphere that makes you feel at home. Feeling at home overseas is a wonderful feeling. It’s like having a family abroad.

Final Thoughts On Staying In A Hostel

Staying in hostels can be good – but you may need to adapt a little if it’s your first time. We hope this guide helps you find great hostels abroad and that you finally figured out how to hostel!

Enjoy your hostel stay and stay open-minded!

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Best Hostels in Europe for Solo Travellers

Picking the ‘right’ hostel is never an easy task, especially when there are so many to choose from. I’m currently backpacking my way through Europe ticking off one hostel at a time. I wanted to create this guide to help you find the perfect hostel for your trip.

This post will be updated regularly with each hostel I stayed in throughout my trip, from the good, the bad and the ugly. All hostels are rated out of 10 with a quick summary of why I did or didn’t like them. For me, the most important aspect of a hostel is safety, cleanliness, a social environment and a good kitchen. I will also comment on the hostel’s location, facilities and staff. Ok, Let’s begin with some of the best hostels in Europe for Solo Travellers.

Hostels in Croatia

When it comes to hostels Croatia really knows what they are doing. If I am being honest, I have never had a bad experience. All the hostels I have stayed in have been fun, welcoming and enjoyable.

Hostels in Dubrovnik: Hostel Angelina

Hostel Angelina is one of my favourite hostel stays to date. The staff are fantastic and really work hard to create a fun and social environment for everyone. They run evening activities each night making it super easy to make new friends. The dorms are comfortable, the kitchen is well equipped, the Wifi is decent (for a hostel), and it’s clean & quiet at night. The hostel is located in the heart of the old town, making it easy to reach most of Dubrovnik’s top attractions. I’d highly recommend Hostel Angelina to anyone who is looking for a place to stay in Dubrovnik. Click here to book Hostel Angelina .

Hostels on Hvar Island: Youth Hostel Villa Marija

I really enjoyed my stay in Hostel Villa Marija, the staff were super helpful, always smiling and made my trip to Hvar extra special. They even greeted us with some ice cream on arrival. Which was a nice and very much-needed surprise. Everything you need is onsite, a well-equipped kitchen, a fast food restaurant underneath, a large social area (which even has a mini pool), and clean and spacious rooms. I liked that each bed had a curtain for extra privacy. I found it super easy to make friends at hostel Marija, especially out on the terrace. The only downside to the hostel was its location, it was located about a 20-minute walk from Hvar Old Town and the majority of the walk was uphill. Therefore, once I went out for the day I didn’t tend to return to the hostel until I was ready to sleep. However, I do believe most hostels in Hvar are located a fair walk away from the old town. All in all, I’d highly recommend a stay here. Click here to book Hostel Villa Marija .

Hostels in Split: Enroute Hostel Split

A trip to Split is a must on anyones Interrail itinerary , and EnRoute is a lovely hostel to stay in, it is clean, big and has a fantastic kitchen. The dorm capacity runs a little bit on the larger side with 12+ beds in some rooms however, they are well spaced out and each person has their own privacy curtain. To be honest, the large number of beds didn’t really affect me. The social area is a nice place to chill and make friends. On my first night there, not many people were chatting however, that is the luck of the draw when staying in hostels. On my final night, there must have been about 20 of us chatting to the early hours. It was a really nice environment. The hostel is around a 15-minute walk from Split Old Town and is right beside a big supermarket. I would 100% recommend staying here to anyone who is looking for a hostel in Split. Click here to book your stay in Enroute Hostel Split .

Hostels in Zadar: Downtown Boutique Hostel

Downtown Boutique hostel is located in the heart of Zadar Old Town making it easy to get around and see the top attractions. One of my favourite things about the hostel is its rather active Whatsapp group. It made it super easy to make friends even if you didn’t cross their paths earlier that day in the hostel. The rooms are really clean and live up to the ’boutique’ interior. There are privacy curtains on each bed, which is always a nice bonus in a hostel. Unfortunely, the hostel does not have a ‘real’ kitchen, just a microwave and a fridge. Food is rather affordable in Zadar but I always like to have the option to make my own dinners. I really enjoyed my stay and would recommend the Downtown Boutique Hostel to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Zadar. Book your stay here .

Hostels in Plitvice: Falling Lakes Hostel

I have visited Plitvice, both on a day trip and by staying nearby, and personally, the experience is much better when you have accommodation near the park. Especially, when it is a hostel like Falling Lakes. I made so many wonderful friends while staying in this hostel. And all of us explored the National Park together and went white water Kayaking the following day (organised by the hostel). Falling Lakes organise evening activities each night like sunset hikes. The hostel itself is quite basic in terms of dorm rooms, however, you have everything you need, a big kitchen, clean bathrooms and a large social area. The hostel is in a house located in a small town called Korenica, the building gives off a ‘homely’ feel. Almost like being in a home away, from home. The hostel also organises a paid shuttle service to Plitvice each day. You can book your stay with Falling Lakes Here .

Hostels in Zagreb: Swanky Mint Hostel

Swanky Mint Hostel is the perfect spot for those who want to experience Zagreb both, by day and by night. It is very much a party hostel. It is easy to meet people in the Kitchen or by the rooftop pool (yes, they have a pool). The dorms tend to be a little cramped so I would only stay for a day or two, however, all the other hostel facilities are great. The hostel was clean, however, the bathrooms could do with an extra going over. There are lockers in the room, and a bar and restaurant onsite. I would recommend Swanky Hostel to those who are looking to party while visiting Zagreb. Book your stay here .

Hostels in Italy

I’m not going to lie, there are a few hostels in Italy that I LOVED and some that I probably wouldn’t stay in again. I spent over a month travelling around Italy, exploring beautiful spots like Lake Como, the the busy streets of Rome . But, I just want to put out a little disclaimer, just because I wasn’t too fond of the hostel does not mean it is not the right fit for you. I will write in detail what I did and didn’t like to make the choice easier for you.

Hostels in Trieste: Hotello Hostel

When visiting Trieste I stayed in Hotello Hostel and if I was stuck for accommodation in Trieste I would probably stay there again but only for one night. And even at that, I would sooner find an alternative option. I was in a 6 bed mixed dorm, and as a solo female traveller, I expect the doors in the bathroom to lock. Unfortunely, the door handle was broken which meant anytime I used the toilet or had a shower I was terrified of someone walking in. The crate under my bed (used as a locker) was also extremely difficult to open and close. I spent maybe 2/3 mins trying to open it each time. There is no common area or kitchen onsite so I found it quite difficult to meet other travellers. There was a bar on the ground floor but it was hard to tell who was from the hostel as they let people from the general public in. The hostel was in a good location and not too far from the train station which made it ideal for exploring Trieste. Book your stay here .

Hostels in Venice: Anda Venice  

This hostel is definitely a cool place to stay for those looking to spend a few days exploring Venice, it is located in Mestre just s short train ride to Venice city. It is a multi-story complex, almost like a big hotel with dorm rooms. They have ‘party’ nights most days of the week with live music, DJs and more. It’s pretty easy to meet people in the bar/social area. The staff are fantastic and the beds are comfy with a good size locker storage. The only downside to the hostel is the kitchen, the facilities are not the best for those wanting to cook a meal and the fridge situation is not ideal. No one has to label their food with a checkout date so there is A TONE of food squished into the fridge. Finding space was a massive challenge. I also wanted to note that the hostel is not located in the safest area. It is ok to walk around during the day but I would not venture out by myself at night. All in all I would highly recommend booking for those visiting Venice. Click here to book your stay in Anda Hostel Venice .

Hostels in Lake Como: Ostello Bello

If you are planning a trip to Como you NEED to stay in Ostello Bello, it can be pricey but… the facilities make up for it. They have a massive kitchen with everything you need, including FREE food. Yes, it’s free. You could use the food in the kitchen to prepare meals each night of your stay to keep the cost down. The dorm rooms are nice and clean, the bunks are 3 beds which I was a little weiry about before my stay ,but honestly I didn’t even notice the difference between them and a normal bunk. The hostel stay are so lovely and go out of their way to help. They run events in the hostel each night and even have a family-style dinner which is free of charge. This is a fun way to meet others in the hostel. I’d highly recommend Ostello Bello to anyone visiting Como – Book Your Stay Here .

Hostels in Cinque Terre (La Spezia): Grand Hostel Manin

I stayed in Grand Hostel Manin when exploring Cinque Terre National Park, the hostel is located in the city of La Spezia rather than one of the 5 towns, however, staying here makes a trip to the park far more budget-friendly. The trains from La Spezia run every few minutes and it only takes 8 minutes to get to the closest town, Riomaggiore. The hostel has everything you need from a good-sized kitchen (with free breakfast), a large social area, a WhatsApp group to stay in contact with others and super friendly staff. We also had a family dinner one night, it cost an additional €5 but it was completely worth it. I met so many lovely people. Book your stay in Grand Hostel Manin Here.

Hostels in Pisa: Hostel Pisa Tower

I stayed one night in Pisa, I had planned to use it as a resting spot, however, Hostel Pisa Tower was rediculasly hot during the day making it impossible to chill in the room. They only turned the AC on at night which meant I was sweating for the majority of my stay. Even getting out of the shower. One of my dorm mates asked for the AC to be powered on and they said due to the spike in prices that they could not. I understand that everything is more expensive at the moment but if I am being honest they could easily charge each guest a little more in order to keep the hostel at a comfortable temperature. The hostel itself was not overly clean, there was a dirty sock under my bed when I arrived and the lockers were all broken. Thankfully the people I was sharing my dorm with seemed nice but I was a little anxious leaving my valuables in a half-locked locker. The doors in the room were very squeaky which meant it was impossible to get a good night’s sleep. The staff were friendly and welcoming but if I am being honest I would not recommend a stay here.

Hostels in Florence: YellowSquare Florence

I stayed in the YellowSquare in Florence in June 2022, at the time it was brand new and only open a few weeks. Still, everything ran super smoothly, the staff were nice and welcoming, the facilities were perfect and it had a large kitchen downstairs for those who want to cook their own meals. The Yellowsquare has everything you need for a social stay, an onsite restaurant (very affordable), a bar with daily events and even a rooftop swimming pool. I really loved my stay here, the rooms are comfortable, clean and safe. Location-wise, the hostel is located slightly outside the main city centre (about a 20-minute walk) but I honestly quite enjoyed the walk in and out. There is an option to get public transport but it is not really needed. I would 100% stay here again. Book your stay in the Yellowsquare Florence .

Hostels in Rome: Yellowsquare Rome

The Yellow Square is a hostel chain in Italy, in fact, they are known for being one of the best party hostels in Europe. After my stay in Florence, I knew I would enjoy the Yellow Square in Rome just as much. Once again the hostel has everything you need, a large kitchen, a nice social area and comfortable dorms. The hostel is located in a nice area in Rome about a 20-minute walk from the cities major attractions such as the Trevi Fountain and some lesser known spots too. There is a bar and restaurant onsite with drink promotions/discounts for hostel guests (this is the perfect place to meet fellow travellers). The hostel also runs daily events making it easy to meet others. I met so many wonderful people while staying here, I felt perfectly safe and liked that I did not have to get an uber or public transport to explore most of the city. I’ll definitely be back. Book your stay in the Yellow Square Rome here .

I went from Rome to Vienna and made use of the convenient night train service . Which is essentially a hostel on wheels so if you would like to know more about this I do have a dedicated post on my experience.

Hostels in Austria

Austria is a country I am so glad I added to my Europe Itinerary , with beautiful mountains, historic cities and incredible scenery. I spent 3 weeks exploring this beautiful alpine country while on my 4-month backpacking trip through Europe. Thankfully, I had a good experience in most of the hostels <3

Hostels in Vienna: Do Step Inn Central

This is the first time I stayed in a Self Check-in hostel and if I am being honest it really wasn’t for me. I missed the human interaction with the staff and knowing that if anything was to go wrong I would be able to seek help. There wasn’t a very ‘social’ aspect to the hostel and I found it hard to make friends outside the dorm room. The bed/locker situation was awful. There were no lockers or space to leave your belongings so you had to place them at the end of your pod-style bed. Leaving very little room to lie down. There are also no lockers in the room but it is possible to lock your bed. The check-in is very confusing and most guests relied on others staying there to help as there were no staff around. The hostel itself was very clean and it had a nice big, well-equipped kitchen. It was located a short walk from the city centre and right beside the train station. Therefore, it may be the perfect place to stay for those looking for a short visit to Vienna and a not-so-social environment but for me, it just was not my cup of tea. Book your stay here .

HOSTELS IN SALZBURG: YOHO YOUTH HOSTEL

Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at YoHo Youth Hostel, it is close to both the city centre and the train station. The rooms are cleaned well and the beds are super comfortable. It is the perfect location for those looking to explore Salzburg or take day trips to Berchtesgaden National Park (The park is so beautiful, I highly recommend a visit). The hostel plays the Sound of Music Movie each night at 8 pm, which is a lot of fun. They also have a bar onsite, although I never really saw people socialising in it. The easiest way to make friends is to stick around till the end of the Sound of Music. Generally, people start chatting and making plans to hang out. The hostel’s only downfall is a lack of a kitchen. They do have a microwave and fridge but no cookery, you can ask to borrow some from the bar/breakfast area but if there is a line at reception you can be waiting anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. It’s also important to note that while they advertise as a Youth Hostel they didn’t seem to follow the typical youth hostel age restrictions. I was staying for a week and on two occasions was in a room with a family of all older adults which isn’t ideal for solo travellers but not a deal breaker. Book your stay in YoHo Youth Hostel here .

HOSTELS IN HALLSTATT: HOSTEL BAD GOISERN

If you are looking to visit Austria’s fairytale town of Hallstatt then the Bad Goisern hostel is the perfect place for you. Located just a 10-15 minute train ride from Hallstatt station is a beautiful rural town surrounded by mountains. It is extremely expensive to stay in Hallstatt, therefore, staying outside the town is the best budget-friendly option. I really enjoyed my stay here, the owner is nice and explains all there is to do in the area with detailed maps. There is a fully equipped kitchen, which is rather social and an easy place to meet other travellers. The rooms are clean and tidy and each guest is provided with a towel which is always a nice bonus when booking a hostel. I really enjoyed my stay here, I will 100% come back on my next visit to Hallstatt. Book your stay now .

HOSTELS IN INNSBRUCK: MEININGER HOTEL INNSBRUCK

The Meininger Hostel has more of a hotel feel with all the ‘hostel amenities’ for example a well equipped kitchen, a ‘social’ area and dorm-style bedrooms. I put the word social in inverted commas because although there is a large area to sit and chat, it isn’t an overly social hostel due to the clientele. The hostel attracts a range of guests from Backpackers, Families and couples. Therefore, I personally found it difficult to make friends outside the dormatories. However, with that being said my overall experience in the hostel was positive. I really enjoyed my stay, the rooms where clean, the staff where polite and the location was perfect. The only downside to the rooms is the two twin beds beside each other. I was originally placed beside a stranger in basically a double bed. Luckily, I was the first to arrive in my room and requested to change. Overall, I would recommend this hostel to anyone who is looking for a place to stay in Innsbruck. Book your stay her e .

HOSTELS IN MAYRHOFEN: GASTHOF ZILLERTAL

The Gasthof Zillertal is the ideal hostel for anyone looking to do a little bit of hiking in the Zillertal/Tyrol area of the Austrian Alps. My stay in the hostel was short as I decided to go on a last-minute trip in search of Austria’s famous rope bridge. Luckily, I found it <3 The hostel itself is basic but does the trick for those wanting to enjoy nature in the area. It has a basic kitchen with a hob, fridge and utensils. The rooms are nice and spacious and there is a bar onsite. It is a little bit of a walk from the nearest supermarket, however, the scenery along the way makes it enjoyable. There isn’t a social area beside the bar so it can be hard to meet people. Although I found that most people staying in these hostels were there to do their own thing. It was still nice to have fellow travellers to chat to in the evening time. If you are looking for a place to stay in Mayrhofen I would recommend booking this hostel .

Hostels in Poland

Poland is one of my favourite countries in Europe, the people are super friendly, the architecture is beautiful and the nature is breathtaking. On my backpacking trip through Europe I was lucky to stay in both Krakow & the Zakopane Region.

HOSTELS IN KRAKOW: DOWNTOWN DIZZY DAISY HOSTEL

I stayed in the Dizzy Daisy Hostel on two occasions, for one week in a private room and four days in a 10 bed dorm. Ironically, the dormatories where much nicer than the private rooms. They had a more modern decor and were a lot cleaner. The private room did what I needed too (a place to rest) however, if I was to book this hostel again I would just stay in a dorm. The Hostel was located a 9 minute walk from both the old town and the train station. It had a well equipped kitchen too. I met some lovely people in my room, however, the hostel did not have a very social ‘vibe’ to it. With all that being said, it is not my favourite hostel I have ever stayed in, but if I was visiting Krakow again I would stay in Dizzy Daisy. Book your stay here .

HOSTELS IN ZAKOPANE: GOODBYE LENIN HOSTEL ZAKOPANE

Words can not describe how much I enjoyed my stay in Goodbye Lenin Hostel, it gives off cute cabin in the woods vibes. Everyone sits in the sitting room at night together, playing guitar, games and just chatting. It is a really lovely place to stay for those looking to meet some new people. I end up spending 2 full days with those I met in the hostel and have even met up since. Honestly, they are friends for life. The staff are also super attentive, most of them are volunteers so rotate quite often but I had a really good experience. The hostel has a small but well-eqqupted kitchen, a grocery store a short walk away and a nice outdoor space. The dorms are clean and the beds are quite comfortable. It is important to note that the hostel is not located in Zakopane itself, it is, however, a short bus journey away. The buses are rather frequent and easy to navigate. The hostel’s only downfall is the lack of backrooms/showers, there were only 2 to accommodate all the guests and staff which meant you were always left waiting. Book your stay in Goodbye Lenin Hostel Now .

Hostels in the Czech Republic

While I have been lucky to visit the Czech Republic a number of times I have only stayed in hostels in Prague while on my 4-month backpacking trip through Europe. HOSTELS IN PRAGUE: CZECH INN

I highly recommend a stay in the Czech Inn for those looking to explore the capital city, Prague. This is a party hostel so it can be noisy at night however, the rooms are super clean, comfortable and spacious. I found it quite easy to meet other travellers in the downstairs bar (which takes only cash FYI). The hostel is huge and reminded me a bit more of a hotel with dormitories than a hostel vibe. There is a small coffee shop on site too which is nice for those wanting to have a quick drink of coffee or pastry. I believe there is a good-sized kitchen but I must admit I ate out each night I was in Prague. The hostel’s only downfall is the bathrooms/showers could do with some major renovation and it is a little far away from the main city. However, Prague’s public transport is quite efficient and a tram stops right outside the hostel. Book your stay in the Czech Inn Here .

Hostels in Slovakia

I have only been to the capital of Slovakia which is Bratislava. Down below is a review of the hostel I stayed in.

HOSTELS IN BRATISLAVA: THE URBAN ELEPHANT

While visiting Bratislava I stayed in the Urban Elephant hostel. It was honestly such a lovely place to stay, close to all the tourist attractions, clean, and good amenities like a nice-sized kitchen and bathrooms. I found it extremely easy to make friends and would highly recommend staying here. I must admit the hostel is a ‘party hostel’ with organised activities each night. If you decide to not take part the hostel quites down around 9/10pm and it is possible to get a decent night’s sleep. I was originally supposed to stay in the sister hostel the ‘ Wild Elephant ‘ however when you arrive they get you to sign a disclaimer as things can get well…wild. This hostel also has fantastic reviews so if you are visiting Bratislava to part hard this may be a good alternative. For me, I use the evening activities to meet fellow travellers, however, I am not a bigger drinker so I asked to be moved to the ‘more quiet’ hostel. The staff were lovely and ensured we all felt comfortable and right at home. Book your stay here .

Hostels in Hungary

I have visited Hungary’s capital city Budapest on many occasions, staying in Hostels for two of these trips. One of which I recommend while the other was probably one of my worst hostel experiences of my trip. However, that did not affect my love for Budapest , it is the perfect stop for those travelling Europe on a Budget , thanks to the cities affordability from the incredible attractions, such as the cave tours beneath or the party boats on the Danube .

HOSTELS IN BUDAPEST: WOMBATS HOSTEL BUDAPEST

On my first trip to Budapest , I stayed in the Wombats hostel and honestly, I couldn’t fault it. The hostel is centrally located for those looking to stay in the Pest region of the city, in the heart of all the nightlife. It has a shared kitchen, bar and large social area on site and it is super easy to make friends. The hostel is clean, well looked after and the beds are comfortable too. If I plan a trip to Budapest again I wouldn’t hesitate a stay in Wombats. Book your trip here.

HOSTELS IN BUDAPEST: FLOW SPACES

I do NOT recommend staying here. While the hostel amenities are perfect, everything you need. The experience I had while staying in Flow Spaces was the worst in all of my 4-month backpacking trip. One morning I received a call from the front desk to explain that bed bugs had been found in my room and that the room would need to be fumigated. I was asked to stay out of my room until this happen and 2 hours after the exterminator had left. I understand that these things happen and that it was out of the hostel’s control but the way the staff dealt with the situation was awful. At 5 pm, I went back up to the reception as the exterminator still had not arrived, I asked if they had an estimated time and I was told they could not get through to him. I said ok and waited until 10pm. I then asked to be moved to another room in which I was told there were none. However, I had already looked online to find a 4 bed dorm, I requested to move to that room and they responded with ‘but you paid for a 6-bed dorm, this is a 4-bed with an ensuite’. I was then told ‘that I could just stay in my previous dorm that was waiting to be sprayed because it was only ‘one’ bug the previous guest had seen and they are almost certain it was not a bed bug and the room was being sprayed as a precaution. I was not willing to stay in a room that was waiting to be treated for bed bugs, all the beds had no sheets on them, the curtains had been taken down and the exterminator could come in at any time. They eventually agreed to allow me to stay in the 4-bed dorm if I returned to my room once it was sprayed. They then didn’t clean my room until 5pm the next day even though the room was sprayed at 11 pm the night previous. So, basically, I was more than 24 hours without a room even though I had paid for one. Sorry for the rant but I highly recommend looking elsewhere if you are visiting Budapest.

Hostels in Slovenia

One my trip I was looking to spend some time in both Ljubanna and Lake Bled. If you get a chance to backpack Europe I highly recommend adding Slovenia to the list. It is honestly such an amazing country and so BEAUTIFUL 😍 HOSTELS IN LJUBANNA: HOSTEL VRBA

I really enjoyed my stay in Hostel Vrba, I met some of the most amazing people there, some of which I continued to travel with once I had reached bled. The hostel has a well equipped kitchen (I had a look but ended up eating out), clean bathrooms and nicely sized dorms. The beds are comfortable and there are lockers inside the rooms with a provided lock which is always nice. Alex the host is super friendly, she even waited for me as my train was majorly delayed and I arrived 1 hour after the last check in time. The hostel itself is located a little outside the main city, but Ljubanna is quite small and walkable so it didn’t make much of a difference. There is shops and a bakery nearby for some cheap eats. Overall, I would highly recommend a stay in Hostel Vrba when visiting Ljubanna.

HOSTELS IN LAKE BLED: CASTLE HOSTEL

My hostel experience in Bled was by far one of the strangest of my trip so far, the Castle Hostel is listed under 3 different names on both hostelworld and booking.com. And it is a wonder to me that all 3 hostels managed to score above 7+ in ratings. The other names the hostel goes under are ‘The Best Hostel’ and ‘Ace of Spades’. Another aspect that was really strange was that the photos used under the Castle Hostel listings is from the ‘Bled Hostel’ which is next door but a completely different company. My room was covered in flies, as well as the kitchen. I was staying for a week and was woke up each morning at 5am to the sound of fly’s buzzing around my head. We said it to the owner, he basically told us it was due to the farm next door but was reluctant to do anything to sort the problem. We asked to move room but he dismissed that idea. The volunteer staff were lovely you could tell that they too were bothered by the situation but reluctant to say anything. The location and social environment in the hostel was good which lead to me having a great time while in bled. However, I would never stay here again and would not recommend it to others.

HOSTELS IN GERMANY

On my 4-month backpacking trip I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful German city, Munich. I fell in love with the cities charm, delicious food stunning buildings. and Below is a review of the hostel I stayed in while exploring the area.

Hostels in Munich: Wombats Werksviertel

I stayed in the Wombats Werksviertel hostel while visiting Munich. This hostel is newly renovated and has a really modern interior. The dorms are extremely spacious with curtains on the beds for extra privacy. There are two ensuites in the room which was a massive convenience. I never had to wait to have a shower, brush my teeth or go to the toilet. Each guest also had their own combination lockers and a personal fan at the end of the bed which was an added bonus. Downstairs there is a café, bar and a well-eqquped kitchen. It is easy to make friends in this hostel and there is loads of space to sit down and relax after a long day exploring the city. Location-wise, the hostel is a little out of the centre of Munich yet, still within walking distance if you prefer not to use public transportation. It is located in the Werksviertel area of the city. A trendy location with lots of cool bars, cafés and lunch spots. Overall, I would highly recommend you book a stay at the Wombats Werksviertel Hostel .

HOSTELS IN SWITZERLAND

Originally, I did not plan on visiting Switzerland as it was working out too expensive. However, I week before I was due to go to France I realised I would have to spend a day and a half travelling from Munich to Germany. That is when I decided to make a pit stop in Interlaken, Switzerland. And to this day I am super glad I did because I fell in LOVE!

Hostels in Interlaken: Balmers Hostel

The Balmers hostel in Interlaken was by far my favourite hostels of my 4 month trip around Europe. It’s a lovely building that gives a ‘cabin in the woods’ kinda feel on the inside. Even though it can accommodate a couple of hundred people. The hostel has everything you need from a well-equipped kitchen, nice-sized dorms and plenty of bathroom facilities. The staff were extra helpful and went out of their way to help with activity planning. The hostel is located in the centre of the town, not too far from the train station and bus stops. There is also a LIDL a 2-minute walk away which is perfect for those trying to save a little as Switzerland is EXPENSIVE. The best part of this hostel is the social atmosphere. Everyone sits together at night with a few drinks and discusses the plans for the following day. It’s a really lovely place to stay. I’d highly recommend you Book Balmers Hostel if you plan to visit Interlaken.

HOSTELS IN FRANCE

On my trip, I visited two French cities, Annecy and Paris. Below is a review of the two hostels I stayed in.

Hostels in Annecy: Annecy Hostel

While visiting Annecy, I stayed in the Annecy Hostel, if I am being honest, I didn’t really enjoy my stay here. I mean it was ok, and if I had to I would stay there again, but only if I didn’t have another choice. The hostel itself is quite run down, with paint missing off the walls and tini tiny bathrooms. I’m 5ft3 (160cm) and my knee’s where basically touching the wall as I used the toilet. Some of the staff were lovely but others just didn’t really want to be there. It is run by volunteers, I never met someone who actually worked there. The kitchen was well equipped and it was located about a 15-minute walk from the old town. I found it incredibly difficult to make friends here. The outdoor area (bar and restaurant) is open to the general public which made it near impossible to figure out who was staying in the hostel. All my roommates already knew each other so for the first two days I was quite lonely. I eventually decided to write in the hostel world group chat and made friends that way but if this feature didn’t exist I don’t think I would have made friends at all. Overall, the hostel is fine for those looking to book a short trip to Annecy, and in this instance, I reccomend booking here . However, if you are staying more than 2 nights and are looking to make friends then it may not be the best option. Although, it is one of two hostels in the city.

Hostels in Paris: The People – Paris Nation

I really can not fault this hostel. It was perfect for what I needed. I have visited Paris a handful of times so I only intended on visiting the city for one day. The rest of my time I spent in Disneyland. That is why The People at Paris Nation was the perfect location for me as it’s just a 40-minute tram ride away from the parks. The only downside to the hostel is there was no kitchen. Although, this is common among all hostels in Paris. The rooms are rather spacious, with a privacy curtain on each bed. The bathrooms are nice and clean, however, the shower floor tends to flood after use. The hostel is not located in the center of Paris and public transport is needed to get in and out of the city. However, this is common for most hostels in Paris. Overall, I’d highly recommend booking a stay in The People Hostel at Paris Nation.

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Should You Book Your Hostels in Advance?

One of the most frequently asked questions travelers about to embark on their first trip abroad ponder is how much planning they should be looking to do before they leave. Deciding not to make any plans whatsoever and turning up in an unfamiliar city without even your accommodation booked can be a daunting prospect, and yet, for some travelers, it is highly recommended. 

There are pros and cons to not booking all of your accommodation in advance. But, suffice to say, try both ways and seeing which works best for you.

If You're a First-Time Traveler, Book in Advance to Start

If this is going to be your first travel experience, it is recommended to book your first week's worth of accommodation in advance and little else. Even if you're an experienced traveler, you probably know it's wise to do so to give you peace of mind while you fit back into your travel shoes. Many of the other plans can be worked out when you're at your destination, but this way you can guarantee some peace of mind for the first leg of the trip.

For those of you who are new to travel, it is recommended to do this because on the first day of your trip, you'll be arriving in a foreign place with an unfamiliar language, feeling disoriented and tired. It's often overwhelming. You might also be suffering from jet lag. You'll have a thousand emotions surging through your veins as you attempt to get yourself acquainted with this new country.

At this point, the last thing you'll want to do is drag yourself from hostel to hostel in search of the perfect place to rest your backpack. 

Instead, take a look at  Hostelbookers  and  Hostelworld  several weeks before your departure date, and read the reviews to gauge whether that hostel will be suitable for you. It is recommended to book the hostel that has the highest average rating (as long as it isn’t over-the-top expensive or a loud party hostel ).

Pre-travel nerves are real and having one less thing to worry about is important in the run-up to your departure. You won't have to worry about what to do when you land, and you'll be guaranteed a nice stay in a decent hostel. It is one less decision to worry about making. 

Why Only One Week?

If booking in advance can save you a lot of stress and anxiety, why not do it for your entire trip?

Because the longer you travel, the more you'll resent having fixed plans. What if you get sick, but only have two allocated days in the place you're visiting and have to leave without seeing any of it? What if you make friends with a group of travelers and want to change your plans to travel with them instead? What if you arrive in a new city, discover you don't like it, but have a full week booked there? It's because of these problems that I recommend going with the flow once you've got the hang of travel. 

But let's go into even more depth on the advantages and disadvantages of booking your hostel in advance. 

The Advantages

The most obvious advantage is gaining peace of mind. With all of your hostels booked in advance, there’s no need for you to worry about accommodation for the rest of your trip. You'll have one less logistical factor to take into account while you travel. You'll know exactly where you'll be and when you'll be there. 

Additionally, if you book far enough in advance, you’ll be able to book the highest-rated hostels in town. Popular hostels are often booked out quickly, so if you're always waiting until the last moment to research your accommodation, you'll likely miss out on the best options. The last thing you want is to end up in a terrible hostel because of poor planning. On top of that, it can be incredibly frustrating to pay a taxi to take you to a hostel you want to stay at, only to find that it's booked and you need to scramble to find somewhere else for tonight. 

The Disadvantages

By booking your hostel in advance, you’ll lose the freedom that makes the travel experience so rewarding. With your entire trip now planned out, you’ll have very little opportunity to change your mind and do something completely different. When you’re on the road, plans always change — and you’ll really want to be able to take advantage of this. 

You might think that it would be cheaper to book hostels in advance, but the opposite is true many times. If you turn up at a hostel and they’ve have availability you can generally bargain with the owners for a lower price than is advertised online. On top of that, you’ll definitely be able to negotiate a cheaper price if you’re planning on staying a week or longer. Additionally, you can circle a block and ask at five or six different hostels to see what's the best rate they can offer you before you commit. 

Finally, not every single hostel in the world is listed online. There are some fantastic hostels that don’t list themselves online but are cheaper, quieter and much more enjoyable than the alternatives. Not only that but getting a hostel to check it out before committing means that you can get a real idea of what a place and the surrounding area is like rather than only having the online reviews to go by. 

Other Factors to Consider

Before you decide to go ahead and leave some of your bookings up to chance, there are a couple of other factors to take into consideration. Namely, the time of year and the destination. Do you like staying in London in the middle of summer? It can be difficult!

Western Europe, the U.S. and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are all at their busiest and most expensive at the height of summer. While you'll be able to turn up in any of these places and find a hostel that still has availability, chances are it won’t be a particularly great one and you’ll be paying a lot for it. 

In less expensive places around the world—Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia , East Asia, North Africa , Central America—it is not recommended to book your accommodations in advance, no matter what time of the year it is. These areas are all used to having backpackers travel through and have hundreds of accommodation options in even the smallest of towns. 

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How to Find Work in Hostels and Keep On Travelling

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on June 24, 2014 |

Work and travel – and get yourself a great hostel jobs. How? Of all the ways to pay for a little extra time on the road, working in a hostel has to be top. It’s pretty much a no-brainer as to why. You’re in a backpacker hub, surrounded by likeminded people, most who are on the same path of adventure and self-discovery as you. Pretty much everyone is out for a good time and, seeing as hostels are pretty laid back places, you’ll always have at least a little spare time to join in.

That being said, it’s not easy. Like any place of work, you have to prove yourself. Positions are hard fought over and it’s no secret as to why. Still, at the same time positions are relatively fluid, there’s opportunity to progress and you can learn a fair few transferable skills too, other than the obvious cleaning and customer service. Here are some top tips on how to secure that position at a hostel while on the road.

Standing out from the crowd

Just like any job, standing out from the rest of the applicants is going to go a long way to helping you secure a position. This can be anything from professional experience, qualifications or training, to just simple life experience.

Seeing as you’ll be working in a very international environment, the one skill that is really going to stand out is language skills. Naturally, hostels want to be able to effectively communicate with as many different guests as possible, so will want to tick off as many different languages as they can. If you can speak a language no other staff member can, that’s really going to help you to pull ahead.

But there’s plenty besides that’s transferable. Able to put on a show behind a guitar or take to the stage as a confident stand-up? Well the hostel will be happy to utilise those talents during social evenings. If you have experience organising events, or even a qualification in that field, it can help you get an entertainment officer job or similar. History could get you a position as a tour guide or experience working in a kitchen could help you secure a job as the chef. Previous experience not only helps you stand out, but also allows you to apply for more interesting and niche positions.

Securing a position before you leave

This might not be a viable option if you intend on hitting the road with no master plan, but if you do have a vague notion of the towns and cities you want to experience, then securing positions before you leave is a great idea. Some large chains advertise on their websites, like Nomads , meaning you can apply to them direct and there are plenty of websites and forums that list other hostel job vacancies as well. Two popular sites are hosteljobs.net and hosteltraveljobs.com , which list all kinds of positions; not just desk workers or cleaners, but more specialised positions like tour guide or events manager.

If you plan on applying before, then treat your application like you would any other. Sure, hostels are laid back and fun places to work, but that doesn’t mean you should lame out on your application. Write a full CV detailing your past experience, tailored toward proving why you would fit the position perfectly. Include all the usuals, like work experience, qualifications and personal interests (one of which should be travel), and really labour where skills match.

And of course, all this doesn’t mean you have to come across as stuffy, you can still put something of your character into the writing. But that’s just it, write; write in full and legible sentences that show enthusiasm and professionalism. Top it all off with a cover letter that lets your personality shine through.

Nomads have hostels all over the world. Book a stay with Nomads on Hostelworld today.

Securing your position on the road

Competition is fierce for the big hostels, and being a remote character only represented by a few words on a piece of paper or computer screen is so much less personal or tangible than if you were there in front of them. That’s why guests already staying in a hostels with job vacancies have a good chance of hoovering up positions before a remote applicant.

So, what the best method for securing a job while staying at a hostel? Well, first you need to know if there are any positions going. It’s fine to politely ask the staff – and don’t be disheartened if there aren’t at first as new positions come up all the time in this industry – but what you don’t want to do is bug them every hour of the day. Becoming the irritating, whiney person pestering for a job is not going to win you any brownie points.

Showing your work ethic is important. Make sure you help out. Do a little light cleaning, maybe do the dishes, wipe surfaces and the like. This will not only get you get noticed, but the existing staff and managers are going to like you a hell of a lot more, since you’re making their job easier. You could also help out with a little light administrative work if your interests lie more in managerial or organiser roles, or offer to take out guests for free and show them the sights if you know your stuff and are looking for tour guide roles. This will make you stand out much more than bugging the staff every few hours.

Whatever it is you want to do, be willing to do it for free at first to show that you’re competent and willing. It seems to be an unfortunate symptom of our current economy and job market, even in more laid back industries like this, that most jobs need to start with internships. Think of this as a form of interning.

Making friends

Again, like in all industries, knowing someone already in the industry can be really helpful. While you travel, make sure you open up to as many new people and new experiences as possible – you never know who you might meet. If you’re lucky enough to bump into a hostel assistant-manager on that climbing course in Thailand, then remember climbing is thirsty work and they’ll be happy for that beer or three you buy them. Even simple staff members will be happy to put in a good name for you, so long as you make a good impression.

Same goes with hostel guests. If you want to work in the hostel you’re staying in, make friends with as many guests as possible. Help them out when they needs it, lend a hand with their bag, take them out for the evening and show them the best places to eat and the best places to party. After all, hostel work is social work and you have to prove you’re a social being.

And it’s worth it, all of this. Going to the trouble of creating a stunning curriculum vitae, pouring yourself all over the page of your cover letter, lending a helping hand for free and going that extra mile with the people you meet will provide you with heaps in return. Free stay, free food, perhaps even a little pay. All this can help you expand your trip to be much longer than it would have been.

But it’s not just about the material gain, the experiences and like-minded people you meet will stay with you forever. And after all, it’s all work experience. If you do ever decide to come back, no one can say you just went on an extended holiday, because you worked to sustain yourself and stay on the road. Not only did you have the courage to see the world, but were responsible enough to work too, and any organisation worth working for is going to find that impressive.

Planning on a trip around the world and want to get a little face-to-face time with the hostels? Book your stay in some of the biggest hostels around the world with Hostelworld.

Have any tips of your own on getting hostel jobs? Let us know in the comments…

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

How to Find Cheap Accommodation in 7 Easy Steps

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

But that’s not something you have to do.

No matter what your accommodation tastes may be, one thing everyone has in common is that no one wants to pay a fortune for it. Since you have to stay somewhere every night, reducing this expense can save you a lot of money off the total cost of your trip. Next to finding a cheap flight , finding free or inexpensive lodging will have the biggest impact on your budget.

Luckily, there are many ways to find cheap accommodation when you travel. Here are the best ways to do so:

Table of Contents

Cheap Accommodation Tip #1: Stay in Hostels

Cheap accommodation tip #2: house/pet sit, cheap accommodation tip #3: collect points, cheap accommodation tip #4: volunteer, cheap accommodation tip #5: stay in hospitality exchanges, cheap accommodation tip #6: stay on a farm, cheap accommodation tip #7: stay in a monastery, cheap accommodation tip #8: stay in airbnb, my favorite accommodation resources.

I have met people in hostels in their 50s, 60s, and even in their 70s! The myth that they are dirty, gross places to stay designed for young people is outdated. Many hostels offer more amenities than hotels and are really clean as young people expect more comfort. These aren’t the hostels you see in movies or have the horror stories your parents talk about. They come with Wi-Fi, tour desks, bars, curtains, lockers for your stuff, big bathrooms, and lots more! I am constantly amazed at how hostels get better and better each yer.

This page has all my favorite hostels around the world if you want to learn more .

I think hostel dorms are the best value for budget travelers. Yes, you have to share a room with a lot of people, but if you are on a budget, it’s your best way to save money.

While many hostels are geared toward young travelers and set age limits, some of the bigger international chains such as YHA and Hostelling International focus more on older or group travelers . I’ve seen families, tour groups, and older travelers in hostels all over the world. A hostel is really for anyone who wants to meet other travelers, regardless of age.

Hostels are safe, secure, and cheap . Don’t overlook them — even if you’re not part of the young backpacker set.

My favorite hostel booking website is Hostelworld . They have the best inventory, deals, and interface. If you’re going to book, book with them!

And if you’re heading to Europe, consider getting a HostelPass . It’s a discount membership that offers 10-20% off hostels in Europe (as well as discounts on activities and tours).

This website connects travelers looking for accommodation with locals who need a pet sitter while they are away. It’s an excellent opportunity for travelers who like to slow down and really spend a few weeks (or months) in a destination. Yes, you’ll have to watch someone’s pets, but you’ll get access to a home with a kitchen, laundry facilities, and possibly even perks like a car or pool. It can save you a fortune if you’re a long-term traveler.

House sitting is gaining in popularity, but it’s still a little-known landscape for so many travelers. You’ll need to pay to join Trusted Housesitters ($129 USD per year) but it will open up opportunities all around the globe. I know several travelers who pet sit full time, hopping from destination to destination while enjoying free accommodation along the way.

It can take time to get started as you need to build up your reviews, but once you’ve done that you’ll be able to find sitting gigs in amazing destinations!

Collect hotel points through various programs and redeem them for free nights at hotels. Most cards come with welcome offers that are equal to multiple nights of free hotel stays. Best of all, you can earn points just with your regular day-to-day spending. It doesn’t cost anything extra!

Here are a few posts to help you get started:

• Points & Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• The Best Travel Credit Cards
• How to Pick the Best Credit Card
• The Best Premium Travel Cards
• How to Earn Free Travel By Paying Your Rent

I save thousands of dollars every year thanks to points and miles. It’s the #1 thing you can do to lower your accommodation costs!

Many hostels will have job boards up if they are looking for help. But it never hurts to just ask either!

If you want to find opportunities before you head abroad, check out Worldpackers . They offer travelers a chance to find volunteer experiences overseas. In addition to hostels, it can help you find experiences with NGOs, home stays, and eco-projects all over the world.

Simply the Worldpackers website , sign up (it’s $49 USD/year, and start browsing for opportunities. It’s super fast and easy to use. You’ll get $10 off signing up if you use my link too!

There are a few websites that make this happen. Two of the most popular are:

• Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is my favorite of them all. It’s not as popular as it used to be, but it is still the best place to start. The goal of the site is to help travelers not only save money on accommodation but also learn about the local culture by being able to stay and interact with a local .

What I especially love about Couchsurfing is that you don’t even have to stay with people either. If you’re not ready to stay with a stranger, you can just use the app to meet people. I get taken to parties, restaurants, and sites that aren’t in any guidebook all the time — all thanks to using the app!

To ensure I find a great host, I use the following criteria:

• There has to be a picture with the profile . This just shows me that it’s a real person.
• The profile has to be filled out. It shows they are interested and involved. Most people aren’t going to spend the time to fill this out if they aren’t going to be comfortable with strangers in their home. If someone hasn’t bothered to fill out the profile, they probably don’t use the site and I simply move on.
• They should have reviews. If other people have stayed with or have at least traveled with the host and had a good experience, you and your stuff will probably be fine. The more positive reviews, the better.
• Verification helps. Knowing that a person has been verified (by showing their ID to Couchsurfing) reduces the likelihood that they are going to be a crazy psycho killer. However, if someone isn’t verified but has a lot of reviews, that’s fine with me!
• They should be active . If the person hasn’t logged on in months, I won’t waste time applying to them.

No matter what, you need to use your own judgment when picking a host. Usually, you end up messaging hosts to get a feel for them and what they expect. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s no obligation to stay with them.

Once you Couchsurf for the first time, you’ll see that there really isn’t anything to fear. And, if you do it frequently, you’ll end up saving hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on accommodation while making friends around the world.

For more information on how to crush it on these services, read this article . It will give you tips and tricks on how to find a host and how to stay safe!

There are thousands of farms spread out over 100 countries. Some stays are for a couple of weeks, while others can be for months. Simply sign up, pay the small fee, and you can start searching for opportunities!

For more information, check out this post , which breaks down everything you need to know to get started WWOOFing!

Resources for finding a monastery stay:

• Monastery Stays
• How to Stay in a Monastery
• 15 Great Monastery Stays

These apartments are a nice bridge between a hostel and hotel, though they can get a bit expensive if you are a solo traveler. They are roughly double the cost (if not more) than a hostel dorm room. However, if you are part of a group or a couple and are looking for a respite from the dorms and hordes of travelers but don’t want a hotel room, this is your ideal accommodation option. Another reason to use this method? You get a kitchen, allowing you to cook and reduce your food costs.

But let’s face it. Everyone uses websites now. Airbnb is a major platform and one of the primary ways people travel now. If you don’t want a hotel but also don’t want a hostel dorm, this is the perfect middle ground.

Here’s my guide to finding the perfect Airbnb or short term stay .

• Hostelworld.com – My go-to site for finding hostels.
• Booking.com – The best website for finding budget guest houses, hotels, and more.
• Agoda.com – Another great website for homestays and guest houses, especially in Asia.
• TrustedHousesitters.com – The biggest (and best) pet-sitting platform.
• Couchsurfing.com – A great app for finding free acommodation with locals.
• Airbnb.com – My go-to app for renting apartments/homes while traveling.

It has never been easier to find cheap accommodation — if you know where to look. So, the next time you head out on the road, consider one of the options above. They will help you reduce your expenses, freeing up more money so you can do activities, eat out, drink more, and overall, experience the destination you saved so long to visit.

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