Introduction
One of the most pivotal travel decisions we make is where to rest our head each night. The world offers an array of accommodation options, and each choice has distinct advantages and disadvantages.
In this blog, I compare the consistent comfort of hotels and the communal charm of hostels, offering pros and cons for both and sharing insights on when I’ve chosen one over the other. Of course, there are a plethora of other accommodation options, which I plan to compare in future posts throughout this series.
For now, I’m homing in on hostels and hotels because these two choices stand at opposite ends of nearly every spectrum and cater to vastly different travel experiences.
The Draw of Hostels
I went on my first solo international trip between my sophomore and junior years of college. I wanted to go as far around the globe as I could, so I landed in Fiji. I spent one week teaching English and basic sanitation skills to schoolchildren in a remote village on the mainland. After that rewarding experience, I spent a second week exploring other islands in the nation and staying in various hostels along the way.
At the time, I was in my early 20s (I turned 21 on the plane ride over) and was looking for a true adventure. I wanted to try new things, be forced out of my comfort zone, and connect with fellow travelers.
Hostels were the perfect home base for this type of trip.
The joy of becoming fast friends with fellow travelers at a hostel. (Hi, Claire and Paula <3)
Sacrificing Comfort for Connection
One of the greatest perks of hostels is their affordability. You can get a bed for as little as $5/night in a communal dorm. Private rooms, from my experience, average about $40/night.
Every hostel I’ve stayed in reminded me of a college dormitory. Sometimes private rooms are available. However, it’s common that multiple people share sleeping quarters and bathrooms (either co-ed or separated by gender). So it makes sense why hostels are popular among solo travelers, those looking for the most budget-friendly lodging, and younger people wanting to mingle.
In my experience, hostels tend to have fewer people on staff and fewer amenities compared to hotels. Oftentimes, guests need to bring their own bath towels and, speaking from experience, it’s smart to bring sandals for the showers and communal bathrooms.
It is a good idea to bring a luggage lock and refrain from leaving valuables out in the open. I’ve never had any of my things stolen, but I’ve heard horror stories from fellow travelers about that happening in communal dorms. Better safe than sorry.
Hostels also tend to cater to more adventurous and free-spirited travelers. Sometimes they are off the beaten path, don’t offer transport to/from airports, and promote exciting excursions like scuba diving or skydiving for an additional fee.
What you lack in comforts, you make up for in connection. Being communal, hostels are a great place to meet peers. Staff tend to be younger locals or fellow travelers. So you can plan group outings and find solid recommendations on things to do in the area.
Overall, however, I find that kindness is contagious in places like these. Most people opt into the communal environment of a hostel so staff and fellow guests are more likely to share advice, meals, toiletries, and laughs. I subscribe to the belief that most people lead with kindness, and this optimism has only compounded throughout my hostel experiences.
When I think of my time in Fiji, I think of bonfires where we sang Sublime covers to the tune of someone’s lone guitar, laughing until the early hours of the morning in the all girls’ dorm, and walking less than 50 yards from my bed to bustling dinner parties on the candle-lit deck.
The Draw of Hotels
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve incorporated more hotels into my trips to both domestic and international destinations. The major draws for opting into this form of accommodation are convenience and privacy.
Hotels are designed to provide guests with streamlined services like housekeeping, room service, and free parking (or valet if you’re fancier than me). A room often comes with a range of amenities like complimentary breakfast, access to a public swimming pool, laundry service, in-house gyms, and on-site restaurants or spas, all of which can really enhance the comfort of your stay. Sometimes the increased comfort and lack of hassle are worth paying up for.
I also appreciate that hotels tend to be in the middle of all the action. I especially like to book a hotel if I know I have a jam-packed itinerary.
For example, when I only had 72 hours in Lisbon, I knew I wanted to squeeze in as much as possible. By the end of each day, I was exhausted and really appreciated a clean and quiet room that was right near the city’s main square.
Hotel Mundial in Lisbon, like most hotels, is right in the heart of the the city.
Hotels also generally offer a safe and secure environment with security personnel, surveillance systems, keycard access, and receptionists at the front desk 24/7. Like I said before, I’ve never experienced theft or crime at a hostel, but I definitely sacrificed some peace of mind every time I had to leave my backpack tucked under my bed because there weren’t any lockers to store it in. That’s less of a worry when you have a private hotel room.
Seen One, Seen Them All
However, what hotels offer in convenience, they often lack in character. Many hotels don’t have a unique or homely atmosphere.
To this point, I can distinctly remember every hostel I’ve stayed in. However, when I think back on my hotel stays, I envision standardized designs, basic color schemes, and decor that lacks any cultural references. Sometimes, hotel rooms are nothing more than a bed in an otherwise empty space, which can feel sterile to me.
Whereas a hostel can grow to feel more like a guest house filled with friends, hotels don’t usually provide that personal touch that makes you feel like you have a home away from home. Sure, you can pay a premium for luxury suites with the personalized service, but that’s not accessible to most.
Conclusion
Overall, the choice between staying in a hotel or hostel depends on your stage of life, budget, definition of comfort, and specific travel goals.
There is no right or wrong answer. I’ve had positive and less-than-ideal experiences in both hotels and hostels. The pros and cons I’ve outlined here are meant to help you develop an informed decision on what you want to invest in: Comfort or connection.
With these factors in mind, I hope you can make your next trip exactly what you want it to be.