Whenever someone says “hostel”, images of dead bodies and blood splashed bathrooms immediately jump to mind. The problem with hostels is that movies (especially the movie, Hostel) have made it so that we automatically associate them with creepy events. We’ve been wrongfully made to believe that anywhere besides a hotel is unsafe. There are many reasons why this stereotype must change once and for all. Here are some advantages of staying at a hostel.
It Costs so Much Less!
We all know hostels are the cheaper accommodation option, especially if you compare them to hotels. Keep in mind that you’ll most likely only sleep there. So why pay so much more for a place you’ll barely spend any time at? You can go to the Arc House hostel in Barcelona for only 100EGP a night, the Alvi Starr Inn and The Kuri Inn in Maldives for a range between 220-270EGP, the Clink261 hostel in London for about 220EGP a night and the No.8 Seven Sisters also in London for 99EGP a night. The Old Prague hostel, in Prague, obviously, for 176EGP a night. Of course, prices differ depending on the time you book your trip.
They’re Almost Everywhere
Hostels can be found just about everywhere around the world. London, Berlin, Barcelona, Maldives, and most major cities across the globe have a few decent hostels. So you’ve got plenty of options. The only place where you might not find a hostel is Antarctica!
Great for Group Travelers!
Hostel rooms are usually very big. Sometimes they can take up to 20 people in one room. And that’s just perfect for a group of friends or a big family traveling together. Those who have experienced it have told us how comfortable it is being at a hostel with your family or group of friends, “my favorite part of the whole trip was our whole family staying in one hostel. We took two rooms and each one had 6 beds. Of course we’d laugh and shout for two hours before actually sleeping, but after I came back I’d realized that the most fun I’d had was those two hours”, says Zeina Refky.
“my friends and I had seven beds and a private bathroom and got clean sheets and towels”, Mina Naguib
Breakfasts and Kitchens
Most hostels serve breakfast and have fully equipped kitchens where you can make your own meals. You’ll end up saving money since you won’t have to eat out everyday. However, not all of them come with such facilities. Yet, most of the hostels mentioned above come with either one or the other, or both, “you get breakfast, you have a kitchen, and you have a place to sleep. Why on earth would you waste the rest of your money on a hotel?” wonders Ahmed Shehab.
Sometimes it’s Not that Different from a Hotel
Sometimes you stumble upon the most perfect hostel. Mina Naguib found a hostel that was more like a hotel in Copenhagen. Danhostel provided great service at an affordable price, “my friends and I had seven beds and a private bathroom and got clean sheets and towels”, Mina Naguib tells.
“there are lockers and you can zip lock your belongings if you want but besides that it’s fairly safe” Ahmed Shehab
A Matter of Safety
Safety is the main concern here, but the probability of an accident taking place is actually lower than you think. Hostels are pretty safe, as the people running the place don’t let strangers enter the premises. And for your peace of mind, they usually have safes and lockers where you can keep your belongings, “there are lockers and you can zip lock your belongings if you want but besides that it’s fairly safe”, Ahmed Shehab assures. You can always visit the website to check out the reviews of the place and check out their facilities before going.
“I went with a friend of mine and we had four people that we didn’t know with us in the room. We ended up sight-seeing together”, Sarah Sameh
Meet New People
“To me, the best thing about hostels is that I made a ton of new friends all over the world, I felt like I’m in more of a community than just a place to stay and that’s something you don’t find in hotels”, says Ahmed Shehab. When you go to a hostel where other people are staying, it’s almost certain that you will make a new friend. You might even end up exploring the country together, “I went with a friend of mine and we had four people that we didn’t know with us in the room. We ended up sight-seeing together”, Sarah Sameh says.
At the end of the day, it’s all about being safe and making the right choice when it comes to the hostel you’re staying at. Do some research and look up lots of reviews before you decide on a place. Going to a hostel is a rich traveling experience, since you get to meet people from around the globe. Plus, you end up saving money in the process. Next time you travel, try out a hostel for a few days and the odds are that you won’t regret it.
The information above has been gathered from What Women Want… Magazine’s contacts, but there is a good website where you can visit before your next trip. www.hostelworld.com