Hotel vs. Airbnb vs. Hostel: Pros and Cons of Hostels

Recommended Hostels

Choosing your accommodation when traveling can make or break your trip. It’s essential to figure out what you want out of your trip entirely before choosing between a Hotel, Airbnb, or Hostel. A few simple questions to ask yourself when comparing your accommodation options are:

Do I want to meet people?
Do I want to party?
Do I need privacy to complete some work?
Do I need reliable internet?
Do I want to cook?
What is my budget?
Am I comfortable sleeping in the same room as other people?
Am I comfortable using a communal toilet?
Am I comfortable using a communal shower?
What is my tolerance for being woken up by people making noise?
Do I want to sleep in a bunk bed?
Do I have an itinerary, or am I just going with the flow of things?
Do I need to wash my clothes?

Hostels

Hostels are an excellent accommodation option for people who want to save money and meet new people. They’re becoming increasingly popular as social media diminishes negative myths about them. They are my favorite accommodation option when traveling solo or with another person.

Below are some pros and cons to consider when reviewing your accommodation options.

Pros

Social Atmosphere

You’re never alone if you stay at a Hostel. The atmosphere promotes social interaction with anyone and everyone. You are bound to make friends from hosted events, family dinners, bar crawls, and attached bar/club.

Costs

Hostels are traditionally cheaper than Hotels and Airbnb. Since you are just renting a bed in a dorm, your cost to stay will be lower. Around the world, you can find hostels that are as low as $15 a night or as high as $80. The type of experience you want depends largely on how much you want to spend. For long-term travelers, cheap accommodation is preferred because their money lasts longer.

Location

Hostels are usually spread around the city, but most are as central as possible. This allows you to get around your destination easily and quickly. Most Hostel owners I have met were travelers, so they made it a point to choose a location that makes it easier for guests to get around the city.

Staff

Like Hotels, Hostels have staff who clean the rooms, restrooms, hallways, and common areas. Usually, staff members work the front desk 24/7 for issues or late arrivals.

Don’t be surprised if you see the same staff member working the front desk moonlighting as the bartender. Some staff members are travelers, so feel free to ask them questions about where they’ve been, as they can be a wealth of knowledge.

Events

Most hostels, or at least good ones, will hold events that guests can sign up to attend. These events can include sightseeing, landmarks, bar crawls, trivia, and, my favorite, drunk bowling.

When reading the property details and reviews, look for mention of events. If you’re a solo traveler and want to make friends, the events will be a chance for you to do so.

Events can happen daily. If you are not a great conversation starter and want to make friends, a simple “Hey, are you going to the [Event Name]the Hostel is putting on tonight?” can be a great icebreaker.

Amenities

Bars, pools, rooftop patios, game rooms, movie rooms, laundry rooms, and libraries are all amenities you can enjoy at a Hostel if they have them. None come at an extra cost, so feel free to utilize them.

Putting your clothes to wash in the laundry room and then going for a pint at the attached bar makes laundry not suck so much.

Kitchen

The ability to make your meals should not be overlooked. Food is one of your most significant expenses when traveling. Most kitchens are well-equipped for all your cooking needs and have additional space to store unused food.

Label your food if you want to save it for the next day, and as always, clean up after yourself.

Dormitory Style Rooms

Unless you pay for a private room, you will be in a room with others. It is not unheard of to walk into your room, make small talk with your bunkmates, and then you all go out as a group.

Great option for large groups. Picture is of The Hive Hostel in Budapest, Hungary.

Group Travel

A Hostel is your best option if you are part of a group that wants to meet other travelers. You will surely find Hostels that can accommodate up to 16 people in one room.

Room Options

Depending on what you are comfortable with, you can choose between an all-female, all-male, or mixed room.

A mixed room does not guarantee it will be split evenly. There have been instances where I was the only male in the room and other instances where there was only one female in the room.

Safety

There is a common myth that Hostels are not safe. Hostels are one of the safer options due to the sheer number of eyes that are everywhere.

The only people allowed into the living areas and rooms are hostel guests. The staff even act as security at night and are usually strict about outsiders entering the building.

Partnerships

Hostels usually partner with tour groups, museums, party planners, live music shows, and others to provide free or discounted tickets. This information is found on the Hostel’s website or at the front desk.

Hostel Types

There are many types of Hostels out there that fit the needs of travelers. Below are just a few types that you will come across.

Party
Budget
Adventure
Luxury
Boutique
Family
Youth
Solo Traveler

Cons

Privacy

A Hostel can be crowded and is not intended to provide people with much privacy. If you want to experience a Hostel and have privacy, I suggest you opt for the private room. It can be 2 or 3 times the cost of the dorms, though.

Cleanliness

This does not refer to the cleanliness of the hallways or living spaces. It refers to the cleanliness of other travelers. Clothes, shoes, bags, food, etc., are all things you will see on the floor in your room, and you are just forced to deal with it.

It is essential to understand that your room may smell like a locker room at the end of the day. Everybody has different hygiene standards, so as long as you are prepared upfront, it shouldn’t be that big of an issue.

Air Condition

Hostels are sometimes in older buildings that may not have air conditioning installed. I have found myself in Hostels that have no or limited air conditioning.

The weather in most places I’ve traveled to is nothing compared to the Texas summer when the heat index can hit 110F every day of the week. The worst part is not feeling like you are genuinely cooled down in a place you are paying to sleep.

Read through the description and check the pictures to determine the type of air condition the place provides.

Communal Showers and Toilets

Depending on the size of your room, you may have to use the communal facilities that everyone on your floor uses. It is not the worst thing in the world, but it can be off-putting to some.

Not all Hostel room options will have this type of format. Some places offer a restroom inside your room, but that is typically only found in rooms that accommodate less than 8 people.

Read the room description you would choose to see if that facility option works for you. Suppose it doesn’t; continue your search until you find something that does.

You will be fine if you play sports in grade school and utilized the locker room daily.

Picture taken Wombat's City Hostel in Vienna in 2023.

Bunk Beds

Bunk Beds and Hostels go together like peanut butter and jelly. How else do you think they fit 16 people in a room?

If you’ve never slept on a bunk bed, know you will feel almost every movement the other person makes. The beds are twin-sized, so there is not much room to move around if you like to spread out.

Some places will assign you a bunk number to be the top bunk. If you are opposed to the top bunk, communicate with the Hostel in advance so they can work on getting you a bottom bunk.

Some Hostels do not have bunk beds, so try not to let this deter you from Hostels.

Guests

Non-Hostel guests are usually not allowed in the living spaces and rooms. In some places, it can get you kicked out if you’re caught with guests in your room.

This one is meant to read between the lines, but if you still do not understand, read the next con.

Noise

There is so much noise at a Hostel that you may want to invest in earplugs or headphones. If you cannot sleep with noise, a Hostel may not be the best for you. I am not just referring to people talking as noise.

You will hear the noises of people packing their luggage at 4 a.m. as they have a train at 5 a.m.

You will hear people snoring loudly.

You will hear people farting.

You will hear people coming in drunk in the middle of the night and think they’re being quiet, but they’re not.

You will possibly hear people having sex from time to time.

You will hear people talking on the phone.

You will hear the music from the bar/club downstairs.

Expect noise everywhere you go. It’s part of the experience, and it does not diminish it one bit.

Limited Personal Space

You will be physically close to people you have never met, and your personal space will become limited to your bed.

Remote Work

Remote work at a Hostel is challenging unless you pay for a private room or you do not have to be on any video/phone calls throughout the day. There are Hostels that cater to digital nomads, which is the exception to this. Do not expect to have the privacy and low noise level needed for remote work.

Conclusion

Hostels are something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. They are a great way to meet new people without breaking the bank. It may not be for everyone, but the cost savings and the people will outweigh the negatives.