The Truth About Hostels

When my long-time friend and travel partner-in-crime, Crystal, invited me on a spur-of-the-moment five week tour of Europe last year, I could not have been more esctatic. I envisioned us spending our days lounging on exclusive white sandy beaches in the French Riviera, sipping overpriced cappuccinos in trendy Roman cafes, and dancing the nights away in fashionable London nightclubs. Yes, it was going to be fantastic. That is, until I took a look at my checkbook balance, and reality hit me like a brick to the back of the head. If this trip was to happen at all, I realized, I would have to learn the art of budget travel. And I was fine with trading in my monogrammed luggage and first class plane tickets for a sturdy backpack and a demotion to coach. But then came a chilling realization: We would be staying in hostels.

Yes, hostels. Think musty, bunk bed filled rooms, dirty mattresses, and dirtier roommates. Not to mention the grimy, locker-room style bathrooms, cold showers and nonfunctioning toilets. Understandably, I was less than enthusiastic.

Well, in the end, not only did I (somehow) survive my budget Euro trip, but I also managed to have an amazing time. And once I got past my initial snobbery, I quickly discovered that hostels aren't merely an unfortunate inconvenience for the broke traveler. Hostels offer an array of useful services and provide backpackers with the opportunity to experience aspects of their travel destination they might have otherwise overlooked.

I have become quite the hostel expert, as I've since spent countless nights "bunking it" in various hostels throughout Europe and South America. And I've found that there are many reasons why travelers, budget or not, should consider making hostels a part of their next big trip.

1) Hostels are cheap.

With a few exceptions, hostels are substantially less expensive than hotels. And unlike hotels, hostels usually offer a variety of free or cheap services, like access to a full kitchen, internet, and laundry service. Some hostels even provide their guests with a complimentary breakfast. (But don't get too excited, it's usually just a few slices of toast, jam, and a mug of bad coffee.)

2) Hostels make your life easier.

Being in a foreign country can be scary. Not knowing where you're going, not knowing the language (an all-too common occurrence for many Americans), and not quite comprehending how to calculate the exchange rate can be a little intimidating. Luckily, your hostel has a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you feel more at home in their country. Many hostels offer organized tours of local attractions, and will hook you up with event tickets, call you a taxi, and even help you figure out how exactly you're going to get to the airport at the crack of dawn the following morning to catch your flight. Even better, chat up any hostel employee, and he or she will probably be happy to share personal favorite restaurants and after-dark hot spots with you.

3) Hostels are great for meeting people.

Yes, we are all-to-familiar with every frat boy's hostel hook-up fantasy. But that is not what I'm talking about. Hostels are excellent places to meet interesting and diverse new people, who, like you, are looking to have fun in an exciting new location. Anyone traveling solo will find that it's easy to form international bar-hopping alliances with their fellow hostellers. And what's more, if you play your cards right, you may even score some invitations to go visit your new friends in their native countries next summer.

There's no doubt that staying in hostels is a great way to experience a new place. However, there is a dark side to the hostelling world, and travelers should be aware of the following before they embark on their hostelling adventure:

1) Watch your belongings.

Thefts do occur in hostels, so take extra precaution with your valuables. (Better yet, leave them at home.) Use the room lockers, and don't ever leave anything lying on your bed. Many hostels have a safe box at the front desk, and this is a smart place to keep your passport.

2) Bring hand sanitizer.

True, there are many really nice, funky, coffee-shop atmosphere inspired hostels out there. But some hostels are downright dirty. I don't need to provide you with any horror stories, as I'm sure you can fill in the gaps for yourself, but let's just say that home hostels take more pride in their reputation than others. Many hostel booking websites allow users to rate their hostel stay, so do your research before making reservations.

3) Beware of party hostels.

Some hostels just know how to throw a party. Depending on how much you value a good night's sleep, this may or may not be a good thing. If you're concerned about getting your beauty rest before that grueling twelve hour hike through the Swiss Alps the next day, ask the staff if there will be a midnight dance party on the other side of your wall before checking in. Or, at the very least, request a room far away from the action.

Let's be honest here: Staying in hostels isn't going to be as glamorous as being pampered at the Ritz. But just think-with all the money you'll be saving, you can afford to add another travel destination to your itinerary. The beauty of hostels is that they make is just a little bit easier for all the people of modest bank accounts and meager paychecks to travel and experience the world. After all, years from now, when you're reminiscing about that amazing Alpine snowboarding adventure, or surfing the shores of Thailand, where you slept at night won't matter at all. What will matter will be all of the incredible places you visited, the amazing people you met, and, of course, all the crazy fun you had!