Over the past four months, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend weekends in the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and Italy, in addition to traveling around parts of Germany, where I am currently studying abroad. During my travels, I’ve been hosted in a variety of different establishments, including hotels, Airbnbs, friends’ houses and my favorite option: hostels.
According to Hostelworld, a hostel is “a budget-friendly type of accommodation that focuses on a shared social experience.” I’ve stayed in rooms with eleven strangers and booked rooms that leave every bed empty if not filled by a member of your party. No matter the situation, I’ve found hostels to be the best option for the young and broke traveling crowd.
Nothing beats the social environment of a good hostel. I’ve stayed in hostels while solo traveling, which Forbes reports to be the case for 72% of American hostel users, and I have also stayed in hostels while traveling in a group. In both cases, I’ve made friends through the social atmosphere of these establishments. Most hostels will include a bar in their amenities, which becomes a lively vortex of new friendships and international relations once the sun goes down.
Whether you meet people to share just one night of adventure with (as was the case when my friends and I took a weekend trip to Prague) or you meet someone who will visit you in your home city and become a lifelong travel partner (as was the case when I was solo traveling in Vienna), the relationships formed in hostels are powerful and unique.
There is also an undeniable financial benefit to staying in hostels. While traveling in Vienna, I spent one night in a hostel and one night in a hotel, the latter of which cost three times as much as the former. In exchange for the clear savings, patrons simply have to sacrifice spending a night sleeping in privacy; although, most hostels offer private rooms for just a slight price increase. For young travelers looking to keep their trips cheap, the choice is almost too easy.
The hostels I’ve stayed in have all done a remarkable job of immersing guests in the city. If a hostel is located far from the center of the city, they often will help guests figure out the local transportation system and give recommendations of things to do in the area. The reception desk will also be equipped with maps and guides, as well as employees with impressive knowledge of the city.
As with any accommodation, not every hostel is a winner. The quality of the hostel can make or break a trip, so it’s important to read reviews and do your research. As long as all those boxes are checked, hostels are often the reason young people are able to travel longer, cheaper and better, which is supported by the findings of The Global Hostel Marketplace Report 2014-2018. I’ve come to the conclusion that in the future when I will theoretically travel on a bigger budget, I would still opt to stay in a hostel, purely for the remarkable energy and experiences they offer.
Sophia Rooksberry is a junior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Sophia know by tweeting her @sophiarooks_.
