Featured image from Sant Jordi Rock Palace – see the full review!
The other day I told someone about my life working in hostels, and I was given the most disturbed look I’ve seen so far! There’s no shortage of negative hostel myths flying about the travel world, but those myths seem to be magnified for those people who never have (and unfortunately never will!) experience hostel travel for themselves.
So after hearing many of the same nervous enquiries time after time I thought I’d try and settle some of those negative hostel myths for you all – so you can agree with me that hostels are awesome!
#1 Hostels are only for cheap budget travellers
The general perception for those who have never stayed in a hostel is that they’re only used by cheap travellers who can’t afford “decent” accommodation. But these days hostels are so much more than just budget accommodation!
True, they do tend to be a lot cheaper than your average hotel. But travellers are also more than willing to spend more for boutique hostels, or hostels that provide an incredible unique experience. Read about my first luxury hostel experience by clicking here, or check out an incredible hostel experience in Rome by clicking here!
And as for those cheap travellers, you’ll now find them chatting in the common areas with business travellers and families!
A morning spent working with other digital nomads in ClinkNOORD (see the full review)
#2 Hostels are dangerous
Concerns for the safety of possessions, as well as personal safety, can be a huge turn off for travellers.
Yet the majority of modern hostels offer great locker facilities, and people that stay in hostels often look out for each other.
A lot of readers who contact me are solo female travellers who aren’t keen on the idea of shared dorms. Ultimately, to get the best travel experience you should seek accommodation that makes you feel the most comfortable, and whilst I’ve never personally had trouble with male roommates, plenty of hostels offer female-only dorms to help ease your mind!
For more on this, read: Are Hostels Safe? Personal Safety Tips for Staying in Hostels
#3 Hostels are dirty and badly looked after
Whilst you will no doubt experience the odd dirty and run down hostel on your travels, a lot of hostel owners are travellers just like yourself who want to provide an affordable but comfortable home for others on the road.
In the majority of hostels I’ve stayed and worked in, cleanliness was the top priority and I have without a doubt stayed in hotels that have been dirtier than hostels.
Here’s the immaculate bathroom at MEININGER Hamburg (see the full review here)…
#4 Hostels are full of drugs
This stereotype drove me mad when I worked in hostels.
Above all, I believe that hostels offer travellers a home from home, something that is compromised when you have a few people discussing the various cocktails they were hoping to get in front of shy travellers who just want to relax with a movie in the lounge.
Despite the odd “high-and-proud-I’ve-tried-everything-under-the-sun” show off, hostels are not drug dens and I wouldn’t be such a fan of them if this myth was true.
#5 Hostels only offer beds and pub crawls
Some travellers prefer to fill their days with cultural activities, rather than sleeping off their headache from last night’s party. Others really like to party. The good news is that there are different types of hostels out there that can help cater to your needs!
But even when I worked in party hostels, the owners made sure I sat down with guests and gave them tips on where to eat, what activities to do, what shows to see, etc.
In my opinion, hostel workers can offer far more personal and detailed recommendations for guests than can hotel staff. Hostel staff have always seemed more than happy to pitch their ideas and share their favourite spots – and as a hostel worker I often took out guests on my days off to show them the city personally!
Below is a pic from a day tour of Montenegro I took from Old Town Hostel Kotor (see more photos)!
I hope I’ve helped sort out some of the hostel myths that may have prevented you travelling!
If there’s more that scares you – Let me know!
Lots of love,
12 comments
Hi Katie, It’s a great post and on our trips to find the best hostels in Europe we speak to many travellers and we sometimes receive the same looks and misconceptions. They just don’t believe that hostels can offer the same facilities as hotels for a better price and with a great atmosphere.
Another thing that I also hear is that people expect that you can’t sleep in a hostel because everybody is really loud and snoring. But what people forget is that everybody who stays in a hostel is there to sleep, so people are actually really considerate while being in a dorm room. Ok, it can happen that you have a snorer in your room but that’s pure bad luck because in the last 10 years of staying in hostels I can count the amount of snorers in my room on 1 hand.
So I always try to convince people to give it a try and people are always surprised on what hostels have to offer.
Merit
http://www.goaroundeurope.com
“But what people forget is that everybody who stays in a hostel is there to sleep, so people are actually really considerate while being in a dorm room.” – Such a good point! I’m glad you agree with me that hostels offer far more positives than negatives!
Thanks for taking the time to visit – hope you pop by again soon! x
I agree! Unfortunately, my parents think that hostels are dangerous…I tried to explain to them that a lot of young people around my age stay in hostels. They would not believe me. I leave for Cancun on January 4, and my dad wants me to use his Marriott points to stay at a safer hotel. I refused! He still wants to change my mind! I cannot because I know I will be safe. I read the reviews, and the place is safe! It’s right near a bus station!
Hi Sam – I can definitely understand where your dad is coming from. But perhaps you should show him the reviews and one of my hostel videos on Youtube? I also have a friend that runs a hostel in Cancun and he’s a great guy who would never put his guests in danger! Where are you staying? And safe travels!
Unfortunately I cannot convince my parents…I showed him the reviews, but he didn’t believe Me. I will be staying at the Moloch Hostel.
Well hopefully you will have a great time and your excitement about the hostel when you return will convince them! I’ve just checked the reviews and it seems like a safe bet! If you do find you don’t like it too much, my friend’s hostel is Hostel Ka’beh (http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Hostel-Ka-beh-Cancun/Cancun/37838). I haven’t been myself and he may not be there right now, but I know he runs a great hostel from the kind of person he is 🙂
Ok thank you! The hostel is REALLY nice. Wow I can’t believe I didn’t book a reservation here! I probably didn’t because the price was a little higher. I regret it now! I will once I bring my BF with me to Cancun in the future!
Yours also looks really nice!! And I hope it is – for your dad’s sake! Do let me know how the trip goes, and travel safe!
Mexico was very nice! The hostel was very safe. I got a chance to go to Isla Mujeres, Isla Cozumel, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun! I can’t wait to go back! I will be going to Mexico City in March with my BF!
Hey Sam – thanks so much for replying and letting me know that everything went well! I’m SO glad that the hostel was nice AND safe – I hope it convinced your parents 🙂 And you did so much – you must let me know about Mexico City too 😀
Yes I will lol. I will follow you on IG too! I post most of my pictures there!
Thanks! I will!
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