VIDEO: Advantages of Solo Hostel Travel

About a month ago I received a message via the Youtube Channel from Kevin which read:

You should do a video, if you haven’t already, about the advantages of hostel surfing alone, as opposed to with a friend or group of friends. I am always preaching to people that hostel surfing alone has given me some of the greatest experiences of my life. Everyone should do it at least once.

Unfortunately I was travelling around a fair bit back then and couldn’t get the time to sit and chat with you guys! This week though I took Kevin’s tip and created the video above! I hope you enjoy it and remember to share it with your friends who may be nervous of solo hostel travel!

The Advantages of Solo Hostel Travel

1. You Will Not Be Lonely

One of the biggest myths surrounding solo hostel travel is that you won’t meet people because everyone else stays in groups. The truth is completely different, and there is a very even split between solo travellers and people who travel in couples or groups.

The important thing to remember is that the majority of other travellers who choose to stay in hostels are also looking to hang out with new people and ward off their own loneliness! In fact, I just learnt this week at the Hostel & Budget Traveller Conference that the most popular reason given for youth travellers choosing to stay in hostels over other forms of accommodation is because they want to meet other travellers (data from StayWYSE research)!

2. You Will Make Friends With Other Groups

If you do find yourself in a situation where you may be the only solo traveller in a room with a group, make conversation because chances are they would love to hear what you have to stay. Groups who travel for a long time together, and especially couples, are always looking to meet new people and have new conversations with travellers other than the ones they’ve been hanging out with every day for the last few weeks or maybe even months!

3. New Friendships are Intense…in a good way!

Essentially, the friends you make in hostels are new friends who you will spend almost entire days with. Perhaps you’ll meet someone on a walking tour, then go for lunch, do a bit more sightseeing and then party with them later in the evening! That’s a whole day of sharing jokes and new experiences and it bonds hostel guests in a very special way! Of course, you will miss these people alot when one of you moves on with their trip, but who says you can’t stay in touch!

I hope this gives some of you the confidence to break out into solo hostel travel – and feel free to let me know of any questions you might have!

Lots of love,