Not only is sleeping in hostels a great way to save money while traveling, but they are also amazing for meeting other travelers and making new friends. But if you’re new to hostels, they can seem intimidating and even a bit scary. You may have some frequently asked questions about hostels (or FAQ’s). If you, read on to find your answers!

Staying in a bunk bed with a communal bathroom? Might seem a bit daunting at first thought, but let me tell you, there’s more to hostels than what meets the eye.

Hostels aren’t as scary as some people think. Sure, you’re in a room with random travelers and you’re not sure of the rules. If you’re not sure what to expect or how to act in a hostel, read on.

This list of hostel frequently asked questions are all ones I’ve personally learned myself, or been asked by friends or random people over the last 6 years of travel.

Chances are not every single question about hostels will be answered here (leave a comment with a question below and I’ll gladly update this article to include some helpful ones I may have missed!). One of the best ways to find out the specific etiquette of a certain hostel is to just ask, either the staff or another traveler in your room.

Asking questions about a hostel, especially if you’re new to the setup, can avoid awkward situations later in your stay, helps you feel more comfortable and adjusted to your accommodation – and it might even spark a new friendship!

So, what are some common questions about hostels?

 

Well, what is a hostel?

A hostel is a form of accommodation that is popular with the backpacker and budget travelers as it is often much cheaper than a hotel or B&B – especially if you’re a solo traveler on a tight budget.

Hostels consist of dormitories mainly. In a hostel dorm, there are others sleeping in the same room as you. This shared accommodation extends to the washrooms and any other facilities available in the hostel.

Staying in a hostel is a great way to not only save money while traveling but meet new people from all over the world in a communal space.

There’s also a huge difference between hostels and hotels.

 

What are common frequently asked questions about hostels?

I’m sure the number of frequently asked questions about hostels is almost unlimited. Hostels are incredibly diverse and no matter the type of traveler you are, there are options out there to suit your style of travel.

Due to the range, frequently asked questions about hostels (or FAQs about hostels) will never be a 100% complete list (I’ll keep this post updated as your questions pile in – so leave me your hostel questions below).

You can have party hostels, hostels that give free tours of the area, or quiet and relaxed hostels by the beach. Hostels can be anywhere from 3 or 4 beds (not including private hostel rooms) to a 100-person tent (there’s only the one I know of, in Munich, Germany).

Point being, there will always be more frequently asked questions about hostels to ask – but here are the common ones I’ve heard and asked myself in 7 years of staying in them.

 

Can anyone stay in a hostel?

Most of the time, yes, anyone can stay in a hostel. However, sometimes there are pretty specific guidelines for who can stay in a certain hostel. It all comes down to the specific backpacker hostel property.

For example, some hostels are only open to certain genders, although most hostels, in general, will have gender-specific rooms as well as mixed (or co-ed) rooms. Like female-only dormitories, for example. Other hostels define as “youth hostels”, and only allow guests that are under a certain age.

While some hostels do restrict themselves to certain guests, the vast majority are open to anyone, regardless of what age, nationality, or gender you identify as. It doesn’t matter to most hostels because they want to provide backpackers with cheap accommodation.

The terms of staying in a hostel should be clearly stated in the description or when you go to book a bed at the hostel.

 

How much does it cost to stay in a hostel?

Usually, staying in a hostel will be much cheaper than a hotel, especially if you’re traveling solo. But the cost of a hostel bed varies a lot. A rough average of the hundreds of hostels I’ve personally stayed in, would probably be around $10-20 USD per night.

It’s difficult to give a specific average as hostels in different parts of the world, and even different parts of the same city or town, vary greatly in cost. For example, I live in Edmonton, Canada, and the only hostel left to book tonight is up for $58 USD for a single dorm bed. Compare that to Siem Reap in Cambodia, where there are many hostel beds going for $5 USD a night.

It also depends on the time of year you visit. Staying in New York City over New Year’s Eve will see the cost shoot through the roof, compared to South East Asia in the quieter rainy season, you’ll have plenty to pick from at cheap prices.

 

What is the difference between a hostel and a hotel?

There are a few main differences between a hostel and a hotel.

Usually, a hostel will be much cheaper than a hotel. If you’re staying in a dormitory, you’re sharing a room with a number of others, rather than paying more for your own privacy as is typical in a hotel.

Privacy is another major difference between a hotel and a hostel. Your bed will often be a bunk bed situation. That means there will be people sleeping in the same room as you. With there being others in the room, having your own space can be difficult or even impossible.

The facilities in the hostel will be shared with every other guest. There will be bathrooms on most floors as well as showers.  A kitchen is a common feature of a hostel for guests to cook their own meals,  making it even cheaper to travel.

Hotels are much more private, but you pay extra for that luxury. Be aware that some hostels also offer private rooms instead of dorm rooms, so you can have more privacy at usually a cheaper rate than a hotel There’s more detail on private rooms in hostels below.

In my experience, you get a lot more information provided about the local area and activities. Hostels also often host little events to bring travelers together and opportunities for meeting others like pub crawls, drink nights, game nights, etc.

 

How do you choose the right hostel?

Choosing the right hostel is a difficult question, and one I’m not going to touch in this post. There are far too many things to weigh in on. It needs its own post. Here’s a detailed post on how to choose the perfect hostel for your trip.

 

Are there private rooms in Hostels?

Yes, many, but not all, hostels have both dormitory style and private rooms available.

Private rooms in hostels have the best of both worlds. You get your own privacy, with the added benefits of a hostel – it’s cheaper and easier to meet other travelers.

When booking a hostel, look at the different styles of rooms available. You can choose what style of hostel accommodation you’re after. Usually, there will be plenty of different hostels in major cities and even smaller towns.

 

How many people are in a hostel room?

Usually, a hostel room won’t have more than 12 beds. But it all depends on the layout of the room and the hostel itself.

Generally speaking, the more people in your room, the cheaper your bed will be.

By staying in a private room in a hostel you won’t be interrupted by late-night entrances or snorers sleeping in the same room as you.

 

Are hostels dangerous?

No. Hostels aren’t dangerous. Most hostels have a check-in system that prevents non-guests from getting in the hostel. Some have curfews and swipe cards to get in and out of the building and individual rooms.

While hostels aren’t dangerous, that doesn’t mean your things are going to necessarily be safe. Read more below on keeping your belongings safe in a hostel.

While hostels are safe, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the same amount of care as you normally would in any normal situation. Always use common sense, and places like Hostelworld and Booking.com will have a rating system, location and a rundown of what to expect staying in the backpacker hostel.

 

How do I keep my things safe in a hostel?

Keeping your personal items safe while staying in a hostel is a big thing. That’s not to say that your stuff is going to be snatched the first second you turn your back though.

Most theft is opportunistic. Meaning if you leave your wallet or expensive camera sitting out in plain sight, not everyone is as honest as you and may take it before you return.

Keeping your valuables, like passport, phone, wallet etc out of sight is an important way of keeping your things safe in hostels. By keeping your bag tidy, preferably zipped up and out of the way, makes it much more of a challenge for some would-be thief.

Most hostels will provide some sort of locker. This might be only a small size – a day pack with the most valuable items being able to fit, while other lockers can store your whole bag. A decent padlock is a must-have item if you’re getting into backpacking. Most hostels won’t provide a lock so you’ll need to provide your own. You may be able to buy a padlock at the hostel, but often you won’t have that option.

Keeping your items safe while in a hostel is a constant thing on many travelers’ minds, but it’s pretty easy and simple to follow the basic steps. Keep clean, tidy and keep valuables out of sight.

 

What is the best hostel booking site?

The best hostel booking site is a highly debated topic and seems to be quite subjective – meaning everyone has their personal favorite and tends to stick to one or two hostel booking services.

While there are plenty of hostels on Booking.com, and a wide range of other accommodations, it’s easy to filter out accommodation prices to fit your budget.

Sometimes, a town, and even sometimes a city, won’t have any hostels. It’s rare but it does happen. In this case, you’re already on a site that provides great hotel prices and deals to go along with it. There’s also a pretty generous cancellation policy.

Booking.com is especially budget-friendly throughout Asia.

Another trusted website is Hostelworld.com. During my travels throughout Europe, Hostelworld is primarily my source for booking hostels. As you can probably guess by the name, Hostelworld focuses solely on hostels. You will sometimes pay a 10% deposit and the rest once you arrive at the hostel.

If Hostelworld is booked out for the accommodation you want, you can try Hostelbookers.com, another major hostel booking site that has a separate number of allocated beds for reservation. If one is completely booked out, it doesn’t mean the other will be. This goes the same for other booking sites.

One last point to make. Sometimes a hostel will allow bookings through their own site. This usually means the price of a bed will be less than booking through another site like the ones mentioned above. If you’re on a shoestring budget and don’t mind a little extra legwork, that’s a great way to save a few extra bucks.

 

Do I need to book hostels in advance?

Yes, booking hostels in advance is sometimes necessary. Especially at times when there’s a lot of people visiting a location. New Year’s Eve in New York City? Oktoberfest in Munich? Expect hostels (and every accommodation) to book out much quicker than usual – and also expect the price to spike in anticipation of large events.

If you’re traveling Asia in low season, for example, booking in advance might not be required – it wasn’t for most of my travels through the continent in 2017.

 

Do I need a towel in a hostel?

Most hostels will not provide a towel. It’s pretty common practice for backpackers to carry their own towel with them.

Sometimes a hostel will provide guests with a towel. I find this is more common in a private room, but many hostels throughout South East Asia came with a complimentary towel. It’s always a good feeling to not have a damp towel in your bag! (Pro tip: make sure you buy a microfiber towel for quick drying).

Some hostels will rent out towels if you forget or lose yours.

 

Do hostels have WiFi?

Yes, pretty much every single hostel these days will come with WiFi included. Even in rural Laos, where the streets were made up of 90% dirt and potholes, there was WiFi.

To connect you may need to get a password from hostel reception and connect to a certain network.

 

Do hostels have curfews?

Yes, some hostels do have curfews. This is very dependent on the property. Party hostels will usually have no curfew to accommodate those staying out into the early hours of the morning. But if you’re staying in a quiet part of a city, where there are many residential houses, then the hostel may try and restrict the hours that guests are allowed to wander home, possibly drunk and loud.

If the hostel has a curfew, it should be listed clearly in the description of the property.

 

How do you stay safe in a hostel?

Staying safe in a hostel isn’t really difficult. Common sense goes a long way. While I’ve seen plenty of disagreements and even arguments in hostels over the years, none have ever turned violent. For the most part, others are respectful, as long as that respect is mutual.

It’s common for hostels to have a no outsider policy. Meaning only guests of the hostel are able to enter. Sometimes, visitors of hostel guests are allowed, but never overnight.

Staying safe in hostels isn’t hard to do, for the most part, using common sense and being aware of your surroundings should allow you to avoid any unsafe situations.

 

Do hostels have pillows and sheets?

Yes, hostels do provide pillows. I have not visited a hostel ever that did not provide their guests with pillows. In saying that, not all hostel pillows are comfortable… I think resting my head on a regular house brick would be been more comfortable than some of the pillows I’ve seen, but they are provided nonetheless.

 

Can you share a bed in a hostel?

Usually, sharing a bed in a hostel is not allowed. I have never seen a bed in a dormitory room that sharing was allowed – not to say it doesn’t happen, because it does, but it is against the rules of the hostel. Not that I’ve ever seen it really enforced.

Sharing a bed in a private room is common though. A double bed in a private hostel room is quite common. You can choose what style of bed (if available) when picking the style of room you’re after at booking.

 

How late can you check in to a hostel?

Hostel check-in usually begins in the early afternoon. Anywhere from 12-4pm is a pretty common time to be allowed into your dorm or private hostel room.

However, some places allow early check-in. If this is a feature of the hostel it will say it on the list of facilities. If you’re a little lucky, you might be allowed into your hostel dorm or private room if it wasn’t used the night before and you’re unlikely to disturb other guests. I wouldn’t count on this as it doesn’t happen often.

How late check-in remains open is variable. Some have stricter policies where you can only check in until 8pm for example, others allow you to check-in even past midnight. While helpful when you have that late-arriving plane or train, be mindful of other guests if you’re coming in at these hours.

 

Can I arrive at a hostel before check-in?

Absolutely. Almost every hostel I’ve ever seen allows you to at least drop your bags off. Most of the time you’ll put your bags behind the counter or locked away in a secure room. You can then go explore the city/town and when you return to the hostel for check-in, just grab your bag before heading to your room.

Often you can also use the hostel facilities like the common room and showers before you have access to your actual room.

 

Does every hostel have luggage storage?

Most hostels will offer luggage storage for those who arrive before check-in, are moving rooms or are checking out but not leaving just yet, and it’s almost always free of charge.

You can rest easy knowing your bag is being looked after while you’re out and about exploring this new destination.

 

Do hostels have laundry?

Some hostels do have laundry. If a hostel does have a laundry room or offer some sort of clothes cleaning service, it will be listed in the facilities on offer section.

While there are some hostels where you do the laundry yourself, some outsource this process. If you gather your clothes and let someone else do your washing, you will have to pay a little extra for this service. It usually takes a few hours or a day to get your clothes back.

 

Do hostels have showers?

Protip: One thing, you will likely want to bring shower shoes/sandals/thongs. Some showers in hostels are nasty. Tinea is an unwelcome souvenir to bring home with you and is not uncommon.

Yes, hostels have showers. Depending on the hostel and location, it might not be what you’re used to.

They might not always be super clean, have hot water or great water pressure. There’s a couple of hostels I’ve visited that has the bucket shower (where you use a bucket to tip water over yourself.) but this is pretty rare.

Most hostels will have decent showers. Hot water is very common throughout many places in the world.

 

Do hostels have shampoo?

Some hostels have shampoo, but not many. For the most part, you will want to bring your own toiletries with you to a hostel.

This includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste. Hostels will rarely provide toiletries like them free of charge.

 

What is a shared bathroom at a hostel?

A hostel shared a bathroom is a toilet and/or shower that is shared by other guests in the hostel.

A hostel shared bathroom can be inside every room, on every floor, every few floors or in specifically designated locations.

One of the biggest challenges of staying in a hostel is picking the right time to find an empty shower in the morning.

 

What is a hostel common room?

A hostel common room is a place where all guests staying in the hostel can relax and interact with each other. It’s one of the best places to strike up a conversation with another traveler.

Hostel common rooms come in plenty of different forms. Probably the most common is one in the lobby and close to reception. Common rooms can be bars or rooftop terraces.

Some hostels have multiple large common areas, some only just have a small space. Some have TVs, pool tables and foosball tables, some have a bar. Some have just a picnic bench. It really just depends

Really anywhere that is open to all guests can be a common room in a hostel.

 

What are the best ways to book a hostel?

Please note, some links below are affiliate links. By clicking and making a purchase through these links, I earn a small commission. This doesn’t increase the cost for you and is a great way to support this site.

There are plenty of hostel booking sites out there and which one to use is pretty subjective. Two places I’d suggest to check and compare prices are Hostelworld and Booking.com.

Alternatively, some hostels (like the one I stayed in Phong Nha, Vietnam) require you to book through their website and don’t offer beds on any 3rd party website.

If you have your sights set on one hostel, but one site shows it’s booked out, you can always try a competitor, as they may have available beds.

 

So, there you have some frequently asked questions about hostels

I hope this post covered any questions on hostels you have – but if there are still things you’d like to know about backpacker hostels or any extra tips or questions I’ve overlooked, please let me know in the comments below!

If you found this post helpful, there are a few things you can do from here:

• Share this to social media help others find the information. Use the buttons to the left or down the bottom if you’re on mobile.
• Sign up to Horizon Unknowns Newsletter for more helpful information. Plus you’ll get a free 8-page travel checklist to help you travel better!
• Read more travel tips below!

 

More travel tips on Horizon Unknown

• A massive article on travel tips
• How to overcome and enjoy a culture shock
• Why travel insurance is a necessity

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown