There are a number of differences between hostels and hotels – it’s all boils down to what you are after. Since you’re going to be the one laying your head down, this post will help you decide on a hostel or hotel. To make things easy, I’ve made this article a competitive one. A straight hostel vs hotel pros and cons of each.

I have my personal favorite contender in the hostel vs hotel matchup. But I’m going to keep my personal view from getting in the way of the differential facts. (Read on until the bottom if you’re still curious about which is my favorite).

So, let’s dive into 9 differences between hostels and hotels, put them head to head and discover why one beats the other in certain ways.

 

What is the main difference between a hostel and hotel?

Before we get into the 9 points that separate a hotel and hostel, we should be clear about why they are completely separate styles of accommodation.

The main difference between a hostel and a hotel is the style of room.

A hotel is a private room, with an attached bathroom. You will have this whole area to yourself and other members of your party.

On the other hand, a hostel will most likely see you sharing a room and bathroom with other travelers, a dormitory-style setting. You will get your own bed, most likely a bunk bed (you won’t be sharing the sheets with anyone else). You’ll also be sharing the shower and toilets with other guests (once again, not at the same time, that would be just plain weird!).

The number of guests in a dorm will depend greatly on the hostel. It’s usually in the neighborhood of 4 to 12 people to a room (although I have stayed in a 100-person tent).

So there you have it. That is the main difference between a hostel and hotel. And while some positives and negatives might seem obvious, there are a number of unseen factors in the hostel versus hotel battle.

 

Nine hostel vs hotel differences – and which one is better suited to you?

Choosing a winner between hostels and hotels is easy for me. But every traveler is unique and looking for something different.

Even the same traveler might have different preferences depending on the type of adventure they are taking.

So, I’ve put together these 9 points and tried to define a winner (putting my personal feelings aside) from the blunt facts of which accommodation is better suited to each traveler.

Let’s get into the fight between hostels and hotels!

 

#1 Privacy

Privacy. This is a big one. It’s probably the biggest difference between hostels and hotels.

Why? It all comes down to the style of rooms most common in hostels and hotels.

Hotels are walled off from anyone outside of your group, While in hostels, you could be sharing a room with any number of random people.

Mostly, travelers in hostels are respectful of one another. They won’t kick the door down while you’re taking a shower, but every now and then, you might encounter a hostel guest who thinks walking around in undies or intoxicated yelling and flipping on light switches at 2am is appropriate. It does happen. But it isn’t as common as you may think.

Learn all about your hostel etiquette here, and any questions you have about hostels answered here!

In the end, you’re sharing a room, a bathroom, a common room and pretty much every hostel facility apart from your bed itself. Some hostels provide privacy curtains to shield the line of sight from other guests. But most of the time, other guests will be able to see you.

A shared bathroom means you might have to wait for someone else to finish their morning shower. It can be a little inconvenient at times.

If you’re about to catch a flight, need some alone time or just getting over a bout of sickness, then privacy might be a great thing for you. If you’re visiting a city for business, having your own private room would probably be a great thing.

One final point, many hostels, especially around Asia, have private hostel rooms. This gives you the best of both worlds, so to speak. They are usually much cheaper than a hotel room and you get much more privacy than a hostel dorm. Plus you get all the added benefits of a hostel that are listed below. A private hostel room is a great way to test out if hostels are a good fit for you or not.

If you’re traveling and want your privacy, then a hotel is the winner here. If you’re looking to interact with other travelers, and don’t mind a little less privacy, then hostels could easily wint this category.

Since there is much greater privacy in a hotel room, I’ll say hotels win this one.

 

#2 Budget

One of the most important, if not the most important question, how much do you want to spend on a hotel or hostel?

As mentioned above, hotels have much more privacy than a hostel, but that difference comes with a larger price tag. Because you’re sleeping in the same room and sharing other amenities, the cost of a room is divided up among the guests, making it much cheaper.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, but want that privacy, many hostels now offer private rooms. This gives you the facilities of the hostel but privacy of your own room and possibly even a private bathroom.

Even if you go the hostel route, it doesn’t mean all budget hostels are gross and cuts corners on cleanliness and safety. Hostels can be immaculate and even though plenty of random people are spending the night in the same room, as long as you’re responsible for your things, you shouldn’t have any problems.

If budget is less of an option, or you can justify the extra cost (having your own room when you’re sick is a great thing) then a hotel can be well worth it. But for budget accommodation, hostels beat hotels hands down.

Hostels are just too cheap!

 

#3 Atmosphere

Atmosphere can come in plenty of different forms, but what vibe is offered by hostels and hotels is very different.

For the most part, hotels are professional and business orientated. Interaction with other guests is minimal and staff are usually discouraged from being anything less than professional towards guests.

If that’s the atmosphere you’re after, relaxed where you’re in the peace and quiet of your own room, then a hotel provides what you’re after. If you’re looking to mingle and have a more lively or communal vibe, hostels may be what you’re after.

Hostels are much more personable. Common rooms (kitchens, lounge areas, etc), restaurants and bars actively encourage interaction between travelers. As all facilities are shared in a hostel, meeting other guests is pretty much a given.

Getting talking with other travelers over a happy hour (or even free) beer in a hostel is one of the easiest settings to strike up a conversation and possibly meet new friends.

On top of that, hostel staff are usually interesting themselves and allow much more of their personality to shine through in their interaction with guests. They are often travel-minded people as well so making a connection is much easier than in a hotel.

The reason why a hostel atmosphere is clear cut above a hotel, is because you can shop around for the atmosphere you’re seeking. Want a party hostel where pub crawls are nightly and no one gets back until the early hours of the morning? They are common. Want a relaxed sun and beach vibe to chill out? There are plenty of those out there too.

Hostels take this round against hotels as there is much more variety in the atmosphere to be found. Plus, interaction with people while you travel is a huge part of the atmosphere – and it’s so much more free and easy at a hostel rather than a hotel.

 

#4 Amenities and facilities

Facilities are one topic I think will surprise many people. Many facilities are interchangeable from hostels to hotels. Meaning almost all facilities can be present in either hostels or hotels. I’ve read many articles about hotels having way more to offer guests than hostels, but I disagree with that view.

Sure, hotels can have gyms and saunas, but for the most part, as a traveler, those facilities are almost useless to me. I want to meet people, tell stories and use my accommodation as a base camp to explore a new city or town.

For example, many hostels throughout Asia had swimming pools. One or two went a strange step further and had saltwater swimming pools (a bit weird, but sure thing). Hostels also are sometimes fitted with restaurants and a tour counter.

The potential downside of all these hostel facilities is they are going to be shared, including your bathroom.

Many hostels near airports provide some sort of shuttle service similar to hotels. Breakfast is another add-on that is common with hostels, even though they are sometimes basic, they are also similar to hotels.

The main difference when it comes to food, is many hostels give you access to a fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to save more money by cooking your own meals.

Back a decade or so ago, hostel amenities may have been severely lacking when compared to hotels – but I don’t believe that’s the case anymore.

I think this category between hostels and hotels is very close – it all depends on what you’re looking for. For the sake of naming a winner, I’ll say hostels.

 

#5 Interaction

Integration with both guests and staff is vastly different at hostels compared with hotels. If you’re looking to meet people, both locals and travelers, there’s a clear winner in this category.

Hotels are private, meaning the chances you get to meet others are considerably fewer. The best chances to meet other guests are usually the common areas – swimming pool and gym are two good examples. But the lobbies of hotels aren’t really made for interaction between guests.

Hostels are pretty much the exact opposite. Hostels are full of places that help break the ice with other travelers. Travelers staying at a hostel can usually find some sort of connection with their fellow hostel-mates; whether its tips on cool things to see in the area, or that sweet pancake breakfast in the morning. It’s easier to have meaningful interaction with others with common ground.

Private hostel rooms are a way to have the best of both worlds. While you don’t get the people to talk to in a private room, you have access to all the common facilities on offer at the hostel. You can still meet people at the pool or bar and have a meaningful conversation very easily.

If you’re after interaction with other travelers – you can’t beat the laid back and relaxed setting of a hostel.

 

#6 Staff

Staff are another category that can be pretty close depending on the type of information and interaction you’re after.

Hotel staff are usually more professional than those working in a hostel. Encouraged to keep a polished appearance, this prevents them from being personable in many ways. This doesn’t mean the information you get from hotel staff isn’t accurate and valuable, but it’s just how it’s delivered that makes all the difference.

Hostel staff are often encouraged to be themselves and go out of their way to interact with guests. This includes running tours like pub crawls and walking tours. In Myanmar, I was lucky enough to tag along with 4 hostel staff going for a tea break down the road. Not saying that couldn’t happen in a hotel, it’s just much more unlikely.

That’s not to say hostel staff can’t be professional, and that hotel staff are never personable – it’s just that hostel staff are usually a little more free to let their personality shine – which for me, adds value to the information they are telling me.

Staff are similar in both hostels and hotels. No matter where you go, there will always be good staff and the bad staff, but hostel staff have given me some of the best tips that has made a city or town for me – not just once, but many many times. I’ve not experienced this to that degree in my hotel experiences.

So staff are another topic that might shift your opinion towards hotels if you’re after that more professional service, but for me, hostel staff win hands down against hotels.

 

#7 Activity desk

Booking a tour through an activity desk is another feature of many hostels and hotels alike.

In all honesty, it comes down to the specific property. Hotels and hostels are similar when it comes to booking a tour or transport.

In my experience, hostel staff are much more helpful. They deal with common questions like how to catch a bus to a certain city, or what is there to do around a city. They probably get asked the same questions daily and understand those staying in a hostel are usually a bit more budget-minded.

If a hostel staff member feels strongly about an attraction or way to get around your destination, they will most likely blatantly be honest and upfront. Many of my trips have been positively influenced by hostel staff recommendations. The fact that many of the hostel staff are travelers themselves helps in them providing the best travel advice about a travel destination.

Paper maps are a common item you can get from a hostel reception as well. They can be found in some hotels but nowhere near as often in my experience. Booking buses and tours through a hostel is always easy, the receptionist will usually be fine with calling the company and reserving your seats or spots.

Hostel tour desks are full of practical and useful information for travelers. That’s why hostels win this battle as well.

 

#8 Level of freedom

If you’re visiting a hostel in a quiet neighborhood, it’s pretty common for there to be a curfew restricting your coming and goings throughout the night.

Party hostels are definitely an exception to this. If you’re visiting a party hostel, you’re expected to get back at random hours in the early morning. But if you’re staying at a hostel where residential houses, it’s not uncommon to have a curfew in places like this.

While most hostels won’t have a curfew set in stone, and leave it up to the guests to treat each other with courteously, they do exist and you should be aware of any lockdown times enforced in your hostel.

If you’re in a room with 10 others, you’re also much more limited in what is acceptable in hostel etiquette.  For example, walking around without clothes on is a fair bit more acceptable by yourself than with 10 strangers.

Level of freedom in travel accommodation definitely goes to hotel for this one.

 

#9 Number of choices

Finally, number of choices is an easily overlooked topic when comparing hostels and hotels.

Even in small towns where there’s not enough tourism for a hostel, there is usually some sort of hotel. If tourists visit a location, they need somewhere to sleep, but not everyone wants a hostel vibe – so hotels make more sense for owners.

While hostels have more diverse options in a large city and town, hotels are almost always the only accommodation if the town is too small to have lots of visitors.

The other factor to consider is the different types of hostels usually on offer. Want to party the night away or have a peaceful sleep, dormitory or private rooms, is a swimming pool important to have? Hostel have plenty of varied options to suit the style of every traveler.

But, seeing as even the smallest towns will have some sort of hotel, there may not be a hostel. So I’ll say hotels take this one, as they are more common than hostels.

 

So, hostels vs hotels, who wins?

Please note: Some links below are affiliate links. I earn a small amount through certain purchases you make, this does not increase the cost for you and helps support this site.

So, those are the 9 categories I came up with on how to tell which is better, hostels or hotels. A great thing about travel is you don’t have to restrict yourself to one form of accommodation exclusively. Stay in hostels for a week and hotels when you need to have some alone time with your thoughts or significant other!

I do think staying in a hostel is a great way to travel and meet people. This post on hostels versus hotels wasn’t written to talk good or bad about one or the other – rather to point out the strengths and weaknesses when compared to the other.

If a winner between hostel and hotels comes down to the 9 points available here (and I don’t believe it’s as clear cut as just counting the points up), hostels win 6-3. But it’s not always the case, I’ve stayed in many great hotels and shitty hostels. It’s a case by case basis and opinions differ from traveler to traveler.

Sneaky bonus, by staying in hostels and talking with other guests, you can get good tips about which hostels are great and which ones not so much!

You can book great hostels at Hostelworld.com or even Booking.com.

What do you take into consideration when choosing a hostel or hotel?

I would love to hear your thoughts on hostels vs. hotels. Along with any comments or questions – drop me a comment below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, here are a few things you can do from here:

• Share this post to social media – help spread the word of hostels vs hotels!
• Sign up for Horizon Unknown’s Newsletter to get more travel tips and tricks- plus I’ll give you a FREE 8 page travel checklist!
• Read more travel-related posts below!

 

Read more about travel right here:

• Want to learn how to love a culture shock?
• Why travel insurance is a must-have!
• Here’s why 18 travelers are glad they brought good travel insurance.

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown