{"id":176,"date":"2019-01-31T14:15:24","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T14:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=161017"},"modified":"2019-01-31T14:15:24","modified_gmt":"2019-01-31T14:15:24","slug":"why-i-still-stay-in-hostels-when-i-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/31\/why-i-still-stay-in-hostels-when-i-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Still Stay in Hostels When I Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tallin
\nPosted:<\/strong> 1\/31\/2019 | January 31st, 2019<\/p>\n

People are always shocked when they find out I that I still stay in hostels.<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you too old for that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would you still want to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you actually make money? Are you still too broke for an Airbnb?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you even sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

And what\u2019s even more shocking to people is that while I often stay in a hostel private room, I also still stay in dorms!<\/p>\n

(If anyone has followed on Twitter<\/a> while I\u2019ve been in Colombia<\/a>, you\u2019ll know my dorm room pains!)<\/p>\n

Why do I do this to myself? Why do I still stay in hostels?<\/p>\n

Three reasons.<\/p>\n

The first: I\u2019m cheap.<\/a> You can\u2019t teach an old dog new tricks. I started out \u2014 and stayed \u2014 a budget traveler because I just don\u2019t like to spend money. <\/p>\n

Especially on rooms I\u2019ll just be in for a few hours. <\/p>\n

I look at prices for hotels and private rooms<\/a> and think, \u201cWell, a dorm is only $10, so why not?!\u201d <\/p>\n

True, I often regret that decision, since I also don\u2019t sleep well, but money is money \u2014 and hostels are cheap! <\/p>\n

The second is that they provide me with on-the-ground information about what budget travelers and backpackers are doing. (First came the backpackers, then everyone else, I like to say.) Backpackers and hostel staff know<\/em> where to find things to do on a budget. They have lots of hacks<\/a> and are a good source of information and resources I might not know about. I can learn about new apps, get hot tips, and discover places or events to check out. <\/p>\n

They know the best markets, cheap places to eat, and off-beat destinations. <\/p>\n

Hostels are where I get the information I can use to unlock the mystery of how to see a destination on a budget.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Hostels are my source of travel trends. <\/p>\n

In fact, I think hostels, their staff, and the backpacker crowd are an underutilized resource \u2013 regardless of your age or travel style. You don\u2019t get travelers swapping tips at a hotel bar the way you do a hostel bar. So, if you\u2019re looking for information \u2014 a hot new attraction, a cool local tour, new restaurants, a great dive bar, tips on getting around cheaper \u2014 go to a hostel bar. Most hostels have bars open to the public until a certain hour. Meet some backpackers. Make some friends. Learn something new! <\/p>\n

Additionally, even if you aren\u2019t staying at a hostel, you can go in and ask the staff questions. They field more inquiries about \u201cunique, weird, and local\u201d things to do than your Airbnb host or a hotel concierge. <\/p>\n

And, finally, and most important, reason: I like the social vibe.<\/p>\n

I think hotels are boring, and I don\u2019t want to stay in an Airbnb by myself. Hostels are full of friendly travelers. I can swap tips, have a few conversations, get some travel buddies, and generally socialize! (Yes, you can do that with locals too, but you know what I mean.)<\/p>\n

Hostels are just fun. I miss them when I\u2019m not staying at them. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s usually a bar, events going on, activities, people hanging out, a pool table \u2013 there are lots of ways to connect with other travelers in a hostel. <\/p>\n

The common areas are meant for people to interact. Even if I\u2019m not looking for a rager, it\u2019s still nice to head down, grab a beer, and chat with people for a bit. <\/p>\n

How could I ever leave that? It\u2019s way better than watching Netflix! <\/p>\n

While I may not be the most \u201cbudget\u201d traveler these days as I don\u2019t often cook when I travel (if I\u2019m not in an expensive country like Switzerland<\/a>), I destroy my $50-per-day budget on nice food when I travel, and I would rather take the quickest \u2014 not the cheapest \u2014 transportation, I still am cheap as hell (see reason number #1 above), and I like writing about budget travel. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t ever see myself not staying in hostels for at least part of my travels. <\/p>\n

They are home. <\/p>\n

You should make them your home too.<\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a> or Momondo<\/a>. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewher eother than a hotel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads<\/a> for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n