MsWorthy

Hello -

Husband and I have booked our hotels for our 18-day Eurotrip. Just wondering if there have been people in here who have used HOSTELS during their travel. We've never been in one and is curious with how things are in a hostel. Thinking of trying out a hostel just for the sake of experience but not sure how bad it can be.

We've looked at some hostel places and the prices for 2 beds are quite comparable to 2-star hotels... Hostel would be like $40 a bed, so $80 for two people. Almost the same price as a double bed in a really cheap hotel, give or take $20.

Rubicund

It's all down to price isn't it? If you don't want the privacy and relative security that a hotel room offers, then try it out. As you say, it's like a cheap hotel and that's what you get.

If you can afford a hotel it's not worth considering a hostel, if you're really tight on budget, then it's an option.

MsWorthy

Thank you Rubicund for the quick response. Yes, it seems very budget-friendly to be in a hostel. Our main reason why we're looking at hostels too is that it sounded like people in hostels are a lot of fun - and hostels might be a good opportunity to make friends while travelling...

Other than that,not sure about facilities, etc. From pictures, they don't look bad at all.

BigRuss

What is your demographic? Hostels are usually used by young adults. If you're on your pensions, you won't quite fit.

Pintxos

You can book a private room in a hostel. It is generally comparable to a 2 star hotel in price, but you would get access to a community of well-traveled people with all the pluses and minuses of having to share a kitchen and a bathroom with them. It also depends on a hostel. There are some nice ones. For example, we stayed at a hotel in London, but checked out the Hosteling International (YHA-HI) hostel near St. Paul's Cathedral. It is housed in a former boys' school and is walking distance to many sights, including Tate Modern. We walked into the lobby and the common area of the hostel and it looked really nice and clean. So it might have been a better option in retrospect, just because it is near so many of the sights we were visiting. Whereas our hotel was very comfortable, we had to take Metro to many sights. Live and learn... Do some research on the Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree. A lot more hostel-staying backpackers hang out there, rather than here.

MsWorthy

Hi Big Russ - we are on our late twenties and closing in on 30 the next couple of years.

MsWorthy

@Pintxos - thank you for the suggestion and yes - I will look into LP's Thorn Tree. I have never came across it but will search it on Google.

stanbr

A few years ago we were on a really tight budget and decided to stay in a hostel. Athens Style. We did have a private room with bathroom but it was extremely basic. We had to use a towel as a curtain on the window.
Subsequently this hostel appears to have renovated these private rooms and are now priced higher than other hotels.

Its location was outstanding just a two minute walk to the Monestraki metro station and its rooftop bar had a great view of the Acropolis. There were lots of young people in the lobby and in the bar and there was an energetic vibe and relaxed atmosphere where people were interested in talking to each other. It certainly helped that they had 2 euro beer happy hour.
By the way we were in our late 50's at the time so age was not an issue.
Images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57632121475515
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632121475515/

Pintxos

You are totally the right demographic. I haven't been to Greece or Portugal, but Italy and Netherlands both have their share of nicer hostels. Hosteling International is a nice nonprofit chain, in Europe they are affiliated with Youth Hostel Association (YHA).

Nywoman

I have just spent a month in the Balkans staying mainly in hostels. Always private accommodations frequently my own bathroom.
You can read my trip report under Bulgaria and Nywoman. sorry don't remeber the exact title it was something really inane.
I am 74 and hardly ever book hotels, but I am willing to forego some of the so called amenities for the pleasure of being Central and meeting people.

Dayle

Hostels are a thought but with the trip you have planned I don't think you have timeto make friends. You are going to be moving fast.

No need to start second guessing now.

MsWorthy

@ Dayle - yes thank you! We are set on keeping our hotel reservations for now. Hostels seem to be filled with fun vibrant people, and it would be great to chit chat with them -- but given the time constraints this might be impossible.

Last weekend, husband and I watched a couple of movies set in Europe - Gladiator, EuroTrip, When in Rome, PS I love you, etc and we thought about the movie "Hostel" , and that got us into thinking about hostels.

ElendilPickle

>>What is your demographic? Hostels are usually used by young adults. If you're on your pensions, you won't quite fit.<<

We've stayed in hostels in New Zealand, the UK, and Chicago, and the age range goes from teen school groups to people in their 60s and up.

We usually use YHA/HI hostels and have always had a great experience with them.

Lee Ann

kybourbon

Hostels vary and more than a few have private rooms with private bathrooms. Convents and monasteries are another option and often located in the oldest parts of a city. Usually basic lodging, but a few are quite upscale. There are over 200 in Rome that have lodging.

newtome

Keep in mind you usually have to be out of a hostel during the day AND there's sometimes no place to lock your luggage even in a private room.

bvlenci

Hostels vary a lot. Many don't have daytime lockouts. Lots of families and even senior citizens stay in hostels.

Two people traveling together can usually find a cheap double hotel room for the same price as a hostel, but if there's a shared kitchen, as there usually is, you can also save money on meals.

Hostels are great for people traveling alone, because you usually do meet people, and they organize events.

Pintxos

In Portugal, they also have pousadas, which I always thought enchanting. They are, probably, at much higher price point.

WillTravel

I have never stayed in a hostel with a daytime lockout, although I have heard of the concept. Just research ahead of time.

However, except for a few specific cases, I have not found private rooms in hostels to be cheaper than what I can find for a hotel room of equivalent quality or better on other sites.

Some hostel private rooms are basically as nice as a boutique hotel -- the one I stayed at in Buenos Aires was like that. This is not commonplace, but it can happen.

chococat

Private room in a hostel can often be comparable or better than a bare bones budget motel. Check the reviews of the hostel you have in mind, of course.

mariha2912

Given your specifics, I do not see the point of booking a private room in a hostel. You will save no money versus a hotel and you have no time for hunging aroung hostel and sosialise a lot... and I doupt you will really cook a lot so you make use of the hostel facilities so I do not see the advandage on this specific trip...