I Think You Misspelled "Hotel" #Hostel

Okay. This post is mainly for Americans. I have heard this so many times. Most people think I'm speaking with an accent, mispronouncing the word "hotel", or misspelling the word "hotel" if I text them. My favorite is when people ask me about staying in "hostiles".

Sadly, this is what many Americans think of when you say "hostel":

What is a hostel?
Hostels are cheap places to stay normally with dorm rooms (and bunk beds), a kitchen, and common room. The people there are normally 18-30 year old people who like to travel. A lot of backpackers.

Hostel vs Hostel.

hotel

For me, I like hotels when I don't want to meet people, but just be fancy and relaxed. Let's face it: most people who stay in hotels are not there to make friends with other people in the hotel but to enjoy their vacation. Hotels are clean; maids will clean up after you every day. Things are supposed to look nice and uppity. You can throw your stuff around for the duration of your stay and know it is safe because only you have access to the space. It's a lot easier. Room service. However, when you are travelling, unless you have people to split the cost with, the price adds up very very quickly.

I feel more relaxed at hostels. I don't ever feel like people are judging me, not to say that people are judging me in hotels, but I feel like I don't have to act so proper at hostels. I feel like I'm among peers who understand my nomadic spirit. People are just so nice and willing to be your friend if you let them. People will welcome you into their lives for the short time you are together. These people are really just there to have a place to sleep, meet people, and enjoy themselves. They are not there to rob you as you sleep or take advantage of you. As usual, be a smart and aware traveler, but don't assume everyone is out to get you in a hostel. The staff cleans the bathrooms daily, so they are cleanest during the day (when everyone is away from the hostel).

What you need to ask yourself before staying in a hostel:

• Are you okay sleeping in the same room with a bunch of strangers? If you are, stay in the dorm rooms, because it's the cheapest options. The more people in a room together, the cheaper it will be.If you're not okay with it, consider splurging for a private room or go to a hotel.
• Are you a germaphobe? The rooms get messy. The bathrooms get dirty. They get dirtier the more people who share them.
• If you are okay with sleeping in the same room as a bunch of strangers, do you want them to be the same sex as you?  Hostels mostly offer mixed dorms, female-only dorms, and, personally I don't take too much notice how often this happens, male-only dorms.
• Do you have to have wifi at all times to survive? Most hostels have free wifi in the common rooms, but it may not extend to the bedrooms.  

What you should expect:

• Communal bathrooms. By the end of the day, these can get dirty and wet. If lots of people are showering, the bathroom floors get wet. If you are showering in a communal shower, you may also want to get shower shoes if that freaks you out. Ensuite rooms have the bathroom in the room with you, so you don't have to go to the hall to use the bathroom. 
• Bunk beds. You quickly learn if you prefer top or bottom. I have seen dorms from 4 to 20 beds. When you check in, they may give you the bedding to put on the bed yourself. Then you take it off the bed when you leave. 
• Lockers for pricier personal items. Personally, I use lockers provided maybe 25% of the time. I keep my luggage out. If I'm remember or care, I'll put my electronics in the locker. Most lockers are not meant for your whole luggage, but for you valuables. I wouldn't worry about trying to fit everything you brought with you into a locker. 
• Common courtesy. Most of these people are fellow travelers and kindred spirits. They will be quiet when they see you are sleeping. They will offer advice and tips if they've been to where you are going. People won't touch your stuff because they expect you not to touch their stuff. 
• Friendly people who want to get to know you. They like to offer advice and tips if you are traveling somewhere they've been before. 
• Communal Kitchens- Most hostels will have kitchens. They will have plates, bowls, refrigerators, cooking things, and utensils. You can cook there, store food there, and reheat food there. You will be expected to clean up after yourself. Wash and dry your dishes. Put stuff away where you found it. 
• Sometimes the bedrooms are small or a little more cramped than you are used to. Hostels are really meant for people who just want a place to sleep and not hang out in their beds all day.
• You will probably see people in various stages of undressing. Many people are super okay with you seeing them in their underwear. 
• Relaxed atmosphere. 
• There may be a limited number of electrical outlets in the room. The best hostels have a plug at every bed, but sadly, this is not yet the norm. 
• There are a wide range of hostels. There are some hostels that are so sketchy, that you'll get bed bug bites. There are also hostels that feel like B&B's. There are hostels that feel like resorts, complete with pools and social activities every night. There are party hostels, where people party till all hours of the night; hostels that are known for being nice and quiet. There are hostels that are family friendly where you'll see children or old people. You really just have to know what to look for and read between the lines to know what the hostel atmosphere they are promoting before you choose a hostel. It's the same for any hotel you choose.

What you may want to bring:

• ear plugs- this is ideal because people are coming into the room late, and some are leaving early. If you are a light sleeper, you'll probably be woken up multiple times a night. Also, there is almost always that one person you want to kill because they are snoring so loudly. 
  
• sleep mask- most people will never turn on the dorm light at night if they see if off because people in hostels are generally really courteous to others. They will assume people are asleep and use a flashlight. Still, this might wake you up, or the sun in the morning will wake you up. Also, you might be trying to be courteous if you are going to bed earlier than everyone, you might just leave the light on, put your face mask on, and sleep.
• shower shoes- please see my communal bathroom comment about the wet floors.
• a quick dry towel - about 90% of hostels have towels you can rent. Sometimes they provide them for you for free. If you go to hostels a lot, I recommend investing in a quick dry towel, like the REI Multi-Towel Lite XL. Personally, I'm obsessed. You can take a shower, completely dry off, and the towel will barely be damp. I bought one for each of my siblings who like to travel. 

To book a hostel:

Personally, I always use Hostelworld.com. You can search for the hostels by city and then sort by ratings or facilities that they offer. For beginners, I would say, don't stay at a place with under an 80% overall rating. You're also going to want some place with a great location, so make sure to look at that. I check for 80%+ overall rating. 90%+ location rating. 80%+ cleanliness and facilities. Then I check the most recent reviews to see what people are currently saying about the place. You want to make sure it's near public transportation, especially if you have heavy or big luggage. Then select the room type you want. It's pretty simple. They only make you pay about 10% or 12% of the whole cost up front. This is great for one person to book for everyone, and everyone pays for themselves when they arrive and give a bit of cash back to the person who booked.