What Is a Hostel?

Hostels provide accommodation where guests can rent a bed (sometimes a bunk bed) in a dormitory and share a common bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms are increasingly common in all types of hostel. All hostels are generally cheaper for both the supplier and the occupant.

 

An effort should be made to distinguish between establishments that provide longer term accommodation (often to specific classes of clientele such as nurses, students, drug addicts, arrested persons subsequently bailed to await trial and homeless people where the hostels are sometimes run by Housing Associations and charities) and those offering short term accommodation to travelers or backpackers.

Within the 'traveler' category another distinction can be drawn between those particularly encouraging outdoor activities and cultural exchange for the young.

For travelers, main benefits include the low cost of the accommodation compared to alternatives such as hotels, and the opportunity to interact more with other travellers (often from all over the world). Hostels are usually less formal and less expensive than hotels. They are most frequently used by young travellers. In the past many youth hostels imposed age limits, but today it is more common for hostels to accept guests of all ages. Despite the openness of modern hostels, the majority of guests are traditionally and overwhelmingly between the ages of 18 and 26.

 

Hostels provide opportunities for multicultural enlightenment, and are an excellent way to make new friends in a foreign environment. There is more interaction between guests than in traditional hotels, and many hostels provide activities for their guests for a nominal charge or no charge at all. It is common to see people staying at a hostel for an extended stay of few months as they enjoy the atmosphere.

Hostels also may offer many amenities and facilities such as internet access, full kitchens, laundry, discounts to popular tourist activities, and more. The local staff can be helpful in giving reliable advice about activities and nightlife.

Theft can be a problem since guests may share a common living space, but this can be prevented by locking belongings up. Most hostels offer some sort of system for safely storing your valuables, and many offer private lockers. However, for the greater part travellers are equally concerned for the well-being of their own belongings so that theft of other people's belongings rarely takes place.

 

One potential drawback to staying in hostel dormitories is the difficulty of sleeping because of noise, whether from snoring, someone returning to the room late in the evening, or just general noise from one's living surroundings. For this reason, some hostels fix times for last admission and lights out. Sharing a bedroom and separate bathroom is very different from staying in a private room at a hotel or Bed and Breakfast, and might not be comfortable for those who can afford more privacy.