Thursday, 19 March 2009

  • C'mon... Hostels Aren't That Bad

    I love travel, all types of travel! I've stayed in nice hotels, yes, but I've also stayed in hostels in nearly every country I've been in. I think they're fun! I get to meet a ton of people and the prices are dirt cheap. I don't mind sleeping in a bunk bed and I don't mind taking showers in shared restrooms (as long as I'm wearing flip flops).

    I know I have some friends who would rather stay in nice and comfortable hotel rooms, that's fine. It's all a matter of preference and everyone is different. I don't judge. But for some of them, I think their idea of hostels are far worse than they really are.

    For example, before my backpacking trip to South America, a friend of mine asked me about my accommodations. I told her I'd be staying in hostels all the way through. She gave me a serious look and said, "Please, be careful." Confused, I asked her, "Why?" She responded with, "Have you ever seen the movie Hostel?"

    If you haven't heard of or seen the movie Hostel, it's about some travelers staying in hostels who get brutally murdered in many different horrible ways by a maniac doctor. I'm a weakling when it comes to scary and gory movies so I didn't watch it, but I'm sure that hostels are NOT that bad. I've stayed in many of them.

    Okay, I admit that the quality of hostels differ greatly from hostel to hostel, but none of them are that scary, right?

    Would you stay in a hostel? If you have, would you stay in one again?

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Comments (45)

  • livingfortommorow@xanga

    I stayed in one in Old Montreal and I'd definitely do it again! :)
  • pansybradshaw@xanga

    yes & yes 



    i thynk ther sexy & fun alot lyke kollij dorm lyfe witha shorter durayshun
  • Lordv16@xanga

    I loved my hostels. Each and every one of them. They make the trip THAT much better and you get to meet tons of people from all over the world!

    You do get the occasional jerk who makes as MUCH noise as they can while everyone else is sleeping. The plastic bags are the worst! Ohhhhh  plastic bags, I hate you the most!!!!!

    Hah, but no I never had a bad experience. My trip was enhanced by hostels if anything.

    Before I left for my trip, I did get a lot of people telling me to avoid them at all costs. But, these were the same people who have never been in a hostel, let alone outside of the country. I kept getting the "Oh my god, but haven't you seen the movie!?!?!".

    I usually responded with "yeah I also saw insert-fiction-movie-title-here"!
  • dannyb0y@xanga

    I had my first hostel experience and I absolutely loved it. You get to meet and talk to so many different travelers and hear their tales. It's an awesome experience.
  • the_meadow_kite@xanga

    ive stayed in hostels in england and canada, and they were awesome -particularly one in toronto. annnnnd i worked at one in amsterdam for three months, and it was the coolest job ive ever had! you get to meet everyone and just hang out and travel, its amazing!
  • Blueberry_xh@xanga

    sure, why not, as long as a safe place to stay.

  • ELIZerson@xanga

    Yes, I would.
    I would want to research certain ones and get recommendations from people who've been there though, if at all possible.
  • nattata@xanga

    I'll stay in a few hostels soon. Haven't tried it yet, at least not out of my country.
  • anne

    @the_meadow_kite@xanga - I've met people who were working at the hostels I stayed at and the stories they told me were awesome. I agree that it would be one of the coolest jobs ever!
  • pillowpixies@xanga

    It is dangerous to stay in a hostel, no matter how you cut it. You might not go through the horrors that you would in a horror movie like Hostel; but you could end up hurt, killed, or numerous other things. That's a fact that everyone who stays in those places either accepts or doesn't know about.

    I'd rather stay in a hotel.

  • musinuite@xanga

    I've only stayed in Japanese hostels, and there was certainly a range among them, but I'd do it all over again in a heart beat. I LOVE hostels. :D
  • quotes3085@xanga

    what in the hell is a hostel? don't you mean hotel? I'm so confused... ah! lol.
  • DiscoBiskitt@xanga

    yes!!! During my euro trip i slept in hostels all the way, think of that amount of $ i've saved. it beats sleeping at hotels and i get to meet people... 
  • Parsimony@xanga

    Not yet, considering it for the experience.  I heard you can meet a lot of friendly univ. students that way.
  • tigerdauphin@xanga

    I've stayed in several hostels in different countries (Europe) and I liked them all.  And I definitely did not watch Hostel for that very reason! 

    @quotes3085@xanga - No there was no misspell - she meant hostel - they're places that you can rent for really cheap prices.  Nothing fancy, and usually bunk beds, I've been in rooms with 15 other ppl at once.  Showers are communal, and usually (or at least in my experience) you get a [small] locker for your stuff.  It's just a place to sleep at night when you're tired from exploring all day.  Some hostels are located right in the hearts of the cities and are much cheaper than hotels.  I've stayed in ones that cost only about 8 euros a night.  Most I've ever paid for is 30 euros a night.
  • tigerdauphin@xanga

    @pillowpixies@xanga - hostelworld.com is a great site that will show you what hostels are available in the places you're interested in, and the costs, and they have ratings by people who have stayed there.  All the ones I've been in have never had any problems.

    It's dangerous everywhere you go - but if you have common sense and a bit of street smart, you'll be fine.  Us people who have stayed in hostels are not ignorant of the fact that it can be dangerous - but then again, when you exit your hotel and go exploring... that's dangerous too.
  • tigerdauphin@xanga

    @Lizbeth8207@xanga - hostelworld.com
  • the_wasteland_125@xanga

    i love hostels. they are the way to go. i have stayed in tons since my move to europe and i have never had a complaint.


    i want to end up working at a hostel next time i come here to france to finish my studies. great way to make money and meet people.

  • krissierae08@xanga

    I'd probably research it first, and it depends on who all I'd be traveling with. I'd honestly feel safer in a hotel where I'd have my own room, but anything can happen anywhere.
  • anne

    @tigerdauphin@xanga - i love hostelworld.com! i use that site all the time.

  • tigerdauphin@xanga

    @anne - YAY!  I can't believe how many people don't know of it.
  • GoodbyeSickan@xanga

    Hostels, at least in europe, awesome.  The people are nice and much friendlier than at hotels.  The movie "Hostel" is as much like real hostels as the movie "Cars" is like real cars.
  • psuedomattmatt@xanga

    Yes, Hostels aren't that bad... Give it a try! 
  • kachino@xanga

    Yeah, plenty of fun... however, not always that clean though...
  • that_anonymous_one@xanga

    I've stayed in many hostels, mostly in Europe. They vary greatly, and I rely a lot on Hostelworld.com to give me reviews on which ones are clean enough for my personal standards.


    I admit that as a young female I probably wouldn't stay in a hostel alone. That may be me being overcautious, but I've heard a few horror stories. I always travel with at least one friend when I stay in hostels.


    It is fantastic, though, meeting new people! Youth hostels are the best because I can meet people like me traveling on a budget and I often explore the area with new friends. One thing's for sure, it's never boring. Especially when there's someone who snores in the room.


    I always grab a top bunk. Somehow I feel more comfortable when I know no one will be above me. So far I've not had anything stolen or been particularly uncomfortable in any of the hostels I've stayed in. Plus they're SO cheap!

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