Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Hostels: How to Choose and What to Expect

14 July 2025

So, you’ve decided to dive head-first into the wild, wonderful world of backpacking. You’ve bought the backpack, convinced your family you’re not going to get kidnapped by pirates, and now you’re staring down a gigantic list of hostels, wondering... what now?

Fear not, fellow adventurer! Whether you’re a hostel virgin or a seasoned traveler who’s shared a bunk bed with a snoring stranger in Budapest (true story), this guide is here to help you navigate the chaotic, quirky universe of backpacking hostels.

Grab your flip-flops, pack that half-used bottle of shampoo, and let’s dive into the ultimate guide to choosing the right hostel—and understanding what kind of beautiful madness you’re in for.

🏨 What Even Is a Hostel?

Let’s start with the basics. A hostel is like a hotel—but imagine if that hotel also ran on Red Bull, good vibes, and questionable sleeping arrangements.

Typically, hostels offer:

- Dormitory-style accommodations (aka bunk beds galore)
- Shared bathrooms (brace yourself)
- Communal kitchens (pro: save money; con: someone will steal your ramen)
- Common areas for socializing, napping, or pretending to read a book while waiting for your laundry
- Occasionally, free breakfast (if three slices of toast count as breakfast)

The whole vibe is budget-friendly, social, and slightly chaotic. And that’s the charm.

🧐 How to Choose the Right Hostel (Without Losing Your Mind)

Choosing a hostel isn’t rocket science—but it is kind of like Tinder for travelers. You’re looking for that magical combo of personality, cleanliness, and maybe a free pancake breakfast.

1. ✅ Read The Reviews Like Sherlock Holmes

Want to know if a place has bed bugs? Check the reviews. Want to know if the staff is friendly or just barely tolerating your existence? Check. The. Reviews. Sites like Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Google Reviews should be your new bedtime stories.

But beware: take every “worst experience of my life” comment with a grain of salt—unless five people mention the same cockroach named Marcel. Then, maybe rethink.

2. 📍 Location, Location, Are-We-Near-a-Metro?-Location

You want to be close to the action, but not too close to the 4 a.m. drum circle. Look for hostels near public transport, supermarkets, and the city center—unless your idea of a good time is hiking 5 miles with your backpack in 90°F weather. (Spoiler: it’s not.)

Pro tip: Turn on satellite view and stalk the neighborhood on Google Maps like a digital ninja. You’ll thank yourself later.

3. 🛏️ Dorm Size Matters (Trust Me)

Dorms range from the private double all the way to the 20-bed chaos chamber. Fewer beds = more peace, potentially better sleep. More beds = cheaper, louder, and statistically, at least one snorer.

If you’re a light sleeper, don’t gamble. Pay the extra $2 to avoid the sleepless symphony of ten strangers breathing in stereo.

4. 🧼 Embrace Your Inner Clean Freak

Cleanliness is non-negotiable. Look at pictures of the bathrooms and kitchens. If the tiles look like they were last cleaned during the Bronze Age, run.

Also, check reviews for keywords like “clean sheets,” “spotless bathrooms,” and “no weird smell.” If multiple reviews mention a smell... proceed with caution.

5. 🥳 What’s Your Vibe? (Party, Chill, or Cloistered Monastery?)

Hostels come in flavors. You’ve got:

- Party hostels – Ideal if your plan is to become best friends with a Brazilian, a Dutch guy, and two Australians by morning.
- Chill hostels – Think hammocks, yoga mornings, and “I just came here to read and vibe” energy.
- Quiet hostels – Where lights are off at 9 p.m., and guests communicate exclusively through hand gestures and nods.

Know thyself. If you choose a party hostel while you’re mid-spiritual journey, don’t blame the hostel when you’re woken up by a conga line at 2 a.m.

🧳 What to Expect at a Hostel (Embrace the Weird)

So, you’ve booked your hostel. Good job, champion! Now, here’s what to expect—and how to make the most of it.

👋 Check-In Shenanigans

You’ll probably show up sweaty, smelly, and five hours before check-in. The staff might let you store your bag, and if you’re lucky, they’ll toss in a free city map and some local gossip.

Some hostels take passports as collateral for keys. Others just trust you not to steal the furniture. It’s a mixed bag.

🛌 Your New Home: The Dorm Room

Prepare for:

- Bunk beds (top bunk = mountain goat energy, bottom = lazier but riskier)
- Shared outlets (and the eternal fight for charging space)
- Lockers (bring your own lock unless you enjoy living dangerously)
- Roommates from all over the world who may or may not snore, talk in their sleep, or try to convert you to cryptocurrency

Pro tip: Eye mask + earplugs = survival gear.

🚿 The Bathroom Chronicles

Ah yes, the communal bathroom—where wild things happen and everyone forgets how to use soap. Queue up, flip-flops on, and bring all your stuff in one trip (do NOT forget your towel).

Also, beware the dreaded “push-button shower,” where water lasts approximately 9 seconds per push. You’ll develop finger muscles you never knew existed.

🥣 DIY Kitchen Adventures

Oh, the hostel kitchen. Where strangers bond over burnt pasta and unidentifiable sauces. Here’s hostel kitchen etiquette 101:

- Label your food. Otherwise, your cheese will mysteriously vanish.
- Don’t hog the stove like you’re auditioning for MasterChef.
- Clean up, or face the passive-aggressive wrath of 12 other travelers.

Pro tip: Pasta is the universal food language. Bonus points if you can share it.

🤝 Meeting People: Social Butterflying 101

The best part of staying in hostels? The people.

There’s something magical about bonding over bad Wi-Fi, confusing coin-operated washers, and walking tours where nobody actually listens to the guide.

Ways to meet people:

- Join a pub crawl (if your liver dares)
- Hang out in the common room (games, chats, Netflix—pick your flavor)
- Ask to borrow a fork (conversation starter of champions)
- Attend hostel events (quiz night, taco night, salsa class… salsa the food or the dance? Who knows.)

Not all interactions will turn into lifelong friendships—but at the very least, you’ll collect a few bizarre stories to tell your grandchildren.

🧠 Pro Tips for Hostel Survival

Because yes, it’s fun—but there’s also stuff you learn the hard way. Let’s skip that part.

✔️ Pack Smart: Your Hostel Survival Kit

You’ll want:

- Flip-flops (unless you enjoy foot fungus)
- Travel towel (compact, dries fast, not stolen as easily)
- Padlock (for lockers, not for your diary)
- Earplugs + eye mask (sleep = precious)
- Power bank (because outlets are endangered species)
- Soap/shampoo (hostels are not hotels, my friend)

✔️ Be a Decent Human, Please

A few golden rules:

- Don’t turn on the lights at 3 a.m. unless you want to be cursed in multiple languages.
- No face-timing your grandma on speakerphone in the dorm.
- Clean up after yourself. Seriously.
- Respect quiet hours. Not everyone’s on a full-send bender.

It’s not that hard. If everyone acts like a decent human, everyone has a good time.

🕺 Hostel Myths Busted

Let’s bust a few myths like an overenthusiastic ghost hunter.

- “Hostels are only for 20-year-olds.” Pfft. Travelers of all ages are welcome. Just maybe avoid party hostels if you're not into flip cup.
- “They’re unsafe.” Not true. Most hostels are super safe. Lock your stuff, trust your gut, and you’ll be fine.
- “You won’t sleep.” Depends. If you pick the right place and use your trusty earplugs, you might sleep better than you did in college.

🎉 Final Thoughts: Hostels Are the Heartbeat of Backpacking

Sure, sometimes you get a bunk bed that squeaks with every breath. Sometimes, someone leaves the kitchen looking like a ramen explosion. And sometimes, you end up learning salsa at midnight with a Canadian named Greg.

But that’s the beauty of it. Hostels are unpredictable little gems—and you’re guaranteed stories, new friends, and at least one t-shirt you’ll never wear again.

So, pack your bags, choose wisely, and get ready to embrace the glorious chaos that is hostel life. Who knows? Your next best friend—or travel romance—might be in bunk #6.

🧳 Backpacker Bonus: Quick Hostel Checklist

Before you book, make sure you check:

- [ ] Location near transit & attractions
- [ ] Recent, decent reviews
- [ ] Dorm size that suits you
- [ ] Clean bathrooms & beds
- [ ] Vibe that matches your travel style
- [ ] Free extras (breakfast, towels, Wi-Fi)
- [ ] Good security & lockers
- [ ] Social opportunities (events, common areas)

Tick those boxes and you, my friend, are hostel-ready!