(info from nomadicmatt.com)
1. Is There a Common Room?
Common rooms in hostels make meeting people easy. They help you find people to chat with, get tips from, do activities with, or even travel with. It’s the ideal space for people who want to be social.
Plus, they’re good for just having fun. They usually have pool tables, TVs/movies (perfect for rainy days), foosball, ping pong, and comfy couches.
In warmer destinations, a common area outside is also a big plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas — anything social outdoor space is a must.
2. Is It Centrally Located?
Location, location, location. Whenever you’re looking for a new hostel make sure that it’s near the things you want to see. You don’t want to spend all your time commuting when you get somewhere new. For that reason, always make sure your hostels are in a central location and that they’re close to public transportation. That way, you can get around easily and don’t need to worry about having to waste money on taxis.
This is especially important in large cities where things are spread out and when you’re on a shorter trip and time is of the essence. Don’t waste your vacation in transit; book somewhere central!
3. Is It Clean?
Sure, budget travelers like things cheap — but that doesn’t mean they like things dirty. While hostels have come a long way in recent years, there are still many that are poorly maintained and in need of a thorough scrubbing. Since it’s easy to get sick on the road, avoid dirty hostels. Gross bathrooms and showers (as well as the increased risk of bed bugs) aren’t worth the risk — even if the hostel is cheap. Invest in yourself. You deserve a clean room!
Since the photos hostels post on their website and social media can be misleading, make sure to specifically read reviews on sites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If just one person complains, maybe it’s not a big deal. But if numerous reviews mention the lack of cleanliness, take that as a cue.
4. Did You Read Reviews?
Always read reviews before you book. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a party hostel or more laid back? Are the mattresses comfy? Are the bunkbeds squeaky? You can usually answer all of these questions (and many more) by reading reviews.
Websites like Hostelworld and Booking.com have tons of reviews to help you find the hostel that best suits your needs and budget.
While you’ll want to take them with a grain of salt, they are definitely helpful when it comes to picking the best hostel. (Make sure you leave reviews too — good reviews help hostels grow and bad reviews can warn your fellow travelers so they don’t make the same mistake).
Additionally, make sure you only stay at hotels with lots of reviews. A hostel might have a high rating on Hostelworld but if it only has 10 or 20 reviews then you should probably stay away from it (it’s easy to fake ratings like that). However, if a hostel has hundreds (or thousands) of reviews and still has a rating of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a good sign it’s a solid place to stay.
5. Do they Organize Group Activities?
If you plan on staying at a social hostel and want to meet people, choose a hostel that offers group activities. These could be walking tours, pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking classes, or BBQs. These events are a great way to meet other travelers and learn about your destination.
Additionally, here are some smaller things to look out for:
- Free breakfast – Look for a place with a decent breakfast (i.e., more than bread and cheese) or at least one that begins and ends when people are actually awake (breakfasts that start around 8:30 usually go late). Breakfast is also a great way to load up on snacks for the day, cutting down your food budget.
- Late check-out time – Unless you’re a morning person, never stay at a hostel with a check-out time before 10am. The best ones have won’t make you check out until 11am or later. Sleep is valuable on the road because you’ll rarely get enough of it. Hostels with late checkout times understand this.
- Lockers – It’s surprising, but there are hostels that don’t provide lockers or will charge you for them. In this day and age, lockers should be standard, and you should never pay for security.
- Kitchen – Try to look for hostels with kitchens since you can then prepare your own food, lower your food budget, and share a meal with your new friends. Nothing binds people closer together than a shared meal.
- Clear rules – Not every traveler is familiar with basic hostel etiquette so it’s important to stay somewhere with clear rules. When do the lights have to be off? Are there set quiet hours during the day or night? Can you smoke inside? Are bunks assigned or is it a free-for-all? Staying somewhere with clear rules just makes life easier for everyone.