Budget travel also means budget accommodation. You may be dreaming of a private hotel room with room service, but unfortunately, you won’t find that here. Hostels are a great way to save money while you travel and make new friends. Keep reading for my favorite tried and tested budget backpacking hacks to make your next stay feel a little bit better.
Do your research
The first thing to consider when booking a hostel is whether or not it will fit your vibe. I recommend reading reviews first and making sure other people were generally happy with their stay. Although you’re on a budget, it doesn’t mean you have to book the cheapest hostel you find. Make sure it is clean, the staff are helpful, and it isn’t a scam. I would also recommend looking for ones with a 24-hour reception in case anything goes wrong. It is also really important to check the location. Cheaper hostels will be further out from main towns and cities than the pricier ones, but you need to consider how much it will cost you to get there. If it is a 40-minute Uber ride from the airport, it probably won’t be worth the amount you’ll spend to get there. However, if you can take a bus there, you will save a lot. Make sure you crunch the numbers before you head off and find the best value for money. I would recommend checking out sites like HostelWorld or Booking.com to find hostels, and then cross-reference their price with the hostel’s own website.
The Room
Once you have found your preferred hostel its time to choose the room. There are multiple factors to consider here such as the dorm size and who you will be sharing with. Dorms tend to be split into the following:
- Private dorms
- Female only dorms
- Mixed dorms
Dorm room sizes tend to vary from 4 – 12 in a room. A 12-person mixed dorm will probably be the cheapest. I stayed in one of these in Calgary, Canada, and honestly, it was fine. My fellow dorm mates were very considerate, and the dorm room was large and airy. However, this may not always be the case, so you need to be prepared. If you are a very light sleeper, I would recommend going for a room with as few roommates as possible. Maybe you are looking for a group of girls with whom to potentially continue your travels? Then I would go for a female-only dorm. If you don’t mind a bit of noise throughout the night and want to spend as little as possible, then go for a larger mixed room.
Remember if you do have any major issues or safety concerns you can always let the staff know and they will make sure you are well looked after.
The Bed
Once you have made your way to your hostel and you are checking in ask if you can have a bottom bunk. Bottom bunks mean:
- Ease of access. If you need the toilet in the middle of the night you won’t have to go up and down the creaky bunkbed stairs.
- Closer to the ground. If you sleep with your phone or anything next to you you don’t need to worry about it falling and hitting the ground.
- More privacy. Not all hostels have privacy curtains so if you are on a top bunk you will be able to see everyone else sleeping and they will see you.
If you are on the bottom bunk and there is no privacy curtain you can make your own by tucking towels and blankets under the top mattress. This make for a cozy private nook which is perfect if you are in a larger room.
Getting some sleep in a Hostel
Once you arrive at the hostel, you may be sleeping earlier or later due to jet lag. If you are in a larger dorm and desperately need some shut-eye, I recommend getting a sleep mask. If you took a long-haul flight, these may have been provided on the plane; take this one if you don’t have your own. It is also a good investment to get some noise-cancelling headphones. These will be great for future plane and bus journeys too, so it’s worth spending a bit of money here for some good ones.
Food
One of the greatest perks of a hostel over a hotel is access to a kitchen. Cooking for yourself will save a so much money over eating out every night. Bring some Tupperware with you as well so you can take leftovers as lunch on the go the next day. Plan out your meals before you shop to avoid being stuck with any leftover food. If you do have leftovers someone else in the hostel will gladly take it off your hands if you ask around. For those of you who are like me and need to try at least some of the local restaurants go out for lunch instead of dinner. This will save you heaps and you will be less likely to purchase alcohol too.
Many hostels also offer a free breakfast for a few hours in the morning. Make the most of this and fill yourself up for the day. If you are there at the end when they start to clear up, you might be able to snag some leftovers to have for lunch.
Going out
Most hostels will organize bar crawls and other excursions while you are there. These are a great way to meet new people but can get expensive quickly. If you are going out for the night have some pre drinks before hand to save money. Also if you do go bar hoping have an alcoholic at every other or third bar. Not only will you save money but you’ll be feeling better than everyone else with a hangover!
Work for Rent
Many hostels will allow you to work a few hours a week in exchange for board. This is a great idea if you plan to be somewhere long-term or are currently out of work. Duties could include cleaning, setting up breakfast, and working behind the desk. You may also get moved into a different room specifically for long-term lodgers where you will get to know your roommates properly, and it will be quieter. It is also possible to fit in a few hours of part-time work elsewhere to start bringing in some money.
From visitors