Types of stay
What is a hostel? How dorm beds, private rooms and house rules work
5 min read · Updated
A hostel is a place to rent a bed rather than a room. In most hostels you share a dormitory with other travellers, use shared bathrooms, and spend your evenings in a common lounge or kitchen. That is the main reason hostels cost less than hotels, and the main reason some people prefer to avoid them.
This guide explains how hostels work, what the layout and rules usually look like, who they suit and where a different kind of stay would serve you better. It states no prices and names no properties. The origin of hostelling as a youth movement, and the membership network behind it, are covered separately in our guide to what a youth hostel is.
The hostel definition: a bed, not a room
Wikipedia defines a hostel as a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed. Merriam-Webster gives a matching dictionary sense: an inexpensive lodging facility for usually young travellers that typically has dormitory-style sleeping arrangements and sometimes offers meals and planned activities.
The same dictionary lists two other senses. One is simply an inn, which is the old meaning behind the word. The other, labelled chiefly British, is a supervised institutional residence or shelter, such as for people without a home. A listing that says hostel on a travel site almost always means the first, but the second explains why the word can surprise people in British contexts.
“A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed.”
Dorm beds, private rooms and bathrooms
Wikipedia says hostel dormitories typically sleep between 4 and 20 people, usually in bunk beds. Wikivoyage puts the usual figure at 4 to 8 bunks, with some rooms having as few as three or as many as 30 or more, and notes that bunks in larger rooms are generally cheaper. Dorms may be single-sex, mixed or a combination, and you normally choose when you book. Women who are uncomfortable in a mixed room can pick a female-only dorm.
Many hostels also sell private rooms. Wikivoyage says these cost more than bunks but are generally cheaper than a hotel, and that some have en suite bathrooms while others share. Bathrooms in dorms may be private or shared, so read the listing before you assume either. Families with young children may be required to book a private room.
| Format | What it is | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed dorm | Shared room with bunks, open to any guest | Number of beds, locker size, reading lights and curtains |
| Female-only or male-only dorm | Shared room limited to one gender | Whether the single-sex option is offered at all |
| Private room, shared bathroom | A room of your own with a shared bathroom down the corridor | How many guests share a bathroom |
| Private room, en suite | A room with its own bathroom | Linen, towels and whether the room has a window |
| Family room | A private room for a family group | Minimum age for children and whether bunks are used |
House rules: curfews, lockouts, linen and quiet
Wikipedia notes that some hostels have a curfew and daytime lockouts, and that some do not provide linen. Guests often bring earplugs and eye masks because of the noise in shared rooms. Wikivoyage adds that most hostels now prohibit guests from using their own bedding to avoid bedbugs, with a few remote hostels still asking for a sheet sleeping bag, and that towels may be rented or sold.
Etiquette is mostly consideration for other guests: Wikivoyage's advice covers cleaning up after yourself, keeping noise down at night and leaving other people's belongings alone. Older rules were stricter: Wikipedia's article on the YHA in England and Wales says that in the early 1930s membership was required and every guest took a turn at washing up or cleaning, and the Hostelling International article says the chores practice was phased out there during the 1980s.
- Earplugs and a sleep mask, because rooms have people coming and going at all hours.
- A padlock, ideally two sizes, for the locker.
- Flip-flops for the shower and your own soap if it is not supplied.
- A towel, unless the listing says one is provided.
- A small torch, so you can find things without waking the room.
Age limits, membership cards and the Hostelling International network
Wikipedia says hostels are popular with backpackers and young travellers, but that most do not impose age limits. Wikivoyage says some hostels do, with a minimum age unless accompanied by an adult and sometimes a maximum. Read the booking terms rather than assume.
Membership works differently from country to country. Wikivoyage says that for some national hostelling organisations you must be a member to stay, while others do not require it but give members a discount, and that many hostels, though not all, are affiliated with Hostelling International. HI describes itself as a charity rather than a chain, with independent member associations. Our guide to the youth hostel movement explains how that network began.
Whether a hostel is part of a network says little about its quality. Wikivoyage's own advice is that online reviews are the best indicator.
Who a hostel suits, and who should look elsewhere
Wikipedia lists the usual advantages: lower cost, the chance to meet other travellers and find travel partners, and locations that are often more central than other budget options. It also lists the drawbacks, chiefly less privacy because of shared sleeping areas and bathrooms, and noise. Some hostels cater to older digital nomads and perpetual travellers who prefer slightly more upmarket private rooms, and some offer free or discounted long stays in exchange for work such as reception or housekeeping.
A hostel is a good fit for a solo traveller on a short route, for a group that wants to share a dormitory, or for someone who values meeting people over sleeping undisturbed. It is a weaker fit if you work during the day, need quiet, travel with children, or plan to stay several weeks.
For those longer or work-heavy trips, an apartment-style stay gives a private kitchen, a desk and a door that locks. The long-stay accommodation checklist and monthly serviced apartments guides explain what to look for.
Booking a hostel: what to check first
Wikivoyage recommends booking ahead rather than hoping for a bed on arrival, and booking directly with the hostel where possible. Some hostels have 24-hour check-in, so confirm this if you arrive late, and confirm any feature you rely on, such as Wi-Fi, laundry, lockers, a kitchen or breakfast. Wikivoyage also says some hostels are in seedier areas to keep costs down, so look up the neighbourhood.
Compare the hostel with the alternatives for your length of stay. In a capital such as Berlin you will find both hostels and budget apartments, and lower-cost stays in Berlin show the apartment side. In Lisbon, long-stay apartments are the natural next step if a hostel no longer suits. A hostel is closer in spirit to the format in a boarding house than to a hotel, since both share facilities, and aparthotel versus hotel explains the private-space end of the scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hostel in simple terms?
A hostel is low-cost lodging where you rent a bed, usually a bunk in a shared dormitory. Guests share a lounge and usually a kitchen. Many hostels also offer private rooms.
Is a hostel safe?
Practices vary by hostel. Wikivoyage advises locking valuables up, bringing your own padlock where lockers are provided, checking the neighbourhood and choosing a female-only dorm if you prefer. Reviews are the best guide to a particular hostel.
Do hostels have age limits?
Most do not, according to Wikipedia, although typical guests are young. Wikivoyage says some have a minimum age unless you are accompanied by an adult, and some have a maximum. Check the booking terms.
Do you need a membership to stay in a hostel?
Sometimes. Wikivoyage says some national hostelling organisations require membership, while others do not but give members a discount. Many hostels are affiliated with Hostelling International, though not all.
Do hostels provide sheets and towels?
Not always. Wikipedia says some hostels do not provide linen, and Wikivoyage says towels may be provided free, rented or sold. Most hostels now prohibit guests' own bedding. Check the listing.
Is a hostel the same as a youth hostel?
A youth hostel is a hostel in the movement started in Germany in the early twentieth century, and today the terms overlap. Most hostels do not set age limits. See what is a youth hostel for the history.
Stays and pages mentioned in this guide
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- What Is a 4-Star Hotel? First Class Explained
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- What Is a Chain Hotel? Brands, Owners and Franchises
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Sources
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