No doubt you’ve heard of hostels as an intriguing alternative to more traditional (and expensive) travel accommodations. What exactly are they and how do they work? Are they really a practical option? Well, that depends—on your age, comfort zone and tolerance for less-than-complete privacy and flying by the seat of your pants.
A big hint here is that traditionally hostels have been referred to as youth hostels. They began in 1912 in Germany, actually as an outgrowth of the German Youth Movement aimed at getting poor city kids out into the fresh air of the countryside. The idea was for them to manage the hostel and take care of necessary chores in return for accommodations—an idea that has died out somewhat nowadays.
The idea caught on and spread around the world. Eventually the movement took the form of Hostelling International, a non-profit organization embracing dozens of hostel groups representing 4,000+ hostels in more than 80 nations. Membership is not limited to the young. However, a good many of the patrons are indeed young. (More on Elder Hostels in another post.)
There are also lots of independent hostel chains not affiliated with recognized hostelling groups. Many of these are in large cities and cater to the rising expectations of modern young travelers. As a result, the cost is creeping up and in some cases approaches the cost-per-night of standard hotels.
But a hostel—especially a traditional one—is definitely not a hotel. A hostel offers budget-conscious travelers, many of them backpackers, a place to sleep. Sometimes it’s a bed in a private room. Sometimes it’s a bunk bed in a dormitory setting. Visitors often share common spaces—bathrooms, lounging spaces and maybe a kitchen. The dormitory spaces can be single-sex or occupied by both males and females.
The rates at hostels are usually much less than those of traditional hotels. Everything is informal and open. Many hostels have library-like programs to share books, DVDs and similar items. Today, hostels are lauded for their role in cultural exchange, and they have become as much about meeting new people as they are about providing low-cost accommodations. If you’re not used to sharing and socializing with people from widely diverse backgrounds, think long and hard about searching out a hostel on your next trip.
Hostels offer less privacy for the individual visitor. Theft can always be a problem in common living quarters as can noise and all the other (use your imagination here) distractions and inconveniences that come with sharing sleeping/living space with strangers.
Some people are not bothered by any of this. In fact, some are attracted to this kind of free-spirited travel adventure. It is this group that has made hostelling an international phenomenon. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether you’re up to experimenting with your travels in this manner. With a traveling companion, it could be a real adventure. But you’ll have to decide.
To learn more about hostelling in the U.S., visit Hostelling International’s U.S. site, which is a guide to hostels in the U.S., including the Midwest, quality standards, etc.
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