On choosing hostels

[IndieTravel]

Linda and I just put together a top-ten on choosing a hostel. It's aimed at new travellers.

http://www.indietravelpodcast.com/podcast/062-10-things-to-look-for-when-booking-a-hostel-online/

So, if you're not travelling yet -- is this useful?
If you have been -- anything to add?

[Anthony]

Interesting stuff, in my opinion.
Granted, I haven't started any serious research into hostels yet, but I found some food for thought here. I hadn't even considered the 'fun' category of a review equating to noise level. I'm young, but pretty quiet for a guy my age, I'd probably prefer some kind of happy medium. I definitely don't want to be nearly alone, meeting people is half the point of my eventual trip. I am, however, far from interested in a large noisy crowd (I plan on going to Ireland, I'm sure there will be plenty of good bars for when I'm in the mood for a large noisy crowd.)

All in all, it seems like a good article with some sound advice.

[Greg]

I have patronized the whole spectrum of hostels...ranging from nice, private "pods" in Piccadilly to noisy, ransacked lofts above bars.

Great article Craig...I would have to say the most important to me are 1, 3, and 4. Price obviously because I'm a broke, budget traveler, but location is probably my first priority - I have to be able to walk everywhere!  Besides, why settle for a cheaper place in the middle of nowhere when you have to pay for transportation to get into town twice a day?

Staying in a hostel in Temple Bar, Dublin a guy wandered in piss drunk at 03:00am, woke up everybody in the room trying to get into their bunks (it was dark and he couldn't remember which bed was his) then pissed in the corner (we could smell it all night) and satisfied himself with sleeping in the middle of the floor.  My worst hostel stay ever! 

Part of the fun of staying in hostels is the character/personality/atmosphere of a place. Some places, like the hostel I just stayed at in Chicago, have all the charm of a Motel 6....but others have corridors where you can write on walls with sharpies, rooftop gardens, rabbits that run wild around the place, etc. I love it!  There is no better place to meet friendly, like-minded people....I don't think I've ever stayed in a hostel alone and not left with at least a few new friends and email buddies.

Point #11 that didn't make the list is....depending on which part of the world you are in....the number of Scandinavian girls staying there, haha.

[nricciar]

The last time I traveled in Europe I had pretty good luck just going to the info desk at the train station.  They were able to recommend a hostel in my price range that had rooms, and never did I run into a problem...  Of course I might have just been lucky

[Vagabond Vince]

i'm lazy and don't like to do too much research while i'm on the road.  i just choose the ones with high ratings on hostelworld

[chithanh119]

Thanks for sharing link. that link is very useful

[jmax]

i'm lazy and don't like to do too much research while i'm on the road.  i just choose the ones with high ratings on hostelworld

is it workin for you. I 'camp-out' on that site

[Tony]

Golden advice!

I found that I'm using that same list when I look for hostels.
What I would recommend is the "three opinions" method. Compare a hostel on three different sites, I use hostelworld.com, hostelbookers.com and a Google search for reviews. If a hostel consistently comes up on top of the those three sites, to me it's a good hostel!
I'd also like to add for the all the older backpackers, ask the hostel if they have a age limit? Some hostels have a limit of 18-30. You don't want to book a hostel and then show up to learn you're too old for them!

[Greg]

That's true. I turned up in Singapore after midnight and the only hostel I could find downtown was the YMCA. I was over the age limit, but begged and pleaded enough with the staff that they let me stay!

Just because I'm 35 doesn't mean I'm too decrepit to stay in a hostel! 

[colderby]

I've not been travelling yet and it looks a very useful list, lot's of good pointers.  I need to bookmark it and have a good look at it for when I am going to hostels!

[Graefyl]

I've only ever stayed in one hostel, way back in years of yore. It was YHA. It stunk, was dirty, you couldn't open the windows, the blankets hadn't been washed in ages. Managed a bit of sleep, next morning tore up my YHA card, slung on their counter and walked out. Never stayed in a hostel again.

Now, however, I'm older, creakier, heavier and don't sleep outside as easy as I did then  , so the list is going to be helpful (still won't touch YHA tho').