What Makes a Great Hostel

Hostels differ from hotels in that they generally (1) offer cheaper accommodation than hotels, and (2) encourage socializing with other guests.

Characterizing the Purpose of a Hostel

Therefore, the goal of a good hostel, beyond just ?being cheaper? is to bring people intentionally together, Good hostels focus more on community.

Some of the best hostels I?ve been to include

This hostel has some nicer verticality to it. Rooms overlooking chill spots, plants, good lighting, a stage, and art.

What Makes a Great Hostel? - A List

Ultimately, people that travel want to do experiences with each other, so a good hostel should give guests a platform to do things together.

Connecting a guest with resources for enjoying their time in town is one of the most valuable services a hostel can offer. The hostel is both a local part of the community and something that serves the wider world. In that sense, it acts as a portal between the broader world and the town it?s part of.

A lot of people travel alone but want to experience things with others. So the hostel should make it possible for guests to do those things together?whether that?s through shared spaces to congregate or the other elements mentioned before.

What a beautiful site it is to see local musicians from the town come to a hostel and let guests experience their music.

Temporariness of Hostels

As mentioned earlier, they act as a revolving door between the greater world and the town. Because of that, the guests are always changing, which means the hostel itself can constantly change. The hostel is made by the guests, but the type of guests it attracts also shapes what it becomes.

For example, a hostel that is more hippie and offers meals, meditation, trips to the beach, exercise classes, and other community-oriented activities will naturally attract a certain kind of person and create a certain kind of environment.

Because of this temporariness, hostels can change their formula frequently and see what works. They can experiment, try different ideas, be more flexible, and adjust based on what resonates. This makes hostels a great environment for testing new ideas and experiences.

One time I saw a snake at a hostel ?-We shooed it away with a broom