15 Aug2018
10 reasons why I usually don’t stay at hostels
I admit this article is just a generalization because not all hostels are the same. I’ve been to a few really nice ones, modern, quiet, safe and som could even easily compete with hotels when it comes to quality … But overall, when I think of most hostels, (un)fortunately, hotels win for me.
I also admit that generaly I post mostly positive content but this article will be a bit negative. However, it all depends on the point of view. Maybe there’s a hidden second meaning in the following sentences. Maybe I’d like other travelers/tourists to behave more like humans, to respect more other people’s space and to clean after themselves even on the road. I bet the majority of them have to clean up at home too and don’t have a maid that does it for them every single day. So why to be extremely messy and loud when traveling?
That’s all the breakfast items for more than 20 hostel guests
10 reasons why I usually don’t stay at hostels any more
1. I want my privacy. Working online on my laptop means that I am trying to be as comfortable as possible. That means I usually work in my PJ’s, underwear or a bathrobe. I guess I don’t need to say more. That wouldn’t be very comfortable with strangers in the room, right? Many hostels don’t have a quiet room where I could sit with my laptop and get work done. And doing it in the room I’d need to share with other travelers is not really possible.
2. Many people snore. I have difficulties sleeping and everything wakes me up so it’s seriously not fun not being able to sleep because others are snoring like hell!
3. Bathroom is usually occupied exactly when I need to pee, when I want to wash my hair or brush my teeth. You know those coincidences? Always 😀 I don’t like to waste time waiting for others to leave the bathroom so I can use it. I believe time is the most precious thing we all have and over the years I’ve learned to be very careful chosing what I dedicate my time to. Waiting for others to leave the bathroom when I need to use it is not one those activities I’d like to spend time on.
4. Many people want to talk and talk and talk while I usually write online in the evening. I don’t want to feel rude not getting involved in their conversation, but on the other hand I need to get work done asap. When strangers at hostels talk to me when I’m trying to work, it makes me nervous and I am losing my focus. Procrastination is not something I enjoy.
5. People tend to go to sleep late. I know, I am also a night owl but as I’ve said already, I often spend my evenings working online as that’s when I feel the most productive. But I write until 1 am maybe, not longer. However, at hostels, every guest comes back to the room at a different time or wakes up at a different time so then basically I am up most of the night and then tired the day after.
6. Bathrooms can be disgusting as many different people use them. Yes, I so got used to clean hotel rooms that sometimes it makes me throw up to see how disgusting some people can be. I am always surprised that many people don’t care the same space is used by many others and the just leave everything like pigs’ playground. Not cool at all!
7. Some people are noisy. Unfortunately, many hostels are very noisy. Or people are very loud screaming and drinking at the reception, or in a common room or at the restaurant. Doesn’t matter the location, but usually you can hear the party going on across the whole hostel. I remember that most times I stayed at a hostel, I could really not sleep at all.
8. Common kitchen is usually overcrowded for breakfast and dinner so it’s again waste of time for me to wait there until I can prepare my meals. I really do not have time to waste, not even when on the road.
9. If there is breakfast included in a hostel stay, usually it is something I cannot eat anyway. I am vegan, preferably gluten-free, and there’s hardly ever any fruit or plant-based milk found at hostels that I could make cereals with. At hostels, free breakfast means usually no breakfast for me as they are not willing to give me something vegan. So basically, while others eating unhealthy have something to eat, I do not, and it’s for the same price. At most hotels they usually can accommodate my vegan diet requirements.
When ”breakfast included” meant ”make pancakes yourself from a package – processed unhealthy food I don’t eat
10. Some people don’t take enough care of themselves and can seem quite disgusting or dirty. They smell, spit, cough, etc. Not that I don’t accept them, I don’t care what they do, if they do it far away from me. I choose not to look at that. And because we always have a choice in life, I prefer to stay at hotels where I don’t have to deal with any of that.
Having said all of the above, I did meet some cool people at hostels in the past. And yes, there are clean hostels with good breakfast where it’s possible to sleep. But in general, thinking of my travel blogger lifestyle, I have to say that it’s a lot easier for me to stay at hotels where I can both work and sleep in my own private room.
TIP: Here are some hostels I stayed at years ago and were quite fine 🙂
C. Randen
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I have never stayed in a hostel, but it always sounded so adventurous to me. Not anymore! I would not do well in this type of environment, thank you for the eye opening article!
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Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks! Well some people enjoy hostels a lot, but I am not really one of them. We all want different things so it depends on your priorities 🙂
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Adam Vanecko
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Good article. I thought I would prefer hostel to hotel, but you confirmed me in my opinion not to do it. 😉
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Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Well, it depends, many people do prefer hostels 😉 But not me any more 😀
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Roger Bruton
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The last time I stayed at a hostel was in Moscow. It was awful! I won’t be doing that again!
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Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Hm in Moscow? Would not expect that 🙂
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David Rainey
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All good reasons not to stay in hostels if possible. I will say they are sometimes more convenient and economical than hotels. Of course there are exceptions with some hotels matching your points and some hostels being better than hotels. 🙂
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Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks David, yes, that’s right. Most hostels are cheaper than hotels, but not always. And for sure there are really good hotels out there, but speaking in general and about what I personally need when on the road, staying at hotels is more convenient for me.
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