Why I Prefer Hostels as a Solo Traveler
When I travel alone, hostels are always where I end up. I’ve never once booked a hotel or Airbnb for a solo trip — just a bed in a dorm, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Over the years, I’ve stayed in more than 20 hostels across nine countries: Austria, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States.
Why hostels? Here’s what keeps me going back.
Affordability at Its Best
The price is hard to argue with. I’ve snagged beds for as little as $15 a night on a last-minute booking in Costa Rica — one hostel even had a pool — and paid around $40 in Rotterdam. A three-night stay in Paris came to about $180 total.
Those rates look even better when you factor in location. I stayed at a hostel in Reykjavik right on the city’s main shopping street, and found others in Hamburg and Munich within easy walking distance of the main train stations.
Dorm Living: Not So Bad After All
Hostels have a reputation, and honestly, some of it is earned. I’ve shared rooms with snorers, bathroom hogs, late-night revelers, and the odd person with a 4 a.m. flight. A decent pair of earplugs and an eye mask sorts most of it out. More hostels now add individual curtains around each bed, which makes a real difference.
You’ll usually make your own bed and strip it at checkout — a small trade-off that helps keep prices low.
Most dorms are cleaned daily and come with shelves by each bunk, individual lights, power outlets, and lockers. Not every stay is perfect, though. I once found a dental retainer under my bed, endured the smell of damp socks left on a radiator, and lay awake while a bar beneath a Parisian hostel played music well into the night.
Hostels Provide What You Need
Almost every hostel I’ve stayed in has a kitchen. That alone saves a lot of money — you can cook your own meals rather than paying hotel breakfast prices. Many hostels also offer reasonably priced breakfasts, some of them free. Laundry facilities are common, and most have a lounge where you can read or meet people. A fair number have bars too.
An Opportunity to Connect
You won’t always leave with lifelong friends, but the communal setup makes conversation natural — over breakfast, over coffee, wherever. Travelers from all over tend to be open about sharing what they’ve seen and done, and a good tip from a fellow guest can reshape your whole day.
Organized Activities Await
Some hostels go well beyond just a place to sleep. The one I stayed at in Salzburg screened “The Sound of Music” every night. Others run free city tours, board game evenings, and group dinners. I even picked up a discount on a tour to the Giant’s Causeway in Belfast through my hostel.
Convenience Beyond Checkout
One thing hotels rarely offer: leaving your bags after you check out, usually at no extra cost. On your last day, that means you can spend hours exploring without dragging luggage around — a small thing that makes a real difference.
For solo travel, hostels hit a sweet spot of low cost, genuine community, and practical convenience. That’s why they’re always my first call.
