Comments on: How to Pick a Good Hostel http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: travlerhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-215263 travler Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:35:26 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-215263 Its one of the clink hostels in london, not sure which (they each have a number after clink & we stayed at both) but its the one further away from kings cross station, sure you can find it online, amazing place, they have ex cells as rooms too! Its one of the clink hostels in london, not sure which (they each have a number after clink & we stayed at both) but its the one further away from kings cross station, sure you can find it online, amazing place, they have ex cells as rooms too!

]]> By: Dave Bhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-208012 Dave B Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:27:21 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-208012 Common room is a good point- when I think back best hostels I stayed in had great commor areas. Now that I only stay in hotels it's one thing I miss that meeting random people in common rooms. Common room is a good point- when I think back best hostels I stayed in had great commor areas. Now that I only stay in hotels it’s one thing I miss that meeting random people in common rooms.

]]> By: AKinIndohttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-199000 AKinIndo Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:28:09 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-199000 Good list.For me, probably the biggest thing is figuring out what kind of crowd a hostel is catering to. People who mostly want to socialize and party, or people who want to focus energy on exploring cultural areas? That's a simplistic, but generally useful dividing line that I've found. I like talking to people, and I've had some great conversations and flash-friendships from hostels, but that's not why I go to a country, I go to experience the country. For me that means up early after a good nights sleep. =)I personally never pick as hostel with a bar. If I want a crazy/noisy night-out I'd much rather go to it, and be able to sleep at night!Having gender specific dorms is important to me as a solo-woman traveler (though I've chased the cheaper deal by staying in mixed, which ended up to be all men.Sketchy.)I really look for a cool building when I scope out hostels, any sort of converted home/boat/church/shop is usually a fun place to stay, simply for this historic and architectural components.And location is Very important. I usually try not stay right in the middle of 'hostel-ville' when I go to a city because I don't think the locale is usually as 'legit' to the local culture. And I always make sure it's somewhere I can easily find, ie. close to a bus stop, or major landmark. A subway stop is best of all! And I try to find somewhere with a view, in a more residential area or near a cool park/somethinglikethat.Obviously not every place has every desired trait, but this is what guides me. =) Good list.

For me, probably the biggest thing is figuring out what kind of crowd a hostel is catering to. People who mostly want to socialize and party, or people who want to focus energy on exploring cultural areas? That’s a simplistic, but generally useful dividing line that I’ve found. I like talking to people, and I’ve had some great conversations and flash-friendships from hostels, but that’s not why I go to a country, I go to experience the country. For me that means up early after a good nights sleep. =)

I personally never pick as hostel with a bar. If I want a crazy/noisy night-out I’d much rather go to it, and be able to sleep at night!

Having gender specific dorms is important to me as a solo-woman traveler (though I’ve chased the cheaper deal by staying in mixed, which ended up to be all men.Sketchy.)

I really look for a cool building when I scope out hostels, any sort of converted home/boat/church/shop is usually a fun place to stay, simply for this historic and architectural components.

And location is Very important. I usually try not stay right in the middle of ‘hostel-ville’ when I go to a city because I don’t think the locale is usually as ‘legit’ to the local culture. And I always make sure it’s somewhere I can easily find, ie. close to a bus stop, or major landmark. A subway stop is best of all! And I try to find somewhere with a view, in a more residential area or near a cool park/somethinglikethat.

Obviously not every place has every desired trait, but this is what guides me. =)

]]> By: ayngelinahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-56763 ayngelina Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:21:38 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-56763 I actually prefer hostels without bars. If there is a bar you cannot bring in your own alcohol. If there isn't one a lot of people will drink in the common room before going out, which is much nicer on my $30/day budget. I actually prefer hostels without bars. If there is a bar you cannot bring in your own alcohol. If there isn’t one a lot of people will drink in the common room before going out, which is much nicer on my $30/day budget.

]]> By: Patrick Hitcheshttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-51683 Patrick Hitches Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:38:22 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-51683 Solid advice bro! Just found your site and I look forward to putting some good time into reading it's pages.Cheers!!Patrick Hitches Solid advice bro! Just found your site and I look forward to putting some good time into reading it’s pages.

Cheers!!

Patrick Hitches

]]> By: Hostels Barcelonahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-51188 Hostels Barcelona Fri, 28 May 2010 15:59:49 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-51188 I will not say that mines are the best hostels in town, but i have to admit that the level of hostels throughout spain is tremendous, you wont be disapointed if you are backpacking around spain I will not say that mines are the best hostels in town, but i have to admit that the level of hostels throughout spain is tremendous, you wont be disapointed if you are backpacking around spain

]]> By: Thomashttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-47938 Thomas Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:02:40 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-47938 Great list. Thank you very much Matt. Great list. Thank you very much Matt.

]]> By: Barryhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-43442 Barry Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:56:03 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-43442 For someone who boasts to have been on the road for 40 months your advice and views are quite limited, especially for those travelling on a budget.. As someone else pointed out, what about the location of a hostel? Surely, the decision to travel (outside of other reasons such as asylum) comes from the desire to learn and experience new countries, cultures and the people, surely not spent sitting in the hostel shower? - A hostel is just a place to put your head down...a bonus if there are some points highlighted in your 'marking criteria'. It is quite a generalisation to say that many cheap hostels are unclean, the beds are uncomfortable, the showers dirty, and the pillows thinner than a supermodel. Maybe if you had a more open view rather than inspecting; and then ticking or crossing each hostel off, you would have a more wholesome and rewarding experience. As for the comment 'A hostel without the majority of these things is a bad hostel that doesn’t understand who their guests really are.' Hmmm, interesting comment from a 'seasoned' traveller! Maybe you need to get a job and stop dicking about?... For someone who boasts to have been on the road for 40 months your advice and views are quite limited, especially for those travelling on a budget..
As someone else pointed out, what about the location of a hostel?
Surely, the decision to travel (outside of other reasons such as asylum) comes from the desire to learn and experience new countries, cultures and the people, surely not spent sitting in the hostel shower? – A hostel is just a place to put your head down…a bonus if there are some points highlighted in your ‘marking criteria’.
It is quite a generalisation to say that many cheap hostels are unclean, the beds are uncomfortable, the showers dirty, and the pillows thinner than a supermodel. Maybe if you had a more open view rather than inspecting; and then ticking or crossing each hostel off, you would have a more wholesome and rewarding experience.
As for the comment ‘A hostel without the majority of these things is a bad hostel that doesn’t understand who their guests really are.’ Hmmm, interesting comment from a ‘seasoned’ traveller!
Maybe you need to get a job and stop dicking about?…

]]> By: jimhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-43435 jim Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:09:29 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-43435 It takes a little getting used to but it's really the most hygienic (if kept clean) It takes a little getting used to but it’s really the most hygienic (if kept clean)

]]> By: jimhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-pick-a-good-hostel/#comment-43434 jim Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:08:49 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=4306#comment-43434 I think the idea of a bar in a hostel sounds like fun until you've been traveling all day and just want some rest. Bars are fun... unless you want to sleep. :) I think the idea of a bar in a hostel sounds like fun until you’ve been traveling all day and just want some rest. Bars are fun… unless you want to sleep. :)

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