Hostels vs Hotels: Why I Stopped Booking Private Rooms
I used to think hostels were for people who couldn't afford better. I was wrong.
Here's the thing nobody tells you about hotels: you pay €100 a night to be alone.
That sounds nice until you're eating dinner by yourself for the fifth night in a row, scrolling your phone, wondering why this trip feels emptier than your commute home.
I stayed in hotels for years. Clean sheets, quiet room, my own bathroom. Very civilized. Very forgettable.
The First Time I Tried a Hostel
Budapest, 2019. My hotel booking fell through. Only option was a hostel I'd never heard of.
By 10 PM I was on a rooftop with a German photographer, two Australians on a gap year, and a bartender from São Paulo who knew a ruin bar with no cover charge. We ended up at a thermal bath at 2 AM because apparently that's a thing you can do in Budapest.
My hotel would've given me a minibar and HBO.
What Actually Happens at Hostels
Common rooms exist for one reason: so strangers become temporary friends. You sit down, someone asks where you're from, and suddenly you're getting dinner recommendations from a local bartender or joining a sunrise hike organized by people you met 20 minutes ago.
This doesn't happen at hotels. Hotels are designed to keep you separate. That's literally the product.
The Money Part
Let's be honest: €20/night vs €100/night adds up.
A two-week trip in hostels costs what three nights in hotels costs. That's an extra week of travel. Or actually good food instead of sad hotel buffets. Or that cooking class you've been debating.
Even private hostel rooms—which exist, by the way—run €40-60. Still cheaper than most hotels, and you still get the common areas.
The Downsides (Since I Should Be Honest)
- Noise. Someone will snore. Someone will come in at 3 AM. Earplugs are mandatory.
- Privacy. You're sharing a room. This won't work if you need alone time every night.
- Lockers. Lock your stuff. Most hostels have storage, but bring your own padlock.
- Vibe variance. Some hostels are party spots. Read reviews if that's not your thing.
Quick Hostel Survival Tips
- Smaller dorms = better sleep. 4-6 beds is the sweet spot. Avoid 20-bed dorms.
- Check for female/male-only options if you prefer them.
- Bring flip-flops. For showers. Trust me.
- Bottom bunk gang. More storage, less climbing.
- The common room is the point. Sit there. Talk to people. That's why you're here.
Who Shouldn't Stay in Hostels
If you're traveling with a partner and want privacy, get a hotel. If you're a light sleeper who can't handle noise, get a hotel. If you need your own bathroom, get a hotel.
But if you're solo, curious, and tired of eating alone—try a hostel once. Just once. See what happens.
Polo's Stay Finder surfaces hostels based on where you're actually going—not just what's cheap. Less time commuting, more time exploring.