As a backpacker, finding the ideal place to lay your head each night is an essential decision to make.
Backpacker hostels are often preferred for their budget-friendly and sociable nature.
However, careful planning and consideration are necessary to ensure that you choose a hostel that enhances your journey and offers value for money.
Picture: Unsplash/Marcus Loke
Consider these few tips for choosing a good backpacker hostel:
Location
Where your hostel is located will have a big impact on your overall experience. It is advisable to book a hostel that is not too far from the adventures you aim to immerse yourself in. That way, you can spend less time commuting and more time exploring.
Before you make your booking, it helps to check Google Maps in order to assess the proximity of your chosen hostel to the things you would like to see and do.
Picture: Unsplash/Ralph Katieb
Cheaper is not always better
Although hostels are known and loved for their low-cost nature, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Not every hostel offers a good backpacking experience. As such, it helps to choose wisely instead of simply going for the cheapest option.
Some hostels are often unclean and have extremely uncomfortable beds. Over and above affordability, you also want to ensure that you are getting value for money.
ALSO READ: Tips for beginner backpackers
Look for lockers
Security is another important aspect of your backpacker experience. You need a safe place to store important items such as your travel documents and gadgets. Most hostels offer lockers which you can use for free. You are simply required to bring your own lock.
Try your best to stay away from hostels that do not offer lockers or any other place where you can safely store your items.
Reviews and recommendations
Reviews and recommendations are very helpful tools in choosing the best accommodation. Choosing a hostel which has plenty of good reviews can be very reassuring.
Equally, bad reviews should be a cause for concern. Do your research regarding the experiences of fellow backpackers at your chosen hostel before you finalize your booking. That way, you are able to make an informed decision and avoid regrets.
Picture: iStock/DIy13
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