So I finally tried the hostel dorm thing after years of avoiding it...

I used to think hostels were just for college kids who wanted to party all night. But last month I had a 3 day trip to Portland and hotels were over $200 a night. Found a highly rated hostel dorm for $38 a night with free breakfast and wifi. I was super nervous about sharing a room with 5 strangers. But honestly everyone was quiet and respectful, most people were just as tired from exploring as I was. The common kitchen saved me like $50 on eating out. I still prefer my own space but for a short trip it was totally worth it. Has anyone else found a good hostel that changed your mind about the whole thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahcraig18d agoTop Commenter

I had to smile at "just for college kids who wanted to party all night" because that's totally what I used to think too. But I gotta gently push back on the free breakfast thing, a lot of hostels say that but it's usually just toast and cereal, not a real meal. Still, even with just cheap instant oatmeal and coffee it saves you a few bucks. The common kitchen is the real money saver for sure, I once stretched a $10 grocery run into two dinners and a lunch in Seattle. And yeah, the quiet respectful thing is way more common than people think, most folks in dorms are just there to crash after a long day of exploring.

jessica92117d ago

Oh wow, that $10 grocery run trick is genius! @hannahcraig I totally agree the common kitchen is where it's at. I remember once in London I bought a huge bag of pasta and sauce for like 5 pounds and ate for three days straight. Hostel breakfasts are hit or miss, but that oatmeal always hits the spot when you're broke.

rodriguez.mia17d ago

Man, that pasta trick is a classic for sure. But here's something I don't see people bring up - check if the hostel has a staff meal or family dinner thing once a week. I stayed at this place in Montreal where the workers cooked a big pot of chili on Sundays for anyone who chipped in like three bucks. Way cheaper than eating out and you meet folks you'd never talk to otherwise. Plus they usually have leftover bread or pastries from local bakeries if you ask nice, which beats dry cereal any day.