As many people who have traveled the world will varify, one of the cheapest ways to travel the world is by staying in hostels. Hostels allow you to see the world at a fraction of the price that staying in hotels would have otherwise cost you whilst also allowing you to experience the sense of community that is prominent in hostels as you meet and and socialise with people from all over the world.

Price

The major benefit of staying in hostels compared to a hotel is undoubtedly the price. In most places, where you would have to pay €100 for one night in a hotel, you could spend that €100 on 5 nights staying in a hostel instead, perfect for the budget traveler as it can mean that instead of spending 2 or 3 nights in a place, you can stay for a week and fully see and explore your destination. So in Prague for example, a bed in a dorm in a hostel can cost as little as €8.47 a night compared to cost of upwards of €50 euros for a hotel room.

Community

Aside from price, for me, the best reason to choose staying in a hostel is the sense of community that is prominent. There are numerous common areas in hostels and this is a great place to meet like minded travelers and share your experiences. If you are traveling alone then this is ideal as it can mean finding someone to share your adventure with. Don´t mistake this also for meaning that hostels are always party central as this is not the case in most hostels. Some hostels are party hostels but check out the hostel before to find it out as most are in fact very quiet and pleasant providing you with a relaxing stay.

Same services as a hotel

In many hostels, the front desk will provide you with all of the same services that you would expect from a hotel. The front desk is very helpful in pointing you in the right direction, telling you the best local places to visit and in some cases even organising excursions for you to go on as part of the hostel.

Hostels often recieve a slightly negative reaction due to some bad press before but I have never had a bad experience of hostels and have always found them to be pleasant and have left with nothing but positive memories and recomendations of the hostels.