StudentUniverse.com

When planning for a trip somewhere one of the main things you will need to decide is whether to stay at a hotel or a hostel.

If you are relatively new to traveling outside the U.S. then the term ‘hostel’ can seem foreign. Hostels are really just like hotels with a few minor differences. They tend to be less expensive and therefore more attractive to groups of college friends traveling together. Both can be found inside cities as well as in the countryside. So what exactly is the difference?

What is a hostel?

In Europe you can find hostels in every major city. Some come under the name ‘guest house’, but are basically the same thing. A typical hostel looks something like a dorm style room. It is rare to find a double or queen bed and most have a couple or three twin beds put in a room. “En suite” means the room you are staying in has a private bathroom. This is very rare in hostels. Most hostels provide a bathroom with a shower and toilet on the same floor as your room. These can be shared by up to a dozen people staying in the rooms. The way hostels work are there are a multiple amount of beds, sometime bunk beds. A room can have between two and up to even twelve beds. You book the number of beds you want. The price is by bed, not by room for the most part. This is great for groups of friends and it can be a lot of fun to share a room with strangers and get to know them. You will hear stories and meet people from the wildest places, which can just add to the fun and thrill of your trip.

How does a hostel par to a hotel?

The bottom line is your comfort level. Most people will tell you hostels are a great way to travel. And they really can be. However if you need to have a bathroom in your own room and can’t stand the idea of sharing a bedroom with strangers then you might want to go the hotel route. The only drawback is in a lot of cities hostels are the cheaper way to travel by far. Websites like studentuniverse.com show lists of hostels and hotels together and you can compare them yourself based on the price. With that said hostels are a fun and inexpensive way to travel the world. Backpackers and yuppies alike can share in the comfort and hassle free experience of a hostel. The best recommendation is to try something new and stay in a hostel with you buddies. You will be pleasantly surprised how large your wallet is and how fun your trip is.