Woodstock Hostel (Paris, France) - Patrick T Power (flickr)

In some travel destinations, hostel choice isn’t a big deal. All you really need is a bed in a safe and convenient location, as you’ll be spending 99% of your time elsewhere.

However, in other destinations where the allure is the small local area itself, hostel choice can become very important. Consider the quaint fishing village that has grown into a travelers haven of cheap eats, beachside bars, and epic surfing. In this type of location you are much more likely to spend a large part of your time in or near the hostel, and consequentially should take the time to pick out a place that best meets your needs.

1. Beware the Salesman: Not always a concern, but most of us have seen it before. You take one step into town and all of the sudden you’ve got 1 or more hostel owners/workers swarming you with offers to take you to their hostel. In my experience, these folks often have very nice hostels, and despite their pushy sales tactics you may be very interested in their product (the hostel). However, DO NOT commit to their establishment simply because they were the first to “catch” you. There are surely many other nice hostels around town, which is why these are willing to spend their time trying to sell you on their local, before you have a chance to see the competition.

2. Use a recommendation or guidebook: Some people don’t like using guidebooks or recommendations from other travelers while on the road. They feel it takes the adventure out of travel. However, if you are like me, and don’t share this particular sentiment, there really is no better way to choose a hostel than to ask other travelers for recommendations, and see what the guidebooks have to say. These resources understand what the traveler wants, and can give you immediate access to all the information you may need in choosing a hostel.

3. View the Room: Westeners are often accustomed to choosing hotel accommodations by brand. You basically know what to expect when you rent a room at the Hilton or Marriott, and rarely feel inclined to see the room before purchase. Not the case in an individually owned hostel. Always ask to see the room before you commit to anything. Foreign language vocabulary for this type of task is very easy, so don’t be afraid to ask.

4. Split up: If you are traveling with a friend or group of friends, a great strategy for checking out a few different hostels in a short period of time is to split up. Decide on what aspects of hostel accommodation are most important to you, split up for 15-20 minutes, then meet back at a local cafe to discuss the options.

5. Don’t feel obligated: Travelers often feel bad about passing on a hostel. It’s a difficult situation, as you have to ask to see the room ahead of time, forcing hostel workers to take you around the place, then often feel too awkward to say “no” if it’s not what you’re looking for. For some people it’s not an issue, however others feel bad about turning down friendly hostel workers, as if it insinuates they are “too good” for the establishment. My recommendation is just don’t worry about it. Everyday travelers view these hostels, some say yes, others say no. There is no reason to feel bad about looking for something that better meets your needs. Saying “no, thank you” to locals is also a necessary skill for a traveler, and one that gets much easier over time.

6. Look for other people: The traveler grapevine is a powerful force that should not be underestimated. If you see a hostel buzzing with people, odds are that it’s a great place to stay. Obviously, you may want to be weary if there are too many people around, but in general hostels are just like restaurants. The best one’s fill up first.

7. Never settle on the first spot: You’ve just gotten off a 16 hour train ride, and arrived at that perfect little beach town where the bodies are tan, the waves are always perfect, and the rum flows like water. It’s a common but understandable error to just throw your things into the first hostel you find. IHowever, if you get right down to business, hostel searching should not take more than 20-30 minutes, so don’t ignore this step. Walk around town, check out the options, and make an informed decision. You’ll surely be thankful for the time you spent when you find that little gem with perfect sunset views and hammocks strewn across the sand.

8. Don’t forget the common areas: A tip that I often forget about myself. For many travelers, a big part of the travel experience is meeting and hanging out with other travelers. Don’t forget to view the common areas of the hostel where you will likely spend a decent portion of time sipping on beers and/or coffee with fellow travelers. Rooms are often basic, and offer little more than a bed, so the common areas can really make or break a place.

9. One night at a time: If at all possible, I try to only commit to one night at a time. This is a judgment call that you will need to make on the spot, and should always be weary of a place selling out. However, if it does not look like your hostel is likely to sell out it’s rooms for the following night, only commit to one night. If you like the hostel, you can extend your stay the next day, however if something unexpected happens and your hostel isn’t as great as your first impression, or you want to try something new, you can just move on to something else the next day.

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