I spent two and a half years traveling non-stop around the world.  During that trip, and over many years of travel, I have stayed in over 300 youth hostels.  I fall among a rare breed that is completely unphased by spending the night among a room full of strangers.

Although many travelers know that staying in a youth hostel is an option, some never actually make use of this very economic option.  How hostels work and what the experience if staying in one is like is a mystery for many people.  I must say, hostelling falls under the category of budget travel so it’s not for everyone. There are some travelers I am sure that are very happy to leave the mystery of hostel stays completely unbroken.

Although some hostels offer private and semi-private rooms, it is more common to sleep in a dormitory with other travelers.  In most cases, dormitories are separated by male and female.  However on occasion you will find hostels that offer an optional mixed dorm. 

Hostels are not just for young travelers, even if though they are often called ‘youth’ hostels.  Travelers of any age have always been welcome in the hostels that I have stayed in.  So if you are of retirement age and have made a decision to see the world (and many do) do not feel that you have to shy away from staying in a youth hostel.

You will find that hostels come in all shapes and sizes, literally!  The size of the hostel is not necessarily an indicator as to the type of stay you will have.  I have stayed in hostels that could house hundreds of travelers and that were highly organized and ran like clockwork.  I have also stayed in hostels that were small yet completely disorganized and badly run. 

The way to find a good hostel is through a good Hostel Search directory that allows travelers to give ratings and feedback based on their experience.  Word of mouth is also a great way to find out what hostels are good in a particular city.   Travelers will always give you the scoop.

The key things that make staying in a hostel bearable, especially if you have been on the road for a while, are the following: small dormitories (6 people or less) so that you still have some semblance of privacy, strong safes and lockers to keep your possessions safer, a hearty breakfast included with a night’s stay, an area of the hostel where travelers can chat and socialize with one another, and good front desk resources such as local maps and other information on local resources.