26-03-2025
The Surprising Benefits Of Staying In A Hostel, According To Hostel-Goers
Female friends discussing while sitting on bunkbed.
Hostels have a reputation for being a budget-friendly alternative to hotels — but the communicable accommodations provide a lot more benefits than just putting money back into your pocket.
If you've been considering staying in a hostel but need the extra boost, the following surprising benefits from regular hostel-goers will push you to finally book that laidback accommodation you've had your eye on.
According to Paul Fournier, travel expert and founder of Journey Compass, hostels create a social space that doesn't really exist in traditional hotels. 'Most people are open to meeting others, sharing tips, or just chatting,' he explained. 'I've made friends while waiting in line for the shower or cooking in a shared kitchen. It's casual and easy, and it adds something personal to the trip.'
'Hostel staff also tend to be more relaxed and helpful in a different way,' Fournier explained. 'In one place in Hanoi, the owner sat down with me and marked his favourite local food spots on a paper map—places I would've never found online. That kind of local advice makes a big difference, especially if you're trying to explore beyond the tourist areas.'
'Another reason I sometimes stay in hostels is flexibility,' explained Fournier.' If I arrive somewhere and really like it, I can usually extend my stay without hassle. Or if I want to move on quickly, I don't feel locked in. That freedom is really useful, especially if you're travelling without a tight schedule.'
According to Fournier, staying in a hostel also helps you grow a bit as a person. 'You learn to share space, deal with different habits, and talk to strangers when staying in a hostel,' he said. 'Once, in a Taipei hostel, I met a woman in her 60s who had just started travelling solo after retirement. We walked the city together and had some great conversations—something that would've never happened if I'd booked a private hotel room.'
'Something I love about hostels is how they force you outta your comfort zone,' explained Jasmine Charbonier, founder of 'In a hotel, I'd order room service and watch TV. But in hostels, I've learned to cook Thai food from my bunkmate, picked up basic Portuguese from the guy in the bed next to me, and even learned how to play traditional Indonesian card games in the common room.'
'The community kitchen's been a game-changer for me,' added Charbonier. 'Sure, it saves money, but it's more about the culture exchange. This one time in Amsterdam, I ended up in an impromptu cooking competition with people from 5 different countries. We each made our national dishes — my mediocre mac & cheese got crushed by this amazing Hungarian goulash, but it was such a blast.'
According to Charbonier, the networking possibilities at hostels are also very good. 'I've met startup founders, artists, musicians—and I even got a job lead once from a random conversation in a hostel kitchen,' she explained. 'These places attract such an interesting mix of people, from digital nomads to creative professionals. It's like LinkedIn but way more authentic and fun.'
'My absolute favorite part about staying in hostels is that they give you the real, unfiltered story of a place,' she explained. 'Hotels can feel like bubbles, but hostels push you right into the local scene. Through hostel connections, I've been to underground art shows, local house parties, and secret beach spots that weren't in any guidebook.'
