Wanna Save Money on Lodging? Think Hostel

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​Often just as costly as airfare, lodging devours a significant chunk of our travel budget.   In a typical budget European hotel, a double room costs an average of $110 a night.  Similar budget hotels in the US will cost an average of $130 a night.  Hostels offer dormitory-style rooms with shared facilities and can be a great way to save money on lodging when  traveling.   

Often when we think of hostels,  images of crowded, unkempt dorms lacking comfort and amenities come to mind.  Hostels have come a long way and seem to get better and better each year.  Many hostels now offer small rooms, singles, and doubles designed for solo travelers or couples.  The people that you meet in hostels range from students and backpackers, to budget travelers, and adventurers of all ages.  Many hostels offer amenities rivaling, and in some cases surpassing, those offered in some hotels.   These aren’t the hostels you see in movies.  They come with WiFi, tour desks, bars, curtains, lockers for your belongings, large bathrooms, and much more!  It is not uncommon for Hostels to offer laundry facilities for guest use.  While many hostels now provide bath towels, they are not always available.  It is wise to err on the side of caution and pack your own towels...just in case.  Similarly, though hostels provide lockers to secure your belongings while you are out, it is wise to bring your own padlock.

Hostels are the best value for budget travelers.   They are safe, well staffed and usually centrally located.  Guests can often choose between same sex or mixed sex dorms ranging in price from $5 - $30 USD per night, which usually includes breakfast.  Prices generally decrease as the rooms get larger.  So, if you are not adverse to sharing a room with several people, you could conceivably pay less for nightly lodging than you pay for dinner.  ​​

Hostels offers different sleeping configurations.  Most common are 4 and 8 bed dorms comprised of 2 or 4 bunk beds.  However, very many hostels now offer single rooms with private baths, as well as family rooms, usually comprised of 4 beds and 1 shared bath.  Still others offer dorms as large as 16 beds. ​

Hostel booking websites like Hostelworld, Hostel.com and HostelBookers.com, make it easy to find a hostel that meets your budget and needs.  Aggregate sites like Hostelz.com combine offerings of several hostel booking sites allowing for a side by side comparison.  Many traditional hotel booking sites, such as Booking.com also lists pricing and availability of hostels.  

Maximize your vacation budget by using hostels whenever possible.  Hostels can help  you to save money, enable you to travel more frequently or for extended periods,  and allow you meet others who share your love for traveling.  Your vacation dollars should be spent on experiences, not hotel rooms.  Contact Booked & Ready Travel to book the best hostels worldwide, with features and amenities to meet you personal needs and preferences.  

What interesting experiences have you had while staying in Hostels?  Share your experience in the comments below.