Guide books are just one way you can find a somewhere to stay.
There are a vast number of hostels around the world, but just how do you find the best? There are many ways to find a great hostel whilst traveling the world. Although some ways can be more successful than others.
The likelihood is that when traveling you’ll use various different resources to finda hostel to stay in. Sometimes you may simply be coerced by a persuasive hostel worker who will promise you a great hostel/guest house and a great deal.
Finding A Hostel In Advance
Online Hostel Booking Site
Increasingly powerful, hostel booking sites such as Hostel World and Hostel Bookers have reviews by travelers who have actually stayed in the hostel in question. Although often overly critical they can serve as a great base of knowledge when choosing somewhere to stay in advance. One of the great things about these hostel booking sites is that the information is usually quite up to date.
Travel Forums
If you are looking for advice from people who have been there and done it you could try asking users on forums such as The Thorn Tree (Lonely Planet) or The BootsnAll Forum. Often you’ll find good advice from people who have recently stayed in a hostel where you want to go.
In order to have your finger on the pulse and to be right bang up to date, try using twitter. If you have a big travel following on twitter you can try putting a shout out for advice on which hostel to stay in. I did just this yesterday and got a couple of speedy replies suggesting a couple of great hostels in Madrid. Similar to using “word of mouth” advice from other travelers on the road apart from that you have to have access to the internet so are likely to be planning in advance.
Finding A Hostel On The Road
Guide Books
Often when you’re traveling you’ll reach for the guide book for an idea of what kind of places you can stay in. When you are a bit off the beaten track it’s likely the hostel booking sites won’t even feature the guest house or wooden shack that you’ll be staying in. Guide books can be helpful in pointing you in the right direction, even if you don’t quite choose the exact hostel they recommend. The problem with guide books such as The Lonely Planet and The Rough Guides is that often you’ll find the information slightly out of date. I experienced exactly this as I stayed in a seedy, dirty little Thai guest house that was listed in the guide book as a “backpacker heaven”.
Backpacker Word of mouth
Usually whilst traveling around you’ll receive some great tips on some amazing guest houses and hostels to stay in. This is often the most reliable and up to date advice you can get on the road. When other travelers mention a place they stayed it’s often because it has something extra special about it, take their advice!
Take A Tour
The last resort, but often the most fun. Aim for the backpacker area and take a tour round a few hostels before you finally picking one to stay in. This will often be dictated by how tired you are from your 15 hour bus journey and you won’t always be in the mood for looking round several different hostels in a row.
What ways have you found hostels and guest houses on your travels? Let us know in the comments.
