Back in 2019, I decided to make a small pitstop in Lisbon, Portugal on my way back to Spain from Porto. It wasn't originally intended to be a solo trip but my friend's plans changed last minute. I decided to go anyway and since I ended up only having 1 night, I figured this was the perfect opportunity to test out hostel life. Now if you've ever planned a trip on a limited budget, you've probably come across hostels with enticingly low price points. Renting a bed in a hostel can literally cost $15 a night! And, especially if you're on a tight budget, saving hundreds of dollars on accommodations is a big deal.
I knew that in the future, I would want to travel as much as possible but it was highly unlikely that I'd be able to just pick up and go whenever because I would have an entry-level salary. My thought process at the time was to test out a hostel for one night since there was no long-term commitment and I was alone anyway. If I liked it, fabulous! If I didn't, say it is what it is and head back home with no harm done. I tested it out at the Sunset Destination Hostel in Lisbon, Portugal and although it wasn't a terrible experience, hostel life is definitely not for me. Keep reading for the deets.
My Experience at Sunset Destination Hostel
A hostel in a low-priced hotel that offers basic and often shared accommodations. While some hostels do have a select number of private rooms available, most bookings will be for a single bed in a shared room. Most hostel rooms, especially the lower-priced ones, will have a room with multiple bunk beds, a shared bathroom, and access to a communal kitchen. Think of it kinda like staying in a college dorm.
Sunset Destination Hostel was set up just like this. One of my first concerns as a woman was staying safe while sleeping in a room with complete strangers. Thankfully, the hostel I stayed in offered both mixed gender and female dorm rooms which made me feel better. I booked a single bed in a "6 Bed Female Dorm Ensuite" for 18 EUR ($21 USD). There was a small bathroom inside of the room that the 6 of us shared. Each bunk bed had 2 drawers at the bottom that served as lockers. I was given a key when I checked in that allowed me access to the bedroom and my individual locker drawer. Each bed also had a curtain for privacy and a personal outlet. There were also bathrooms available in the main area, a communal kitchen, and general hang-out spots in the building. This dorm even had a rooftop area for travelers to hang out, drink, and swim in the pool. I didn't use most of these amenities as I was there for one day and decided to spend my time exploring the city.
I don't recall the check-in process being much different from a regular hotel. And unlike some hostels, I don't think they had a specific curfew which allows flexibility for you to come in and out at whatever time you need without concern of being stranded. If I remember correctly, the hostel was in the same building as the metro station so I was able to hop off the train and head on upstairs to check-in. I immediately headed to my room to put my backpack in my locker and took my essentials while I explored the city for the day. Thankfully, I could lock the drawer so I did not have any problems with anybody taking anything while I was out.
When I got back to the room for the night, the first thing I did was get ready for bed. I'm pretty sure I only saw 1 of the girls in the room my whole stay because we typically came in and out at different times. That worked out because I didn't really have to wait or rush in the bathroom. It kinda felt like I had it to myself. The bathroom and shower were pretty small though so it definitely wasn't a relaxing experience. The bathroom was pretty clean but I would recommend shower shoes so that you aren't swapping foot particles with strangers lol.
I definitely had the most anxiety when it came to sleeping in the room though. Like there are literally 5 other strangers sharing my space. And I'm a pretty heavy sleeper so my brain was like "What if they steal something? What if they're crazy? What if they open my curtain? What if they try to hurt me? What if...what if...what if?" But I was also concerned from the side of being considerate wondering "What if someone comes in drunk and loud? What if I wake them up just trying to brush my teeth? What if they snore? What if I snore? What if my alarm wakes everyone up? What if someone else's alarm wakes me up? What if they are in my way while I'm trying to hurry up and get to the airport?" The whole nine! I did what I could to mitigate some of my concerns like using headphones and sleeping with my valuables under my pillow. But it was so much less peaceful than just having my own space.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened. I slept fine, woke up with all of my stuff, and was able to use the bathroom and get to the airport on time. But for me personally, the money I saved is not worth continuously doing this and hoping for the best when it comes to the safety of me or my belongings. Plus the what-ifs were unnecessarily stressful.
Like I previously said, hostels can offer more private experiences. In fact, I stayed in three other hostels while in Europe - a private room with a communal bathroom in the hallway in Madrid, a private 4-bed room with a private ensuite bathroom in Barcelona, and a private triple room with a private ensuite bathroom in Belgium. I much preferred the last 2 experiences because I was in the room with only friends which felt more like a regular hotel stay. But of course, the more private the setup, the more it will cost to book.
I'll make sure to write a future post comparing the three types of accommodations (hotel, hostels, and Airbnbs) in more detail but overall, hostels are not my thing. Nothing bad happened but I value comfort too much to do the shared rooms ever again. And with proper budgeting, I have been able to afford the extra amenities and luxuries that often come with staying at actual hotels. The only way I would stay in a hostel in the future is if I can find a private room with a private ensuite bathroom that still costs significantly less than most hotels in the area. Otherwise, no thank you.
Have you ever stayed in a hostel? If yes, what was your experience? If no, will you try it out?
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