I spent about a month travelling the UK, and spent most of that time staying in hostels in various cities.
Hostels are not the scary awful dives that your grandmother is terrified of. I mean, some of them are, but there are gobs of perfectly good hostels that offer a bed to sleep in at a price you can afford (and still have enough money to, you know, eat and go on the London Eye).
So here are some tips for finding good accommodation during your travels:
1. Decide What You Want
Know what you want out of a place to stay, and know what you’re willing to sacrifice. Know your limits — there are hostels that offer 32-person rooms for a few pounds a night, but are the savings worth that kind of bonding time with that many strangers? How important is it for you to have a private bathroom? Do you want some kind of breakfast included?
2. Cost
Set yourself a budget and stick to it as well as you can. Don’t lose your mind if you have to go over, but as often as possible go under. Realize that sometimes you’ll have to compromise, usually either on cost or quality. Keep in mind how long you’ll be staying, and weigh all the variables before making your decision. Try to keep your list of essential qualities to a minimum. It’s good to be discerning and careful of where you’re resting your head, but if you have a list of requirements a mile long you’re going to hit a lot of roadblocks.
3. Location
I’m sorry to have to offer you a cliche, but: location, location, location. You’re in an unfamiliar city, and more than likely you’re either alone or with a small group. As much as you can, look for lodging within or very near the city centre. It might be a bit cheaper to go farther out, but unless you are very sure of the transportation situation, it’s well worth the extra cash to know you’re right in the middle of where you need to be. Plus, if you’re in the city centre you can be assured that there are plenty of places to eat, drink, and be merry just around the corner from your bed.
4. Use Comparison Websites
When I’m looking for somewhere to stay, my hotel search site of choice is Booking.com. I like the layout of the site, I like that there are generally lots of reviews for every location, and I like that it doesn’t seem to miss much. My second site, which I usually cross with what I’ve found on hotels.com, is Hostelbookers.com. Hostelbookers sticks to hostels and low budget hotels, and sometimes catches places that don’t show up on other sites. Tripadvisor is good as well. When I’ve narrowed it down to a couple locations, I scrutinize the reviews on each site, and make sure to check the actual websites of the places I’m looking at.
5. Read the Reviews Thoroughly
That’s where you’ll find out if a seemingly alright place actually has terrible management, pitiful Internet, or a strong odor. That’s also where you’ll find if the beds are especially comfortable, the showers particularly clean, and the free breakfast pleasingly varied.
When you’re ready to book, you’re almost certainly better off booking directly through the hotel’s website. Third party booking sites often have fees that bump the prices a bit, and you can end up paying more. When you’re ready to actually book, select your room and get all the way to the point where you put in your card details — that’s where you’ll know the true price, with all the fees and taxes included.
More often than not, booking direct cuts out some of that nonsense. This is also true if the booking site tells you there aren’t any rooms (or that a specific type of room is booked up). The hotel’s website might just have a few left available.
6. View Cancellation Policies
Make sure to check cancellation and change policies. Plans change, sometimes very quickly, and you don’t want to be out a bunch of money if you need to cancel or alter your reservation. Most places let you cancel or change up to a couple days before your stay, but sometimes cheaper rooms running on a discount don’t permit cancellations. Just be sure to read the fine print.
7. Pay Cash (If Possible)
Most hostels ask you to pay on arrival, with some asking for a non-refundable deposit when you book (this is usually about 10% of your total cost). When it’s time to pony up, as often as possible you should pay cash. Most places have an extra fee (generally 3-5%) on payment by card. Cheaper for you, easier for them.