I’ve stayed in 206 hostels globally. If there was a title for hostel veteran—I’ve probably already earned it. That said, to be frank, hostels quickly become monotonous and a drain on your energy.
Once you’ve stayed in 5 hostels, you’ve stayed in them all. And you’ve probably seen all the stupid characters, too.
Here’s why hostels suck for long-term travel and some things that will quickly annoy you:
1. The Superficial Socialising
The primary advantage of staying in hostels is easy socialising. You’ll encounter people from every corner of the globe—some great, others not so great. Still, hostels are undoubtedly good for solo travellers on a budget.
But here’s the problem: you won’t build genuine connections with anyone. You’ll meet people for 3 days, and they’re gone; you’ll tell yourself that you’ll stay in touch, but you won’t.
If you’re lucky enough to break through mundane hostel chat—where are you from, where have you been to, and where are you going next—you may discuss politics, business, or spirituality.
But even then, most people in hostels are young, jobless, purposeless, and travelling on their mother's credit cards. Their life experience is limited, and they’re often lacking in substance.
In short, you’ll meet backpackers for 2 days, listen to the same superficial conversations, and then you’ll never see them again. After a while, it’s tedious and damaging to your mental health.
From my 8 years of travel experience, to make genuine connections with people when travelling—you must be with them for a minimum of 6 weeks. That’s rarely possible in hostels.
2. The Stupid People
It doesn’t matter how good your hostel is, you’ll always encounter one inconsiderate moron with no common sense or social awareness.
I’ve encountered it all in the last 8 years: people turning lights on at 3 am, farting next to my bed, walking around in underwear, shouting in the early hours, or throwing their luggage around the room.
Now, of course, 95% of people are respectful. But after a while, that one idiot will grind you down and make you wish you’d never booked a dorm in your life.
At that point, you have two options: book yourself a hotel or Airbnb for a few weeks and return to hostels later on, or stop staying in hostels altogether.
For most people, they’ll never stay in hostels again. After all, who wants to share a room with people masturbating?
3. Those Cliche Characters
Hostels are full of irritating cliches who do nothing but cement cultural stereotypes. For example, you’ll encounter the drunken, arrogant Brits; the noisy, inconsiderate Latinos; the arrogant, rude Frenchies; and the vociferous, ignorant Americans.
You’ll also meet the silly hippy travelling on their dad’s credit card, the arrogant backpacker trying to negotiate with locals for 3 cents, and the English ‘lad’ chasing every woman in the hostel while running away from his problems at home.
If you don’t want to realise why some stereotypes exist in the first place—don’t stay in hostels.
4. Hostels Aren’t Super Cheap Anymore
Hostels used to be highly affordable, but COVID-19 and corporatization changed that. In Western Europe, you’ll be lucky to find a decent hostel for under $40 a night now. If you’re travelling with friends or a partner, you can split the cost of hotel rooms for less.
Private rooms in hostels used to be a good way to enjoy the best of both worlds: privacy and the opportunity to socialise when travelling alone. However, private rooms in hostels are now more expensive than many hotel rooms and Airbnbs with worse facilities.
If you want to socialise with backpackers, you can visit the hostel bar at night time without even staying in the hostel. You can also meet locals, do free walking tours, and engage in local activities to meet others. Dare I suggest hopping on Tinder or Bumble?
So, what’s the point of hostels now?
Well, they’re still more affordable than hotels and Airbnb if you’re travelling alone and want to maintain your savings for as long as possible. They’re also the most straightforward place to meet people.
Yet if you’re no longer broke and want some privacy, freedom, and a better quality of life—they’re becoming pointless and overpriced. The increase in co-living spaces and accommodation aimed at digital nomads is also decreasing the need for hostels.
Final Thoughts
I still stay in hostels from time to time—and I sometimes don’t mind it. However, as a remote worker and long-term traveller, I understand the pitfalls of Hostels like no other. As a result, I now opt for co-living spaces, private rooms, Airbnb’s, etc.
If you’re young and ready to travel the world, you may have the time of your life in hostels. I don’t want to put you off.
But when these little things start to annoy you, remember one thing: you’re not alone.
Oh, and a decent Airbnb/hotel deal is always around the corner.