And if everything is clear with hotels – choose a room to your liking and live – then with hostels it's not so straightforward. This budget accommodation option for tourists has relatively recently taken root in our country, so not everyone is yet aware of how it all works. The good thing is that hostels offer accommodation services at a much more budget-friendly price, because finding a hotel with low prices is not always possible. But how can a beginner (and not only) traveler choose a good and convenient hostel so that your vacation is a joy? Take note!
Set Your Priorities
When choosing a hostel, immediately decide what is most important to you in future accommodation. Peace and quiet and no roommates? Or are you okay with chatting with other tourists like yourself? Do you want all the tourist spots in the city to be nearby, or, on the contrary, do you prefer to stay away from the noisy center? Choose a hostel based on your preferences.
Pay attention to how spacious it is. If the hostel only has multi-bed rooms (i.e., for 8, 10, or 12 beds), then they will almost certainly be more than half full, meaning you will have to share the roof with at least two or three neighbors (in the best case).
Don't like sharing? Then when booking, check how full the largest rooms are. If they are almost (or completely) occupied, then the next most spacious ones may well be empty. But even if not, it's better to pay a little more and live with one or two neighbors than with a dozen for cheap, right?
Separate or Together?
This point is more relevant for girls. Hostels have such a nuance as mixed rooms, i.e., those where men and women live together. Of course, this does not mean that you will necessarily end up living with neighbors of both sexes, but if you are uncomfortable with that prospect, it is worth booking a women-only room.
Pay Attention to the Rules
In a self-respecting hostel, the rules are not just hanging in a frame on the wall; an administrator ensures they are followed. Therefore, before booking a spot, check reviews from those who have already stayed there. This, of course, does not give you a 100% guarantee that your neighbors won't barge into the room in the middle of the night with friends or that the kitchen will be perfectly tidy and clean. But at least you will have a general idea of what to expect.
Clarify the Details
All hostels are different: there are small and large, comfortable and almost Spartan conditions. Therefore, before booking a spot, clarify all the little things and nuances of living: availability of shower/toilet, kitchen and utensils/appliances (otherwise you'll have to bring your own), as well as a refrigerator.
Sometimes breakfast may be included in the price – check that too. Also find out if the hostel has a washing machine and a special place for drying clothes – otherwise you'll have to dry them right in the room. It's also worth finding out in advance whether bed linen and bath accessories are provided. If not, bring your own.
Separately, you should find out whether all hostel services are included in the price, or if some require additional payment (e.g., laundry, use of appliances, etc.).
Also, hostels often have a limit on stay, i.e., you cannot stay there longer than a certain time (usually a week). If you are planning a long trip, clarify this point with the hostel administration in advance.
Some hostels care not only about comfortable accommodation for guests but also about their leisure time. Such establishments often post announcements about various hangouts, excursions, and other entertainment. Check this with the administration.
Location
When choosing a hostel, carefully study the map with its location. If it is important for you to be close to a transport hub or the city center, or to have all the main attractions and interesting places within walking distance, choose the appropriate accommodation options.
Separately, you should address the issue with the airport – if you don't want to get there and back with ten transfers, choose hostels that offer transfer services or are located near the "air gates."
Usually, hostel administration indicates the distance of their establishment from the main tourist spots, as well as proximity to the most necessary places – shops, pharmacies, public transport stops, etc. Moreover, a convenient location is a guarantee that you won't have to worry about missing the last bus to some outskirts of the city where your hostel is located.
Carefully Study the Information
If the hostel has its own website, that's great. There you can get all the information you need. If not, hostels also provide all necessary information on their booking system page. Carefully read everything written there. If there is little information or it raises doubts (e.g., too low a price), if there are no reviews for this hostel or the establishment's "track record" is very short, it's better to look for something more reliable.
Also, clarify in advance all the nuances regarding booking and payment for the spot. Good hostels give guests the opportunity to get a refund if the booking is canceled or if the living conditions did not match those stated. Others may ask for a deposit, which is returned after check-in – and that's perfectly normal.
Already chosen a suitable place to stay and looking forward to the upcoming trip? Then also take care of a quality carrier – for example, such as Ukraine International Airlines!
Have a pleasant journey and a great vacation!