A Girls Guide to Hostels

Whether you’re traveling abroad or traveling for fun, housing is expensive. Hostels act as a great option for budget-friendly lodging yet can sometimes come at a cost. This might be helpful for you if you are interested in hostels, but are hesitant because of safety concerns.

Despite having a questionable reputation, hostels are generally safe. Staying in a hostel with strangers can always come with a variety of risks, so here are some tips that will hopefully make your hostel experience feel a little safer. 

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

Read the reviews, always.

Before making any purchase it’s always good to check the reviews. This especially goes for hostels. Doing your research prior can ensure that it’s trustworthy prior to your stay. Choosing your stay from hostel booking sites that are trusted is the best way to go. Some of the most popular are HostelWorld, Hostelz.com, Booking.com, Hostelling International and our tried and true: Airbnb. Hostels can range in price and quality, so choosing one with many reputable sources will increase your chances of having a safe and enjoyable experience. And if a hostel’s price is too good to be true, there’s likely a reason why. 

Bring locks for your belongings.

Instead of keeping one eye open at night, bring locks for your belongings. While robberies are not very common, having locks on your luggage or a safe for your valuables will give you peace of mind in a room full of strangers. Additionally, we recommend asking the front desk if they offer lockers or locks for your belongings. If you are not provided with lockers, keep your valuables like your wallet and passport in your pillow while you sleep and keep backup pictures of all important documents. 

Always utilize hostel preferences.

If you’re still worried hostels aren’t safe enough for you, we recommend reserving a room with your friend group or travel buddies. Unless the hostel is very full, there should be options to reserve a private room if you’re traveling in a larger group. To maximize your comfort, there are oftentimes preferences to opt out of communal bathrooms. If you are a solo traveler, we recommend selecting a hostel room that is female only. Can’t hurt. 

Rule of thumb: trust your gut.

If you feel unsafe, get out. Housing cheaply is not worth risking your safety.

We hope that these tips can help you if you’ve been hesitant about hostels in the past. They can be incredible for meeting new people, experiencing cultural diversity, and lodging for cheap. With that in mind, ensuring that you're safe is the utmost priority. 

If you are staying in hostels for your upcoming travels, tag us here @theedgemag!