Hostel general

With really good earplugs, a really good sleep mask, and a solid buzz before sleeping, you can deal with it. But just be aware that there will inevitably be a group of assholes that come in and wake everyone up, will always be people fucking in the room, people screwing around with plastic bags, etc.

I'd put 8 at the max for me personally but if the money matters I could make whichever work.

All depends on the hostel and the way they lay out the beds. I've been in a 10 beds that feel like you've got room and privacy you need, I've been in 4 beds dorms that feel extremely cramped. 4-10 is what I aim for anything over 12 is too much and generally a shit show

do yall have bad experiences with hostels? like get your shit stolen? thats my main worry with them.

6-8 is the optimum imo, enough to keep the price down and decent chance of meeting someone chill, but not too many people. 4 is good if the price is similar or the lobby is good. 10 is pushing it, I wouldn't stay somewhere larger than that unless I had no other choice. The more people the bigger the chance of getting someone inconsiderate. I mean if you're a bunch of 18 year olds doing a lads tour it probably would be fine but I'm 24 and I already feel too old for that 'party hostel' shit.

>>1163365
Anyone who's spent enough time in hostels will have some horror stories but the truth is vast majority of the hostel and other guests are totally fine. Theft can and does happen, it's mostly opportunistic so if you make your valuables at least slightly difficult to steal (i.e. keep them on you or in a locker) then the thief will target the guy who left his iphone charging unattended instead. Most travellers/housekeeping staff won't steal your shit but stay in enough places and eventually you'll cross paths with someone who will if you give them the chance.

If you've never stayed in one before just find a place with good reviews, give it a go for a few nights, if you hate it try a different hostel, if you still hate it then just stick to cheap hotels.

On that subject the gap between dorm bed and private hotel room is huge in the 1st world but in the 3rd world it can be much smaller or even nonexistent.

I think the best is like 8-10 beds

Has anyone on /trv/ stayed at any of the St. Christopher's Inn hostels in London, and would you recommend them?

>>1163389
surely the best 1 bed

frankly i'd rather not travel than stay in a room with 12 other people. i'd rather kill myself than stay in a room with 32 other people.

>>1163586
i stayed on the one in camden. didnt like it because our room was on the first floor right above the pub and wasnt able to get much sleep because of that.
I would recommend the Astor Museum Hostel . The location is great (next to the british museum) and its super confy.

>>1163595
Was it okay for you besides the noise?
The locations of the London Bridge hostels are pretty appealing to me desu.

>>1163342
I've stayed in lots of hostels, good and bad

anything I can help with?

>>1163595

Hey, I work at Astor. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Cheers

>>1163625
well actually, yes, you can help. the OP asked a question and you didn't even answer it. good job idiot

>>1163643
chill out man, I'm offering to help

>how many beds is too many

Any more than one, the benefit of a hostel is meeting other travellers in the common room. Not having to share your bedroom with other people, hostels with the option for private rooms are best.

>>1163595
Oh shit nigger I got mad laid there

Stayed around for 3 months fucking mad Swedish bartenders

then I pissed the managers bed because she was a cunt

Good times there, would recommend, for PUSSY

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>>1163658
>stayed at one hostel for three months

people do that?

>>1163342

I went to a hostel in Munich, i think it was called Jagers, it had a bar and it was real cool.

It had about 30 beds to a dorm, it was basically a whole building level filled with bunk beds and no walls.

Go to countries where you can get a room/bathroom to yourself for half the price of a shitty bed shared with 20 strangers in a dorm in some shit country like england.

>>1163352
>will always be people fucking in the room
Does this really happen?

Got thrown out of a hostel in Tel Aviv after getting busted having sex in a 8 bed female dorm. It was fucking hilarious.

>>1163700
Out of 7,400,000,000 people, yes there are probably some that do most anything that is physically possible.

>>1163700
There was this group of Swedish girls who came to study bartending monthly and every time i'd bang 2 or 3 of them shit was so cash. I'd body at least 1 girl a week there usually more, fuck leaving

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have a question. I know most of the travelers here are young and experiencing the world before setteling down. I think that is great, but I am on the other end. In my 50s, single, kids grown and on their own. I am going to start my travels.

My question, will an older person be totally out of place in a hostel? I like the idea of meeting people and age doesn't matter to me, in fact I learn more from people of different ages and backgrounds. Still I don't want to be with weird old guy and have everyone just avoid me and pretend I am not there, I might as well be in cheap hotel by myself in that case.

>>1163594
9 times outta 10 the rooms arent full and theres lots of quiet or old people

>>1163816
It depends on the hostel. If it describes itself as a party hostel, it won't be the place for you. Check out the pictures the hostel posts on its own website as well, sometimes that's more telling than reviews.

Still, in most cities/touristic towns there are smaller, low-key places with 20-30 beds max and you probably won't be the only oldfag there. Granted, they're a bit tougher to find, but you're by no means the only going to hostels at that age.

t. Landed a freelance job a month ago, thanks to an old dude from the UK I met in a hostel

>>1163816

Like the other guy said. If it´s a party hostel, you might feel a little out of place.

Otherwise it´s not that likely anyone will give a crap about your age.

>>1163638
Do you have any discounts?

>>1163816
As long as you're not going to be "that condescnding grandpa who knows everything" you're gonna be fine

What do you call a private room within a hostel (ie, a bed and a table let's say)?

Also, what are some good hostels that have these private rooms in Prague, particularly for someone in early 20s.

I am the old guy from earlier, I want to thank those that responded. I am not condescending or judgemental of others. I am not traveling for quiet time. I have a pretty good party resume myself. A couple of Marti Gras, Rio for Carnival, New Years in Vegas, Daytona for spring break and bike week.

I believe I will give it a try and see how it goes, I appreciate your insight.

>>1163878
I can tell by your post that you ain't bullshitting about being old. You sound like a cool dude. How'd you find site and board?

>sharing with Asians

The worst fate

>>1163778
joys of travel

>>1163733
yes, it's really rude and a realtraveler™ wouldn't do it
I have done it, tried to bribe the cleaner to let me have the room in the morning too

>>1163816
a hostel, sure
but not a party backpacker hostel
sick of old creeps staying there trying to poach drunk teens
some old ass isreali woman tried to get into my bed, and some indian dude tried to get me drunk

but more chill hostels used by general travelers, sure

>>1163878
Middle aged guys are just regular people in a hostel unless it's specifically geared towards a young party crowd.

A charismatic grandpa-tier guy could go into any hostel and make friends.

>>1163900
How old do you considet creepy for trying to plbang drunk teens?

27 reporting in thinking about traveling to try and lose my kissless virginity. I look and act young.

>>1163910
>I look and act young
>kissless virgin
...

>>1163885
Older guy here again, well, for years I have been doing the normal travel. A couple of big trips a year and a few smaller ones. Always well planned and structured. I have a few close friends that I travel with, we do golf, fishing, hunting, and adventure type things. So my travel resume is pretty good, but I have never done the type of travel that many here do.

I have a long time friend who is a pilot for a major airline. Next year I will be able to fly for cheap on a buddy type pass. I want to add about 10 or 12 countries to the places I have been. To do this, I am going to have to fly standby, only take a carry on bag, and live and transport on the cheap. I came here and started lurking looking for information and advice on traveling with a budget.

I like to think I am a cool middle aged dude.

I am not against having company during travels, but I would never take advantage of a drunk girl of any age. I have a couple of daughters and that will change your outlook on some things.

Anyway, thanks again. I will try not to be a know it all when I travel as I know that can be annoying.

>>1163927
Good luck, man. This sounds like a lot of fun. I admire your sense of adventure especially as I see my parents in their late 50s comfortably falling into a routine without a sense of adventure. Wishing you all the best.

>>1163910
You should go to Ukraine

>>1163933
Why Ukraine?

>>1163944
I was in Ukraine earlier this year and it was great.

Cheap hostels ($5 - 10), young and adventurous tourists, nice local girls who would be happy to meet a foreigner, etc...
You could definitely lose your virginity and such over there.

If you are interested, you might want to look at Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa.

>>1163962
What about the civil war though.

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>>1163965
The warring area is in the far east and very isolated from the rest of the country.

Kiev and Odesa are in the middle of the country (pic related) and I wouldn't recommend going east of those cities because there isn't much to do over there.
Western Ukraine (Lviv is the standout city) is a really great area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DIqqXVnhYI

I was in Kiev earlier this year and I felt perfectly safe the entire time. Then I went to Prague and I was constantly worried after my friend was mugged.

>>1163965
Just don't speak any Russian and you'll be fine

>>1163816
I mean, as long as you're not creepily hitting on people half your age, getting really trashed and hands then it's fine. Met lots of cooler old folks at hostels, but also seen plenty of creeps.

>>1163878
You sound a better person than most people I've met

>>1163927
I met plenty of older dudes while travelling, usually at smaller/more chill hostels. I mean, even mid 20s is probably too old for a party hostel.

Older people can be interesting to talk to because their background is very different to yours. Only thing is sometimes it's a one-sided conversation where they just talk about themselves, which is fine if they have some interesting insights but pretty boring if it's just them giving their opinion on everything.

>>1164181
Thanks for the kind words.

>>1163342
Check out Palmers Lodge in Swiss Cottage, its reasonable but good quality and its within band 5 of the undeground map so the travel to & from is good with a day rider.

>>1164734
Also the bunk beds are like mini fortresses, you have shelves, a lamp & two power points, you can get smaller rooms for a bit more money.

Never stayed in a hostel before but I'm going to be staying in one for a week in November. I'm travelling alone and its a 22-bed dorm.

Now, what are these places like? Are you meant to be social or just shut the fuck up and mind your own business? If it's the former, whats the best way to socialise? Should I just start by asking where they are from, what they are here for, etc?

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>>1164750
>22-bed dorm
I won't say you fucked up. But there is a distinct possibility you won't like sleeping with 21 other strangers. They can/will be loud and/or inconsiderate.

Anyway: if you see a group of friends travelling together, chances are they won't be interested in hanging out with you. Try and go to the common room about 1 hour before your usual dinner time. There will be others doing the same thing. And yes, ask them where they're from, how long they're staying, where they're going next, yadda yadda. The whole ice-breaking socalising shtick is easy and eerily alike all over the world. There are plenty of solo travellers, and they're basically looking for te same thing as you: good company, some laughs.

Have fun!

>>1164734

I'm from London and there is no such thing as either band 5 or a day rider

>>1164764
Zones then whatever the fuck you call them, and I got a day ticket while I was one the tube: ride any line within certain bands/zones all day.

>>1163863
If you want a bed in Prague try using Hotwire.com first. They give discounted hotel rooms sometimes as cheap as a hostel. I did this when I was in Prague and got an excellent room for a euro more than a hostel was charging.

>>1163863
Yeah they're just called a private room. Sometimes they're a good deal, often they're no cheaper than a budget hotel room.

>>1164750
When you first check into the dorm you can see if there's anyone there who might be up for a chat, if not hang out in the common room and see what happens.

Don't stress too much, you'll pick up the etiquette pretty quickly. Don't get too despondent if your first few nights don't go that well. The social experience varies quite a bit depending on the design and general vibe of the hostel as well as the people who are there at that particular time - sometimes it goes great, sometimes it doesn't.

>>1164734

Yeah nah i got fucking rekt by bedbugs there about 5-6 weeks ago. The hostel is in the middle of nowhere, the metro is close but still a good journey to anything of note.

The beds were indeed mini fotresses though, although this led to everyone in my dorm staying in the mini fortress with the curtains closed 24/7 - ive stayed elsewhere with curtains but only this place i found zero interaction with other people in my dorm.

Besides that it was ok. Bar is kinda meh but not terrible.

But yeah. BEDBUGS. Never encountered them in my life until that fucking dump, my room was infested and i had dozens of bites that itched and formed nasty scabs for literally weeks. I even found one crushed inbetween the pages of a book i left on my bed (which is how im certain it was bedbugs). I had to basically disinfect my entire bag and all my shit to make sure i wasnt going to have them come with me which basically wasted a day.

BEDBUGS NIGGA. BEDBUGS.

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>>1164889
Well shit, it was good when I stayed there but that was about two years ago now, didnt drink in the bar but did have breakfast (only one mini pan au chocolate per person) with unlimited cheap coffe.
I was in a 6 bed roo mand the other guests aside from my buddy were chinese who I think worked nights.

It was miles ahead in quality compaired ot the hatters in Manc I stayed at.

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>>1164903
Despite the facilities being shit peope were more open to talking to each other, met a cool Australian dude who we took out for drinks and who later helped carry my buddy back.

>>1163342
Max number of beds in a dorm room I've stayed in is 16. I had no problem with that though.

That was in Borough Rooms. I think that's the biggest dorm room they've got. I recommend the place. Inner city, rooms about £10 a night, not bad as hostels go.

>>1163816
whenever I see someone over 30 I inmediately think that he is either a lazy bump or a pervert

I slept in a one hundred bed dorm in Munich. Only about half full at the time.

It wasn't significantly different from six bed dorms.

>>1164876
Hm, well there's a big music festival happening there when I go so surely at least one other person there will be visiting for that, right?

>>1164945
good for you, you will enjoy growing old!

>>1164766

So a one day travel card then pardner?

>>1163816
If you were a woman, you would be fine.

I love MILFs and I talk with every old lady I see in a hostel. It's funy when they talk about their career, kids or even husbands and don't realise that I want to fuck them just because I have mother inssues.