Pros

Cheap accommodations.

Allows people traveling in groups to share large rooms.

Hostels are everywhere in Europe and can be found in most major cities around the world. They are available on every continent except Antarctica.

Most include a free but basic breakfast and have fully-equipped kitchens where you can cook your own meals.

There is always something fun happening, from excursions to parties.

People from all over the world visit hostels, and many take the time to talk to you about where they are from, or the best places they have visited.

Hostels generally have a strict policy of not allowing anyone who is not staying at the hostel to go inside. If you worry that someone will take your belongings, many hostels offer safes to lock up your valuables.

Each hostel is one of a kind. They are not like hotels where if you have seen one, you have seen them all.

Cons

You’ll probably have to share your room with up to 20 strangers.

There is usually only one bathroom on each floor, just like in a college dorm.

Hostels are not always staffed around the clock. If you lose your key you’re out of luck.

Some hostels have a curfew.

Your belongings are at risk of being stolen by other guests or hostel staff.

Some hostels, especially in metro areas, are in old buildings on streets near vacant buildings downtown. This can be off-putting. Elevators may malfunction, air conditioning may be non-existent, and the rooms are cold during winter months.

The furnishings in a hostel tend to range from bunk beds in the bedrooms, to old couches in the lobby.

Choose carefully

Before you book your stay, try to do as much research as possible by reading reviews online.

Think Location, Location, Location! Being located somewhere practical is extremely important. Make sure you have easy access to airports, public transport, attractions, and the ability to get out and walk to most things. Make sure the hostel is situated in a safe neighborhood.

Before booking learn what facilities the hostel offers. Look not only for an equipped kitchen to cook your own meals, but also refrigeration space to store any items you purchase at a local store. Does it have 24-hour reception, free WiFi, a tour-booking desk? Are there laundry facilities, a pool, BBQ areas, a garden, private rooms with an ensuite bathroom, lockers?

Book only one night just in case you have a disastrous first night at your hostel. You may decide that you would rather stay elsewhere. You can always extend your stay if you have an enjoyable first night.

Some hostels offer single-sex rooms, and some offer coed rooms. Some hostels offer 4-person rooms, and some offer 20-person rooms. Make sure you book the right room at the right hostel for your comfort level, especially if you are a couple who wants to sleep in the same dorm.

The larger the dorm, the more potential annoyances but the cheaper the bed. Try to stay in smaller dorms if your budget allows.

Come prepared

Bring your own toiletries. Most hostels do not provide towels, shampoo, or even soap. Most do offer sheets, but some do not. So, make sure to check into the amenities offered by the hostel before your stay.

When using a public shower that has been used by people from around the world, take precautions against bacteria and fungi by wearing flip flops.

You hope that your roommates will be considerate of you, and you need to be considerate of them. Make sure to come in quietly in the evenings, and to leave quietly in the mornings.

Bring some earplugs or an iPod, and a blindfold, to help your body tune out any noise and light while you sleep.