Hostels for 30-somethings — The Budget Luxury Traveler

Sometimes hostels have the surprisingly epic views, like this one in Salento, Colombia.

If you’ve ever stayed in a hostel, you know that they’re full of backpackers trying to stretch their limited budgets through multi-month adventures. It goes without saying that when the goal is longevity, the travel style is far from opulent. Obviously, BLT, you aren’t them. But there are times when your goals nicely overlap with the backpackers, and the hostel can be one of them.

After a decade and a half of staying in hostels, I’ll be the first to admit that they’re not my favorite type of lodging. Call me old, but I do like my own space. However, I am a budget luxury traveler, and sometimes the emphasis falls more on the former than the latter. The trick is knowing how to navigate the hostel world in a way that will embrace its benefits while still keeping the more upscale side of me happy.

This Medellín, Colombia hostel had a fantastic cafe in the reception area where travelers and locals mingled and fresh roasted Colombian coffee was always brewing.

I love what the hostel can provide—a built in social scene, access to an abundance of free/very inexpensive activities, and a cheap bed for the night. I take advantage of advice from front desk staff (typically locals), and use the cash I saved on cheap lodging for a more upscale meal or an excursion. However, I also know that to preserve my sanity, I can’t exclusively book hostels when I’ll be traveling for a week or more. In future posts I’ll delve into how to choose the right hostel. For now, let’s just talk survival and basics.

Making the most of your hostel exprience:

Pick dorm beds with a max of 6 bunks. Less is absolutely more in this situation. It’s worth the couple extra bucks to have fewer beds!
Always pack ear plugs, and use them every night, even if it’s quiet when you go to bed.
Use an eye mask if you're sensitive to light while sleeping. People love turning lights on at 4am.
Keep the beans in the burrito… aka, keep all your possessions in your closed suitcase unless you are actively using them or repacking. Hostels are like black holes for personal belongings.
If there are lockers, use them [and that means with a lock!]. Theft is a real problem, so don’t make yourself a target. Always stash your valuables in the locker and leave it locked when you’re not in direct line of site.
Bring your own shampoo, soap, and bathroom accessories. Some hostels have these items, but better safe than sorry. See my dopp kit post if you’re struggling with what essentials you should carry.
Don’t bother lugging along a bath towel in your streamlined suitcase. It’s worth the $1 to rent one, and then you don’t have to deal with packing wet/dirty laundry from place to place.
Do bring a packable hand towel and a washcloth if you use one.
A large sarong can make a nice, private nook out of a lower bunk if you hang it along the length of the upper bunk!
I rarely enjoy the crappy breakfasts, but I will grab an apple for my bag before hitting the streets for the day. Unless it’s a slam dunk, skip the junk. Or choose a hostel that doesn’t have breakfast so you don’t pay for a service you’re not using.
If it’s really awful, don’t hesitate to jump ship half way through a reservation. You can sometimes get a partial refund later on. If not, you've lost a little money but gained some sanity.
Most importantly, remember to relax and keep an open mind. You might be surprised how much you enjoy the experience!

Staying in hostels is a great way to make fast [if temporary] friends and to find the hippest happenings in town. When I’m traveling alone, I especially appreciate the interaction with fellow travelers. It is often possible to book them last minute, providing you some flexibility in your travel plans, which is a huge bonus. Overall, the name of the hostel game is: low expectations, high standards. No matter how carefully I choose my hostel I never expect much, but I’m often pleasantly surprised!