Hostel vs. Airbnb: What’s the Difference?
A common question people have is whether they should stay in a hostel or an Airbnb. For those of you who don’t know, a hostel is basically a hotel where your room has multiple beds and you share the room with random people. Most of you probably know that an Airbnb is just a house, apartment, or rented room. Both are great options for lodging.
Hostel:
Price: (typically $15-$30)
Hostels can be lifesavers for the traveler on a budget. They are typically a fraction of the price of a hotel or Airbnb. Most hostel (from my experience) are under $50 per night. If you are looking at spending $50 a night you are definitely at the higher end of the spectrum for a hostel. The United States and Western Europe have some of the highest hostel prices in the world so make sure you don’t overpay for lodging. Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia have the best deals on hostels. I once paid $6 for a hostel in Slovakia.
What to Expect:
Most of the people who stay in hostels will all be in the same situation. From my travels, most people in hostels are either traveling alone or only have one other traveling companion. This is perfect for meeting other people and making friends from around the world. One of the worst things about hostels is that the snoring at night can get pretty bad especially if your room has more than 10 people in it. Most people forget that you also have to share a bathroom at hostels so just expect it.
Hostel Advice:
-Hostels work the best for the solo traveler. You can meet other travelers and connect with people from all over the world.
-If you are visiting an expensive hostel city (Amsterdam), be ready to spend more money on lodging than your typical European city.
-If you are traveling with other people, you should consider pitching in to get a hotel or Airbnb so you don’t have to share a room with other people.
-Be prepared with earplugs for your snoring roommates.
-You have to use shared bathrooms.
-Bring flip-flops for the showers.
-Pack a long charging cord because outlets are not always right by your bed.
-Use Hosteworld.com to book a hostel.
Airbnb:
Price:
The biggest factor in how much an Airbnb will cost is how many people you are traveling with. During my travels, I have stayed in many Airbnbs. I have rented a private room in someone else’s home when I am traveling solo. If you are trying to keep the prices lower, consider splitting the Airbnb with 2-4 other people. If you want to have a house or apartment to yourself, be prepared to pay more than you would for a private room in a house.
Airbnb Advice:
-Don’t be afraid to ask for an early check-in. When you are traveling, it is sometimes difficult to line up your arrival time with the check-in time.
-Take advantage of the kitchen (if available) in order to save more money on food.
-Clean up the place before you leave. You want to get good reviews on Airbnb so you never get turned down because of bad reviews.
Conclusion:
Solo Travel:
If you are traveling alone, the cheapest option would typically be a hostel. Be sure to do your research on which hostel to stay in. If you don’t want to stay in a hostel, private rooms on Airbnb would probably be the next cheapest option for solo travel.
Group Travel:
If you are traveling in a group, your best option would probably be splitting the cost on an Airbnb so you can have your own place. Staying in a hostel with 3+ people might feel a little pointless when you might be able to get your own place to stay. Overall, Airbnbs tend to be a nicer form of lodging but there is also a time and place for staying in hostels. Keep an open mind. Traveling doesn’t have to be luxurious but by doing your research you can rest easy knowing you made the right choice.