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Am I the only one who thinks hostels aren't actually budget friendly anymore?
I stayed at a hostel in Austin last month and it cost me $65 for a bunk bed in a 12 person room. That's more than some motels I've booked in smaller towns. And they tacked on a $5 towel fee, a $3 locker fee, and the wifi was basically dial-up speed. By the time I added a cheap breakfast from their cafe, I spent $85 for one night. I could have split a budget hotel room with a friend for less than that and had my own bathroom. Everything broke down on me - the shower had cold water only and the locker lock jammed. What are you guys using instead for cheap solo nights?
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phoenixh741mo ago
$65 for a bunk bed in a 12 person room" is exactly what I've been seeing too. I stayed at one in Denver last year and it was $70 for a bottom bunk in an 8 person room, plus they charged me $8 for a thin blanket and pillow because I didn't bring my own. At that point you're better off checking Priceline or HotelTonight for last minute deals. I've snagged rooms at Quality Inns and similar places for $55-$75 that had a real bed, private bathroom, and free breakfast. The only time hostels make sense anymore is if you're in a super expensive city like NYC or San Fran where even motels are $150+.
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andrew_kelly1mo ago
Bringing up something I haven't seen anyone mention yet - hostels used to be about community and shared experiences, not just saving money. Now they're trying to be mini-hotels with all these extra fees and it kills the whole vibe. I remember hostels where the owner would cook a free family dinner or organize a pub crawl for like $5. Now it feels like they're run by corporate chains trying to squeeze every dollar out of you. If you're willing to trade a bit of comfort, try couchsurfing or house sitting apps for free stays. Or look into hostels run by actual backpackers on hostelworld that have good community ratings, not just price filtering. The whole point of hosteling was meeting people and sharing costs, not paying $85 for a cold shower and bad wifi.
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