I always picked hostels over guesthouses until a trip to Lisbon changed my mind

I had to choose between a 12-bed dorm for 15 euros a night or a small family-run guesthouse for 25. I went with the guesthouse and it was way better. The owner gave me a free transit card and homemade pastries, which saved me more than the 10 euro difference. Has anyone else found a cheap guesthouse that ended up being a better deal than a hostel?

3 comments

3 Comments

zara_hunt2mo ago

Exactly, that ten euro upgrade buys you a real night's sleep and a quiet morning. It turns a cheap bed into a place you actually want to be. Those small guesthouse perks feel personal, like someone's happy you're there. I'll take a quiet room and a pastry over a dozen snoring strangers any day. It just makes the whole trip feel more relaxed from the start.

zara_hunt2mo ago

You've just described the exact moment you stop being a backpacker and start being a person on a trip. Paying ten extra euros to avoid a dozen strangers' night noises is always a win. The free pastries are just the universe giving you a high-five for making a good choice. My rule now is that if a private room is under thirty bucks, the hostel dorm can keep its mystery smells. That little bit of quiet and a real door is a luxury you can't put a price on. Well, you can, and it's apparently about ten euros.

troy4392mo ago

Stayed in a 12 bed dorm in Berlin last month for 12 euros a night. That extra 10 euros you save every day adds up to a whole extra city tour or a nice dinner out. The noise and weird smells are just part of the real backpacker story you'll laugh about later. You meet way more people in a dorm, people who actually give you tips you won't find in a guidebook. Hiding in a private room feels like you're just traveling to be alone, which you could do at home for free.