Unlike hostels in the West that mostly have rooms with virtually no privacy, hostels in Asia tend to be more varied in its services. Hostels are a solid choice to save on accommodation expenses, but what are some of the things you should take into account?
Hostels give you the opportunity to meet and mingle
A lot of hostels are built with a certain community in mind. This is why you may spot a lot of people going on and about in the common room socializing, unlike the atmosphere at hotels’ lobbies, for instance. The element of community bond is what makes hostels a great option for those who are solo traveling. A solo journey does not mean that you go anywhere, anytime, all by yourself. Those who often go solo would be all too familiar with some of the difficulties in finding a companion for traveling. Meeting fellow solo travelers often result in a fast companionship. It’s also one of the most interesting elements in solo traveling. You get to meet new people during your travel and possibly bond with them.
The concerns of privacy and comfort in hostels
Privacy is often cited as one of the reasons why some people won’t do hostels. However, this should not be the case at all with many hostels in Asia. While the hostel scene in the Western countries is often strictly for backpackers, places like Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and many other countries have a much larger variety of hostels. Many establishments offer private rooms with all of the basic things a hotel offer, with a fraction of a hotel’s price. This would be the perfect solution for those of you who’d like to save on accommodation but have privacy as one of their topmost concerns.
As for comfort offered in hostels, it varied greatly from one establishment to another. There are hostels that excel in all aspects of its hospitality and the rooms may even feel rather fancy. But there’s always those that are just seedy. If you’re particularly worried about noises and such, this is where doing research would pay off. Take some time in your travel planning session. Research the establishments as much as you can. Take a look at the online reviews from several platforms; TripAdvisor, Google Maps, you name it.
Different things to consider when you’re traveling with your family
If you plan to have a family vacation but you’re on a budget, then there would be different things you should factor in. Staying in hostels would not be a viable nor practical option for you. There are also a few hostels that clearly stated their establishments aren’t suitable for children under the age of two to twelve.
Family budget accommodation
In Asia, there are numerous hostel establishments that offer private rooms, on top of their usual dormitory setting. As mentioned previously, unlike in the West, there are so many more variations to hostels and a thorough browse of the accommodation would give you several solid options.
There are also budget hotels that are virtually the same as hostels that offer private rooms, but with fewer amenities than a conventional hotel may have in offer.