To dream is to create, whether you yearn to descend waterfalls that reach into the sky, explore temples varnished in gold or even sip a mojito beside a crystal blue ocean. These desires are all attainable. Now ask yourself, why have I only let myself dream this instead of living it? It could be due to money, friends or even fear.
Although those obstacles can appear daunting there is an easy solution — hostels! Hostels are cheap dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms and living spaces. Now I know that may not sound as charming and glamorous as a hotel, but hostels allow people with little money to achieve their dreams of exploration and connecting to new cultures.
The hostel experience
Alicia Schneider, 26, from Germany, explains how “at the beginning, I was scared because I never traveled alone. It was an exciting and completely new situation for me. Also, I had to speak a different language. But when I came into the hostel everyone was so nice and friendly that I soon relaxed. The hardest thing was to say goodbye to all of the nice people and new friends. My best advice is to just do it! This is the best thing you can do for yourself!”
Hostels often let backpackers choose from mixed dorms, women-only dorms, or in rare cases, single rooms. The number of people in each room depends on the hostel but often ranges from groups of 20 to four. The more people in your room the less money it will cost you and the more friends you can make!
Sarah Hanington, a 24 year-old from Maine, reveals how surprisingly positive her hostel experience has been, despite having doubts. “I’ve stayed in hostels in Greece, San Juan and multiple places in India, South Carolina and New Orleans. I’ve never felt threatened or unsafe in a hostel,” she says.
“Hostels are worth it because of the price. It’s so budget-travel-friendly that it’s worth it to have a little less privacy and maybe a little bit of inconvenience. Hands down reading reviews is my success in hostels. I would recommend Hostelworld to anyone curious about staying in a hostel. I have met friends that I still talk to. In India, I met this girl, and we ended up spending the next five days together. We went white-water rafting and it just made me feel even more comfortable having a girl to travel with as a female solo traveler. So it’s really what you make it!”
Apps to help plan your trip
Hostelworld is a great app that lists all of the hostels in the area you are traveling to. It provides ratings and reviews with pictures from backpackers who have stayed there and they have online chat rooms for each destination so you can make friends and ask questions ahead of time. Whether you prefer socializing or keeping to yourself, this platform displays activities that each hostel offers and fun adventures to go on daily. It is super important to read reviews of previous backpackers, as they will tell you whether to avoid certain spots at all costs or get your butt over there, ASAP.
Other platforms you can use to book accommodations are Booking.com or Travelocity. These will show you mostly hotels with some hostels sprinkled in. Sometimes, it is a necessity to spend a little alone time. Another option to book your stay and activities is through a travel agency. After explaining your travel goals and budget, they will make recommendations. Then the agency books and plans your trip. This is a great way to relax and enjoy your adventure, but it limits the freedom to be spontaneous.
Sophia Colfer, 21, from Connecticut, often partook in the daily activities offered by hostels. “I did a tote bag craft, one of my hostels in Italy had free pasta dinner every night which was a great way to meet people and have a free meal. I also went on a historical tour through Barcelona with one of the hostel guides. There was always a bunch of different events like trivia, wine tasting and karaoke offered throughout the hostels.”
Safety tips for travelers
With the lack of a sufficient budget or friends to go with now not an an issue, what else could be holding you back? Mia Gibson, 22, from the United Kingdom advises, “female solo backpackers to 100% do it and don’t let the fact that she’s a woman affect her opinion to not go, because you can always do it, and you can always put yourself in safer situations and more uncomfortable situations.”
Safety is always important to keep in mind. Whether you are a woman or a man, it can be dangerous to travel. Being in a new environment with a different language and other cultural customs can also be extremely overwhelming. But just take a deep breath, remember to use what you learned at home, and apply it to where you are now. Go out during the day, but at night try to stay in groups and only go out with friends.
It is important to watch what you consume and just be a little more guarded until you become more comfortable. Also, don’t take really cheap deals from strangers! Stick with booking activities and accommodations from your hostel, or trusted websites like Get Your Guide.
Where will your next trip be?
With over 250 days of hostel traveling under my belt, I can not wait to see where you will end up. Your dream of traveling adventures is so close to being attainable. Start with a step, turn it into another, and break it down to understand how you can achieve your desires.
Often we let our brain overwhelm us and then we stop trying to finish what we started. There are so many online tools that allow people to plan, educate and book their whole trip. Start planning for a couple of minutes each day and see where you will land on the map.
Who knows? A trip to Thailand could turn into a three month-long stay throughout South East Asia. Just go for it and see what unfolds.
Featured image: Photo courtesy Pixabay CC0 1.0
Edited by James Sutton and Kester Kafeero
