So far in my 'Hostels 101' series, we have covered 'Unspoken Hostel Rules' and 'How to Choose a Hostel'. The third instalment is.... 'which hostel room to choose'. Although this may seem simple, it can be a vital factor in whether you enjoy your hostel stay or not. When booking a hostel there's a lot of different options; private rooms? mixed dorm? female/male dorm? small or large dorm? refundable or non-refundable?
Once I've decided which hostel I want to stay in (check out my post on how to choose a hostel), I look at the different options available. Generally, there are a few different types of room
private room
6.-8 mixed dorm
6-8 male or female dorm
larger mixed dorm
larger male or female dorm
Each of these options typically has the option to be refundable or nonrefundable, with the nonrefundable option being slightly cheaper. I'm going to use 9Station Hostel in Vietnam (link) as an example...
Here you can see how the prices vary, but not too significantly; the main variation being for the private room.
The choice is simply down to your preferences which you should try and pick out some of your most important comforts. For instance, I nearly always book a smaller mixed dorm (about 8 people) with the refundable option which is usually the mid-range price. Eight or so people is still enough to easily meet people and be social but also not so many that there's a chance of a lot of disruption throughout the night. This may also be a good choice if you're travelling in a small group and want to have a more private space.
However, there are much larger rooms available for a slightly cheaper price, however, these can be as large as 24 or 36 beds. Although these can be a fun option, your enjoyment depends heavily on a lot of other peoples habits.
Finally, there are private rooms. These can be great for couples or if you have an early wake-up call. The cost of these often isn't much greater than two dorm beds anyway!
The refundable or non-refundable option is completely up to you. However, I would recommend booking the refundable option simply in case you change your travel plans or if you change where you want to stay etc.; this provides an extra layer of security. I have purchased the nonrefundable option when I am booking last minute as I know there's little chance of me changing the booking!
As well as this, ensure your room has a locker (bring your own lock) as this will make sure your valuables and backpacks/suitcases are secured during your trip. It is likely that all of the rooms have lockers, but be sure to check the pictures and/or reviews about specific rooms.
To choose your perfect hostel room perhaps consider the following:
am I good at sharing spaces?
do I mind sharing a room with the opposite sex?
do I wake up easily?
are my travel plans likely to change?
how long am I staying? (if you are staying longer you may prefer a smaller room for one or more of the reasons mentioned above)
Now you've chosen your hostel room, let's talk about beds. Most hostels assign you a bed, simply ensuring accountability. However, if you have the luxury of being able to choose your bed keep an eye out for the following things...
Plug sockets; are they next to the bed or do you have to share them further away from you. If they are far away I recommend bringing a portable charger and charging your phone/electronics using that, simply to ensure your valuables are safe.
Air-conditioning (AC): Whilst it is great that your hostel room has AC, if you're too close you will be freezing and wishing you had more layers! Even worse, if you're below the AC unit, you may find that it drips on you.
Proximity to the toilet/door: Choosing a bed too close to the toilet or door could leave you being disturbed by people coming in and out of the room, or going to the toilet in the middle of the night (and not to mention the potential for some less appealing smells).
Windows: If you're right by the window you may find it is noisy if your dorm mates want the windows open or they are single glazed, or even that the sun wakes you up bright and early! However, you may appreciate a little breeze in warmer countries.
Lockers. Whilst we do love having lockers in the dorm room, try and make sure your bed isn't too close to them. There's nothing worse than being woken up in the middle of the night by someone locking their valuables away and opening your eyes to see their head close to yours!
Top or Bottom Bunk: I'm pretty much indifferent about the top or bottom beds. The top has a few plus points such as not being along the walkway, and not having anyone above you creaking the bed. However, it is slightly more difficult to get changed. You may have a fear of bumping your head or falling out of bed, but I've never personally experienced this. Having said this, the bottom bunk has many plus points. For example, you can hang a blanket or sheet from the top bunk's matters to create your own private space, and use the space under the bed as additional storage.
I think these factors help focus your mind to the type of traveller you are and ultimately which room is best for you. Let me know if you have any questions by either commenting on the post or messaging me on Instagram.
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-Alicia
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