finding the perfect hostel is a vital part of traveling abroad. you have so many options with a very wide range of prices. what to look for when picking a hostel?

Location

location is hands down the most important thing to take into consideration when choosing a hostel as it can make or break your experience. If you have to be on the outskirts of the city, check the transportation routes prior to booking.

Free Food

many hostels offer free breakfast or dinner which is an awesome bonus because who doesn’t love free food?? this is also a great way to meet fellow travelers and make some friends. at some hostels you have to sign up by a certain time so be sure to ask when checking in!

Walking Tour / Pub Crawl

the good hostels have organized outings you can attend. Many offer free walking tours (just tip the tour guide a bit at the end) or a pub crawl. Many of the hostels link up and you’ll find people from several hostels on the pub crawls. This is a great way to meet people and find a buddy to explore with the following day.

Showers

Showers are a vital feature to check out prior to choosing your hostel. Try and avoid push button showers. They are a pain and never on long enough to rinse the shampoo out of your hair.

Lockers

Most hostels offer lockers but some charge for them. This is a must for me as i do not want to tote around my passport and often travel with my ipad or laptop. Check with the hostel to see if they provide the locks or if you need to bring your own. You shouldn’t have to pay for lockers.. its 2018, security should be free.