The Ultimate Guide to Hostel Room Types – From Pod Beds to Private Bungalows! 🌍✨
Thinking about staying in a hostel? You’re in the right place! Hostels offer unique accommodation options that go way beyond just bunk beds. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly dorms, ultra-modern pod beds, or even a stay in a converted plane, this guide will help you find the perfect hostel room type for your next adventure!
🏨 Types of Hostel Rooms
- Mixed dorm (all genders)
- Female only dorm (women only rooms)
- Double bed dorm rooms (shared rooms with double beds)
- Pod/Capsule dorms (more privacy in a shared room)
- Dorms with hammocks
- Dorms in converted planes, trains & automobiles
- Prison cell dorm rooms
- Alternative dorms: huts, cabins & treehouses
- Twin rooms (private rooms with two single beds)
- Double rooms (larger private room with 1 bed)
- Private cabins
- Private bungalows
- Themed private rooms
🛏️ 1. Dormitory Rooms / Dorm Rooms (Shared Rooms)
Generator Rome, Rome Italy
Dorm rooms have multiple beds, are typically cheaper than private rooms and can be shared with people who aren’t travelling together. When you book it will be clear whether you’re booking between an all-gendered mixed dorm or a female only dorm. Rooms generally accommodate four to twelve people on average, but this varies between hostels.
Most beds in dorms are bunk beds. These can be two or three-tier depending on the room. Unless you are booking a double room, chances are you will be staying in bunk-beds. Lots of hostel bunk beds have curtains or covers for privacy, so look into this when you’re booking. Most dorm rooms will also have a locker to keep your belongings in. More modern hostel dorm rooms have charging stations and a light.
Some dorms are en-suites, meaning that they have a bathroom in the room that you would be sharing with the other people in your dorm.
Mixed dorm
Mixed dorms are dorms that welcome all genders. Great for social travellers looking to meet people from around the world.
Female only dorm
A secure, comfortable option for solo female travellers.. A lot of hostels provide female only dorms, which are perfect for solo female travellers who want to get to know similar-minded explorers! Take a look at our best hostels for solo female travellers here.
Pod/capsule dorms
Galaxy Pod Hostel, Reykjavik Iceland
A modern twist on dorm life, offering enhanced privacy.. Inspired by Japan’s famous capsule hotels, pod dorms are becoming increasingly popular in hostels and they add that extra layer of privacy and style. You can even get themed space pods, with some that include TVs and multicolour lighting!
Dorms in planes, trains and automobiles
Unique and Instagram-worthy stays! Ever dreamed of sleeping inside a train? Some hostels have transformed old railway carriages into unique accommodations, combining vintage charm with modern comfort.
Double bed dorm rooms
King Kong Hostel, Rotterdam Netherlands
Shared dorms with cosy double beds, perfect for couples or close friends. If you need an extra dose of luxury, you can always indulge in a double bunk bed that some hostels offer. King Kong Hostel in Rotterdam has a premium female only dorm with custom-made double bunk beds and block out curtains. Ahh, the life…
Alternative dorm rooms: huts, cabins, trailers and treehouses?
Stay in huts, cabins, treehouses, or even underground cave dorms!
Fancy sleeping a little differently? Staying in cabins or tree houses can really bring you closer to nature. In Budapest, Backpack Guesthouse/Shantee House welcomes you to stay in their Mongolian Yurt tent in the Summer.
There’s even groovy trailer park hostels in Amsterdam, and Ghent in Belgium has the quirky Treck Hostel (we promise, they’re definitely not trailer trash)!
Dorm rooms in caves
Homestay Cave Hostel, Goreme Turkey
Caveland in Santorini will elevate your stay to a transcendent level. Pink hues and beach views all the way! If you’re keen to see the mountains of Cappadocia, there are many cave hostels in Goreme, like Homestay Cave Hostel.
Dorms with hammocks
Casa Loma Minca, Minca Colombia
Budget-friendly and perfect for tropical destinations. Do you really want to save a penny and don’t mind sleeping in the great outdoors? Well in Casa Loma Minca in Colombia, you can stay in a budget-friendly hammock. It’s a perfect way to combat the South American heat and it’s a great travel story to share with friends and family! You’ll find hammock dorms in hostels all over the continent.
Prison cell dorm rooms
For a taste of history, these former prisons have been transformed into hostels. Despite the spooky setting, converted prisons are becoming a super popular place to stay. Hostel Celica in Ljubljana has some stunningly converted dorms. If you’re up for it you can also adventure yourself into the most haunted hostels in the world…
Hostel on a boat!
It’s no surprise that you can sleep on a boat in Berlin, with Eastern & Western Comfort HostelBoats offering dorm rooms literally on the seafront!
How many beds are in a dorm room?
Freehand Los Angeles, Los Angeles US
Rooms generally accommodate four to twelve people on average but this varies between hostels.
What type of bed will be in your room?
Avenue Hostel, Budapest Hungary
Most beds in dorms are bunk beds. These can be two or three-tier depending on the room. Unless you are booking a double room chances are you will be staying in bunk-beds.
What is an ensuite room?
Jo&Joe Paris Gentilly, Paris France
Ensuite rooms include a private bathroom for your room. This generally includes a sink, shower and/or bath. Unless stated otherwise, all other rooms will have a shared bathroom.
🏡 2. Private Rooms (For Extra Comfort)
Twin rooms
Lub D Cambodia Siem Reap, Siem Reap Cambodia
A twin room will have two single beds. This is a great option for friends or those travelling in a group.
Double rooms
Home Lisbon Hostel, Lisbon Portugal
A double room will have a double bed. Depending on the hostel it might have a private bathroom and amenities like a TV and balcony.
Pod hostels have double beds that are basically private rooms but without the extra price! CityHub Amsterdam is the futuristic capsule of your dreams with LED changeable lighting, a built-in speaker system and comfy bedding.
Private cabins
Cosy wooden cabins, perfect for a peaceful retreat. Private cabins are a romantic option for you and your SO. Stay under the stars in a private cabin at Skyewalker Hostel in Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
Private bungalows
Good Vibes Bungalows, Gili Trawangan Indonesia
Jungle-style huts, great for beach destinations or nature lovers. If you’re a Tarzan-type traveller, then we think you’d really like Good Vibes Bungalows in Indonesia. Their jungle bungalows aren’t just romantic, they’re super unique!
A money vault
St Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh Scotland
St Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh Old Town is a former Royal Military Tattoo office, and has a private room hidden secretly inside an old military safe!
Themed private rooms
Think rock ‘n’ roll, space pods, or even a hidden room inside a money vault!
Lavender Circus Hostel in Budapest literally puts you in the pages of a fairytale picture book, as their walls are covered in drawings straight out of a story!
If you’re up for a really wacky stay, Die Wohngemeinschaft in Cologne offers private rooms with completely different themes, including space, Hawaii and nautical. You won’t find anything else like it!
🔍 Choosing the Best Hostel Room Type for You
Not sure which hostel room type suits your trip? Here’s what to consider:
1️⃣ Are You Looking for Privacy?
If you enjoy socialising, dorm rooms are a great option. But if you prefer more personal space, opt for a private room, pod bed, or a private cabin.
2️⃣ Are You Travelling Solo or with Friends?
- Solo travellers often prefer mixed or female-only dorms for meeting new people.
- Couples may love double-bed dorms or private rooms.
- Groups should look for twin rooms or larger private bungalows.
3️⃣ Do You Want a Unique Stay?
- Stay in a cave hostel in Santorini, a capsule hostel in Tokyo, or even in a treehouse in Olympos!
What amenities are included in your booking?
White Rabbit Hostel Siem Reap, Siem Reap Cambodia
Amenities in hostels vary depending on where you stay. For large groups it’s important to check out what you can and cannot use, as some hostels have special group policies. While some hostels include breakfast in your booking price, others do not. If you would prefer to eat all your meals at the hostel, then the great news is that a lot of hostels have an on-site restaurant, which can be more cost and time efficient during your stay. And plenty have their own backpacker bars which are nothing short of legendary!
Bed linen and towels are included in some hostels as part of the price, while others will charge you extra for this. Other amenities offered by hostels include free Wi-Fi, a common area, luggage storage area, laundry facilities and on-site restaurants and/or bars.
But as you’ve probably seen, hostels are taking extra to the next level. Sant Jordi Hostel Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has its very own indoor skate rink! Or if you want to unleash your inner kid, Hub New Lisbon Hostel has an indoor ball pit!
🎒 Final Thoughts: Pick the Perfect Hostel Room for Your Trip!
Whether you’re an adventure seeker, budget backpacker, or luxury traveller, there’s a hostel room type for you! From fun dorms with hammocks to private cabins under the stars, the world of hostels is as diverse as the travellers who stay in them.
🔎 Ready to explore? Check out Hostelworld and book your next amazing stay today! 🌍✨
Ready to start your adventure? Book a hostel now!
Keep reading:
🌟 99 unusual hostels you’ll never want to leave
🌟 21 eco-friendly hostels perfect for the sustainable traveller
🌟 Staying in a hostel for the first time: what you need to know
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