Something has shifted in how people think about travel accommodation. It used to be that budget travellers stayed in hostels because they couldn’t afford anything else, and hotels were the default for everyone who could. That framing no longer reflects reality. 62% of global budget travellers now actively choose hostels over budget hotels, and that…
Category: Travel Tips
How to Save Money Using Hostelworld’s Flexible Booking Options
Budget travel starts before you even pack your bag. The choices you make at the booking stage, which rate type you pick, whether you book in advance, how you use Hostelworld’s guarantees, determine how much you actually spend and how much flexibility you keep when plans inevitably shift. Hostelworld offers several different booking options designed to…
How to Pick a Good Hostel
There is a question that appears in the Hostelworld City Chats constantly, in every city, asked by travellers who have just arrived or are about to: “What’s the best hostel do you think, or are they all similar?” (Budapest) “Can anyone recommend a hostel that they’re staying at?” (Koh Lanta) “Any reccs in a social…
Sunset Spots Backpackers Can’t Stop Talking About
There is a specific quality of conversation that happens in hostel common rooms around 4pm. Plans forming, routes being discussed, a general consensus reaching its conclusion: somewhere with a view, cold drinks optional but preferred, golden hour mandatory. The Hostelworld chats are full of it. “Anyone knows a good place to see the sunset?” (Bangkok). “What’s…
A Guide To The Most Asked-About Hikes in Hostelworld Chats
Some hikes keep coming up in the Hostelworld chats. Not just once or twice: consistently, in the same cities, across months of conversations. The same questions repeated by travellers who just arrived and are figuring out their first few days. “Which hostel is best for the Ha Giang loop?” “Is the Salkantay trek worth it…
Motorbike & Scooter: What You Wish You Knew Before Renting
Renting a scooter is one of the most freeing things you can do on the road. It’s also one of the most commonly misjudged. The island opens up. The temples become accessible. The beaches you’d never find on a tour become yours for the afternoon. And then, for some travellers, something goes wrong. A skid…
How Backpackers Communicate: Best eSIMs & Tips by Country
The moment you land somewhere new, connectivity becomes everything. You need maps, you need translation, you need to message your hostel, and you need to tell someone back home you arrived safely. What you don’t need is paying €15 a day in roaming charges or spending your first hour in a new country queuing at…
How to Make Friends Fast in Every City When Travelling
Making friends while travelling is easier than most people expect, and harder than the travel content on social media makes it look. The highlight reel shows spontaneous group dinners and laughing strangers on rooftops. The reality involves a bit more intention than that: choosing the right accommodation, showing up when you’d rather stay in, sending…
How to Backpack the FIFA World Cup 2026 Across North America
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is unlike anything the sport has seen before. For the first time ever, three countries are co-hosting the men’s World Cup, with 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada staging matches from 11 June to 19 July 2026. That’s 104 games, 48 teams, and an entire continent buzzing…
What To Do If You Arrive Late To Your Hostel Check-In
The flight was delayed. The bus took three hours longer than Google Maps suggested. The border crossing had a queue that moved at approximately the speed of geology. You’re exhausted, it’s midnight, and you’re standing outside your hostel wondering whether anyone is still awake to let you in. Late arrivals happen to almost every backpacker at…
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