Can I still stay in a hostel dorm?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/canbe_hostels_2020-07-27_blog.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @canbe_hostels<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCan travellers still stay in dorms? Yes, we can! Regular backpackers know that many a friendship begins from a casual bunkbed to bunkbed chat \u2013 often whispered as someone is always sleeping, no matter what time of day it is! Dorms are open,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u2019ll find fewer people staying in them as hostels observe local social distancing rules.\u00a0So,\u00a0you may book into an\u00a08-bed\u00a0dorm and the maximum number of travellers allowed\u00a0is 4. Some hostels will restrict dorms to pairs or groups travelling together. It really depends on local government guidelines.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d rather have a space of your own, while still getting the sociability of a hostel, don\u2019t forget that so many hostels have private rooms.\u00a0Many have\u00a0en-suite bathrooms too! Treat\u00a0yo\u2019self!\u00a0Or if you\u2019re lucky, you may get a free room upgrade.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Are hostels clean?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Millennials.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @themillennials.kyoto<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nBack in the day, we had to do a bit of work convincing\u00a0up-and-coming\u00a0travellers that hostels are clean. In recent years we\u2019ve had that conversation less and less because the world gets it, most\u00a0hostels are super clean, and often fancy AF. But cleanliness has never been more important than it is right now, and therefore,\u00a0like any other\u00a0reputable\u00a0business,\u00a0hostels have upped their cleaning game. You\u2019ll find hand-sanitising stations, masked staff, receptions with screens and even more cleaners than you\u2019d usually spot.<\/p>\n
Of course,\u00a0every hostel is different and following their own government\u2019s guidelines, but cleanliness is on everyone\u2019s minds.\u00a0We\u2019ve even introduced a new sanitation badge which hostels can request if they\u2019re completing a tick-list of hygiene measures. It\u2019s their commitment to us and you. Look out for the little green shield with stars in, when you\u2019re hostel hunting\u00a0on our site.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Sanitation-badge.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Will I still meet people in hostels?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/theyellowrome_2020-08-21_3650246233-1167x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @theyellowrome<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nOkay, so we\u2019ve established that hostels are doing everything to make our stays as safe as can be, but what about the socials? For so many of us, it\u2019s the reason we choose hostels over all other types of accommodation \u2013 especially the solo travellers<\/a> among us.\u00a0Well, the good news is, that the social experience is still at the heart of the hostel stay.\u00a0Activities like roof-top yoga and city walking tours have been easily modified to make them safe in this new world \u2013 hygiene and distance!\u00a0Social spaces and common areas may have a one-way-system, but they are mostly open. Pub crawls, well that totally depends on where you are in the world, but if it\u2019s safe they\u2019ll be on!\u00a0You may find yourself competing in socially distant beer-pong, or dancing in a glow-in-the-dark dance spot.\u00a0Hostels are getting creative\u00a0with their\u00a0events because\u00a0they know it\u2019s\u00a0why we pick them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Can I book a hostel and cancel if I need to? (Flexible bookings)<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/thisislisbonhostel_2020-07-27_3633742077-874x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @thisislisbonhostel<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSo, hostels may be clean, safe, and social, but with ever-changing travel restrictions, booking a trip can feel a little like Russian Roulette. The only way any of us are going to have the confidence to book is if we know we can cancel last minute or change the dates if we need to. That\u2019s totally possible now, with new booking types to suit this chaotic world. If you book your\u00a0hostels on\u00a0Hostelworld<\/a>, there are two booking types you\u00a0should\u00a0look out for.<\/p>\n\n- Free Cancellation \u2013 It does what it says on the tin and gives you free cancellation if needed. So, no questions asked, you can cancel on our app, or via your Hostelworld account<\/a>, and receive a full refund on the deposit you\u2019ve paid us. Depending on the hostel\u2019s cancellation policy, you can cancel up to one day before your trip. So, this is a super-flexible option and when you go to book, you\u2019ll be given an exact date you should cancel by.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Flexible Non-Refundable Rate \u2013 Yep it\u2019s a mouthful! But, if you choose this option when booking your stay, you will get the best available price. It\u2019s the cheapest option that also allows you some flexibility, as you can change the dates if you need to. You book via Hostelworld, but if you do need to change the date, you just need to contact the hostel and let them know.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/h2>\nWhat\u2019s the future of hostelling?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"hostels](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/madamahostelmilano_2020-09-04_3659359968-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @madamahostelmilano<\/a><\/p>\nOh, if only we had a crystal ball! We\u2019d love to tell you that this virus will disappear as fast as it came, but quite clearly that\u2019s not our area of expertise. Instead, we can share some of the things we\u2019re up to, to future-proof our beloved hostelling adventures.<\/p>\n
From the tech side, we\u2019ve\u00a0partnered with\u00a0a super cool app\u00a0and locking system\u00a0called\u00a0Goki. It\u2019s like we (well they) predicted the future before this fiasco even began! It\u00a0basically gives hostels a system to do contactless check-ins. So,\u00a0for travellers, not keen on touching door\u00a0handles\u00a0and reception desk pens \u2013 it\u2019s a seamless, touch-free\u00a0and germ-free\u00a0way of checking in to the hostel. You, the traveller, will have an app that\u2019s akin to having hostel\u00a0superpowers. Download your key before even arriving and\u00a0use it to open doors, book events and network with other travellers. Yep, we prefer real-life mingling too, but this is a digital extension and a way of interacting with your fellow travellers from afar. This fancy new system is already available\u00a0in some hostels, so keep an eye out for it.<\/p>\n
Last, but not least, we reckon this is a chance for us all to reset and rethink how we travel and the impact we make on our planet and the communities we visit. Behind the scenes, we\u2019re looking at how we can contribute to making the travelling world more sustainable<\/a> and inclusive. We\u2019ve shared a few bits already, like our partnership with WaterAid<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0signing a 5-year commitment to support the\u00a0Global\u00a0Tourism\u00a0Plastics Initiative<\/a>\u00a0led by UN Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organisation, in\u00a0collaboration\u00a0with\u00a0the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s more to come and we hope you\u2019ll take this journey with us!<\/p>\n
Keep reading:<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udf1f Lockdown Dreams: TOP 10 wish-listed hostels<\/a><\/p>\n\ud83c\udf1f How to cure wanderlust without travelling<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\nCan travellers still stay in dorms? Yes, we can! Regular backpackers know that many a friendship begins from a casual bunkbed to bunkbed chat \u2013 often whispered as someone is always sleeping, no matter what time of day it is! Dorms are open,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u2019ll find fewer people staying in them as hostels observe local social distancing rules.\u00a0So,\u00a0you may book into an\u00a08-bed\u00a0dorm and the maximum number of travellers allowed\u00a0is 4. Some hostels will restrict dorms to pairs or groups travelling together. It really depends on local government guidelines.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d rather have a space of your own, while still getting the sociability of a hostel, don\u2019t forget that so many hostels have private rooms.\u00a0Many have\u00a0en-suite bathrooms too! Treat\u00a0yo\u2019self!\u00a0Or if you\u2019re lucky, you may get a free room upgrade.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Are hostels clean?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @themillennials.kyoto<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nBack in the day, we had to do a bit of work convincing\u00a0up-and-coming\u00a0travellers that hostels are clean. In recent years we\u2019ve had that conversation less and less because the world gets it, most\u00a0hostels are super clean, and often fancy AF. But cleanliness has never been more important than it is right now, and therefore,\u00a0like any other\u00a0reputable\u00a0business,\u00a0hostels have upped their cleaning game. You\u2019ll find hand-sanitising stations, masked staff, receptions with screens and even more cleaners than you\u2019d usually spot.<\/p>\n
Of course,\u00a0every hostel is different and following their own government\u2019s guidelines, but cleanliness is on everyone\u2019s minds.\u00a0We\u2019ve even introduced a new sanitation badge which hostels can request if they\u2019re completing a tick-list of hygiene measures. It\u2019s their commitment to us and you. Look out for the little green shield with stars in, when you\u2019re hostel hunting\u00a0on our site.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Will I still meet people in hostels?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @theyellowrome<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nOkay, so we\u2019ve established that hostels are doing everything to make our stays as safe as can be, but what about the socials? For so many of us, it\u2019s the reason we choose hostels over all other types of accommodation \u2013 especially the solo travellers<\/a> among us.\u00a0Well, the good news is, that the social experience is still at the heart of the hostel stay.\u00a0Activities like roof-top yoga and city walking tours have been easily modified to make them safe in this new world \u2013 hygiene and distance!\u00a0Social spaces and common areas may have a one-way-system, but they are mostly open. Pub crawls, well that totally depends on where you are in the world, but if it\u2019s safe they\u2019ll be on!\u00a0You may find yourself competing in socially distant beer-pong, or dancing in a glow-in-the-dark dance spot.\u00a0Hostels are getting creative\u00a0with their\u00a0events because\u00a0they know it\u2019s\u00a0why we pick them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Can I book a hostel and cancel if I need to? (Flexible bookings)<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @thisislisbonhostel<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSo, hostels may be clean, safe, and social, but with ever-changing travel restrictions, booking a trip can feel a little like Russian Roulette. The only way any of us are going to have the confidence to book is if we know we can cancel last minute or change the dates if we need to. That\u2019s totally possible now, with new booking types to suit this chaotic world. If you book your\u00a0hostels on\u00a0Hostelworld<\/a>, there are two booking types you\u00a0should\u00a0look out for.<\/p>\n\n- Free Cancellation \u2013 It does what it says on the tin and gives you free cancellation if needed. So, no questions asked, you can cancel on our app, or via your Hostelworld account<\/a>, and receive a full refund on the deposit you\u2019ve paid us. Depending on the hostel\u2019s cancellation policy, you can cancel up to one day before your trip. So, this is a super-flexible option and when you go to book, you\u2019ll be given an exact date you should cancel by.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Flexible Non-Refundable Rate \u2013 Yep it\u2019s a mouthful! But, if you choose this option when booking your stay, you will get the best available price. It\u2019s the cheapest option that also allows you some flexibility, as you can change the dates if you need to. You book via Hostelworld, but if you do need to change the date, you just need to contact the hostel and let them know.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/h2>\nWhat\u2019s the future of hostelling?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Photo credit: @madamahostelmilano<\/a><\/p>\nOh, if only we had a crystal ball! We\u2019d love to tell you that this virus will disappear as fast as it came, but quite clearly that\u2019s not our area of expertise. Instead, we can share some of the things we\u2019re up to, to future-proof our beloved hostelling adventures.<\/p>\n
From the tech side, we\u2019ve\u00a0partnered with\u00a0a super cool app\u00a0and locking system\u00a0called\u00a0Goki. It\u2019s like we (well they) predicted the future before this fiasco even began! It\u00a0basically gives hostels a system to do contactless check-ins. So,\u00a0for travellers, not keen on touching door\u00a0handles\u00a0and reception desk pens \u2013 it\u2019s a seamless, touch-free\u00a0and germ-free\u00a0way of checking in to the hostel. You, the traveller, will have an app that\u2019s akin to having hostel\u00a0superpowers. Download your key before even arriving and\u00a0use it to open doors, book events and network with other travellers. Yep, we prefer real-life mingling too, but this is a digital extension and a way of interacting with your fellow travellers from afar. This fancy new system is already available\u00a0in some hostels, so keep an eye out for it.<\/p>\n
Last, but not least, we reckon this is a chance for us all to reset and rethink how we travel and the impact we make on our planet and the communities we visit. Behind the scenes, we\u2019re looking at how we can contribute to making the travelling world more sustainable<\/a> and inclusive. We\u2019ve shared a few bits already, like our partnership with WaterAid<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0signing a 5-year commitment to support the\u00a0Global\u00a0Tourism\u00a0Plastics Initiative<\/a>\u00a0led by UN Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organisation, in\u00a0collaboration\u00a0with\u00a0the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s more to come and we hope you\u2019ll take this journey with us!<\/p>\n
Keep reading:<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udf1f Lockdown Dreams: TOP 10 wish-listed hostels<\/a><\/p>\n\ud83c\udf1f How to cure wanderlust without travelling<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\nBack in the day, we had to do a bit of work convincing\u00a0up-and-coming\u00a0travellers that hostels are clean. In recent years we\u2019ve had that conversation less and less because the world gets it, most\u00a0hostels are super clean, and often fancy AF. But cleanliness has never been more important than it is right now, and therefore,\u00a0like any other\u00a0reputable\u00a0business,\u00a0hostels have upped their cleaning game. You\u2019ll find hand-sanitising stations, masked staff, receptions with screens and even more cleaners than you\u2019d usually spot.<\/p>\n
Of course,\u00a0every hostel is different and following their own government\u2019s guidelines, but cleanliness is on everyone\u2019s minds.\u00a0We\u2019ve even introduced a new sanitation badge which hostels can request if they\u2019re completing a tick-list of hygiene measures. It\u2019s their commitment to us and you. Look out for the little green shield with stars in, when you\u2019re hostel hunting\u00a0on our site.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo credit: @theyellowrome<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Okay, so we\u2019ve established that hostels are doing everything to make our stays as safe as can be, but what about the socials? For so many of us, it\u2019s the reason we choose hostels over all other types of accommodation \u2013 especially the solo travellers<\/a> among us.\u00a0Well, the good news is, that the social experience is still at the heart of the hostel stay.\u00a0Activities like roof-top yoga and city walking tours have been easily modified to make them safe in this new world \u2013 hygiene and distance!\u00a0Social spaces and common areas may have a one-way-system, but they are mostly open. Pub crawls, well that totally depends on where you are in the world, but if it\u2019s safe they\u2019ll be on!\u00a0You may find yourself competing in socially distant beer-pong, or dancing in a glow-in-the-dark dance spot.\u00a0Hostels are getting creative\u00a0with their\u00a0events because\u00a0they know it\u2019s\u00a0why we pick them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo credit: @thisislisbonhostel<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n So, hostels may be clean, safe, and social, but with ever-changing travel restrictions, booking a trip can feel a little like Russian Roulette. The only way any of us are going to have the confidence to book is if we know we can cancel last minute or change the dates if we need to. That\u2019s totally possible now, with new booking types to suit this chaotic world. If you book your\u00a0hostels on\u00a0Hostelworld<\/a>, there are two booking types you\u00a0should\u00a0look out for.<\/p>\n Photo credit: @madamahostelmilano<\/a><\/p>\n Oh, if only we had a crystal ball! We\u2019d love to tell you that this virus will disappear as fast as it came, but quite clearly that\u2019s not our area of expertise. Instead, we can share some of the things we\u2019re up to, to future-proof our beloved hostelling adventures.<\/p>\n From the tech side, we\u2019ve\u00a0partnered with\u00a0a super cool app\u00a0and locking system\u00a0called\u00a0Goki. It\u2019s like we (well they) predicted the future before this fiasco even began! It\u00a0basically gives hostels a system to do contactless check-ins. So,\u00a0for travellers, not keen on touching door\u00a0handles\u00a0and reception desk pens \u2013 it\u2019s a seamless, touch-free\u00a0and germ-free\u00a0way of checking in to the hostel. You, the traveller, will have an app that\u2019s akin to having hostel\u00a0superpowers. Download your key before even arriving and\u00a0use it to open doors, book events and network with other travellers. Yep, we prefer real-life mingling too, but this is a digital extension and a way of interacting with your fellow travellers from afar. This fancy new system is already available\u00a0in some hostels, so keep an eye out for it.<\/p>\n Last, but not least, we reckon this is a chance for us all to reset and rethink how we travel and the impact we make on our planet and the communities we visit. Behind the scenes, we\u2019re looking at how we can contribute to making the travelling world more sustainable<\/a> and inclusive. We\u2019ve shared a few bits already, like our partnership with WaterAid<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0signing a 5-year commitment to support the\u00a0Global\u00a0Tourism\u00a0Plastics Initiative<\/a>\u00a0led by UN Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organisation, in\u00a0collaboration\u00a0with\u00a0the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more to come and we hope you\u2019ll take this journey with us!<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Lockdown Dreams: TOP 10 wish-listed hostels<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f How to cure wanderlust without travelling<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/h1>\n
Will I still meet people in hostels?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nCan I book a hostel and cancel if I need to? (Flexible bookings)<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n
<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the future of hostelling?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nKeep reading:<\/h2>\n