Hostel hack: book a private room not a dorm

I was always going for the cheapest dorm bed until a trip to Barcelona last spring. The private room at my hostel was only $12 more a night, and I slept way better without snorers and people coming in at 3am. Plus I could actually lock my laptop in the room instead of carrying it everywhere. Ended up saving on a locker rental and didn't waste cash on overpriced coffee to stay awake. Has anyone else tried upgrading to a private and found it actually saves money long term?

2 comments

2 Comments

schmidt.willow14d ago

I booked a private room in a hostel in Lisbon last summer that was $18 more than the dorm and honestly? The walls were paper thin so I still heard every single snore and door slam from the hallway. I ended up jealous of the dorm people who at least had earplugs in. Plus the "private" lock on my door was one of those cheap push button things a kid could pick. The saving money part sounds like a stretch too since you still have to eat and do stuff, that $12 a night adds up quick over a week. I think people just overhype private rooms in hostels because they're mad at one loud snorer and convince themselves it's a life changing move.

brookes3714d ago

Yeah that's exactly what I'm saying. "Life changing move" is the perfect way to put it because I fell for that hype too. I did a private room in Dublin thinking I'd finally get some peace and the guy next door was literally yelling on the phone until 2am. I could hear every word through the wall. Also I feel like people forget that private rooms in hostels still have that cheap hostel vibe, like my door didn't even have a proper deadbolt so I still ended up keeping my passport in my pocket. I mean the $12 difference sounds small but over a week you're basically paying for a whole extra night somewhere else. It's not some magic money saver like people claim.