Swapped hotels for hostels in Prague and saved $400 in 5 days

I used to always book cheap hotels thinking hostels were just for kids with backpacks. Last spring I tried a hostel in Prague's old town for $18 a night instead of a $65 hotel. They had a free walking tour and a kitchen where I cooked pasta instead of eating out every meal. Met some people who told me about a grocery store three blocks away where beer was like $1.50. After 5 days I had spent way less on food and actually saw more of the city because of the free tour. Anyone else had a hostel experience that turned out better than a hotel?

2 comments

2 Comments

kai46312d ago

Hostels with a kitchen are a game changer for real lol. I did the same thing in Budapest, saved a ton by buying groceries at Aldi and making breakfast and lunch there. The free walking tours usually give you a better feel for the city too, way more than a hotel concierge would. Just gotta check the reviews first because some hostels are loud party spots. Kitchen access and a solid common area make all the difference.

leo_mason12d ago

One time in Barcelona I booked a hostel that turned out to be a converted convent from the 1600s, complete with a courtyard and a cat that lived there. The bunk beds were ancient creaky wood but the building had way more character than any hotel I've stayed in. Plus the front desk guy gave me a handwritten map to a tiny tapas place that tourists never find, which was the best meal of the trip.