Took me 5 trips to figure out hostels are a bad deal for families

I kept booking hostels for our family of 4 thinking we were saving money. Last summer in Portland I finally added up the costs - two private rooms ran us $180 a night, plus we had to buy breakfast out since there was no kitchen. That same money gets a basic motel with free breakfast and a fridge. Has anyone else found that hostels only work for solo travelers?

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the_margaret4mo ago

Oh man, you just described our exact experience. Hostels are great for single backpackers but for a family they're a total rip-off. We did the same math after a trip to Nashville, realized two private rooms plus paying extra for every little thing added up way more than a decent hotel. What really got me was the lack of a fridge and microwave, means you end up eating out for every meal. Now we just look for motels with a small kitchenette, saves us a ton on food and gives everyone their own space.

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christopher9524mo ago

You nailed it about the food thing. We made that mistake in Savannah last year, thought we'd save by grabbing breakfast at the hostel but ended up spending thirty bucks on sandwiches and coffee every morning just from the nearest corner store. Kitchenettes are a lifesaver, even just having a mini fridge for milk and sandwich stuff cuts the daily cost in half. Plus you don't have to drag three kids out the door before anyone's fully awake just to find a place to eat. Now we book motels near a grocery store and call it good.

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