Switched to hostel dorms for the first time after years of solo rooms

I always thought hostel dorms would be super sketchy and loud, but I gave it a shot in Bangkok last month to save cash. Ended up paying $8 a night instead of $35 for a private room, and honestly it was fine. Earplugs and a sleep mask did the trick, and I met three cool travelers who showed me a street food spot I'd never have found alone. Anyone else find dorms better for solo trips than they expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam_patel23d ago

Doesn't it feel like most things we hype up as bad end up being way simpler than we thought? I've noticed this pattern in everyday life too, like when everyone said working from home would be lonely and unproductive, but it turned out fine once you set up a routine. Hostels are the same. People act like they're chaotic nightmares, but with basic prep they're just normal places where you can save money and meet folks. It reminds me how easy it is to overthink stuff before trying it.

matthewmartin23d ago

The 4 hostels I stayed in across Europe last summer had me totally skeptical beforehand (especially after reading some horror stories online). But honestly once I just packed earplugs and a lock, they were basically just cheap hotels with better social areas and way more interesting people to chat with. You're spot on about the overthinking thing, I definitely built it up as this huge challenge when really it was just a different way to travel.

hugo_robinson2523d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I read somewhere that hostels actually have way less crime than hotels lol, @matthewmartin is right about the overthinking.