Tried the 'skip hotels, only hostels' advice for a month in Europe. It was a mistake.

Everyone says hostels are the only way to save money on long trips, so I booked them for a whole month from Berlin to Barcelona. After two weeks, I was so tired from bad sleep in noisy dorms that I spent $40 on a private room for a night just to recover. That one good sleep made me realize I was wasting my days being groggy and missing out on stuff. I switched to booking private rooms in guesthouses or cheap hotels for the second half, and it cost maybe $15 more a night on average. But I actually enjoyed the cities because I was rested. For me, saving $200 isn't worth being miserable and tired for a whole trip. Has anyone else found that going a bit over budget for decent sleep made their travel way better?

3 comments

3 Comments

robert_jenkins822mo ago

My buddy did that and ended up with bedbugs in Prague.

torres.grant2mo ago

Yeah, that line about it turning a trip into a nightmare is so true. I used to think people were just being overly careful with their luggage after a hotel stay. Now I get it. A friend had a small issue that spread through their whole apartment, and the cost and stress were unreal. It completely changed how I handle my own suitcase when I get home. I'm way more careful now.

river_allen2mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst kind of souvenir to bring home. Did your buddy @robert_jenkins82 have to trash all his luggage and clothes? I had a scare once after staying in a cheap motel off the highway. I was so paranoid, checking the mattress seams and everything. The thought of those little bugs hitching a ride in your suitcase just makes my skin crawl. It can turn a great trip into a total nightmare.