Hostels have long been the mainstay for grungy backpackers and young adventurers, but are hostels a good choice for families? More and more hostels are providing options for families who are on a budget or who want something different than the standard hotel.  With the option to stay in a hostel, many parents are intrigued by the idea, but still have tons of questions about the logistics, and whether it will really work for their family.

What is Hostelling?

Hostels are a budget-friendly lodging option that offer beds to rent for the night, rather than an individual room. Hostels often include dorm style rooms for sleeping that can hold from 2- 20 or more guests. Some hostels are co-ed and some are separated by gender. Most hostels have common areas that include shared bathrooms and kitchens. The hallmark of the hostel experience is the opportunity to interact with other travelers and build a community.

~Bunk room at Point Montara Lighthouse is a typical hostel dorm room setup~

Who Should Consider Booking a Hostel?

Gone are the days when hostels were only for the young, single traveler. Hostels are available for any and every demographic, and most nights, a wide range of ages will be represented in the dorms. Hostels aren’t for everyone, though, and they certainly aren’t for every family. If you tend to be picky about the typical hotel, then hostelling is probably not for you. Think about the last time you complained at a hotel because it wasn’t spotless, your neighbor was too noisy, or you needed more towels. If those kinds of guaranteed amenities are important to you, hostelling is probably not an ideal choice.

For a family to really enjoy the hostel experience, they should be reasonably adventurous, open to new experiences, and not too terribly picky about details (which may or may not be reliable.) Do a bit of soul searching before you decide, but don’t sell yourself short.  I would typically say that I am not the “hostel type” but my first hostel experience was one of my best travel memories.

Bottom Line: If you are picky or fussy, skip the hostel, but if you have a sense of adventure, give it a try.

~ A fully stocked shared kitchen is a hostel staple~

When to Hostel with a Family?

Hostels are definitely a safe and welcoming option for families, but they are not always the best option.  How do families know when hostelling is the ideal lodging choice?

Count the Cost

Hostelling is an extremely affordable option for a single traveler, but families will have to watch the cost to see if it is really budget friendly. Although individual beds are bargain priced, each family member will have to pay for a bed-and that can add up. Hostelling is really beneficial for families in large metropolitan areas where budget hotels are scarce. For example, the most reasonable room for our family of six in San Francisco was $200, including parking and internet. In comparison, our private room at Point Montara was $90 for the family. In a less popular city, $90 would easily book us a nice hotel room, but with the hotel market so high in SF, the hostel was absolutely the more economical choice.

Feeling Right at Home

It is hard to really explain the cozy feeling that comes with the community of a hostel. It is something that you just have to feel for yourself.  More than just the warm fuzzies, though, hostels offer families the benefit of a kitchen, living area, and sometimes even a playroom. It looks and feels just like home, and gives the opportunity to relax in a way that hotels and motels just don’t offer.  For families that are traveling extensively, it can be a welcome break from the sterile world of staying in a hotel. For families with special dietary needs, the kitchen is a place to prepare the food you need while still traveling.  Laundry facilities are often available. The option to meet other traveling kids and families is a also a big plus.

Something Different

Ever dreamed of staying in a castle, but think it is out of your budget? Maybe not. Hostels offer many differences to the typical lodging choices, but there are many hostel option that really take this difference to another level. Hostels can be located in exotic locales, such as lighthouses, castles, monasteries, and century old buildings. The opportunity to stay in such a unique location will likely never be available at such an affordable price. If you have your heart set on those bucket list opportunites, but don't necessarily have the funds, this can be a great choice.

Bottom Line: Families who are watching their travel budget should look to hostelling when traveling in large metropolitan areas. Likewise, families who want a different experience than the typical hotel or who need a kitchen to prepare food should try hostelling.

~Point Montara Lighthouse offers unique lodging in coast guard dorms nearby~

How to Hostel with a Family?

Once you have made the informed decision to book a hostel for your family, there are a few extra steps to make the experience successful with little people in tow.  It’s a good idea to talk with your kids about the unique etiquette that they will encounter in a hostel, making sure that they can make the experience a good one for everyone else sharing the space. It’s also equally important to do some legwork to make sure the hostel is a good choice for a family.

Playdates or Pub Crawls?

Most hostels welcome guests of all ages, though some do have a strict 18 or older policy, but that doesn’t mean all hostels are good for families. Parents really have to do some research beyond what is typical for booking a hotel to make a good choice. Start with the website and use that as a good barometer for whether children are regular (and welcome) guests. Hostels that list amenities such as toy room or high chairs are a good first choice. You can- and should-check the reviews for the particular hostel to give you an idea if it will work for your family.

Although a web search can get the ball rolling, the best way to really get a feel for attitude of an individual hostel is to call and talk to one of the staff.  Of course, you will ask whether it’s a good choice for families, but you might want to add a few probing questions to really get a feel for the atmosphere. Ask about what kind of activities are arranged by the hostel, or if they have families visiting on a regular basis. Note: if group pub crawls are a daily occurrence, it’s probably not a great choice for a family. Asking about quiet hours is another way to vet a hostel for a family. Hostels with posted and enforced quiet hours will be much less likely to have a party atmosphere.

Is there a (Family) Room at the Inn?

There are plenty of hostel nightmare stories that involve theft, live demonstrations of the birds and bees, and just plain strange behavior happening in shared dorms. For kids, it’s just safer to stay in a family room or private room. Here is where a call to staff can be your best bet. Explain the makeup of your family, including the ages of your kids, and ask they staff if they can recommend a room that can work for you. Some creativity might be in order and all the options may not be mentioned on the website. During our recent trip, family rooms were only offered on the website for couples, but a six bed dorm was ideal for our family, creating a private room for us. Be sure to call and ask.

Mind Your Manners

Learning the unwritten rules of hostel etiquette was one of my biggest worries, particularly because I needed to lead the way for my kids. Turns out, the rules of hostels aren’t much different than the rules of preschool: be respectful, clean up after yourself, don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Prior to our first stay, I reminded my kids that they would need to use quiet voices and not be rowdy and gave them some general reminders about how we needed to be respectful of the people around us. Specific to hostelling, I helped them to remember that they shouldn’t take any food that wasn’t theirs out of the refrigerator, and that they needed to be vigilant about cleaning up anything they used.  We had a private bath in our room, but if we had been sharing a bathroom, I would have reminded them to keep their bathroom time as short as possible.

Bottom Line: Do your research and ask plenty of questions to be sure you are booking a hostel where your family will feel safe and welcome. At the same time, do some prep work with the kids, so they will be comfortable with staying in a hostel.

~ A toy corner goes a long way to making kids (and their parents) feel comfortable~

Why to Choose a Hostel with a Family?

Without question, staying at a hostel involves compromise. You will give up a certain amount of privacy, comfort, and control, but there are so many things to gain from the experience. Hostels are extremely budget friendly, and give families a home base for travel that really has all the comforts of home. But, the biggest benefit is the opportunity to give kids a window into a vibrant community with a wide range of cultural experiences.  Learned a few words in German and Chinese, looked at a giant map with a pair of bicyclists to trace their route, and shared homemade cinnamon rolls with kid their age that lived 3000 miles away. In those encounters, they learned about geography and language, but they also learned about people. They learned how to interact with those who don’t speak their language and how to make new friends. They explored the dynamics of getting along in a group. They learned to try new things, and take chances, and be curious. They learned that the world is large and there are so many people exploring it in so many different ways.  So many valuable lessons at a bargain price.

~Making new friends in the common areas~

Quick Question Checklist for Families

1.      Do you have any family rooms available or can you accommodate children?

2.      Do you have family friendly amenities i.e. high chairs, cribs, toys, etc…

3.      Do you provide sheets, towels, toiletries?

4.      What types of organized activities are available at the hostel?

5.      Do you have curfew or quiet hours?

6.      Do you have shut out hours?

7.      Are there any concerns that you can think of that would pertain to children staying at this hostel?

8.      What types of establishments/amenities are available in the nearby neighborhood? Is public transportation nearby?

9.      Are there any extra or hidden costs?

10.   Is parking available? 

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