Are Hostels Safe? (Honest Guide & Tips for 2023)

One of the best ways to cut down on travel expenses is by opting for a hostel room instead of a hotel room. “But of course, many people get a little twitchy when they hear this and wonder, “are hostels safe?”

I’ve stayed in tons of hostels over the years, and my simple answer is: yes, hostels are safe! But there are some things you should do to protect your personal safety.

Once you’re familiar with all the do’s and don’ts of hostel life, you’ll come to find it’s actually one of the most fun ways to travel. And if you want to take it a step further, then you’ll find there are plenty of hostel jobs available.

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Are Hostels Safe?

Generally speaking, most hostels are very safe to stay in. However, all travelers should be aware of the potential risks and protect themselves accordingly. Hostel life can be incredibly rewarding, but you do need to be careful of petty theft and ongoing issues with the pandemic. 

If you’re finding yourself pondering the question of “are hostels safe?”, then have no fear! I’ve stayed at hostels all over the world, and I’m here to give you the lowdown on the reality of hostel safety. There are so many hostels around the world, and with a few essential travel tips, travel insurance, and research, you can have incredible experiences at them. 

Things to Know About Safety in Hostels

Covid-19 Safety in Hostels

While hostels seem like the antithesis of Covid-19 safety, there are surprisingly a lot of ways to stay healthy and safe at hostels. 

These days many hostels are taking their cleaning and sanitizing procedures very seriously. Hand sanitizer is readily available, and depending on the country, the hostel might ask you to wear a mask in common areas. Other hostels are reducing the number of guests they allow in the dorm rooms to limit close contact. 

If you’re still worried about Covid-19 safety, but want the hostel experience, just book one of the private rooms! They give you all the benefits of staying at a hostel with a little more privacy.

Crime in Hostels

Like anywhere else, crimes can happen in hostels. Since you’re staying in a communal environment with lots of strangers, it opens the door for more crimes to occur. But you can minimize the risks by being prepared and protecting yourself. 

💰 Petty Theft – The most common crime that goes down in hostels is petty theft. To protect yourself from this, leave valuables locked away in your provided locker and never leave your electronics out charging, even if you trust everyone in the room. The Pacsafe Venturesafe is perfect for securing your valuables and is one of our most recommended travel backpacks.

🛑 Other Crimes – More dangerous crimes have happened at hostels. Trust your gut and if you don’t feel comfortable somewhere, leave immediately. It’s always better to lose a few bucks than it is to potentially put yourself in jeopardy. 

Common Scams in Hostels 

There aren’t really any scams that are hostel-specific. Other than maybe getting your stuff stolen. But you should still be mindful of the most common travel scams because scammers do target areas with lots of tourists. 

👜 Pickpocketing –  The most popular scam in many countries is pickpocketing. This tends to be more common in areas with lots of tourist traffic, like hostels. Whenever you go out exploring, wear a money belt under your clothes to keep your cash safe. 

🚕 Taxi Cons – There are a number of different taxi cons. Such as the “broken meter” scam where the driver shuts their meter and tells you they’ll calculate the price on their own. Hostel guests who are excited to see a new place are often targeted for these types of scams. To avoid this common scam, always ask how much it’ll be for a ride before you get in or use a reliable rideshare service. 

🆓 Free Stuff – This scam might sound a little counterintuitive, but it’s very popular around the world. Someone will offer you a free bracelet, food item, knick-nack, etc. Once you’re eating or wearing it, the item suddenly costs money, and you need to pay up. Never accept something you’re not willing to pay for. 

Solo Female Travelers’ Safety in Hostels

Solo female travelers have a whole extra set of things to worry about when it comes to their safety. But that doesn’t mean they can’t safely stay at hostels. 

I traveled around Asia for six months as a solo female traveler, and I stayed at all types of hostels. It was amazing, and I absolutely love hostels, but I used common sense to keep myself safe. 

I tend to feel comfortable staying in co-ed dorms depending on the country I’m in. However, if you aren’t comfortable in a co-ed dorm, there are almost always female-only dorms or private rooms available for an extra cost. 

You should also research the location you’re visiting before deciding on staying in a mixed dorm. 

👉 Pro Tip: When booking your hostel through Hostel World, filter your search for “Female Dorms.” This will give you hostels that have the option of female-only roommates.

9 Safety Tips for Hostels

Tip #1 – Lock Up Your Valuables

One of the biggest travel tips to keep your stuff safe is to lock it up whenever you’re away. It’s easy to feel safe at a hostel once you get in a groove. Everyone is so friendly and ready to be friends. But, the truth is, you never know whose coming or going from a hostel. 

It’s always better to lock your things away at the hostel with your own combination lock. Even when you’re just taking a quick shower. At the very least, it gives you peace of mind to go have as much fun as you want without worrying that someone is stealing your things. At the most, it saves you from losing everything. 

Tip #2 – Know the Types of Hostels

Choosing the right hostel for you on HostelWorld depends on exactly what you’re looking for. And, you’ll definitely want to spend some time figuring out what type of hostel you like because it’s a nightmare if you’re not in the mood. 

There are all different types of hostels out there: 

• 🧒 – Youth hostels 
• 🇪🇺 – European hostels
• 🎉 – Party hostels
• 🛏️ – Chill hostels
• 💻 – Co-working hostels
• 🌳 – Eco-hostels
• 🏰 – Luxury hostels

If you’re a middle-aged couple on a worldwide excursion, you might want to avoid a youth hostel that will likely attract a lot of late nights and noise. If you’re a party animal with a group of friends, you’ll probably want to steer clear of a serious co-working hostel. 

👉 Pro Tip: Keep in mind that staying at a party hostel is no joke. When they say party, they mean partying all night long. So, only stay there if you’re ready for that ride. Alternatively, these types of hostels usually have bars that you can visit for the party and then return home to a quiet bed when you’re done. 

Tip #3 – Join Bar Crawls or Walking Tours

Hostels aren’t just a budget-friendly way to travel the world, they’re also a terrific way to make friends with fellow travelers. You’ll probably make a bunch of friends when you spend time in shared spaces at the hostel. 

But, if you’re having trouble breaking the ice, a great hack is to join a bar crawl or walking tour. These are automatic social settings as everyone is there to meet new people and have an amazing time.

Tip #4 – Book Private Rooms

I’m a total introvert at heart, so I know as well as anyone how overwhelming hostels can get. Luckily, there’s a pretty easy way to enjoy the benefits of staying in a hostel while still having a bit of privacy: booking a private room. 

Staying in a private room at a hostel will always be a little more expensive, but they’re usually cheaper than renting hotels or AirBnBs throughout your trip. Plus, you’ll still be able to meet like-minded travelers in the communal spaces. It’s the best of both worlds!

Tip #5 – Be Considerate of Other Travelers and Hostel Staff

When you’re staying in a hostel, you need to make a conscious effort to be considerate of the people around you. That includes the other hostel guests and staff. 

Keep it quiet at night in the dorms when other people are trying to sleep. On the flip side, if you’re waking up early, don’t snooze your alarm a million times. Clean up after yourself when you use the kitchen or laundry facilities. These are just the basic courtesies of staying in a place with a bunch of other people. 

👉 Pro Tip: It’s pretty common to have an early flight, train, or tour. If you are getting up at the crack of dawn, try to pack your stuff the night before. That way, you can just grab your bags and go without disturbing the dorm too much. 

Tip #6 – Learn About Travel Insurance  

Personally, I never embark on a trip without the safety net of travel insurance. This is especially important when I’m going on a big trip and staying in hostels.

There are lots of travel insurance options out there and only you can do your own research. I personally use World Nomads travel insurance.

Tip #7 – Consider Work Stays

Many people want to travel the world but think it’s just too expensive for regular people. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There are lots of ways to make a trip more economical. Yes, you can stay in hostels, but you can even take it a step further by working at the hostels you’re visiting. 

Lots of hostels offer young people a chance to work a few days per week and stay at their accommodation free of charge. Thankfully, you can find jobs, look at reviews, and apply for jobs via the online service Worldpackers.

But finding a hostel job is easier than you might think. Most of the time, all it takes is asking. I met people in my travels who successfully wandered for years this way. It’s the perfect solution to cut down on accommodation costs.

Tip #8 – Bring the Hostel Necessities

There are a few items that you’ll absolutely need if you plan on staying at hostels. A padlock for the lockers. An eye mask and ear plugs for when you’re going to bed. I’d even recommend bringing some melatonin for when you’re having trouble falling asleep (trust me, it’ll happen). 

Besides the sleeping necessities, you’ll need shower stuff. Pick up a water-resistant toiletries bag, like this Bagsmart Toiletry Bag Travel Bag, and a pair of flip-flops. Remember, you’ll be sharing a shower with potentially dozens of people. So, you don’t want to walk into those showers without shoes. 

The list goes on, but this covers the basics. 

🏨 Read Next: What are the differences between a hostel and a hotel?

Tip #9 – Read Recent Reviews Before Booking

Staying in hostels can be an incredible experience. That is unless you end up in a bad one. A bad hostel can mean anything from being dirty or outdated to being straight-up dangerous. Even though hostels are generally safe, you still want to make sure. 

That’s why everyone should comb through the recent reviews of a hostel before booking it. Especially solo female travelers. If you end up finding great reviews, amazing! Book away. But, if there are some questionable stories in there, start searching elsewhere. 

FAQs About Safety in Hostels

👉 Read Next: Hotel or Airbnb – Which is Better?

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Thanks for reading my safety guide to staying in hostels. You’re officially a pro at hostel safety! Get ready to have a blast and find loads of new travel buddies. If this is your first big trip, don’t miss our guide on what to pack to travel the world.

Have fun in hostels!