Navigating youth hostels in your 30s (no, you’re not too old for them)

I decided I never wanted to stay in a hostel again after I spent one night sleeping on a bloodstained mattress in the same room as a girl coughing up mucus until sunrise.

“I’m in my thirties. I’m too old for this,” I thought. I took a break and returned to hotels and Airbnbs for a while.

But eventually, I decided to try hostels again. 

As a luxury traveler who usually chooses 4-star hotels and overpacks a roller suitcase, backpacking is a complete shift. I heard many myths and had a lot of fears about staying in hostels. Some of those fears came true on day one. 

But 5 hostels later, I had the most transformative trip I’d ever been on. I owe it all to giving hostels another try in my thirties. 

Are you in your 30s and considering the same? Here’s how to make your hostel adventure a great one without compromising on your comfort or standards, even if you are a little older than the other travelers.

Remember that you’re in your 30s, not your 20s, so don’t settle for a hostel that falls below your standards.

One time I found a highly-rated hostel and it turned out to be a nightmare. After one night there, I chose not to suffer through the rest of the nights I had pre-booked. 

As someone in their thirties, I now have the means that I didn’t have in my twenties. So, I checked out early and found something more suitable. 

I didn’t know it then, but not settling meant I would find something better right around the corner.

I was able to find a hidden gem of a hostel with an oceanfront view in another town up north. I shared a room with fellow travelers whom I connected with on a deep level — you know, the level that feels like you’ve known them your whole life.

Magical moments like this gave me a newfound appreciation for what I missed out on in my early twenties. And hostels like that one sparked my quest to check out more youth hostels well after my youth. 

If you’ve seen one hostel… you’ve only seen one hostel. Don’t judge them all based on one bad experience.

Don’t let one bad hostel affect your opinion of every hostel. The truth is that each hostel (even a chain with multiple locations) is so uniquely different and standalone. Each one has its own style. 

Some offer great amenities while others will charge you for every little thing – such as holding your luggage before check-in, or even to shower. Some layouts are designed to be more social than others. Not all hostels offer on-site activities. Hostel reviews are subjective. 

Before you go, know what your personal non-negotiables are. This will be key, especially when you’re sleep-deprived and need to panic-switch hostels after deciding you don’t like it, no matter how great the reviews were. 

If you’re traveling with friends, know they will have different non-negotiables, too. You do you! And if you’re 100% new to hostels, check out Ruthie’s advice for staying in a hostel for the first time. She’s stayed in over 50, so she really knows her stuff!

Consider your preferences for comfort, cleanliness, sleep, convenience, and more before booking your hostel.

My elders have told me hostel horror stories from back in the day. Luckily, hostels have come a long way in the last decade. 

You can now expect a baseline from any hostel. It is normal to have a private locker to store your valuables in your room. It is also normal to have an outlet by your bed to charge your phone. 

However, there are questions to ask yourself when choosing between convenience, a good night’s sleep, and other factors. Here are some of the questions I like to consider before I book a hostel. 

Sleep, Comfort, & Cleanliness:

• Are the bunk beds old or new? Creaky, metal, or wood? 
• Does the bunk bed include a privacy curtain for changing and blocking light, a shelf with a charging station, and a personal light switch?
• Do you want a co-ed/mixed room or a gender-specific room? Think of hostel safety, comfort, cleanliness, and the ability to change clothes out in the open.
• Do you want a room where the shower and bathroom are inside the room or shared on the outside? Is the shower water-timed?
• How many people is the perfect number for your room? Think about the cleanliness of communal areas and sounds at night. (I prefer 4/room or private for myself)
• Can you afford a private room?
• If the hostel is in a fun and noisy nightlife area, are the walls insulated? Check to see if the hostel is renovated and new, or, if it maintains an old-world charm to get an idea of whether or not you’ll have a peaceful sleep. 
• Is the bathroom so small you can barely turn your body around? How claustrophobic are you? 
• You arrive early. Does the hostel offer changing rooms or showers while waiting for your check-in time?
• How clean is the hostel? Is there black mold in the shower? Is there a daily housekeeper?

Convenience & Amenities

• Is it important to you that the hostel has daily on-site events and activities?
• Do you need the hostel to be in the most convenient part of the city? Do you want to feel the city’s soul? Are you okay with commuting for a better hostel?
• Does the hostel have an on-site coffee shop or a bar with generous hours?
• Does the hostel charge extra for towels, storing luggage, showering, and breakfast?
• Does it have hair dryers, especially for rainy days?
• Does it offer laundry service? Bikes?
• When planning which days to stay in the hostel, consider if the city closes down on Sundays and Mondays. Is it better to book it for weekends?

Hostel Vibe & Policies

• What is the cancellation policy? Is there a flexible rate to leave prematurely? 
• What is the age range of the typical travelers? Is there an age limit? Do families stay here?
• What hostel size is perfect for you? Hostels with only 20 rooms? A hostel with hundreds of rooms? The size affects the vibe. Does it feel social or siloed?
• Is the hostel open to non-hostel guests? Is the communal area a coworking space rented out to locals or meant for hostelers to get to know each other? 
• Does the hostel go above and beyond and provide a welcome tote bag or other check-in goodies?

Yes, these are a lot of questions. But they’re ones I wish I considered more when booking a hostel that would best suit me. 

Overall, the different styles of hostels make a huge difference in how you sleep and who you meet since you’re sharing close quarters. Figure out your preferences and carefully read through the customer reviews and you’ll be well on your way to booking the perfect spot.

Oh, and one final tip – remember to book early so you can request a bottom bunk because climbing to the top at our age is a bit tricky!

Youth hostels are different for women, so always take the necessary precautions.

There are some hard truths to face, especially while traveling solo as a female. You don’t want to be afraid, but at the same time, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Be alert in co-ed rooms at party-centric hostels and keep a hand on top of your drink. 

If you like to go out at night, take hostel friends with you. And if you can’t find any fellow hostelers to go out with, and you don’t feel safe going alone, don’t feel like you have to go at all. I saw many women going to bed early and waking up early to explore.

Sure, you’ll save money, but you can also have enriching (and even life-changing) experiences by staying at a hostel.

You sure miss out on the magic of hostels by staying at Airbnbs and hotels. Hear me out.

By choosing the hostel route, you’re almost guaranteed to bump into kindred souls with similar dreams and aspirations, which hostels tend to attract. My favorite quote describes it best: “Sometimes the people whom we’ve known for only a short amount of time have a bigger impact on us than those we’ve known forever.”

When you ditch the comforts of hotels, you’ll discover many hostels offer the cheapest food around with just as good quality! You also might experience some of the best local music offered right inside the hostel that you might never have found otherwise. 

Sure, hostels are advertised as being for budget backpackers, but you can enjoy them too. This way you can spend more money on other activities. 

I once stayed inside a renovated Buddhist monastery on a hill overlooking Florence with a long communal dinner table. During sunset, we shared pasta and wine and went on a full moon hike after dinner.

I ended up forgetting my purse I hid under my bed until I was already in another city. They kept my stuff safe for me until I could come back and I ended up meeting a future business collaborator out of it. 

Many hostels offer great views and have a diverse mix of travelers, meaning you can learn about other cultures while taking in beautiful vistas.

Many times, hostels are uniquely situated in the heart of a city with the most incredible views. 

Skip the ones with a view of the parking lot or dumpster and opt for the ones that offer waterfront views or overlook the city’s architecture. Watch the magic as the scenes switch from day to night when everything is lit up! 

Your rooftop or window isn’t the only view you’ll gain. Staying at hostels in your thirties means you’ll also come out with a new perspective on life. Meeting so many travelers with diverse cultures under one roof is a sure way to transform your viewpoint.

Pack these essentials for staying in a hostel in your 30s.

As a luxury traveler turned hosteler, here are some of the travel essentials I find most useful to include on my trips to make staying in a hostel as comfortable as possible:

Sleep & Health

• Pre-packed pouch of nighttime essentials that are easily accessible when the lights are out and it’s hard to see your stuff
  • Include earbuds, phone charger, eyemask, face cream, key card, etc.
• A pillowcase to avoid facial dermatitis (if you have sensitive skin)
• Thin microfiber shower towel  
• Vitamin C and other vitamins to prevent getting sick from bunkmates
• Electrolyte powder 
• Emergency medications and Tylenol

Clothes & Bathroom

• Hangable shower caddy/toiletries bag and behind-the-door hangers
• Shower button for constant water supply (for hostel showers that auto shut off every 10 seconds)
• Multi-use hook to hang your towel on your bunk so it doesn’t touch anything else in the room
• Shower sandals to avoid foot fungus
• A universal soap to use for face, body, and handwashing laundry 
• Odor and wrinkle clothes refresher spray
• Skip fabric toiletry bags and opt for clear plastic bags or pouches, which are easier to disinfect after a trip. 
• Trash bag for wet or dirty clothes

Electronics & Security

• Little ID card holder for a metro card to prevent it from being too close to your phone/credit cards, or it won’t work
• Anti-theft purse or anti-theft day bag (especially for crowded areas)
• Neck phone holder for anti-theft and quick access
• Universal lock for lockers – make sure they are wide enough to get inside the locker hole
• Power bank charger for day trips
• eSIM card for better data 
• Selfie-stick with remote (for solo travelers)
• Roller duffel (2-in-1 roller suitcase carry-on + backpack straps combo)

Invest in the right bag for hostel life.

A suitcase is your biggest mistake at hostels – trust me, even a small one can be a pain. I tried and it was the most annoying and inconvenient packing mistake. 

Some hostels don’t have elevators, so you’ll have to carry all your stuff up and down flights of stairs multiple times. It seems like you need to be physically well to travel to some hostels! Millennials, you don’t want to pull your back out or injure your wrist with your luggage. 

It’s no secret most hostelers travel light with a backpack. Travel Lemming has a great round-up of the world’s best backpacks for Europe travel. 

However, I knew I wasn’t ready to get one of these… yet. If you aren’t used to carrying weight on your back or hips, this is a tricky adjustment, and I’m a roller bag girly at heart! 

Personally, the Osprey Daylite Carry-On 40LWheeled Travel Duffel Bag is a unique 2-in-1 roller suitcase that’s a carry-on size with backpack straps! This bag was the best investment for a luxury traveler turned hostel backpacker like me. 

It works perfectly for narrow train aisles and places with minimal luggage storage. And the straps are a lifesaver on all those cobblestone streets and hard-to-roll-over surfaces. My most recent trip with this bag was 2 weeks, and I used everything I packed without needing to do laundry. 

If you don’t have backpacker muscles just yet, this bag will ease you into your journey from hostel novice to hostel pro. 

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I hope you now feel more comfortable traveling to the range of youth hostels in your 30s. I promise you that staying in hostels will surprise and delight you. And it just might transform your life and renew your spirit.

If you’re ready to give hostels another try, make sure you read Laura’s article about 10 unspoken rules at hostels so you’ll know how to be an awesome guest (and won’t become part of someone else’s hostel horror story).

Happy hosteling!