Hostel vs. Hotels (and Everything In Between)

When I was younger, the movie Hostel was my first impression of what hostel life was like. If you don’t know the movie, it’s basically a bunch of backpackers who get kidnapped and killed for their kidneys. So when I first started traveling, my best friend was like: “DO NOT STAY IN A HOSTEL. You will die.”

Well, 15+ years later, I’m still here. To say the least, the movie wasn’t very accurate.

After traveling as much as I have, I’ve slept in almost every kind of accommodation: hostels, hotels, tents, 5-star resorts, sailboats, bungalows… (The overwater bungalows in Aruba are still high on my bucket list!). For me, accommodation is usually just a place to sleep, but it makes a huge difference in shaping your experience. The type of place you stay matters: budget, location, atmosphere, and whether you want to meet people or just be left alone. Where you stay can completely change how you reflect on a destination.

Hotels, hostels, and everything in between — I’ve tried them all.

Hotels

Hotels give you your own personal space. If the room is messy, that’s on you. You don’t have to worry about strangers walking in at all hours, and they’re usually quiet.

On the positive side, I’ve had some magical hotel stays. One of my favorites was the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. It was everything I imagined and more — little Disney “Easter eggs” hidden throughout the resort, a pianist in the lobby playing classic Disney songs, and even a birthday card waiting for me since I was there on my birthday. I brought my own food to save money but treated myself to dinner. After walking 30,000 steps at the park, nothing felt better than collapsing into that hotel bed.

But not all hotel experiences are that dreamy. Near Kings Island in Ohio, I stayed at a chain hotel where there was hair everywhere, garbage still in the trash can, and a dirty floor. Safe to say, I’ll never stay there again. And in Costa Rica, I thought I’d found a peaceful little guesthouse. I left my door open while eating outside, only to have a bird — a famous one that birdwatchers actually look for, small and black with a red head — fly right into my room. It took me a while to chase it back out. Not exactly the quiet evening I was expecting!

That’s the thing about hotels: they can be luxury escapes or nightmare surprises.

Hotels can be magical escapes… or total nightmares.

Hostels

Hostels are a whole other world, and there are so many different types. I enjoy the occasional party hostel, though I always expect loud nights. Hostels are designed for travelers: they’re the best places to meet new people, find future travel buddies, or get local recommendations. Staff usually know the cheapest transport options, the best food stalls, and which tours are worth the money.

But let’s be real — hostels come with quirks.

• There’s always one person who snores.

• People walk in at all hours of the night.

• Someone sets five alarms in the morning and still doesn’t wake up.

And kitchens? Absolute chaos. Everyone wants to cook food at the same time, and there are always a few who never clean up after themselves.

Still, I have some of my favorite memories from hostel life. In Australia, I lived in a working hostel that helped me find jobs on the banana farms in Tully — and it’s also where I learned to bartend. In New Zealand, I worked as a bar promoter for free accommodation. My “job” was to get people to come party with me. Dancing on the bar and shouting, “What time is it? Jäger time!” is something I’ll never forget.

In Cartagena, Colombia, I even learned how to salsa dance at a hostel. That’s the beauty of them — they’re unpredictable, messy, and full of surprises.

Fairytale buildings, bunk beds, and infinity pools — hostel life has no rulebook.

5-Star Resorts

Resorts are a completely different type of travel. My favorite part? Endless food and drinks. You can lounge all day, book excursions, or enjoy the built-in entertainment. Everything is at your fingertips.

I’ve stayed at resorts in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. In Jamaica, I climbed Dunn’s River Falls — something I was really proud of — rode horses, and enjoyed the nightly dance shows. In the Dominican Republic, it didn’t go as smoothly. Food poisoning hit hard, and most of the excursions I’d planned had to be canceled. I still managed to go diving and even swam in a glowing blue lagoon at night, but let’s just say diving while sick is a story for another blog.

The biggest downside of resorts is that you often don’t see how locals really live. Resorts create a shiny façade of a country, and while it’s relaxing, it can feel like you never actually left the bubble.

Sometimes the journey gives you luxury, sometimes simplicity — both are worth savoring.

Mixing It Up

In Central America, I often switched between hostels and hotels. Sometimes I wanted quiet, so I’d book a hotel — then complain that it was too quiet. Other times I stayed in hostels, only to wish for some peace. Honestly, it depends on what you need in the moment.

When I’m traveling solo, I prefer hostels because I’m good at meeting people and picking up insider tips from others who’ve already been in the area. When I’m with friends or family, hotels usually win because privacy becomes more important. My mom, for example, snores like a freight train — and with her bad knees, climbing hostel bunk ladders is definitely out of the question.

Travel mixes it all together — the ordinary and the unexpected — and makes it unforgettable.

The “In-Between” Stays

Not every trip has been a hotel, hostel, or resort. Over the years, I’ve also camped, sailed, and stayed in bungalows — each with its own unique experience.

Camping: I’ve done plenty of camping, from beaches in Hong Kong and Vietnam to the Great Wall of China itself. That sounds epic (and it was), but as I’ve gotten older, sleeping on the hard ground isn’t quite as fun as it used to be. In Hong Kong, I finally caved and bought a small blow-up air mattress — worth every penny.

Sailboats: I’ve sailed from Panama to Colombia and around the Whitsunday Islands in Australia. Life on the water is an adventure, but space is tiny. You learn quickly how to live simply, share close quarters, and appreciate those moments when you’re anchored somewhere beautiful. Falling asleep to the rocking waves is magical, but let’s just say the bathroom situation isn’t exactly five-star.

Bungalows: One of my favorite “treat stays” was in Laos, in the little town of Vang Vieng. My friend and I stayed at the Riverside Garden Bungalows, and it felt like a slice of paradise — simple, quiet, and right by the river.

Other Options: In Colombia, some hostels even offered hammocks instead of beds. I passed on that idea (I value my back too much!), but plenty of travelers loved it. That’s the fun of travel — sometimes your bed for the night is completely unexpected.

Sometimes your bed is a hammock, a bus seat, or even the Great Wall of China.

Wrapping It Up

At the end of the day, there’s no right answer. Where you stay depends on your budget, who you’re with, and what kind of experience you want. For me, the perfect trip often includes a little of everything: hostels for the community, hotels for the privacy, and the occasional resort when I want to spoil myself.

Because no matter where I lay my head at night — the real adventure is always waiting outside those doors.

Travel isn’t about the type of stay, but the memories you carry home.