HostelBeds Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Hostel, youth hostel, backpackers hostel: What's the difference?

    They are, generally speaking, more or less the same thing. What they all have in common is that they provide accommodation that is designed for the backpacker, or budget traveller. It's not always luxurious, but it's often interesting, and nearly always a lot of fun.

  • Is it all dormitory rooms, then?

    By no means. From a giant 20 bed mixed dormitory to a snug single, hostels come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their rooms.

  • So I can book a private room?

    Of course. But remember: although the prices that come up for Private rooms are per bed (or per person), in order to book the whole room you must book all the beds in that room.

    These are all different types of private room available:

    • Single - Comprised of 1 bed for 1 person
    • Double - Comprised of 1 large bed for 2 people
    • Twin - Comprised of 2 single beds for 2 people
    • Ensuite - A room with a private bathroom

  • Does a Private room have its own bathroom?

    Sometimes. As a general rule, though, the bathroom facilities are shared unless it actually says otherwise. A room with its own private bathroom attached, so to speak, will have (ensuite) written next to it e.g. 'Private Double' (ensuite). This will usually be comprised of a toilet, a wash-basin and a shower (or very occasionally, a bath...) Customers would do well to remember that a private room does not necessarily come with its own private bathroom.

  • Do all hostels have kitchens?

    Some do, some don't; it really depends. It's fair to say, though, that most backpackers hostels do have some kitchen facilities available to guests. In any case, a list of the facilities and features that a particular hostel may or may not have is displayed on the microsite of the hostel in question.

  • How do I book?

    Right. First of all you've got to make up your mind where you'd like to go - the destination (country/city), in other words. (It sounds simple, but there's quite some range of places to choose from!) Then, once you've done that, you have to choose a hostel. Scroll down the page and pick whichever one you like the look of (for help with this, see the question regarding 'ratings'). Then, once you've clicked on a particular hostel, you can enter the number of people for whom you're booking, and the type(s) of room you'd like for them. Make sure you take extra care to double-check that the dates and the number of nights are right before clicking on the 'Book Rooms' button. At which point you've reached the final stage - the (secure) 'Checkout' page where you enter your credit card details, finalise the booking and make the payment.

  • What are the 'ratings' all about?

    The ratings are a crucial aspect of what we at HostelBeds, in our quest to provide a first-class service for our customers, are trying to do. The ratings constitute the thoughts of the guests on their stay at the hostel in the following areas:

    • Atmosphere
    • Staff
    • Cleanliness
    • Facilities
    • Security
    • Fun
    • Value

    When more than six backpackers who have stayed at the hostel have 'rated' it, or marked it on all of the above categories, then the results are displayed on the website as a percentage. And, of course, the higher the hostel scores, the better the job it is doing in keeping its guests happy, and the easier it is for backpackers to choose the best hostel for them.