Thursday, August 11, 2011

Hostel-horror film FACT or FICTION?


Is this real life?
So, before I left America to venture in Europe, this film, along with the 2008 Liam Neeson film Taken, was all I had running through my mind. Needless to say, I was petrified. Luckily folks, this is not real life. I stayed in 2 hostels total, and they both were pleasant experiences. 

Both were chosen at Hostelworld.com I cannot stress this site enough, because it is truly a credible source, with over 100 customer reviews per hostel! You should choose one with free wi-fi, and free breakfast, because let me tell you, thats the best way to start your day of exploring a European city! 
Free breakfast, yum! In London, I had oatmeal, eggs and toast, and of course, British breakfast tea. In Paris, I was served a fresh croissant and baguette with nutella and butter, yogurt, oj, and cafe. It was delicious.
In front of the White ferry Hostel in London


As far as the sleeping arrangement, most of the rooms are 12-bunk camp-like setups. But it is cool because pretty much all the people in our room are college age and excited travelers just like us. the sheets were clean, and comfy. Just be sure to bring a sleeping mask and earplugs/ipod for focused sleeping time because it will be a revolving door of lights turning on and roommates coming in and out.

Is it creepy at all? Well, you have to be the type of person that is comfortable in new environments, and somewhat friendly because you will have absolutely NO privacy. But still, there is that element of 'holy crap, I'm sharing a room with complete strangers.' which is, yes, uncomfortable. You need to be sure to keep all your belongings in a locker or put a lock on your backpack. Also, just talk friendly to your neighbors right from the start, so you aren't feeling awkward. 
Total Paris hostel I shared with my bf on our trip to Paris.

All in all, don't trust strangers, or give out your personal information and you will be just fine. Just do your research, pick a hostel location that is city central (or at least near a metro) and be comfortable with the journey. 

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad you got to experience a hostel! Did you ever think about CouchSurfing while you were over there?

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  2. Yes, i did. But a few friends of mine at the time had recently done couch surfing. And well, their experiences are not something I wanted for my own. One host involved a recovered alcoholic middle aged woman relapsing and having an emotional breakdown. Another involved a gay man who "figured" this was a fair trade off for something he was hoping for...haha. SCARY! So yeah, I passed on that crazy train. :)

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