Things You'll Need:
- Internet Connection
- Time
- Lonely Planet Thorntree Registation
- A Credit or Debit Card
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Step 1
Make a choice. Decide if hostelling is really what you want. Hostelling is not for everyone. If you are weird about staying with roommates you do not know, sleeping in bunk beds and sometimes using co-ed bathrooms, then I suggest you think budget hotel rather than hostel. Sometimes the saved money is not worth the other costs. Hostelling is either something you love or hate, make sure you are at least leaning towards the love side before taking the plunge. Also, what kind of hostel are you going for? Are you looking for more of a guest house feel, r are you looking for the more “mainstreamed” feel of a Hostelling International location.
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Step 2
Look Online. Go to websites like hostelworld.com or hostels.com to do your initial research. Put in the city or cities you are visiting to get a list of potential hostels. Make sure to take note of their price, room layout, location, amenities, and rules. Some hostels require that you have proof that you are traveling or be an international traveler to stay there. Some hostels have lockout (time when they lock the doors) and some have chores. Check the locations of the hostels. The location could be a deal breaker. If you want to be close to Union Square in San Francisco and the hostel is in the Mission District, that could be an issue.
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Step 3
Do more online searches. Use your search engine of choice to do some research. Take a look at their neighborhood the hostel is in. If it is in a sketchy neighborhood, the low price may not be worth the risk. Look for online reviews and listings from previous guests. Use your keywords to help you find the best and most recent information possible. Reviews from ten years ago may not be accurate reflections of the hostel as it is now. If the hostel has an official site, make sure you check it out.
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Step 4
Hit the social networking path. Go to sites like thorntree.lonelyplanet.com or TripAdvisor and use the forums. First search the forums for information on the hostels. Forum regulars grow tired of telling every budget traveler under the sun that the only Chicago Hostel they will recommend is the Hostelling International hostel on Congress. See if your question has already been asked. If it has not, then you can ask it. Be sure to be as specific as you can with your question. Vague questions can lead to being mocked, or worse getting bad information.
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Step 5
Call the Hostel. If all else fails, call the hostel directly. Sometimes you can’t find the answers you are looking for. In those cases, you may have to call the hostel directly. Most times the staff is willing to answer any question you have.
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Step 6
Book your bed. Many times you can book your bed through hostelworld.com or hostels.com. You may also find it may be cheaper to book through the hostel directly. If you book online, you will need to have a credit card. Some hostels use this like a hotel does, and you can pay the balance upon arrival. Others will charge the total amount. Make sure you know which route the hostel is going.
