Are Hostels Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Hostels are budget-friendly accommodations that offer both private and shared rooms for travelers. They’ve become extremely popular among younger travelers but have left some with the following question: are hostels safe for solo female travelers?
As a solo female traveler who once swore she’d never stay in a hostel but now can’t get enough, I’m hoping to calm any worries you have about hostels, answer important questions, and provide tips for first-time hostel goers.
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Unlike hotels, hostels provide dormitory-style accommodation where guests share a room with several other travelers. In addition to shared rooms, hostels also have private rooms, common spaces, a kitchen, shared bathrooms, and more.
Many hostels include other accommodations such as Wi-Fi, lockers, and group activities. Some of my favorite hostel activities have included salsa nights, yoga, and rooftop DJs. These events and the social set-up of a hostel have attracted numerous solo travelers, especially younger travelers on a budget. They’ve become a great way to meet other travelers when traveling solo.
However, there are many common misconceptions about hostels, many of which I once held! I once thought they were dirty, unsafe, and designed for extroverts. But I was quickly proven wrong.
Hostels continue to impress me to this day, and they are becoming more popular among female travelers.
So, are hostels safe for solo female travelers? Let’s discuss below!
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Are Hostels Safe for Solo Female Travelers? An Overview
I’ve learned that I feel more comfortable staying at a hostel than at a hotel or Airbnb as a solo female traveler. This is due to numerous factors. Let’s dive in.
Security Measures
When checking into a hotel room alone, the front desk knows you’re alone and won’t have anyone else in the room with you. In a hostel, there are always people around, which helps ease a lot of nerves when you’re traveling solo.
Contrary to popular belief, hostels have a lot of security measures in place to keep a safe environment, such as staff monitoring the common spaces, wristbands given to guests, and secure rooms that can only be accessed with your key card.
Worried about your stuff? Most hostels I’ve stayed in have lockers available for use as well as bins under your bed that you can throw any personal belongings into and lock up.
Ultimately, most travelers are there to experience a destination and not to steal your stuff, but it’s still good to take a lock along to feel a bit more secure.
Female-Only Dorms
One aspect that makes hostels safe for solo female travelers is the addition of female-only dorms. Most hostels I’ve stayed at or have looked into staying at have female-only dorms available to book.
There are many women who have stayed in a mixed dorm and have felt more than comfortable doing so. However, I personally feel a bit more comfortable only sharing a room with other women. I’ve hung out with both men and women in common spaces and have made some great friendships doing so, but when it comes time for sleeping and sharing a private space, I opt for the female-only dorms every time.
Knowing these accommodations are available has made me so much more comfortable sharing rooms with others and has led to some great friendships with the women I’ve shared a space with!
Staff Availability
Hostels always have people around, including staff. As a solo traveler, it’s so comforting to know that there are other people around should something go wrong. In case of emergencies or concerns, you can always reach out to the hostel staff for help, as they are there to help travelers feel as comfortable as possible.
Similar to hotels, the hostel staff are usually well-informed about the area and can provide recommendations on activities, places to avoid, places to eat, and more.
Additional Tips for Ensuring Your Safety in a Hostel
While the staff and their security measures play a pivotal role in making hostels safe for solo female travelers, there are also some additional measures that you can take on your end to increase your comfort and ensure that you set yourself up for success!
Always Check Ratings and Reviews
It is crucial that you check ratings and reviews. This is not just true of hostels but of anywhere you are staying. Whether you are booking a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb rental, you must read the reviews carefully to see what other travelers thought of the area it was based in, the room, the staff, etc.
Personally, I try to find reviews from other women, as I’m looking for someone with a similar perspective. Oftentimes, men might not feel uncomfortable in an environment that would make women uncomfortable. Therefore, it’s important that I find reviews that I would relate to and trust.
At times, a listing may look nice online, but the reviews show that it was not as advertised or was in a shady part of town where women might not feel comfortable walking around, especially at night.
Checking the ratings and reviews can help save you from staying somewhere that would dampen your experience. While I’m a budgeted traveler, I will never put my safety and comfort in jeopardy for the sake of saving a little money.
When you find a cheap hostel with raving reviews, that’s when you’ll know you’ve hit the jackpot!
Book Through a Reputable Site
It’s also important that you search for and book through reputable sites. While many hostels are safe for solo female travelers, it’s important to book through platforms that are known for their reliability, especially as this gives you a contact to reach out to in case of a refund, change of plans, etc.
I book all of my hostels through Hostel World! This is the most reputable site out there for finding and booking hostels.
Not only can you book hostels through their site and app, but you can also view traveler profiles, join your hostel’s group chat to connect with other travelers, and find events!
The first hostel I ever booked was through a Worldpackers experience, and it honestly turned me off from hostels SO badly. I feared they’d all be like the one I stayed at, which the long-term guests told me shouldn’t even be considered a true hostel.
Luckily, I gave hostels another chance and now am in love with them, but I strictly book through Hostel World. I’ve never had a bad experience since doing this, and the terrible hostel I stayed at isn’t even listed on Hostel World, so they’ve got their sh*t together.
Begin your search for hostels here!
How to Connect With Other Female Travelers at Your Hostel
We’ve covered the fact that hostels are safe for solo female travelers. Now let’s explore how you can connect with other women at your hostel!
Participate in Hostel Activities
Hostel activities are one of the best ways to meet other travelers. My favorite hostels are those that host social events throughout the week. For example, the hostel I stayed at in Sayulita had salsa nights, morning yoga, a rooftop party with a DJ and flash tattoo artist, and so much more.
Participating in these events is a great way to connect with other travelers staying at the hostel. You’ll have the commonality of staying at the same hostel, participating in the fun activity, and visiting the same location, which gives easy talking material.
These events are always super welcoming. In most cases, someone will either approach you to make a conversation or easily engage you in their conversation if you approach them. Hostels are known for creating a social atmosphere, and most travelers will happily contribute to this atmosphere.
Connect With Your Roommates
One way to connect with other travelers is to introduce yourself to the people in your room. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to at least greet the people I’ll be sharing a room with.
When I stayed in a female dorm in Switzerland, it was just second nature to greet the new girls checking into the same room as me. For me, it’d feel quite awkward if someone were to walk into the same room as me, organize their stuff on a bunk next to mine, and for me not to at least say hello.
I grew quite close with the girls in my room in Switzerland, even though we only shared a room for a few days. We got to know each other on a personal level and did fun activities together, like a toboggan run, card games, and dancing.
Don’t underestimate how close you can become to someone in that short amount of time!
Take Advantage of the Common Areas
Apart from activities and introducing yourself to the people staying in your room, a hostel’s common areas are a great place to meet travelers. These are set up for social interaction and are how I met a ton of people.
I’ve been invited to participate in card games, play darts, play pool, and so much more, either by people approaching me or me walking up to a group of people. It feels intimidating at first, but usually works out in your favor!
Why Hostels Are Popular Among Solo Travelers
Now that you know hostels are safe for solo travelers, let’s discuss a few other reasons they are so popular among solo travelers.
Affordability
A lot of people staying in hostels are there due to how affordable they are. On a cross-country road trip, I found a hostel in Memphis for $35 that I could crash at before continuing my drive. Why would I spend four times that amount just to be in a hotel when I could stay at a hostel with great reviews?
In Switzerland, I saved hundreds of dollars by staying at a hostel in Interlaken for 6 nights. The entire stay cost around $350-370, whereas a single night at a hotel would have easily cost over $500!
View the hostel I stayed in Switzerland here!
The cost of hostels is extremely appealing and affordable, which is why they’ve grown so popular, especially with younger travelers. And with all the amenities they offer, their prices are such a steal.
Social Aspect
As we’ve discussed, hostels have a huge social aspect to them. Even if someone may be able to afford a stay at a hotel, they may choose to stay at a hostel for the social aspect alone. I know I’ve grown to love them due to the friendships I’ve formed through my experiences and the fun events offered.
So, are hostels safe for solo female travelers? Yes! After this post, I hope I’ve been able to calm your nerves and promote the upsides of hostels for any skeptics out there, especially as I was once in your shoes. Check out Hostel World and start discovering all the amazing options out there!
