The time I chose a hostel over a cheap hotel in Prague and it worked out better

Back in 2018 I was planning a trip to Prague and had to pick between a $25 a night hostel in the old town or a $40 hotel out near the train station. I went with the hostel because I figured I could save money for food and sights. Best decision I made on that trip. The hostel had a free walking tour every morning and I met a guy from Australia who showed me this hole in the wall spot for 50 cent dumplings. Plus the common room had a shared kitchen so I cooked pasta for dinner and saved even more. The cheap hotel I looked at online had bad reviews about thin walls and no lockers anyway. Has anyone else picked a hostel over a private room and found it actually made the trip better?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancythomas25d agoProlific Poster

I stayed at a hostel called The Madhouse in Budapest back in 2017 and it changed how I travel. It was like $12 a night compared to $35 for the cheapest hotel I could find. The place organized a pub crawl every night and I ended up going to this ruin bar with a group of strangers who became my friends for the whole weekend. I saved so much on breakfast because they had free toast and jam in the kitchen every morning. The hotel would have been a better deal on paper but I would have just sat in my room watching TV.

stellaa6925d ago

the thing nobody talks about with hostels is how they basically force you to actually see the city. hotels make it way too easy to just crash in your room after a long day of walking but hostels practically shove you out the door to go do stuff. plus that $23 you saved per night adds up quick when you're on a two week trip and could be spent on actual experiences instead of just a bed to sleep in.

the_derek25d ago

Used to be a hotel snob honestly, thought hostels were just for broke college kids. Then I did a trip to Lisbon last year and figured I'd try one since the hotels were crazy expensive. Ended up at this place near Time Out Market that had a rooftop terrace with a view of the whole city. Met a couple from Canada who showed me this hidden spot for grilled sardines that cost like 3 euros. Never would have found that eating alone in a hotel room. Changed my whole view on traveling cheap but getting more out of it.