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Youth hostels have gone in and out of popularity for as long as they’ve been around, but no matter what their current status, they’ve proven themselves to truly have staying power. As a low-cost alternative to hotels, guesthouses, and bed & breakfasts, hostels usually offer several types of accommodations.

Travelers on shoestring budgets will make their dollars stretch by staying in dormitory-style rooms, which usually have anywhere between 6-20 bunk beds and a shared bathroom. Many hostels also offer smaller group rooms, to be shared between 3 and 6 friends. In addition, some hostels now offer rooms with two single beds, a single bed, or even a double bed for couples. Shared bathrooms are the norm with private ensuite bathrooms available in some hostels for an additional cost.

Yet hostels are not just a cheap accommodation option; they are an excellent opportunity to meet fellow travelers. Whether you stay in a dormitory-style room or one of the more expensive private rooms, you’ll have access to all common areas. This often includes a kitchen where hostelers congregate to cook, an Internet café where travelers stay connected with home, and several living rooms where guests talk, watch movies, read, and look for travel buddies.

Hosteling is a lifestyle and if you enjoy intelligent people with amazing life stories, try booking a hostel room at your next destination.

Recommended Hostel Sites:

• Hostelling International
• HostelWorld

: Hostels & Youth Hostels Worldwide

• Hostels.com: Every Hostel Everywhere