Welcome to my new followers, it’s so nice to have you reading! This week’s post is all about Backpacker Myths that I commonly hear. Most of these comment I’ve heard from conversations explaining to people why they should solo travel. Some of these myths do not extend to all people, but I think it’s important to know that all people regardless of their gender/sexuality and ethnicity should travel. There are so many lessons from solo travel/ backing – So why not try it out!
1. It’s Unsafe
I think I’ve heard this one the most. The truth is, backpacking is very safe in fact I felt safer at times in foreign countries than I did at home. You’re more aware of your surroundings and most people you find are actually good humans.
2. I Could Never Do it
I absolutely hate the word cant. Although… I do tend to use it haha don’t @ me okay we all have our days. You can defiantly do it. Just change that mindset and you will see that somewhere in the world theres beauty waiting for you to discover.
3. All Hostels are Dirty
Uhhhhhh. I admit I was a sayer of this, until I swallowed all my thoughts and booked my first hostel in Bangkok, Thailand and it started the journey of Somewhere in the world. I also started a ‘Hostel Series‘ to debunk this myth. The truth is most hostels are amazing and resemble in many ways hotel for a fraction of the price. Such as my experience in a hostel in Zadar, Croatia.
4. I Can’t Afford It
This is a big myth, backpacking is budget travelling and thats why I created this blog. To help others travel without burning their bank account. There’s many ways to save for an adventure and I constantly post tips on How To Save on my IG and on here.
5. That’s White People Stuff
I didn’t know there were things in this life that were strictly for white people or strictly for Black people. But, this is a myth and absolutely not the truth. I encourage Black women to Solo travel especially by Backpacking! And for those of you who live off this statement, Check out things Black women Travellers want you to know.
6. It’s only for Men
Not True. There are soo many women travellers. Check out the hashtag #femaletravellers #womenbackpacker #femalebackpackers to see where the party is at!. We are here and we are travelling !
7. You Can Only Do It When You’re Young
False. You can backpack at any age. I’ve met people who were 15 all the way to 65.
8. You Can’t Shower
Another solid False: Every hostel has a shower that you can use… The question is… Are you going to use it? Most of them are very clean so there isnt any worries other then you may not get the hottest of water which you end up getting over.
9. Everything at Home will Change and I’ll Be Left Behind
One of the biggest realizations I came upon when I returned from my first backpacking adventure in Asia is that no matter how long you’re away for, no matter how much you change and how many amazing things you experience along your joinery – you’ll return home and hardly anything will have changed. The only thing that would have changed would be yourself. You learn so much, you come back a whole different person.
It’s like the whole world is put on hold while you travel – people are still in the same jobs, relationships and stuff you left them in!
Don’t let the fear of being left behind stop your from backpacking, let the fear of not going anywhere force you to do it! ALWAYS remember to make memories that will last a lifetime.
10. It’s Hard to Plan
For a beginning, yes! this can be partially true but there are so many resources out there to help you have a successful trip. I also offer free travel help! if interested just leave a comment below and we can get in contact! I also wrote a post on how to start your adventure, as well as tips to find cheap flights. I got you covered for everything!
Thank you so much for reading! Have you read my most previous post? Check it out
As always with love and I’ll see you in my next post,
The month of October! What a year it has been! This month I am focusing on highlighting some of the hostels I’ve been in with my hostel series. How do you even Survive a Hostel? Well, I went into a lot of details for you all in that post. So, today we’re starting of talking about Downtown Boutique Hostel.
This place exceeded my expectations and really set the bar high for hostels. I hope to come across to this place again in the future. Good news is they are currently open during COVID times however, with a different set up in place.
This hostel is one of the best, I think you’ll ever stay in. The reception is so friendly and theres a map provided to direct you around town. They also offer day tours and there is a nice kitchenette perfect for backpackers and a chill vibe.
You also receive a discount to the restaurant beside the hostel. In addition, breakfast is offered at 8 Euros.
Rating on My Scale:
Security – 10
Atmosphere – 8
Cleanliness – 10
Facilities – 10
Staff – 10
Location- 10
Value for Money – 10
Overall Score: 9/10.
I unfortunately didn’t get a photo of the front lobby, but I did get photos of all the important things!
Right when you walk in you’ll notice the Hostel Sign which will have their WIFI Passcode and Name. Usually, you’ll find this everywhere in all the hostels.
Front Entrance Sign
Then, you’ll typically find the lounge right away where you can make friends/chill out in the evenings. This lounge also had a small kitchenette to make breakfast in the morning which was nice.
The Common Lounge
Some hostels give you keys, others, give you cards. For this particular hostel, the entrance to your room was the 204- fob and the Key was for your locker.
Locker Key and Room Fob
Now, we have what you’ve been wondering about… The bed SITUATION honestly, this has been the best room I ever stayed in. Although… when i think about it the Wombat Hostel in Venice was very nice as well.
6- Female Bedroom, with windows that looked towards the streets.My Bunk was the Bottom, I LOVED that this hostel had drapes for each bunk.MASSIVE LOCKERS! To store all your belongings
The Shared Washroom with the floor. (There was more on the other side)
This hostel was very accommodating, they had both an elevator and stairs for people on the top floors.
The Hallways
Me excited for sleep after a Morning of Travelling
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay here while in Zadar, Croatia. I will for sure be back in the future.
If you enjoy reading my Hostel Reviews, please let me know below in the comments to keep them coming!
Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you in my next post. With Love,
It’s not as bad as you think. I remember talking to my friend Alexis laughing at her because I couldn’t believe she was staying in a hostel. I felt so scared for her! and I had so many questions. So i decided to re-visit this conversation and share my knowledge with you all. I also decided this would bring me to starting my “Hostel Series” which I review hostels and share photos. I am telling you all, that you’d be surprised at some of the places I stayed.
I think every traveler should try staying at a hostel at least once in their lifetime. Even if you have a luxury-hotel budget, hostels are a cool and unique experience that can result in some amazing memories. I for one have made, memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve met loads of backers that were not on a tight budget, but actually chose to stay in hostels because they prefer it and honestly, you end up having more fun in my opinion. And you read that right, they prefer hostels to luxury hotels and apartments.
No- hostels are not glamorous. And yes, you may have to say goodbye to privacy. But hostels truly are of one of a kind experience and are absolutely worth a try. **That being said, many people have had awful experiences so just be sure to do your double checking.
There are a few things any first-timer should know before staying in a hostel. Here is a basic guide to staying in a hostel for the first time:
WHY STAY IN A HOSTEL?
The hostel experience is one that is completely different from any other type of accommodation. I will say again and again, hostels are the best way to meet people while traveling. This is ideal for solo travellers- as a hostel is a space where other solo travellers congregate, so you will meet like-minded people from all over the world. Hostels are definitely the most social form of accommodation. You are literally living with other travellers, sharing showers, essentially a university lifestyle on the go.
Anna and Nicky – Ayutthaya, Thailand
BENEFITS OF STAYING IN A HOSTEL:
It’s cheap. Obviously, hostels are much cheaper than hotels and most other forms of accommodation. This makes your travel reduce in overall fee, keep in mind sometimes you pay for what you get for. This makes hostels the perfect place for budget and/or long-term travellers. Depending on the location, a hostel bed will cost anywhere from $10-$80 a night, give or take.
Travel Longer. You can easily travel for longer periods of time when you stay in hostels. You know those people that just seem to be traveling constantly, and you wonder how the hell they can afford that lifestyle? Well, unless they are rolling in cash or are a travel influencer collaborating with hotels and tourism boards, they are most likely staying in a bunch of hostels (AKA MEEEEE). But, I just love hostels and its not only for singles you can bring families to there is many kinds of options in terms of ‘bed setting’.
You can wait until last minute to book. I remember being in Cinque Terre, and moving onto Venice I had no clue where to stay. I decided I would use Hostelworld, as a way to find a quick overnight place. If your super last minute (not me) you can book in the morning for the afternoon. The only problem is, sometimes if you’re going to a popular city the option for ‘girls only’ may be booked quick. That being said, there will always be room.
NOTE: hostels in major tourist cities do sometimes book up during peak season. Try to book at least a few days in advanced if you are visiting during this time.
Activities. Most hostels offer activities to bring the guests together and create a sense of community. Hostels may offer free walking tours of the city, day trips to nearby areas, pub crawls, etc. Usually, these activities are either free or super cheap, so it is a great way to see the area and make friends who are also staying in the same hostel.
Meeting People: It is way easier to make friends in a hostel than any other type of accommodation. This is my all time favourite part! You end up meeting people who become your family for the short time your there together (see below) the photo on me and two girls who adventured around Zadar, Croatia.
Luanna & Sheelagh I met in Zadar, they biked through Croatia and we met in different cities after first meeting in the hostel in Zadar.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HOSTEL:
Most major tourist destinations will have tons of hostels to choose from. That being said, it can be overwhelming to choose which hostel to stay at. Below you will find my top tips for choosing a hostel.
Read the reviews. This is the first thing I do when choosing a hostel. I will usually check out the reviews on Hostel World, Google Maps, and Booking. My biggest thing when it comes to a hostel is cleanliness, security, and location. One review I look for in particular is those from Black women/ Women of colour. If those factors got low ratings, I will avoid that hostel all together. Even, if I wasn’t Black I wouldn’t want to stay somewhere where people are treated based on their race/ethnicity.
Location, location, baby. Location is always one of the first things I look at when booking a hostel. I prefer to be as centrally located as possible, especially when I am traveling solo. Make sure you have a general sense of the area you’re staying in. It’s best for first timers to pick a place that is within walking distance or close to transportation.
What type of room do you want to stay in? Do you want a female only dorm? Bed curtains for privacy? Single beds? A private room? How many other people are you comfortable sharing your room with? Knowing what type of sleeping situation you want is a major part of choosing a hostel. I typically went with 6 Mixed-Bed or 6 all Female, depending on what my mood was at the time of booking.
What type of experience are you looking for? Do you want a social party or one that is quiet? Mad Monkey hostels are known for parties, that being said I stayed in one Hostel in Pai that was super small (10 beds) and it was the best partying experience I ever got.
My make-shift, privacy curtains I typically do for hostels without the curtain.
WHERE TO BOOK A HOSTEL
The hostel website: Third-party apps get a percentage, so I strongly recommend booking your hostel directly through the hostel’s website, if one exists. *Travel Tip* It is usually cheaper on the website of the hostel to book with.
Hostel World: Although I think it’s best to book directly through the hostel’s website, I always look at Hostel World first just to see an overview of my options. I also use this app to read reviews right away which has been very helpful for me. Hostel world is a great tool to use to compare reviews, location, and pricing among the hostels in the area. I typically used this form on my first backpacking journey.
Hostel Bookers: An alternative to Hostel World. Check out both websites to compare prices, and check out different hostel options.
Booking.com: Booking isn’t just for hotels – you can also find hostels here!
Airbnb: Yes, you can find hostels on Airbnb! Sometimes it may be someone’s apartment that they have converted into a small hostel. You can use my code to receive up to 75$ CAD off your first stay and $20 CAD to use towards an experience worth 75$ or more!
GETTING SLEEP IN A HOSTEL
Lol….
Well, you CAN get sleep. But, if you are a light sleeper I recommend booking a private room. OR investing in some really good head phones. Shop my Amazon store for all your back-packing needs.
Top Bunk vs Bottom
This really depends, I’ve done both. Typically, I like the bottom and when there is no curtains available I hang my towel/ the hostel towel up and create this barricade which allows me to have privacy to change/ read or journal at night.
If sleep is a priority for you, do not, I repeat, DO NOT book a party hostel. Party hostels are usually easy to point out, based on reviews, pictures (if there are a ton of pictures with giant groups of people, wearing pub crawl t-shirts, and shot gunning beers or doing shots, then yeah, odds are it is a party hostel.) A lot of party hostels will have written on their website, “If you a good night’s sleep is your priority, then this is not the hostel for you.” Etc. Here is a perfect example of a party hostel-it is pretty obvious.
Bring earplugs. These are a life saver for light sleepers.
It’s also a good idea to wear an eye mask if you are sensitive to light. Lights can commonly go off in some dorms so this keeps you sound asleep.
Friends I met in Hvar, Croatia (Pub Crawl)
MEETING PEOPLE IN A HOSTEL
Making friends is super easy in a hostel. However, you do have to put yourself out there a little bit. For all my shy/introverted readers, this may mean getting out of your shell a little. The common room in a hostel is the best place to meet fellow travelers. If there is a group of people talking, just go up to them and say “Hey what’s up, my name is _____.”. Eventually, you end up meeting friends that you can go and travel with.
Another great way to meet people in a hostel is to go on a pub crawl or event the hostel is hosting. This way you meet people who are staying in your dorm/ the hostel.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:
Shower shoes are a must. You will be sharing a bathroom with a bunch of strangers. Always have a shower shoe to avoid foot fungus and other things.
Search reviews: For my sisters, try to search for reviews from Black women/ women of colour. This will help you gauge the environment.
Laundry: Almost all hostels offer laundry services or you can find a nearby place that can do it for it and some places even deliver.
Some hostels require a small rental fee for towels. Research this on the hostel website before you arrive, just so you won’t have any surprises.
Many hostels will accept cash-only payment. Make sure to have cash on you when you arrive (most will accept payment at various times)
Peak seasons will always be more expensive. Try avoid visiting certain places during their peak seasons (Google search)
HAVE FUN
Hostels can be the most amazing experience! Just remember to try and have the most fun while staying there.
Thank you so much for reading, don’t forget to like/ leave a comment. It means so much to me and I’ll see you in my next post.
