Most people when they travel opt for a hotel because its the most obvious option, but some of us more rugged, cheap, or seasoned travelers trade complete solitude to save money and hopefully make some new friends. My first hostel experience was a few years ago, and I’ll admit, I was nervous. Before then, I had always stayed in hotels, or more frequently, airbnbs, but when neither of those seemed to fit in my budget, I took a chance on a hostel. It was just one night, but I was going to be in a bunkbed, surrounded by women I didn’t know and might not speak my language. And where do I store my stuff? Luckily, it wasn’t scary as I had chocked it up to be, it was completely fine! Then there are my more recent hostel experiences, and I can tell you, I would not have wanted to stay anywhere else! I’ve made so many friends over the years staying in hostels (shout out to my girls in Brazil, Australia and Budapest, miss you ladies!). Even if you don’t make good friends, hostels can still be a lot of fun, especially the party hostels. Yes, I know that sounds extremely intimidating to some, but what a party hostel really means is they probably have a bar, maybe a restaurant, and optional group activities. If going out on the town and taking shots isn’t your style, no worries, you don’t have to participate in any of that! Of course, there are regular calm hostels too, but if you’re like me, once you stay at a party hostel, your’e hooked!
Ok, so there’s obviously a lot of reasons to stay in hostels, but which ones should you stay at? Many hostels are chains and have locations all over Europe, if not all over the world! I have some tried and true hostel chains that I would 100% return to, so lets get into them! P.S. All of these hostels offer female only dorms, if that’s something that is a non negotiable for you.
Generator
Back in autumn 2024, I stayed in the Generator London, and it was my first ever party hostel. I had high hopes, and a fair bit of nerves, but when I walked in, the place was awesome! They had a lounge area with food and drinks, game tables, and tv’s always showing the latest sports games (probably football). The rooms were pretty nice too. I opted for an all female dorm that had six to seven bunk beds, so it was tight, and there were a lot of girls, but it was still really nice. It was in this packed dorm room that I met one of my best friends, who I stuck with for the rest of my time in London. The one drawback to this hostel was the communal bathrooms, much like you would see in a college dorm building, but it worked out ok. Generator is an international brand that has hostels all over Europe, and a few locations in the US. Generator is a lot of fun, with weekly events like pub crawls, game nights, movie nights, and so many other ways to connect with other travelers. I know anyone who loves to meet new people will love staying at Generator hostels!
St. Christophers
St. Christophers of Amsterdam, what great memories I have here! I made two international friends here as well and couldn’t imagine my Amsterdam experience without them! At face value, St. Christophers is a live music bar, but all of the upper floors are dorms. For anyone who watched “How I Met Your Mother” and dreamed about living upstairs from a bar, this is your chance! I stayed in a 4 bed room that shared a bathroom with another 4 bed room, but their accommodations range from 4 beds to 8 beds. Beyond dorms, St. Christophers also holds events like walking tours and cocktail masterclasses. Plus, if you book at one of these properties, you get a free welcome drink, score! There are quite a few St. Christophers spread over Europe, mostly in the big cities.
Wombats
Wombat’s city hostels are in a few locations in Europe, I stayed in the Vienna, Austria location. The amenities are everything you would hope for, lockers, kitchen, laundry facilities, etc. The lobby had a little coffee bar and loads of seating. The rooms were on the smaller side, but that’s ok because it means less beds. There are a total of four Wombat locations: London, Budapest, Munich and Vienna. Each of these locations have their own events like Munich hosting beer pong nights and London offering yoga, and all locations except Budapest (they may only offer it at certain times) offer free city walking tours. This is another hostel that offers private rooms or dorms from 4 to 8 beds.
Safestay
Safestay is another hostel chain that is all over Europe. They really live up to their name, they take safety seriously. The Prague location has a buzz in system to get inside and someone is always at the front desk keeping an eye on who’s coming and going. I would assume this to be a standard practice at all locations though. This hostel has all the essentials, nice rooms with ensuite bathrooms, a laundry room, lounging areas, and luggage storage. They offer private rooms or shared rooms of 4 to 8 beds. These properties seem to have a more quiet atmosphere unlike many that have party atmospheres, so Safestays are great for anyone who isn’t all about the party life.
Meininger
Meiningers are all over Europe and expanding to more cities, and some outside Europe! Their Krakow, Poland location may be the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed at. It was a huge complex of buildings and had fantastic amenities. There’s a kitchen that serves breakfast, a regular kitchen for those who want to cook for themselves (pictured below), a comfortable lounge area, a bar, game room, a 24 hour service desk, and bike rentals! Meininger is even pet friendly, in case you’re traveling with your fur child. Their properties offer both shared and private dorm options, with shared housing anywhere from 4 to 12 beds.
LaTroupe
LaTroupe has a few locations scattered around Western Europe. I stumbled on this hostel last minute when my airbnb fell through, and I’m really glad I did! This hostel was seriously beautiful and had great amenities for any traveler. When you come in, you’re greeted by the bar that has self serve infused water and a large dining area where they serve meals. The rooms had a couple bunk beds with privacy curtains and a shower room and toilet room, and an easily accessible sink. Another draw to these hostels are the events. There are events every week that go from movie night and live music to karaoke, comedy shows and beer pong. This is another hostel that has private and shared dorms, but the largest shared rooms fit only 6 people, which I think is a plus.
Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned hostel stayer, I’m sure you’ll have a great stay at any of these hostel chains. Meet some new people, stay in the middle of a new city, and save money all at the same time. I know hostels can be intimidating if you’ve never stayed in one before, but I promise you, if you take the leap, you won’t regret it!
Happy travels!
Pursuit of Happy Travel 
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