Hostel Recommendations

I am going to start posting hostel recommendations from my experiences an from others who submit to me. Here is the list thus far that I can recall.

LOKI Hostels
Mancora, Peru
Lima, Peru
Cusco, Peru
La PAz Bolivia

Casa Roja
Santiago, Chile

Millhouse Hostel
Buenos Aires, Argentinga

Palermo Tango Backpackers
Buenos Aires, Argentinga

Mamallena's
Panama City, Panama

Jungle Party Hostel
Antigua, Guatemala

Kafka
Antigua, Guatemala

Tranquilo Backpackers
San Jose, Costa Rica

The Mayflower
Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Granted I have stayed at and heard of many more, but this is a good list to get you started if you are passing through areas in South or Central America.

TOP 10: Safety tips for your hostel stay

Here I have compiled ten tips to maintain safety within hostels:

1. Always carry a lock for your valuables and use the lockers
2. Don't bring anything you wouldn't mind being lost/stolen/damaged
3. Don't leave valuables out on display
4. Make relationships with the other individuals in your room
5. Carry vital possessions on your person
6. Keep one bank/ATM/credit card separate from the rest in case of theft/loss
7. If no lockers available, tuck valuables in your pillow at night
8. Trust your instincts. You have them for a reason
9. If you are female, opt for the females only dorm
10. Make sure others know of your whereabouts back home

TOP 5: Choosing a hostel

From the information gathered I have compiled a top five things backpackers go by when choosing a hostel.

TOP 5 THINGS BACKPACKERS GO BY:

1. Word-of-mouth recommendations from other backpackers
2. Location to nightlife
3. Location to sights
4. Knowledgeable Staff
5. Bar on the premises



Summary:

Backpackers are very communal and try and steer others to have positive experiences as well. This is why word of mouth tops the list.

Nightlife is important, but it must also be remembered that many parts of the world can be dangerous and this only heightens during the nighttime hours. Most sights are not visible at night so why not stay close to the areas that you want to be during the nighttime hours (plus taxis and transit have a trend of becoming more expensive as the night goes on).

A knowledgeable staff can be a vital part of the hostelling experience. Travel guides can be expensive and internet limited so having local experts around can help backpackers find areas that might have gone unnoticed by even the most in-depth of travel guides.

Finally it was found that many individuals liked to unwind at the end of the day with a drink and the hassles of going out in a foreign land were sometimes daunting.

The Original Survey

This is the survey that was issued for the gathering of the data that is to come.

Hostel Survey

General Information

Age: ___ Gender: __

Number of Months Spent Traveling (Circle One): 0-1 2-4 5-8 9-13 14+

Number of Months Spent in Hostels (Circle One): 0-1 2-4 5-8 9-13 14+

Hostel Preference (Choose One): Party Quiet No Preference

The following questions will be done based on a scale that will arrange information on a range from 1 for Strongly Disagree to 5 for Strongly Agree. Please answer circle one for each statement.

When traveling I am more likely to stay at a hostel than other accommodations.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When choosing a hostel I seek the cheapest regardless of location/amenities, etc.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When choosing a hostel I focus on safety.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When choosing a hostel I focus on proximity to sights.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When choosing a hostel I focus on Proximity to entertainment (nightlife, etc.).

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I only travel to areas that are considered “safe.”

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I regularly travel alone.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When traveling I often find myself low on cash.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I consider myself to be good with money.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I prefer a party-scene to regular sleep.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I have been the victim of hostel theft.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I prefer to have a bar within the confines of my hostel.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

It is important for a hostel to be knowledgeable about and provide information about the area.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I only book hostels that have websites.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

User reviews and word-of-mouth strongly influence my hostel choices.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I consider myself to be an academic traveler.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I will only stay in single rooms in which I have no roommate.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I will only stay in rooms that contain myself and friends that I am traveling with.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

When traveling I stay in dormitory style rooms with mixed company.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

I seek out hostels with lockers to store my valuables.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5

Additional Questions (Optional)

What are some of the things that you look for when choosing a hostel? (Please answer in the space below)

What advice do you follow to guarantee safety when staying at hostels? (Please answer in the space below)