What a hostel private room is
Many hostels offer a small number of rooms that are booked by the room rather than by the bed. These are usually called private rooms, and they can be singles, doubles, twins, or small family rooms with room for three or four. The door locks, and nobody else is assigned to your space. At the same time you are still staying in a hostel, with its shared areas and its mix of guests.
It is a middle option: more privacy and rest than a dorm bed, and usually a lower price than a hotel room in the same area, although that is a tendency, not a guarantee. In some popular cities, private hostel rooms cost close to a budget hotel, so it is worth comparing.
What you typically get
- A door of your own. You can lock the room, leave your belongings inside and sleep without other guests moving around you.
- Your own sleep schedule. Early alarms, late arrivals and midnight packing by others do not happen in your room.
- Access to hostel life. You can use the kitchen, lounge, tours board and any events when you feel like it, and retreat when you do not.
- Basic furniture. A bed or beds, often a small table or shelf, and sometimes a wardrobe or hooks.
What you may not get
This is where the differences from a hotel room show most.
- A private bathroom. Many private rooms in hostels share a bathroom down the hall, and some have an en-suite bathroom. The listing should say which. If a private bathroom matters to you, confirm it before you pay.
- Soundproofing. Hostel walls can be thin, and common areas may be busy and noisy into the evening. Private does not always mean quiet.
- Daily housekeeping. Cleaning is often less frequent than in a hotel, and in some places you get fresh towels only on request or for a fee.
- Hotel-style services. Many hostels do not offer room service, a full-time concierge or in-room extras such as a kettle, a safe or a television. Some do offer a few of these, so check.
- Overnight staffing. Some hostels have a staffed desk around the clock, and others do not.
If you want a sense of what hotel rooms typically include, the topic of in-room amenities is a good place to compare against.
Private room versus dorm bed
| Dorm bed | Private room | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lowest per person | Higher, but may be shared between two or more |
| Privacy | Low | Higher |
| Sleep | Depends on roommates | Under your control |
| Valuables | Locker | Lockable room, plus locker in some cases |
| Social contact | Built in | Optional |
For couples or two friends, the comparison can surprise you. Two dorm beds can add up to nearly the cost of a private double, so check the total before deciding. For one person, the private room is usually a bigger step up in price.
Private room versus hotel room
The trade-off is usually this: a hotel room gives you more control and more services, and a hostel private room gives you a lower price and a community. Look at the following when you compare:
- Bathroom. Private and en-suite, or shared.
- Noise. Check reviews for comments about noise from common areas, the bar or neighboring rooms.
- Check-in and check-out. Hostel desks may keep fixed hours, so check the check-in times and what happens if you arrive late.
- Extras. Linen, towels, breakfast and Wi-Fi may be included or sold separately. Add them up to get the total stay price.
- Cancellation. Hostel rooms can have stricter cancellation policies than you expect, so read them before paying.
Who private rooms suit
A private hostel room is often a sensible choice for:
- Travelers who like the hostel atmosphere but want a good night’s sleep.
- Couples and small groups on a budget.
- Solo travelers who want a base to retreat to between meeting people.
- People who need privacy for work, calls or medication.
- Families with a child who needs a regular bedtime, provided the hostel accepts children. Age rules vary, so ask.
It is a poorer fit for anyone who needs a fully private bathroom, strong soundproofing, regular housekeeping or accessible features that the building cannot provide. Older hostels sometimes occupy buildings with stairs and no elevator, which matters if anyone in your group has mobility needs.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is the bathroom private or shared, and how far away is it?
- Is there a window, and what does it face? Rooms above a bar or street can be loud.
- Are linen and towels included?
- Is there a lock on the room door, and do I get my own key or code?
- What are the quiet hours, and are they enforced?
- What are the cancellation terms?
A note on reading reviews
Hostel reviews often mix comments from dorm guests and private room guests. Look for those written by people who stayed in a private room, and pay attention to repeated comments about cleanliness, noise and staff. One strong opinion does not tell you much. A pattern does.
Details of hostel rooms differ from one property to the next, so confirm what is included with the hostel before you book.