Hostels - doss houses or trendy budget accommodation?

Filed in archive Budget travel on May 5, 2008

© bradleyolin

I had to laugh when I read that HostelWorld.com has written to several leading dictionaries to demand a change in the definition of hostel. Hostel has too many connotations of being for the homeless, youths and students. I'm never quite sure of the difference between a hostel and a guest house or budget hotel e.g. some hostels offer ensuite twin or single rooms, while some hotels have shared bathrooms. I suppose only hostels have dorms?

I'm not sure what definition HostelWorld are proposing it appears to be something along the lines of cheap, cheerful and maybe even chic accommodation for budget travel.

I recently stayed at the Generator hostel in Berlin as it was the only reasonably priced accommodation I could find when attending the Travel Bloggers Summit at the Berlin Trade Fair. I booked a twin roon as I thought my husband might come along and I didn't want to sleep in a dorm. The accommodation was pretty basic but I knew I'd be out all the time.

In the UK I think that hostels are the best budget accommodation for single travellers willing to sleep in a dorm but if there are 2-3 travellers and you want a bit more comfort, privacy and an ensuite bathroom an advance rate room at budget hotel chain can be a better deal.

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Tags: define+hostel hostel travel destination more budget+accommodation hostels+doss houses+trendy

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Rating: 8.00 out of 2 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Josh (05/05/08 11:08pm)

Our definition of hostel:
A property that has "budget-oriented dormitory accommodation that accepts individual travelers (typically backpackers) for short-term stays, and that provides common areas and communal facilities."

Guesthouses sometimes have dorm beds in which case they fall under the definition of "hostel", or possibly a combination of guesthouse and hostel.

Response from: Karen (05/06/08 7:50am)

Josh, thanks for your definition. I think it becomes harder to distinguish when hostels go more upmarket and have private rooms, some of which are even have private bathroom.

Response from: Karen (05/06/08 7:02pm)

HostelManagament twittered this link to me:
http://www.hostelmanagement.com/forum/f15/definition-hostel-284.html

Where they define a hostel as
"A hostel must provide budget-price accommodation, including 1-night stays, must welcome individual travellers and must not charge them more than a member of a couple or group. A hostel must have a common room where guests can sit and chat, or eat communally."

Do you agree with this definiation?