Competition and changes in legislation are forcing hostels to change. This statement applies to the Russian hostel doubly. Hostels in the Russian Federation are moving towards their European counterpart, which is comfortable, clean, convenient and safe. Modern hostels at a cost not exceeding a two-star hotel are ready to offer guests multi-bed dorms and hotel rooms and hotel infrastructure and space designed by expensive designers. This attracts solo travelers and groups of friends, business travelers, young couples and families with children. Today, with our expert, regional director of sales and marketing for the hybrid hotel Netizen Hotel | Hostel, Yulia Tselykovskaya, we will figure out in which case it is better to stay in a hostel, how not to be disappointed in expectations when booking a hostel, and what are the differences between a "right" hostel and hotels.
So a hostel or a hotel?
As already mentioned, in the new century there are no categories of travelers who would choose only a hotel or only a hostel. The question is in the habits of each individual guest and what are his goals for the upcoming trip. It is better to choose a hostel if you need a round-the-clock open kitchen and it is interesting to communicate with people who cannot be met in ordinary life. The hostel is a kaleidoscope of travelers of different social status, income level, age and area of interest - from space engineers or students who go on an indefinite voyage around the world to sailors exploring the seabed in the Balkans or writers who have just visited Africa on a humanitarian mission. You can meet everyone, talk, plan a joint excursion, share your impressions. If you need privacy and a mini-bar, additional service in the room, then welcome to the hotel. Please note that modern hostels also offer hotel (separate double and family) rooms with private facilities.
Location - what is its role
Of course, you should give preference to a hostel located as close to the "points of interest" as possible. Accordingly, if you come for negotiations, choose a hostel closer to the place where the meetings are scheduled. If you are going on a tourist trip, choose an accommodation facility in the center. At the same time, it is worth remembering that in cities the shortest path is not always the fastest. Choosing a hostel away from the center, but within walking distance from public transport stops, you will get to the places you need in the same time, and sometimes even faster than walking from a hostel with a central location. At the same time, you will gain in price or comfort level.
Pay attention to the photos
A good hostel will be shown from different angles and will try to include in the photo what gives guests additional comfort - an air conditioner, a coffee machine, a cooler with drinking water, and so on. If there are few photos and they were taken from the same angle, you should be wary when choosing. Firstly, this means that the hostel (or hotel) is not ready to show all the premises, and secondly, this is an indirect sign that the owners or the administration are not ready to make efforts to attract guests. Check out the photos taken by the guests. They will show how the hostel looks now, and not immediately after renovation or construction. Ask the administration for fresh photos - they will definitely not refuse this in a good hostel.
Do you believe the reviews?
When choosing a hostel, like any other accommodation facility, read reviews. Preferably on independent sites, and not on the hotel's website. For example, Booking or TripAdviser has learned to track enthusiastic custom reviews and penalize placements for this "ad." You can choose a place for placement based on the feedback from these sites. And of course, you need to “filter” reviews yourself and weed out obviously subjective reviews of conflicting customers, like complaints about too loud ocean noise outside the window. Hostels and hotels have the opportunity to process reviews, respond with gratitude to positive ones, apologize and make changes to the work, in the case when the guest pointed out an obvious problem. See how the hosting service responds to reviews, and if the phrase "thanks, we will take action" is followed by real changes.
The description of the object says "design hostel", what does it mean?
There is no clear definition of a designer hostel, you can take old things from the attics in the lobby and declare it a vintage design vision without thinking about the convenience of the guests. In NETIZEN's understanding, the design of a hostel is an interior with a single concept, comfortable personal space, thoughtful zoning of public spaces for rest and communication. A real designer hostel is functional, takes into account the characteristics, needs and tasks of the target audience and at the same time is minimalistic and pleasing to the eye. For example, NETIZEN is also aimed at business travelers, and provides a separate space with workstations, soundproofing, sockets, WI-FI. At the same time, we pay attention to interior design, adding unique visual elements in accordance with current trends, so that before reaching the room, guests would already like to share what they see and what is happening with friends on social networks.
Network or "apartment" hostel
A "apartment" hostel is usually more comfortable than a network hostel, but keep in mind that an apartment was not originally designed for people with such a density as in a hostel. Consequently, the temperature regime, ventilation, and the number of bathrooms may be far from optimal. In addition, if you have a trip with a large company, not every "apartment" will be able to accommodate you. Chain hostels, such as Generator, Meinenger, are designed and built taking into account the forthcoming load and have hotel engineering systems that make the guest's stay safe and comfortable. They are necessarily equipped with ventilation and air conditioning, electronic locks, video surveillance and fire extinguishing systems.
Hostel security
Remember that no hotel or hostel is responsible for things left unattended. Especially in the rooms, since this is a private area, which means the private responsibility of the guest. The conditions that reduce the likelihood of theft are provided by those hostels with a developed security system. Once again, hostel chain brands are leading the way. For example, in NETIZEN there are video surveillance cameras, electronic locks, which make it possible to track who and when entered the room, individual lockers with locks. Thus, the minimum security guarantees in modern hostels are created. It should be understood that in a hostel, especially in the option of accommodation in dorms, where there are many strangers, it is better to keep personal belongings with you or rent a safe. As for the personal safety of the guest, the best marker is the level of the hostel. Obviously, a hostel focused on migrant workers has lower security guarantees than a hostel like Clinkwood or Wombats.
What to look for when going on a business trip
The business traveler should pay attention to whether the hostel has a coworking area, free Wi-Fi and other business services. Using the hostel's coworking space, a business traveler can continue to work without ever leaving the building. When leaving as a delegation, we advise you to check if the hostel has hotel rooms. Younger employees will be accommodated in dorms, while older people will be more comfortable in separate rooms.
What to do for family travelers in the hostel
For family travel, it is better to choose hostels that offer separate (or family) rooms, since it is simply stupid to separate and live separately in women's and men's dorms. Families with children, especially Europeans, often love hostels because they are more fun for children. For example, in the lobby of the NETIZEN hybrid hotel there are many board games, a TV with cartoons and a friendly atmosphere. If we compare the price of a family's accommodation in a hostel or hotel, then the hostel is more profitable, since the family booked one 4-bed hostel room instead of two hotel rooms.
What will attract to the hostel besides the price
Hotel is different. For the same price, it is better to choose a modern, beautiful hostel with good ventilation and clean toilets, with separate accommodation options in the room stock, than staying in a single room in a "shabby" hotel.
Of course, people go to the hostel for communication
Tourists who travel alone, or vice versa with a large group of friends, need communication and hostels provide their guests with a unique platform for exchanging vivid stories, experiences, and lively enthusiasm. It is typical for a hostel guest to want to get to know each other: chat, have breakfast together, organize joint evening entertainment, etc. Hostel guests are usually a young and proactive audience. Arriving and staying at a hostel, such a guest wants not only to get to know the country, but to do it in communication. At the same time, the hostel gives you the opportunity to choose - to chat or go to rest in an individual room.