How To Choose The Best Hostels For Backpackers Over 30

By far one of the most common questions I got asked when I told people I was going backpacking again in my mid-late 30s was ‘will you be staying in hostels?’, usually teamed with a slightly horrified face.

The idea of staying in hostels in your 30s can take some getting used to, but it’s a huge part of the backpacking experience, as well as there being lots of advantages to doing so.

That said, it’s true that hostels can make or break a travel experience, especially when backpacking over 30.

Learn from some of the mistakes I’ve made along the way with this guide to picking hostels for backpackers over 30, including what to look for in a hostel, what types of hostels to avoid and how to pick the best place to stay.

Hostels For Backpackers Over 30 Contents:

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I’M OVER 30, SHOULD I STAY IN HOSTELS?

Yes! Look, I admit I love having my own space, but staying in hostels is a huge part of backpacking – especially as a solo traveller.

My year long career break would be a lot shorter were I paying for private rooms all the time, and I would rather be away exploring the world for a year rather than six months.

There are also big advantages to hostels that shouldn’t be sneered at or overlooked – particularly the social aspect for solo travellers. They are the best place to meet other backpackers, the best way to get stuck into the travelling lifestyle and they save you money.

I do completely get the apprehension when it comes to tackling hostels over 30 though. The fact is that your comfort levels change the older you get.

I’ve lived by myself for five years, and at first, the idea of sharing a dorm room with multiple strangers felt like a nightmare concept. I’ve done it plenty in my 20s but now? Ugh. I won’t lie: it did take me a while to get back into it, and it’s not something I love – though choosing the right hostel can make a huge difference, and it really is the easiest place to make new friends.

There is often a big concern that you’ll be sharing a room with other backpackers who are much younger than you and therefore may want to party more, get in super late or, God forbid, think it’s fine to use their bed in a 12 person dorm for a quick drunk shag. I’m not saying these things don’t ever happen, but they are a cliche and choosing the right type of hostel for you can reduce the risk of this massively.

WHY HOSTELS ARE GREAT FOR BACKPACKERS OVER 30

Let’s start with the advantages, as there are many reasons choosing to stay in hostels when backpacking over 30 is the a great choice.

HOSTELS ARE CHEAP

The obvious advantage for picking a hostel to stay in is that your travel budget is going to go a lot further if you’re staying in dorms rather than other accommodation, especially as a solo traveller.

You may have a bit more money to spend in your 30s, but many people would choose for that money to result in a longer trip, rather than a shorter one spent in hotels.

The cost of dorm beds does vary hugely between continent and country, though there will also be other factors that lend itself towards a higher price point. Hostels with better facilities will charge more and you even get really bougie hostels with beautiful architecture and infinity pools now that will charge a premium. But overall hostels are usually going to be the cheapest option.

You can pay anywhere from £5 to £40 for a dorm bed. You’ll find places in Asia tend to be the cheapest, whilst dorms can get pricey in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe.

Whether you are travelling in high or low season will affect the cost, and there are certain dates where you will pay a premium – Christmas, New Year, Day of The Dead, any dates that coincide with a big concert or local festival. The cost will be higher, but they will still be the cheapest option compared with hotels and Air BnBs.

Many hostels will also have kitchens for guests to use, and being able to cook your own food is a great way to help keep costs down whilst travelling, making your budget last for longer and more money for the big ticket activities you don’t want to miss out on.

If you’re travelling with a partner or friend, you may end up paying the same for a private room as you would for a dorm bed each – this is a huge advantage, and one I am often envious of as a solo traveller. The cost will vary by location though – for some places with a high cost of living, you’ll still be better off paying for a dorm bed each.

SOCIALISING

One of the best things about backpacking is the people you meet. Likeminded people with an appetite to see the world and live life a little differently for a while – people like you.

There are lots of ways to make friends whilst travelling, but probably the easiest way to meet people is in a hostel. You’ll quickly settle into the routine of asking your dorm mates where they are from, how long they have been travelling, where they’ve been and where they are going. Yes, the same conversation becomes tedious after months of it, but it’s a surefire way to get to know people.

Great hostels will put on organised activities for guests too, making it easy even for the shyest of travellers to meet other backpackers.

Something to bear in mind: I often think I want to be left alone, but the fact is I am a massive extrovert that needs little snippets of conversation to feel alive, and hostels provide that small interaction really well. You may feel the same! And if you really don’t feel that social, people are generally very understanding that you may not want to join in fully – we all have times like that when on the road for a long time.

SOCIAL HOSTELS VERSUS PARTY HOSTELS

Just because a hostel is cited as being social, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a party hostel.

A good way to tell this is to look at the photos of the hostel on Hostelworld – do they have photos of organised bar crawls? Do they have a DJ playing at the hostel bar? Having a hostel bar itself doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a party hostel, often this is a great way to meet people without going out all night, but is the bar right next to the dorm rooms or tucked away on the roof or the basement in a thoughtful way that allows people to opt in or out of a rowdy one in an easy way?

Check the reviews on Hostelworld – what are they saying? The reviews give the age bracket of the reviewer, so take note of this too; if a reviewer is 18-24 years old and particularly enthusiastic about the social side of the hostel, I may take this to mean it’s more of a party hostel. Looking at reviews from people in their 30s is probably going to give me a better idea of whether I’ll like the hostel or not. 

KEY FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN A HOSTEL

There are few winning factors a hostel can have that will vastly increase the likelihood of my booking them, and every backpacker will agree that these features are hugely appreciated, especially when you’re on the road for a long time!

FEMALE ONLY DORMS

I always choose a female only dorm room if I can. I feel ten times more comfortable sharing a room with other women, both from a safety perspective, general comfort aspect and the camaraderie just comes easier.

Whilst I have slept in plenty of mixed dorms, the risk of a mixed room is being the only woman in the dorm, which is an experience I really do not enjoy at all. I find female dorms come with a lot less heavy snoring and better hygiene too.

Unfortunately (and I think this is so out of order), you often pay a bit more for a female only dorm, often £1-2 more per night than the mixed. 

PRIVACY CURTAINS

Any hostel that has privacy curtains you can pull across your bunk bed when you’re ready for bed or simply just want a break is top of my list. I absolutely love a bit of privacy, especially in a larger dorm.

PERSONAL LIGHT AND PLUG SOCKET BY THE BED

I’ve lumped these together as thankfully it’s rare you get one without the other: both a GOD SEND. Having recently spent 3 nights in a hostel that had about one plug in the whole room and my back up charger was drained…not the one. Everyone needs a bit of power, you don’t want to miss that early alarm for your day trip or next flight!

A reading light is not only incredibly handy on a personal level, but it stops people using the big light and disturbing others late at night (theoretically, but there’s always one).

ACTIVITIES

Any hostel that puts on activities, free or paid, cares about their guests having a good time, making friends and feeling welcome. Even if I don’t join in, knowing they are there makes me know there’s going to be a good vibe, with effort made on the part of the staff. A free walking tour is a particular favourite, they are a great way to ease into a new place, as well as get chatting to new people!

A GOOD COMMON AREA

This is a little broad, and I’m still refining what I truly want from a common area, but preferably somewhere a bit cosy but that also has tables and plenty of sockets. Somewhere that people can crack on with whatever travel admin they have to do, but also get chatting to people easily or play a game.

A bar is great too, as long as you can establish that said bar isn’t turning into a club each night. It’s nice to grab a beer or a cheap glass of wine after a long day out when you get back “home”, and it’s a surefire way to get chatting to people. But I beg of you: more non alcoholic beers on offer please, hostels!  

BIG LOCKERS

Almost all hostels will provide some form of locker for each person to lock away their valuables, but the best ones are those that have large lockers so that you can lock your whole backpack away. 

It sounds like such a small thing, but when you’re sharing a room with anywhere up to 11 other people, being able to clear everything away into one space that’s just yours (and do it without struggling to fit everything in) is so helpful. 

I have both this lock and these ones for lockers and also locking my own bag when needed. 

Hostel Mantra in Udaipur has had the best and roomiest lockers I’ve come across on my recent travels and other hostels should take note!

LAUNDRY SERVICE

Hostels that provide a laundry service or have laundry facilities you can use are a green flag for me.

In Asia, laundry services are widely advertised on the street and are easy to find, often being cheaper than you may pay in the hostel, so you may want to shop around.

However my experience so far in South America has not been the same, so if a hostel provides a laundry service, being able to sort directly through the place I’m staying is a great shout. Perhaps I could shop around more, but the ease of going direct is often something I’m willing to pay a bit more for at this point in my life. 

HEATING/AIR CON

I realise this is stating the obvious, but you really do need to when it comes to hostels – none of these things are a given! 

Somewhere that isn’t going to freeze you out if it’s cold, and preferably providing a decent blanket on your bed, and somewhere with air con if it’s sweltering. Sometimes I’m fine with a fan but over 30 degrees I start to struggle, and when you add multiple bodies in a room? There has to be at least the option of air con.

TOWELS PROVIDED

Any hostel that provides towels so I don’t have to use my essential-but-evil travel towel for a few days gets points from me. Often hostels will hire them out for a small fee but anywhere that has a towel included in the price is reaping good karma.

Not an essential, but definitely a green flag. FYI – this happens a lot more in Asia than South America I’ve found!

FREE BREAKFAST

Always a nice touch, always appreciated, but not a deal breaker.

Although after staying at Wild Bee Hostel in Sri Lanka, I fear all free hostel breakfasts will pale in comparison forever more.

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN CHOOSING A HOSTEL AFTER 30

After making some errors, hostels that come under the following categories or have the following features tend to be ones I avoid as a solo female traveller in my late 30s.

THE CHEAPEST HOSTEL

One huge advantage of travelling in your 30s is you tend to have a bit more to spend than you did in your early 20s, so whilst you need to keep to a budget to make that money last, it means you should be able to spend a bit more on better accommodation.

This may not stretch to private rooms all the time, but it does mean you don’t necessarily have to opt for the cheapest hostel in town. Naturally, facilities in the cheapest hostel won’t be as good, they often won’t have any activities put on and ultimately, you’re more likely to be sharing with 18 year olds. 

HOSTELS THAT ARE CLEARLY PARTY HOSTELS

Some hostels will tell it like it is and say straight up they are a party hostel. Others may require you to properly read their info – they may list DJ nights, parties etc, and these are surefire signs.

This may be for you regardless of being over 30 – I like a drink too! But I like a drink and then being able to go to sleep when I want without the bass thumping through my dorm room until 2am. Not for me.

DORM ROOMS WITH SINKS IN THE ROOM

This is a new one but a strong one! I recently stayed in a dorm room which had a separate toilet and shower in the room (often a good thing so the facilities can be used at the same time by different people), but the sink was in the room itself.

It was a small dorm and it meant using the sink was really disturbing people, especially if you’re using an electric toothbrush or getting up (or in!) late at the night. It’s definitely a factor I’m looking out for going forward.

EDIT: I recently stayed at another hostel with a sink in the room that came highly recommend and it was no issue – I think if you’re in a city where people are coming and going at all times, more of a problem, but in quieter places, it’s not a deal breaker.

HOSTELS WITH LOW RATINGS ON HOSTELWORLD

Whilst it’s important to read the specific reviews left by other travellers on Hostelworld to gauge whether it’s the right hostel for you (and I implore you to look at the age bracket of the people leaving the reviews for a better insight!), I won’t consider a hostel that’s rated under 8 on Hostelworld. There are usually enough hostels in a destination that I don’t have to consider anything below 8, so I’m not wasting my time weighing them up.

BAD OR NOT ENOUGH PHOTOS OF THE HOSTEL FACILITIES

The more photos there are of a hostel, the more likely I am to book it. If there are no photos of the dorm rooms, I won’t even consider it. 

Posed stock photos don’t do it for me, but neither do photos of 25 people clearly on a boozy night out. The photos used to advertise the hostel should give you a decent idea of what kind of place you’re booking. 

HOW TO FIND THE BEST HOSTELS TO STAY IN

How do you find good hostels to stay in? Many hostels will have instagram accounts now, which serve as a good way to check what the vibe is, but the following methods are my preferred go to ways of finding the best hostels to stay in.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Easily my preferred way to find hostels to stay in is personal recommendations from friends and other travellers, especially those who are the same profile as me – solo female travellers in their 30s. 

I can ask what they liked about it and how much the place is social versus a party hostel, and get a straight answer. I regularly ask travellers I’ve met where their favourite hostels have been on their trip so far, and multiple recommendations for the same place show you’re being pointed in the right direction.

HOSTELWORLD

Hostelworld is the best tool for searching online for hostels in different destinations. You can filter out various facilities, private rooms and importantly for me, if they have female only dorms! Hostelworld even takes sustainability ratings into consideration.

Fellow travellers and backpackers can leave reviews which will contribute to an overall rating out of 10, which makes for a good starting point to sort through the options available. Remember to sort by most recent!

The reviews will cite the age group, gender and nationality of the reviewer, and I always take particular note of those by people over 30 and other female travellers, especially when it comes to the comments around how social the hostel is (if someone 18-24 years old is enthusiastic about the bar, it may not be the right place for me to stay!)

When searching you can also see how many people are booked into the hostel on the same dates you are looking at, which will help determine if the hostel will be busy and your chance of making some new pals will be higher. 

HOW TO BOOK A HOSTEL

Once you’ve chosen a hostel you want to stay in, you’ll want to secure your booking. There are various options on how to book a hostel.

BOOK DIRECT

Booking direct through the hostel’s own website will often get you the best rate. However, I would do your research elsewhere prior – namely via Hostelworld.

BOOK VIA HOSTELWORLD

Booking via Hostelworld has it’s advantages; you can see how many other people are booked in at the same time as you and you can get chat started with those people via the Hostelworld app. This feature can also be used whilst staying there to see if anyone wants to go for a drink or grab some food, in the case that the hostel doesn’t have it’s own what’s app group for guests. 

Booking via the app will often get you a better price than on the Hostelworld desktop website, so worth checking both. I also tend to go through the Avios e-store in order to get points on my deposit when booking. 

BOOK VIA BOOKING.COM

Hostels are also listed on Booking.com these days, and if you have a Genius discount on your account, this can get you a better price than direct or Hostelworld, so worth checking. You will also gain points per pound for the total value of your booking when you make your booking via the Avios e-Store.

WHAT TO PACK FOR HOSTEL LIVING

There are a few items that I would be lost without during hostel living. I want to maximise my chances for as good a night’s sleep as possible, for starters. The below items are those I consider a must for staying in hostels.

EYE MASK: An eye mask that fully blocks any light is ideal when you’re travelling – this one is an absolute must. BUY HERE

EAR PLUGS FOR SLEEP: I’m a Loop convert, and these ones specifically for sleep are God tier. BUY HERE

LONG PAD LOCKS: These long padlocks are perfect for locking up your backpacks up in hostel lockers with ease. BUY HERE

FLEXIBLE PAD LOCKS: I have these flexible padlocks for my day bag but have used them for some smaller lockers in hostels to keep my valuables safe. BUY HERE

TRAVEL TOWEL: BUY HERE

ADAPTOR FOR MULTI COUNTRY USE WITH USB: This multi country use adaptor can be used all over the world and has 3 USB ports, including one for USB C. BUY HERE

MONOPOLY DEAL: Not only is it the best game in the world, it’s the easiest way to make new friends in a hostel because everyone wants to play! BUY HERE

UNO: Another easy to carry and widely enjoyed game that will help you to make new pals in hostels. BUY HERE and HERE

TRAVEL CASE FOR CARD GAMES: Keep your games in a safe place and dry with these waterproof cases. BUY HERE

SILICONE FOOD STORAGE: I bought these silicone food storage bags for my South American trip as I knew I would be doing a lot more cooking for myself on this trip, and they have been an excellent purchase so far! They are freezer, microwave and oven safe so work really well in a hostel kitchen, and they work well for packed lunches too.  BUY HERE

FINAL THOUGHTS: HOSTELS FOR BACKPACKERS OVER 30

Hopefully you’ve picked up some tips from this blog about how to choose the best hostel for backpackers over 30, and can use these to pick the right place to stay for your next destination!

Ultimately, I’m a big believer that it’s usually the people who make an experience good or bad. You can read all the reviews and scour the photos of the hostels on HostelWorld all you want, but sometimes it just comes down to the other people you meet in a place.

You could be in a rubbish hostel but make a friend for life in the next bed over, or be in one of the most highly recommended hostels on the continent and not click with anyone.

Overall, I think the most important thing is to feel comfortable and safe. Try to choose hostels based on the factors you value most, be it a bed with a curtain, personal light and plug socket; social activities or a great common space.

If you’re at the start of your backpacking planning, be sure to check out my prep guide here!

I would love to know your favourite hostels, especially if any of them are in South and Central America as I’m at the start of my trip around this continent! Drop them in the comments below.

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