Hostels are a great way to save money when you’re travelling across North America.  Instead of paying anywhere from $50 – $100 a night, why not stay at a hostel, and pay as little as a few dollars?  Now, if you’re confused on what a hostel is, let me explain.

What is a hostel?

A hostel is a hotel that provides travellers a place to stay.  It’s generally an inexpensive place to stay, where guests can rent a bunk bed, a bed, or share a room.  Most of the time, you’re sharing the space you’re using.

Know your itinerary

The first step that you want to take is to make sure you know where you want to go, and where you want to stay.  If you’re taking a road trip, you may want to just guess at where you’re going to stay.  If you don’t book ahead of time, you’ll find that you’re going to have a hard time finding a hostel without the help of the Internet.

Use websites to find your hostel

There are many great websites online that can assist you with your hostel search.  One of my favorite websites that I use, when looking for a hostel is HIHostels.com.  Use this website like any other website, and see if any of them meet your needs.  Each hostel will pop up with pictures, a description, and where they are located.

Look into the details

Some hostels will require that you need a membership, but others may not require it.  Generally, when you’re looking, the details will tell you if you need a membership or not.  Even if you need to get one, you can always buy one, since they are relatively cheap.

Know what you need to bring

Since all hostels vary, and you’re not staying at the Hilton, you’ll want to know exactly what you need to bring.  Do you need to bring your own sheets?  pillows?  entertainment?  Some of the hostels you try are going to be very nice, while others are going to be dumps.  This can be said about hotels as well, so make sure you do your research.

Always make that reservation

Hostels can fill up fast, and as I mentioned, I would plan your hostel stay ahead of time.  This way, when you show up, you won’t have to hear that the rooms are booked for the night.  Instead of having to worry about that, try and book your rooms ahead to time to ease your mind.