Are Hostels Safe for Families? Why I Changed My Mind

Are you wondering whether or not hostels are safe for families?

When you travel in your 20s, hostels can be an awesome way to save money on lodging. In fact, Emilie and I met at a hostel in Italy. So we’re not against using hostels to help the vacation budget.

But things get a bit more complicated once you start adding kids into the mix.

That’s because hostels are, for most people, a place to sleep off their hangovers. That means they aren’t always the most kid-friendly solutions to travel lodging.

Today, though, we’re going to answer the question, “Are hostels safe for families?” because, recently, I’ve changed my mind on the subject.

Then, we’ll share four tips on how to find the most family-friendly hostel for your next adventure.

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Can Families Stay in Hostels?

First thing first, because even addressing if hostels are safe with kids… Can you stay in a hostel with a child?

The short answer is YES, but you might not be able to stay in ALL hostels (and you probably won’t want to stay in any hostels).

Usually, children will be allowed in hostels in a private room or using the entire dormitories. For example, HI Canada will enable children to stay at any hostel in private rooms. Children must be six years old (or older) to stay in a shared dormitory. When we stayed at the HI Maligne Canyon Wilderness Hostel during our family getaway in Jasper, we booked an entire 6-person dormitory.

Some hostels even have family rooms advertised.

When searching for a hostel with kids, you can do a specific search on HostelWorld to have a family room.

That way, the results will show only hostels with private family rooms. Then, you can read some reviews and see if it’s a good fit for your family.

So yes, some family-friendly hostels are worth looking into if you want to travel on a budget (but still stay safe).

Are Hostels Safe for Families?

In short, yes. Most hostels offer family-friendly options that are safe to bring your kids. You’ll typically be sharing common areas like the kitchen or bathrooms, but you can often rent private dorms that hold up to 4 people, and sometimes you can even have a private bathroom.

And these options are, for the most part, still cheaper than most hotels you’ll find in the area.

But, again, it depends on the type of hostel you stay at. Because while most hostels may be “safe” for families, they might not be the most appropriate for young kids.

Point in case: the last Youth hostel I stayed at was in 2016. I went to see John Mayer in London (we lived in Paris then), but we didn’t have much money.

For under $25/night, I stayed at a youth hostel which I thought was quite the deal. Then it became evident why it was so cheap: the place was clean, and the staff was friendly, but people were ready to party.

Without getting too graphic, let’s say my early morning wake-up call was the sound of strangers vomiting from the night before. My roommate had even soiled his sheets in the night, and that was the moment I resolved:

I’m too old for youth hostels.

This has been a topic of discussion for Emilie and me since then. And while I was initially against the idea, Emilie showed me how 4 tips could help us find family-friendly hostels. That way, we could still save money without forcing our kids to watch 18-year-olds rock n’ roll all night (and throw up every day).

To prove her point, she took the kids and me to one of the HI (Hostel International) brand locations in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies. We had a fantastic weekend, didn’t break the bank, and never felt unsafe for the kids.

In fact, we saw many other adults whose only goal was to enjoy nature, read an excellent book in the lounge cafe, and go skiing.

So, now, I want to share the tips that Emilie taught me about how to find a family-friendly hostel and whether or not it would be the right option for you.

PRO-TIPS for choosing the BEST hostels with kids

1. Consider the Destination and Location

When looking for the type of lodging (hostel vs. Home Exchange vs. hotel vs. VRBO), it’s important to consider where you’re headed.

And I don’t just mean the name of the city.

What you want to know is how centrally located the hostel is. This isn’t a rule written in stone, but most hostels in significant city centers located by restaurants and bars are less family-friendly.

You can usually know where the hostel is located on a map while researching the various places. HostelWorld will show your search results and give you the option to view them on a map:

If I were searching for a hostel for the family, I would look at the surrounding areas from Google Maps and check out what the nearby nightlife is like.

Again, location isn’t always an indicator of whether or not a hostel is family-friendly. But it can tell you about the types of travelers the hostel attracts.

Hostels by many bars and restaurants are likely for younger folks looking for a fun night out.

Be careful, though. Sometimes, hostels too far away from the city center are in unsafe neighborhoods or make commuting into the city too much trouble.

Do your research, check the location, check the surrounding areas, and then move over to step 2.

2. Book a Private Rooms

Once you know the hostel you want, see if any private or family rooms are available. You’ll want to book a private room.

Every family is different, but I wouldn’t be comfortable having my young kids sleeping in the same room as strangers.

Most parents would agree that they wouldn’t get much sleep.

That means you must see if they have private rooms, cabins, or ensuites available.

Though you’ll likely be sharing common spaces like the kitchen with other travelers, you’ll at least want a single room for privacy. That said, everything depends on your kids’ ages.

This leads to our next tip…

3. Take into Account Your Kids’ Ages

When we talk about staying in hostels, there’s a big difference if your kids are toddlers as opposed to teenagers.

With older teens, you probably don’t want a youth hostel where people go to parties. But you can certainly be more flexible with where you go and still feel “safe.”

With toddlers, there are other factors to consider.

I have difficulty relaxing if I like I’m ruining someone’s travels. By that, I mean I tend to get anxious if our kids are standing at the dinner table at a restaurant, crying on a plane, or banging on the shared walls in our house.

One of my biggest concerns about staying in a hostel with toddlers wasn’t for our safety: it was for the comfort of other guests (can you imagine the shame of being kicked out of a hostel?!).

When we stayed at the HI Jasper, the room next to us was empty, which made all the difference. Our kids woke up at 5:30 AM ready to go and would play with their toys in one of the lower bunks in our private room.

But if I’d known other guests were sleeping next door, I wouldn’t have been able to rest. And, after all, the weekend’s goal was to spend some time recharging as a family.

This wasn’t a problem for this trip but is something you should consider when booking a room at a hostel with your family. If your kids tend to be loud (like ours), and it makes you anxious (like it does to me), then you’ll want to look for options with more privacy.

If your kids are older, understand the importance of sharing common spaces, and don’t think it’s fun to throw transformers at the walls, then you should be all set.

4. Read (and Leave) Reviews

Our last tip is a bit obvious, but worth the reminder: check out the reviews of the hostels where you’ll be staying. But, more importantly, leave a review once you’re done from the perspective of a parent.

You can also check on the GoWhee app if other traveling families have rated the hostel you’re looking for.

Be sure to mention your kids’ ages and how the experience went. This is incredibly helpful for other families to know whether or not they can bring their kids.

Here’s a great example of the type of review I’m talking about.

This gives other parents lots of insights as to what they can expect and how that particular family usually travels.

So be sure to read reviews of the hostel you’re considering and, above all else, leave a review after you’ve left.

Hostels with Kids: Which Type We Recommend When Traveling with Kids

What is a hostel? The definition of a hostel is pretty straightforward: it’s a low-cost or budget-friendly accommodation for travelers. Usually, it’s cheaper because you’re sacrificing a lot of privacy.

You can share rooms with strangers in mixed dorms (meaning both males and females can share the same room), and these dorms can sleep anywhere from 4 to 18 people. Plus, bathrooms and kitchen areas are shared, too.

But that doesn’t mean there’s simply one “type” of hostel. We like to think of hostels in 2 categories: Youth/Backpacker hostels and regular hostels. our definition of the terms above are as followers (remember, these are defined for practical use)

Youth/Backpacker Hostels

Youth or Backpacker hostels are usually targeted to 18 – 30-year-olds looking to party and who don’t mind sharing spaces with larger groups.

Some people may argue that Youth and Backpacker hostels are separate things. Others can argue that Youth and Backpacker hostels are the only kinds. Frankly, the conversation inevitably feels like splitting hairs at some point.

Regular Hostels

Regular hostels are targeted to all travelers on a budget looking for finding cheap places to stay. You’ll find mostly older couples or families) who don’t mind sharing spaces but want a few options for privacy.

Again, you won’t find those definitions broken down the same way on other blogs, and that’s okay. This is how Emilie and I tend to think of the terms and how we use them while planning our trips.

You can find all types of hostels on booking search engines such as HostelWorld.com and Booking.com.

➡️ When traveling with kids, find a regular hostel, not a youth/backpacking hostel. You’ll have more luck finding a family room and feel more safe with the kids. We love the HI hostels. They usually have a good mix of travelers, from families to older outdoor enthusiasts.

Now, what’s the difference between a hotel and a hostel?

One of the main differences between a hotel and a hostel is that hostels usually provide dormitory settings while hotels offer more privacy. All hostels have different dorm rooms set up where you can find:

• Male-only and female-only dorms
• Mix dorms
• Private rooms with private bathroom
• Private rooms with shared bathroom

Hostel rooms typically have bunk beds, while you’ll find queen and king beds in hotel rooms.

Also, a hostel has more shared areas, such as shared bathrooms and kitchens. Then, hostels are typically, but on the budget side.

While most hotels offer a complimentary breakfast, some hostels will, but most likely, you’ll have to cook your breakfast.

The Verdict: Are Hostels Safe for Families?

Are hostels safe for families? The answer to this question depends on:

• the hostel you’re looking at, and
• the ages of your kids

But one thing is clear: most cities have options for family-friendly hostels where you can travel with your kids.

Just be sure to do your due diligence in researching the hostel beforehand. And when in doubt, you can always call the front desk and ask how they accommodate families with young kids.