Hostels

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In high school, when I first learned about youth hostels, I thought they were just another difference between Europe and the U.S. It was a surprise to find them throughout North America.

Still, I was hesitant the first time I stayed in a U.S. hostel (2011?). But I was short on cash and I needed a decent place for my daughter and me to sleep. Perfect!

On that trip, my daughter and I stayed at HI-DC, or Hostelling International Washington D.C. I've stayed there several times since, and it's my favorite in all of the U.S. Now I choose HI-DC even when I could stay at a hotel in Washington, D.C.; the experience is richer than what I could get anywhere else.

Hostelling International - Boston, Massachusetts

Worldwide, in almost every case, I prefer hostels to hotels, and I think our 20-something daughters do, too. Hostels offer a range of accommodations, including laundromats, kitchens, private rooms, en-suite rooms (private bathrooms right in your room), breakfast and more - including, in one very memorable trip, a castle!

Here's a look at that castle where we stayed in Bacharach, Germany (DJH, or Die Judgendherberge, is a Hostelling International partner):

Hosteling International is the (largely U.S.) hostelling organization; it holds reciprocal partnerships with other hostelling organizations around the world, like Youth Hostel Association which covers England and Wales. Facilities vary according to the physical structure used, but most YHA hostels are similar to this one in Manchester, England:

Wombat's Hostel - Vienna, Austria (Naschmarkt)

As you'll find out when you add hostels to your options, they're more than dorms, and they're for more than teenagers. Get out and see for yourself what hostels can add to your travel experience. To find hostels at your destination, visit Hostelworld.com, Hostelbookers.com or Hostels.com. Even if you use an aggregator like Booking.com, you can include hostels in your search.

PS - still not sure whether a hostel is right for you? Read my blog on your other options in Stay: An Overview.