Home, Work, and Play: Perks of Living in a Hostel
Explore the advantages of hostel living, where your home, workplace, and leisure blend into a unique and enriching lifestyle. Learn how embracing hostel life can open doors to exciting opportunities and connections.
After I returned home from Central America in the spring, I had to deal with the dreaded event of getting a new passport. After six years of traveling full-time, I finally ran out of pages. I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to travel around my own country to new places I had yet to visit.
Let's be honest: the United States is expensive, especially to travel around. But it doesn't necessarily have to be; if you can use the best travel hacks. I have planned a 4-month trip around the United States with all my accommodation paid for and most of my flight costs.
How? Credit card miles and work exchanges. For a few hours of my time each week, I can volunteer in hostels or work for them online, earn free accommodation and free coffee, and still work my regular job online since I can make my own schedule, that is.
While living and working in the same place with the same people for weeks at a time might not be for everyone, many perks come from living in a hostel for long periods. It’s cost-effective, it's easier to make friends, there’s always something going on, and I am able to learn new skills and network with people from all over the world.
Join me on my 4-month journey and discover the perks and benefits of living in a hostel.
Cost-Effective
Living in a hostel in exchange for a few hours of work each week is a remarkably cost-effective way to sustain full-time travel. I have managed a 4-month trip around the United States without spending a dime on any accommodation the entire time. This arrangement stretches my travel time in a particular location and allows me to allocate funds to experiences, emergencies, and future travel plans. Seriously, who else can say they lived in California for less than $800 a month?
Global Connections
Networking is a big part of my lifestyle and my job. I need to expand my reach and talk to other travelers to make a living in the travel industry. The global connections you can make while living and working in a hostel are among the best perks for full-time entrepreneurs. By being in a hostel full-time, I am able to meet other travelers from all over the world every single day. It’s hard to tell what kind of opportunities are going to walk through the door at any minute.
Instant Friendships
Living in hostels while exchanging work for free accommodation is a fantastic way to experience the perk of instant friendships. I am not the only employee here in the same situation, so everyone I am working and living with has similar interests and a perspective as I do. Since I travel solo, friends aren’t always easy to come by, and I am very thankful for the friends I have been able to share my life with this year. Many times in life, the friends and acquaintances that you think are small or time-sensitive actually end up making the most significant impact on your life.
Social Activities
Living and working at a hostel means it’s nearly impossible to be bored. Hostels are social hubs, and there is always something going on either at the hostel or around the city that the hostel knows about. Whether it's hosting events, sponsoring them, or contributing by earning discounts and bonuses, hostels make sure their tenants are never bored, including the employees. I have been able to go places and see things and experience them with others this time, rather than witnessing destinations socially.
Plus, being in a destination for long periods of time gives me extra time to join tours and other activities around the city.
Convenient Amenities
Living in a hostel comes with other perks besides it being cost-effective and full of things to do. It also provides convenient amenities you need no matter where you are, such as food, transportation, showers, and a kitchen. I am often provided at least one meal a day, plus unlimited water and coffee all day. You are usually located in a convenient part of town, close to public transportation options, or live with other locals who have cars. And lastly, everything I need to stay alive is provided, including a place to sleep, shower, cook if I want, and sometimes other bonuses, like t-shirts or toiletries.
Diverse Work Experience
Besides teaching English, travel writing, and running my own business, another perk of living at a hostel gives me the opportunity to learn other diverse skills outside of my usual routine. I have been a housekeeper, receptionist, bartender, plus content writer, and tour guide. I can learn loads of new skills, all while still being able to improve the skills and workload I already have.
Local Knowledge
Living and working at a hostel allows me to stay in destinations for more extended periods, giving me the chance to learn and live in the place like a local. I have access to insider knowledge and local perks that I typically wouldn’t know of if I was just visiting for a few days. The best restaurants, hidden gems, local hangout spots, and cheap deals are all at my access. I have been able to have so many experiences that I never would have gotten the chance to do solely because I was working at a specific hostel at the right time.
Inspiring Stories
One of the best parts and perks about living and working at a hostel is the people you meet and the inspiring stories they bring along with them. Hostels are for travelers, designed for them, and people from all over the world use them as accommodations in new destinations. I have heard some of the most unique and inspiring stories from people I have met at hostels along the way, sharing my stories and passing along inspiration as well. For some people, I am a veteran traveler, being full-time now for six years, but I am still considered a newbie for others. Gaining and spreading inspiration and motivational wisdom with other travelers can encourage your way of life and remind you that you aren’t ever truly alone on the road.
In conclusion, living and working in a hostel isn't just a choice; it's an opportunity. It's a chance to explore, connect, and grow in ways you never imagined; it's the epicenter of your global adventure. If you are a solo, budget, or full-time traveler, or just looking for a way to slow travel for longer periods, for a unique and enriching lifestyle that combines work, home, and play, consider the hostel experience – it might just be your ticket to a world of adventures and unforgettable memories.