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Basic question #1 - beds

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Hostel Witness started this discussion 17 years 5 months ago

Pretty obvious, but eeh, what kind of beds you reccomend?
Single beds in a row? Maybe bunk beds?

Bunk beds are handy as you can basically double your bed capacity in a room, so now instead of having room for ten beds you've got 20! woo! I reckon if I could fill 10 beds a night I'd be sitting pretty, 20 beds well, that'd certainly help pay the bills and loans back quicker.

Only problem with bunk beds is the disruption factor. I know all too well the joys of sleeping in a hostel on the bottom bunk.

Anyone got any comments on the bed situ?

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Tim

17 years

Personally I don't mind sleeping in a bunk bed, although I don't like the top bunk if there's a ceiling fan in the room :)

I know of quite a few hostels that make a big deal about not having bunks but I really don't think it is an issue as long as the place is clean and secure and there's a good atmosphere in the common areas.

If I ran a hostel I would certainly have bunk beds.

Make sure the bunks are sturdy - narrow metal frame bunks squeak a lot. Solid timber is good to sleep in but bed bugs live in wooden beds. Your best bet is heavy duty metal bunks.

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Hostel Witness

17 years

Make sure the bunks are sturdy - narrow metal frame bunks squeak a lot.

hehe
/remembers the squeaky bunk beds of his childhood.
Great for jumping up and down on, not the best for sleeping though.
Especially not for an adult, who would be sleeping in a u-shape with their spine touching the floor.

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Andy08

17 years

I agree.. Sturdy metal bunks all the way... I know the personal hell of being eaten alive by bed bugs!!Don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to southern Italy.. :) not to mention the damage it could do to your hostel's reputation...

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Peter

17 years

How many people should be in the team who is going to open the hostel of 60 - 80 beds ?

Is it better to rent the two- three apartments , or to rent the space ( some rooms ) in the students boarding house building ?

Are there any limits for the Hostels rate ?... can it function as an apartments rent as well ?

How is the hostel manager protected from the ambitions of the concurents ?
I mean if there is some one who has the network of hostels and wants to close Your oxygen , does it happens in the hostels business ?

May be its better to start from the Pension first or to work for some one in the beginning , or it is possinle to start from the hostel project at once ?

Thank You.

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Josh Hostels

17 years

Are there any limits for the Hostels rate ?... can it function as an apartments rent as well ?

I wouldn't recommend renting to general locals at the same time as backpackers. Most problems in the hostels that I've worked at were caused by locals (at least in the USA). Students usually make good long-term guests though.

May be its better to start from the Pension first or to work for some one in the beginning , or it is possinle to start from the hostel project at once ?

It's definitely best to work in a hostel (or several) before opening a hostel. It will help you avoid common mistakes...

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Peter

17 years

Is it better to be independent Hostel owner or to join to some hostelling organization ?
What are the most common mistakes ?
What is the biggest headache of the manager ?

Does Internet advertisement expensive ?
Is it worthy to invest for the Internet advertisement sites ?
What kind of advertisements are the most workable ?

I think there is no much risk with the managing the rooms, as there is more worry with the rent and re-compensation of the expenses which you spent for the rent.

I heard that last years in Europe the hostels were scarcely surviving at the low season , and it can be that in high season you just work to cover the low season. So what is the point , if it is like this ?

I am just thinking , I looked at the advertising board in Kiev , the Ukrainian capital , you can get a working contract , and make a good money without any headache , but the Hostel ownership , I do not think it is easy life.

Especially if there is no curfew , if drinking is allowed , if there are dorms without lockers....

Honestly Sirs , is it more social or is it a really profitable work , to be the hostel owner ?

Well , I would prefer that it would be both , but , how long I shall not sea the
profit during my starting period ?

Thank You

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Josh Hostels

17 years

Is it better to be independent Hostel owner or to join to some hostelling organization ?

I don't know how beneficial joining a hostel group is. You could look into the Ukraine Hostel Association and ask those hostels if they think it was beneficial to join.

Gomio is another hostelling organization.

I've only worked at independent hostels so I don't know exactly how much the organizations offer. It is probably different in each region (for example, in the USA, Hostelling International is divided into regional councils).

What are the most common mistakes ?
What is the biggest headache of the manager ?

It is a good idea to work at a couple of hostels before opening one. That will prevent a lot of common mistakes.

Headaches of the manager depend on the hostel, but it can include things like:

maintenance (example: if the building has chronic bad plumbing)
guest problems (example: if you let in too many working locals)
front desk problems (example: if you don't have a good system to manage bookings)
city problems (example: if you don't have the right permits)
etc.

Does Internet advertisement expensive ?
Is it worthy to invest for the Internet advertisement sites ?
What kind of advertisements are the most workable ?

There are several ways of marketing online:

Your own Web site -- you want it to rank high in Google for things like "hostels in kiev". I have a section about marketing hostel Web sites with more articles coming soon. It is possible to market it yourself if you do it correctly from the beginning. I'll have more articles posted about that soon.
Booking Web sites (e.g., Hostelworld, Hostelsclub, Hostelbookers). They generally take a 10% commission off of each booking.
Directory listings (e.g., hostelmanagement.com, hostellinks.com)

I am just thinking , I looked at the advertising board in Kiev , the Ukrainian capital , you can get a working contract , and make a good money without any headache , but the Hostel ownership , I do not think it is easy life.

I think managing a hostel is a lot of work. It should be something you enjoy doing...

Especially if there is no curfew , if drinking is allowed , if there are dorms without lockers.

Lockers are very important for guests -- try to get them if you can...

Honestly Sirs , is it more social or is it a really profitable work , to be the hostel owner ?
Well , I would prefer that it would be both , but , how long I shall not sea the profit during my starting period ?

I don't know the answer to that... it probably depends on a lot of factors, including location. How much money will you have to invest, and how many beds will you have to fill to make a profit? Are the other hostels in the city doing well? Can you make a better hostel than the other hostels and attract backpackers through word of mouth and great online reviews? That will be a factor...

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Josh Hostels

17 years

I was browsing around and found this list of responsibilities and benefits of joining HI in Canada.

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Andy08

17 years

I expect running a hostel will demand long hours, especially during peak season. For me its more about the lifestyle and being my own boss than the money. But that said to have the lifestyle I want, the hostel will have to be profitable..

I'm not sure how the high season/low season works either. I raised the issue of being open all year round and ways of increasing revenue during the low season in a different thread. I think the tourism industry in general, makes the bulk of its revenue in high season and just survives the rest of the year.
Is that a fair enough statement?

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Peter

17 years

Ok.
In Europe in some touristic cities , the bed and breakfast places can make more money on the new year, than for all the winter . Its like a 4-5 days when it is extremely busy.
What about the prices on the week- ends or some special party days ?

Some hostel owners when it is extremely busy , make the prices for the bed as expensive as in good quality hotels , just because the tourists have no option ,
and it is extremely busy.

Is there any policy which demands for the hostel fixed rate, or its up to the hostels owner to rise or to low prices in the special periods of the year ?
Thank You

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