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what to offer, and what to charge for?

The Ideal Hostel

irish_guy started this discussion 14 years 8 months ago

being an experienced backpacker... i love it when things are free, and hate it when i'm charged for everything... funny enough.

BAD HOSTEL, I WAS AT.
new hostel in brazil, nice english couple... but here's what they charged you for, don't remember the cost of each item...

1.To watch a DVD, in there tiny reception/tv room... small couch... or pay extra to rent a tv and dvd palyer.

2. Internet, common enough... but finding it free more and more.

3. book exchange and charge... the worst of the lot. if you wanted to exchange a book... you had to give 2 books for 1 book... or 1 book plus extra charge...

4. breakfast

They came out with us for a few drinks, and asked for our opinions, i was honest with em... they weren't too impressed.

GOOD HOSTEL
South Africa

Free surf boards/wet suit and free surf lessons... the lessons were once a week.
free dvd... internet, you had to pay for... but free surf lessons!

If i get my act together, i'd like to offer free wi fi (if it's under $20 a month)

free book exchange.

free to watch dvd's... this is a no brainer

free breakfast, tea and coffee.

free towel? not sure about this one... many hostels charge for this, must be a reason?

can anyone else offer any other suggestions... that make your hostel that bit more special?

as for extra income? suggestions please, i'm thinking

1. small shop, sweets, drinks
2. small bar, if the licence is cheap enough.
3. kayak, surf board rental (i know it was free in SA, but i'm only starting out here :D)
4. food? is this worth it... maybe just a barbie once a week?
5. tours? if you're starting out... what's the best way to approach this, with little capital? team up with a local tour operator? can you charge commission for business you send there way?

anything else?

Comments

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decepe

14 years

Your views are pretty much the same as mine. I'd like to have the best vibe and offer as much as I can free, cost benefit permitting.

Just off the top of my head though, and it is only my opinion! Regarding the TV, would you have a separate TV room? Its just that sometimes I feel it can kill the atmosphere having a TV in the only common room. Perhaps a Movie night during the week is a good idea? Also a free book exchange needs to be monitored a bit as the good books do tend to go walkabout.

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uktrail

14 years

Just off the top of my head though, and it is only my opinion! Regarding the TV, would you have a separate TV room? Its just that sometimes I feel it can kill the atmosphere having a TV in the only common room.

Not 'only your opinion': mine also! And many others, I believe. Most of the hostels that get consistently rave reviews are ones without a TV.

The problem with a TV in the only common room is that, if one person wants to watch it, then everyone has to watch it, and indeed has to watch what the first person chooses. TV in a separate room? YES!

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irish_guy

14 years

Not 'only your opinion': mine also! And many others, I believe. Most of the hostels that get consistently rave reviews are ones without a TV.

The problem with a TV in the only common room is that, if one person wants to watch it, then everyone has to watch it, and indeed has to watch what the first person chooses. TV in a separate room? YES!

great points... i know what you mean... i like a tv, it's good to just flake... but they can also be a mood killer... and a problem if somebody likes to watch allot of crapola

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hostelinproblem

14 years

i think that normal things always should be for free
why should a guest pay for towel hot water sheets come on guys
are we making money or ripping of the backpackers

i think in reason it gives you good revieuws aswel

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Juancho

14 years

How would you make a stock control if there are free towels?? Maybe charging a deposit and then giving it back is a good option.

in big hostels. towels are charged beacuse 50, 60 people using hostel towels makes and increase of laundry washing, and extra money!

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hostelinproblem

14 years

we got 106 beds atm we charge a 10 € key and towel deposit

and it works out finre people love it and that you will see in the revieuws

just calculate it in the price everyone is happy

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Juancho

14 years

I agree, that´s the way big Hostels should work.

I worked in a 206 bed Hostel and It was a easier changing dirty towels for deposits than asking one by one if they had a towel of the Hostel.

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ivancica

14 years

Taking deposit for towel and linen and also for damage make by guests (like broken glasses, ect.) is not bad idea.

Big hostels (+ 100 beds), should charge towels 'cose cost of washing could be high.

As for the TV it is very good idea to have something like separate TV lounge. TV and PC in the dorms - don't even think about it.

High-speed internet, wi-fi, book and DVD exchange, coffee, tea, use of AC definitely should be free. That doesn't cost much and make a very good impression. Also, you could put some board and social games just to spice the place a bit. :D

As for the free breakfast, you could charge breakfast for short stay (night or two) and to offer free breakfast for longer stay (like 3 nights or more). That is good because, first, hostel breakfast (cereals, corn flakes, muesli, tea, milk, yogurt, toast, butter ... ) are not expensive (at least not in Serbia), and second, you will get marketing point to get your guests stay longer with you and leave you more money. :cool:
Another thing you could do is to offer welcome drink to guests on arrival. Shot of local brandy always do the right thing. ;)

Extra income you can always get by selling soft drinks or water. Connect with some local soft drink and water company. Make prices same or little lower than in the first shop and there is income for you.

Also, you can connect with local agencies and tour operators, find some cool, cheep tours that you think guest will like and take commission from them.
And, there is always more .... :)

Of course, giving many things for free and keeping the bed price low can be a problem. But, you can make price of beds little higher (EUR 2-3 more).
In my experience, as backpacker and as hostel manager, it is not always how much I will pay, but what will I get for that price.

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uktrail

14 years

Traditionally, when the only hostels were YHA, you were expected to bring your own sheet sleeping bag and towel. (Even longer ago, some hostels were marked: "Take KFS" -- bring your own knife,fork,spoon!)

Hostels then started offering sheets or sheet bags for a charge. Then the YHA changed to providing sheet bags in with the price, probably because of health and safety laws. Guests remained expected to bring towels, but hostels started offering them for a charge. This is why, to many of us, charging for towels seems natural, whereas to people who are used to hotels and guest houses, it seems wrong to charge for towels. I guess hostels should go with the majority.

But I have often wondered about the philosophy of charging more for the first night, which would be quite logical because you have to do the same amount of laundry for 1 night as for several nights. This is difficult practically -- how would hostelworld cope with such bookings? -- and would be resented by guests staying only one night. So the idea of a free breakfast for nights 3 onwards sounds like a good idea.

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