Report

Why dorms are essential for a hostel?

Start a Hostel

aboriginalhostel started this discussion 15 years 10 months ago

Reading this post brought up the following question in my mind: Why do we need dorms to claim a hostel to be a hostel?

Comments

Report

Josh Hostels

15 years

I based the HostelManagement.com definition of hostel from this forum discussion:
http://www.hostelmanagement.com/forum/f15/definition-hostel-284.html

Princeton dictionary defines hostel:
(too ambiguous)

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
inexpensive supervised lodging (especially for youths on bicycling trips)

Dictionary.com:
(too ambiguous)

Also called youth hostel. an inexpensive, supervised lodging place for young people on bicycle trips, hikes, etc.
British. a residence hall at a university.
an inn.

As hostels get more popular, every cheap hotel will be calling themselves "hostel" just to jump on the trend. 100 euro per night boutique hotels will call themselves boutique hostels and the word "hostel" will become meaningless.

When solo travelers are backpacking around and looking for a hostel, I think they're looking for a dorm bed.

When I think about properties I divide them up like this:

hostels (dorms, though many have private rooms also)
guesthouses/pensions/hostales (with variations)
backpacker hotels (listings that were added before I decided to limit by dorm beds)
hotels
apartments
B&Bs (different between countries)

Are dorm beds required? I don't know -- the HostelManagement.com definition can be changed if people agree on a different definition :)

Report

aboriginalhostel

15 years

Are dorm beds required? I don't know -- the HostelManagement.com definition can be changed if people agree on a different definition :)

Sorry, I might have to rearrange my question as I caught it on the wrong end.

Dorms are cheap, loud, full of snorers and sometimes with shaggers, but those who stay in dorms are some really cool people to talk with.

Meanwhile those people who stay in private rooms don't really want to interact, they are really here for the room, nothing else. They might be interested about the password for wifi but sometimes they don't even care about our recommendations. Check in, see ya, check out, good bye. We are lucky to have them for breakfast sometimes...

I was wondering if this is because of the different age? Or those people who want privacy in their room they don't want to socialize? What could be their motivation?

Usually the more dorm guests we have in the hostel, the easier to make a good atmosphere. The better atmosphere you make, the better hostel you could be. The biggest advantage of hostels is the social factor.

It's something to talk about the sociability vs. privacy matter or should we say hostels vs. hotels?

It's just the opposite of the density effect, when people are friendlier if the population density is low. (Countryside, rural area vs. metropolitans - Try to say hello to a stranger...)

Report

uktrail

15 years

We've discussed this before on this forum. But in the context of the current question, my point is:

We might decide that dorms are not essential for a place to be a hostel; but in practice they ARE essential, because any place that does not have dorms charges individual travellers 150% or 200% of what accompanied travellers pay (with rare exceptions). So a place without dorms will attract couples and groups, but will have few solo travellers, therefore it will be less able to exhibit the other characteristics of a hostel, sociability and communal chatting and activities.

# British. a residence hall at a university.

Not in my experience. Such a place in Britain is usually called a "Hall of Residence" or "Hall".

What do Americans call them?
Dorms? :D

Report

Stefan

15 years

Meanwhile those people who stay in private rooms don't really want to interact, they are really here for the room, nothing else. They might be interested about the password for wifi but sometimes they don't even care about our recommendations. Check in, see ya, check out, good bye.

I disagree. when I was backpacking "as a couple" we often booked private rooms, but didn't want to miss the socializing factor hostels have at all. We wanted to interact, that was why we chose hostels and not B&Bs, there was no big difference between prices. That's why good common areas are very important for a good hostel.
Nevertheless dormbeds are essential for hostels in my opinion, but I wouldn't set up a limit according to the total number of beds the hostel has,though it should be a double digit number (percentage).
btw. sleeping in a private instead of the dorm made it much easier for me to socialize with others as i am a heavy snorer sometimes - and your dormmates will hate you for that :D

Report

Josh Hostels

15 years

Sorry, I might have to rearrange my question as I caught it on the wrong end.

Dorms are cheap, loud, full of snorers and sometimes with shaggers, but those who stay in dorms are some really cool people to talk with.

Sorry, I think I read your question the wrong way
:)

Report

aboriginalhostel

15 years

I disagree. when I was backpacking "as a couple" we often booked private rooms, but didn't want to miss the socializing factor hostels have at all. We wanted to interact, that was why we chose hostels and not B&Bs, there was no big difference between prices. That's why good common areas are very important for a good hostel.
Nevertheless dormbeds are essential for hostels in my opinion, but I wouldn't set up a limit according to the total number of beds the hostel has,though it should be a double digit number (percentage).
btw. sleeping in a private instead of the dorm made it much easier for me to socialize with others as i am a heavy snorer sometimes - and your dormmates will hate you for that :D

Dear Stefan,

I understand your points but looking at our guests I get a different point of view. Our private rooms get more rollie-pollies than backpackers, there are many elder couples, weekend travelers or people who've never been to a hostel before.

I respect your efforts though, defending backpacker values and i want to state that we are rowing the same boat. ;)

I snore loud sometimes as well (especially when I'm drunk ;) ) and I did stay in private rooms several times as well. I don't want to disturb anyone while I work on my laptop 2am or if I set my alarm for 8am... I think it's too cruel for those who travels for their holidays.

An interesting contrast to mention, during the HW conference I was a flashpacker (private room, laptop, burning money... sorry!!!) - but just after I turned back to a backpacker (dorms, keeping on budget, etc.) :D

I do think the importance of dorms in a hostel is essential, just want to wake the big think tank of hostels to answer the ultimate question for Life, Universe and Everything... and I don't accept 42 as an answer! :D

Instead of having a message "stay in hostels, they've got cheap private rooms" promoted overall by booking engines, especially HW, it should be something like "stay in hostels, where you can meet cool people".

Can we promote hostels for a wider market by offering higher service level AND not losing identity and merge into the hotel market? Can we convince BEs about the more a guest travels, the more it is beneficial for both the engines and hostels? Can we really convert first time travelers to returning hostel guests?

(I guess I should ask Obama as he would respond: Yes, we can! ;))

But can we?

Report

Kapake

15 years

The KEy to this discussion is:

Are dorms that way because...

A) ...It is unexpensive, so the owner can charge less, so groups can travel easier?

B) ...It´s a different experience to travel and share rooms and bathrooms, and kitchens and common spaces?

This is the key to the definition. Are we looking at the $$ factor o the interactual factor...

If a hostel is what it is because of the environmental factor then the dorms are necessary, sharing is necessary.
If a hostel is what it is because it´s cheap, then we could have private rooms more than dorms o no dorms at all...

To me, hostels are what they are because of the accomodation, the environment...the price factor is not so much...

We charge today AR$52 per night. And I can find like 5 1 star hotels that charge the same fee...

Report

uktrail

15 years

To me, hostels are what they are because of the accomodation, the environment...the price factor is not so much...

We charge today AR$52 per night. And I can find like 5 1 star hotels that charge the same fee...

This is about £10 UK.
Would you just confirm please: A guest at your hostel pays AR$52. A guest at a 1-star hotel, travelling alone, pays AR$52.

Report

aboriginalhostel

15 years

The KEy to this discussion is:

Are dorms that way because...

A) ...It is unexpensive, so the owner can charge less, so groups can travel easier?

Groups usually bring the atmosphere down. They move together, usually don't interact with others and mostly just crash into the bar if there's any. Similar to private rooms.

B) ...It´s a different experience to travel and share rooms and bathrooms, and kitchens and common spaces?

That is definitely more important for individuals, backpackers. IMHO the biggest advantage for hostels is not the price but the chance to meet fellow travelers (identity), share experiences (community) and to be able staying on a budget (challenge).

This is the key to the definition. Are we looking at the $$ factor o the interactual factor...

If a hostel is what it is because of the environmental factor then the dorms are necessary, sharing is necessary.
If a hostel is what it is because it´s cheap, then we could have private rooms more than dorms o no dorms at all...

To me, hostels are what they are because of the accomodation, the environment...the price factor is not so much...

This is the part of our lifestyle. Making business which we enjoy. Running a hotel would be 100% boring but would make much more money.

We charge today AR$52 per night. And I can find like 5 1 star hotels that charge the same fee...

That is also a dilemma of Price vs. Reputation factors. If people on a budget don't know about 1* hotels or discriminate it (just like lots of people think hostels are filthy but haven't been to one before), there will be less demand for it. If there is less demand, prices go low until it reaches a balance. If 1* hotels would be popular, they would increase in quality and in price. The same thing will happen to 5* hotels... they will try to apply to the environmental changes. Just like Darwin said! ;)

There's a very interesting cycle could be noticed in this crisis. It has four steps:
1. Increasing marketing. Dragging attention for more possible costumers.
2. If that doesn't work, prices will be reduced. That could reduce the possible incomes as well but it's still better to earn less than earn nothing.
3. Reducing costs. Less incomes requires less expenses to keep up the capital ratio.
4. Increasing liquidity. It usually requires outer investors, so most people use it as a last chance to keep the business.

Report

Kapake

15 years

this is about £10 uk.
Would you just confirm please: A guest at your hostel pays ar$52. A guest at a 1-star hotel, travelling alone, pays ar$52.

yep

Search form

Report 'Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Report 'Re: Why dorms are essential for a hostel?'?

Pages

Join the world's largest community of hostel professionals.

Check Your Email