How To Decide If An Airbnb Or Hostel Is Best For You Trip, Per Rick Steves' Son

Booking accommodation can be a stressful part of the planning process for any trip. While location is important, so is cost, and these factors can affect your overall experience. When traveling on a budget and considering affordable accommodation, Airbnbs and hostels can both be great options.

As the son of travel expert Rick Steves, Andy Steves has grown up in the industry. He has definitely learned a few things from his father and through his own world travels. Like his father, Andy has a blog where he shares helpful tips on how to travel on a budget. Aside from discussing his favorite free activities to do while visiting a new place, he also covers affordable lodging. When it comes to deciding between an Airbnb or hostel, Andy says it all comes down to your preferences. Both options can bring more human interaction than a hotel, and costs can still fluctuate more than they may seem to at first glance. Learning about the pros and cons of each can help you decide which is best for you.

Hostels usually have dorm style rooms with bunk beds, meaning you will likely be sharing a dorm with strangers. But Andy Steves does not see this as a negative thing. "[M]eeting fellow travelers is often the best part of hosteling. Trading stories and destination tips will be a highlight of your adventure," he stated on his blog. Hostels also usually have communal kitchens and lounges. Some hostel operators even offer scheduled activities in these spaces. You may catch travelers playing games, doing some yoga, or simply hanging out and getting to know each other.

Steves acknowledges that bunking with strangers means you could be dealing with people on different sleep schedules than yourself. Light sleepers might get annoyed if another traveler comes into the dorm late at night or makes noise while getting ready for an early morning activity. The lack of privacy can put your personal items at risk too. Steves recommends bringing a lock for your bags, but hostels often provide luggage lockers for each guest complete with locks and keys.

One common misconception about hostels is that they are mainly designated for young people or students. However, you will meet people of all ages at hostels. Another misconception is that you will always be sharing a room with bunk beds. If you are willing to spend a little bit more (but likely still less than you would at a hotel), some hostels offer private rooms or rooms with only a few beds. The latter option is great for small groups traveling together. If you are alone, you will at least only be sharing a room with a couple of people. Fewer roommates means fewer people coming in and out while you are trying to get some sleep.

If you decide to stay in a hostel, Andy Steves also recommends double checking its amenities online. As with hotels, some hostels offer breakfast and some do not. Some particularly budget-friendly hostels may not even provide linens or towels, which you can almost always expect from an Airbnb. While you should think twice before trusting review sites, hostel reviews might still offer some valuable some insights. "Read through reviews ... to see what the place and atmosphere is really like," Steves explains. To make sure a review is reliable, see if the reviewer has left multiple reviews. If not, it could be a bot or a review made by someone working for the hostel itself.

In 2007, Airbnb made waves with its new lodging concept wherein people can turn their homes or spare rooms into rental space whenever they so choose. The organization quickly gained ground in the travel industry as a more affordable alternative to hotels. An exciting aspect of Airbnbs is the variety across the platform. With apartments to rooms in houses to entire farms, these property types each offer a unique experience to suit any travel style. Hostels tend to be in busy tourist areas or near major points of interest.

If you feel that hostels involve too much shared space, Andy Steves points out that you can have more space to yourself when staying at Airbnbs, as they usually have private bedrooms even if you're sharing a house. Though this aspect is different, Airbnbs still give you the chance to meet new people, often those who know the surrounding area. "[M]y host is usually a local, happy to recommend great spots nearby for food, nightlife and more," says Steves. Some hosts run their Airbnbs remotely, but staying in a home can still show you what daily life is like in any given location much more than a hotel or hostel stay can.

What might deter people from staying in an Airbnb is the uncertainty surrounding the idea of staying in a stranger's home, whether the host is actually living there or not. However, these hosts typically want to maintain positive reviews on Airbnb's website in order to keep their listings attractive to future travelers. Therefore, ensuring guests have an enjoyable experience is in the hosts' best interests.

Even still, there are drawbacks to Airbnb. Andy Steves says to watch out for hidden fees that could add up, giving you less of a good deal than you thought. Another drawback is the effects of Airbnbs on local life. There are some destinations that are banning or restricting Airbnbs around the world, largely due to rent increases in major tourism destinations, an issue that many attribute to the presence of too many Airbnbs that would otherwise be available as long-term rentals for residents. Check on local rules before booking an Airbnb to ensure your visit is ethical.

It can also pay to consider the house rules before booking an Airbnb rather than a hostel. Airbnb hosts often have a list of cleaning responsibilities for guests to complete before checking out. At a hostel, you can almost guarantee you won't need to vacuum or strip the bedsheets before you leave, giving you more time to relax, enjoy your trip, and leave the chores for once you're back home.