Perks of Staying in a Hostel

Hostels have gotten so much bad rep that when people think of hostels, they usually picture a dingy, bug-infested room emanating a musty odor. To top that off, we’ve been haunted by movies for ages about shady hostel guests (who are secretly psycho and have murderous tendencies) making us highly suspicious of everyone else.

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Boo!

But thankfully, it’s not like that in real life. In fact, most hostels are clean, safe and comfortable to stay in. Traveling a lot has helped reshape my warped perception about hostels in general.

These are my top reasons why I think you should stay in a hostel too:

AFFORDABILITY
Hostels are a viable option for all cost-conscious travelers who seek reasonably priced accommodation. Without the glitz and glamour of a typical tourist hotel, hostels are cheap because they can afford to be. Depending on which part of the world you are in, hostel prices range between 5 to 40 USD per night only.

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LOCATION
Many hostels nowadays are conveniently located in central areas with countless attractions within reach. Also, a lot of hostels have direct access to public transportation so it’s easy to get around.

UNIQUE
There are so many different kinds of hostels varying in their amenities, entertainment, style and comfort that no two would ever be the same. If you fancy sleeping in a monastery, a castle, a bunker, a cave or a prison, there are some hostels around the world that offer this one of a kind of experience you won’t get anywhere else.

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RELAXED ATMOSPHERE
Hostels have a very friendly and laid back vibe that would immediately make you feel at home.

BUILD FRIENDSHIPS
Hostels have dorm rooms and common lounge areas so staying in one gives you an opportunity to meet like-minded people and make new friends from all corners of the world.

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SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Hostels promote a sense of community through the culture of cooking and eating together. Some hostels offer weekly fun activities and social events that all guests can participate in and enjoy.

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PERSONAL GROWTH
Striking up a conversation with fellow hostel guests is truly a valuable learning experience. Exchanging information, stories, and experiences with people having different cultures, societies, languages, worldviews, beliefs, and backgrounds help us gain fresh perspectives and smash our preconceived notions. It is through cross-cultural encounters that we become more aware of our own culture, identity and values and that we become more understanding and appreciative of others.

To sum it all up, hostels are hubs for social and recreational activities where you can meet culturally diverse people and gain new friends. Not only do they make an excellent starting point for exploration but you can also get the comfort of a hotel room and more with just a fraction of the cost. Hopefully, these reasons are enough to break down the bad stigma associated with staying in hostels.

Images are taken from Google Images and are believed to be in the public domain. No copyright infringement intended. Credit is given where it is due.

Moon Fools Hostel

There are dozens upon dozens of hotels and resorts to choose from in Bohol – particularly in Tagbilaran and Panglao. However, most of these are catered to affluent tourists and if you’re a glampacker like I am, finding a place to stay that is comfortable yet affordable at the same time can be a trying task. But luckily, while I was perusing the bowels of the Internet, I found Moon Fools Hostel.

Moon Fools Hostel is a newly-opened bed and breakfast located in Brgy. Tawala, Panglao Island. Only a walk away from Alona Beach, it is surrounded by restaurants, convenience stores, travel agencies, rental shops and many more.

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This industrially themed hostel prides itself as a clean, friendly budget hostel that is committed to making conscious efforts to be eco-friendly.

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They also take pride in having supported homegrown artists by commissioning one-of-a-kind handcrafted wooden key chains.

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Moon Fools Hostel has 2 dorm rooms, 3 matchbox rooms and 2 private rooms all with great air conditioning and free access to WiFi.

TIP:
Book your accommodation in advance. Since the number of rooms is limited, they are usually fully booked.

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I stayed in one of their dorm rooms for only 400/night (introductory price) and was offered a complimentary continental breakfast.

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They have gender-segregated communal shower rooms and lavatories too.

Currently, some facilities are unavailable such as hot shower, public kitchen and lounge area. Other rooms were unavailable as well when I was there since they are still undergoing minor renovations. I honestly was a little disappointed when I realized that the photos on their website are only artistically rendered images. But it does look very promising.

It is also worth mentioning that Moon Fools Hostel sits right above a bar that blasts loud music until 2 in the morning so expect a rough night if you’re an early sleeper.
EDIT: They just installed soundproof windows!

That being said, Moon Fools Hostel is heaven sent for young travelers on a budget. The place is clean, safe and comfortable. With a very strategic location at a competitive price, I’ll surely go back there when in Bohol.

Some images are taken from the official website of Moon Fools Hostel and are believed to be in the public domain. No copyright infringement intended. Credit is given where it is due.