Hostels - Never Been - Advice Needed!

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m moving to Washington D.C. for a new job starting Jan. 15th, but do not have an apartment yet and am considering staying at a hostel until I find one. Yet, I know nothing about hostels. I would appreciate anyone who could explain in general how they work, whether they usually have lockers of some sort, if they are safe, if it is possible to get a good night’s sleep in the dorms (as I will save money by not getting a private room), and anything else that may help me to decide whether to stay at one or get a hotel instead.

If you have stayed at one, is there anything that you suggest I definitely bring, or do, to make my stay there more enjoyable?

And obviously, if you can recommend a good D.C. hostel, that would be great.

2

No advice, just curious. Are US citizens allowed to stay in US hostels? Don’t you need an overseas passport?

3

Depends on the hostel.

As for the OP - I’ve never stayed in a hostel in America, but I have stayed in overseas hostels. I don’t think that I would like to stay in one while I was starting a job unless that was my only option.

Hostels are all unique. Sometimes they can be noisy; sometimes they can be dirty; and generally speaking - lots of the people there (and this is not a bad thing) are there to get drunk, see the sites, and puke on them. Then sing themselves to sleep at 4am in the hostel, wake up late, check their email, and repeat.

If I was going to do it — I would spring for one of the private rooms - which can be quite nice in some places. It should be relatively easy to find a hostel in D.C. - although trickier (maybe) to find one that accepts U.S. residents. From there, I would simply check the neighborhood, its proximity to your work, and whether private rooms are available for the time you will be there.

As an alternative - I would recommend subletting a room for a month or so off of craigslist.

Good luck.

4

I’ve only sort of stayed at one hostel in the USA (Moab, Utah) but I’ve stayed in tons overseas. Hostel guests will run the gamut of behaviors, but can be absolute pricks, so it will kind of be luck of the draw as far as your roommates. It’s a great way to meet people, and perhaps you will meet others in your situation who will become friends or housemates.

I absolutely recommend silicone earplugs because you will inevitably get at least one dormmate who snores like a freight train. Your odds of peaceful existence are greatly increased with the fewer dormmates you have.

5

Assuming you’re there to work in a job that requires at least a tie, the hostel is your LAST resort. Seriously, I understand how overpriced it is, but try the hostel for just a week. Let your employer know that you’re looking for a place, so they don’t mind when you come in wrinkled and wearing the same pants 3-5 days in a row.
Curiosity has the best of me now. If it’s for the Dept of Defense, you can get local base housing. If not, look for houses to share or apts to share. At least it’s not a dorm. And don’t be afraid to go a little further out. It’s like NYC. If you REALLY want to live in Manhattan proper, you’ll never make it without 6 roomates and a chinese prisoner’s organs. If you go to Hoboken, it’s really cheap.

To sum up: don’t do the hostel. It’s a dorm without the nice RAs

6

Generally, urban hostels in the US charge $20 to $30 for a dorm bed. Some have an extra charge for bed linen (around $2) or a key deposit ($5-10, which you will get back when you check out). You pay for your whole stay up front, and there are usually no refunds allowed. Some take only cash; many accept credit cards. Some hostels are affiliated with HI (Hostelling International); some are independent. It’s usually possible to stay at an HI hostel even if you’re not a member, but they will charge an extra $3 or so for each night’s stay. A membership card costs around $25, so if you’re looking to stay for more than a week, you may want to look into purchasing one. Some hostels don’t take reservations, but most do, and it’s a good idea, especially if it’s high tourist season or you’re arriving late in the day.

When you check into a hostel, you will have to show ID (many will also ask for proof that you’re from outside of the immediate region, such as an out-of-state drivers’ license). You will be given bed linen and assigned to a dorm (and sometimes a particular bunk; if you’re allowed to choose your own bunk, make the bed immediately so nobody else claims it). Sleeping bags usually are not allowed. You should bring your own towel, and possibly an extra blanket if you tend to be cold at night. Dorms can have anywhere from four beds to thirty; if you’re given a choice, you should ask for the smallest dorm available if you’re concerned about getting a good night’s sleep.

Most hostels have a kitchen, a common room where guests can hang out, and a coin laundry; some have other amenities as well. Bathrooms are shared. Hostels can run the gamut from grungy to really nice. Some have a curfew or a lockout during the day, and this is something you should check ahead of time, because it’s a pain in the ass to arrive in a city at noon and find out that you’re locked out until 4 p.m.

Yes. Often there’s also a hook or a closet where you can hang up clothes.

Yes, generally, although you should use your common sense and take reasonable precautions (don’t leave valuables in your dorm when you’re away, etc.) If you’re female, you may be more comfortable in an all-female dorm rather than a coed one.

Depends on how big the dorm is and how well you sleep. Most guests are considerate of others and keep the night noises to a minimum, but you can expect a few people’s alarms to go off early, and occasionally people come in drunk at odd hours. I don’t recommend this if you’re a really light sleeper and don’t function well without a good night’s sleep, but I’ve done job interviews and conference presentations while hostelling and had no problems.

Check out the reviews at www.hostelz.com and www.hostelworld.com – you’ve got to take some of them with a grain of salt, especially the ones that are obviously coming from people who are looking to party all night, but they can give you a general sense of how nice the place is.