Hostel dorms vs private rooms - which actually saves you more in the long run?

I was reading a blog from a guy who tracked his spending on a 3 month trip through Southeast Asia and he claimed private rooms in guesthouses ended up cheaper than hostel dorms once you factor in locker fees, earplugs, and replacing stuff that got stolen. But I've always thought dorms were the obvious budget choice. What's your experience - does paying a bit more for a private room actually save you money and headache?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim_hart728d ago

Ha yeah I had a totally different problem. I once booked a dorm in Prague thinking I was being smart with money, but ended up spending like 30 bucks on beer just to tune out a guy who snored like a lawnmower for three straight nights. Meanwhile my friend who paid double for a private room just slept peacefully and didn't buy a single drink to cope. So I guess the math depends on your tolerance for other people's noises and smells.

gray_roberts28d ago

Didn't I read a study somewhere that said people in dorms actually get sick more often too? Between the snoring and the mystery crud floating around, I'd rather just pay for peace and quiet. Your buddy had the right idea.