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For those of you who often go backpacking, exploring or simply backpacking, the concepts of what a homestay is or what a hostel is is definitely very familiar. However, for those of you who travel less, the above concepts will sometimes cause a bit of confusion. And finding information to book a room will also be a bit more difficult.
Therefore, the article below I introduce to you some basic concepts to understand what a hostel is and what a homestay is . Hope it will be of some help to you while traveling.
1. What is a Hostel?
Basically, a hostel is a form of cheap hotel in which people cut down on accompanying services to minimize the cost of renting a room. In a hostel, you will not get all the full amenities like in a hotel. The goal that this type of hostel service is aimed at is cheap. And the audience that the hostel targets are people who like to backpack , explore or go backpacking.
A dorm room in a hostel with many bunk beds in Bali, Indonesia
In a typical hostel, there will be dorm rooms , this is the type of room in which there will be many bunk beds like in a dormitory. There are dorm rooms exclusively for men (male dorm), exclusively for women (female dorm) or a mixture of both (mix dorm).
Hostels will often have many dorm rooms, or also have private rooms like in hotels for guests who have needs. However, the price of a private room will usually be more expensive and close to the price of a regular hotel room.
1.1. Advantages of hostels
Of course, the biggest advantage of this type of hostel is that it is cheap . Usually those who like to travel backpacks will choose hostels because their costs are much cheaper, there are places where the price is 10-20 times cheaper than in a regular hotel. I am no exception, I often choose hostels with dorm beds to sleep in when traveling to explore.
For example, in the last times I traveled to some Southeast Asian countries, the cost of sleeping in a dorm room in a hostel ranged from $6 – $12/night in countries with strong tourism such as Indonesia, Thailand. Lan… However, in Singapore or Brunei, the dorm room price is also relatively high, but still much cheaper than in the hotel.
A dorm bed that I stayed in Singapore
The second advantage of the hostel is its openness and offers many opportunities to communicate with other guests sharing the room. In some hostels, they will equip common lounges so that guests can comfortably sit and chat with each other. Therefore, if you are an open and sociable person, it is very easy to make friends with people from many different countries.
Convenience is another advantage of hostels. For hostels with dorm rooms, you only need 1 bed to lie on your back every night is more than enough. For the majority of backpackers, they will usually go exploring all day and only return to the hostel when it is dark. Therefore, they only need a place to shower and a bed to sleep. However, this convenience also comes with many unforeseen risks.
1.2. Disadvantages of hostels
The first downside is privacy . Because the rooms in the hostel are usually dorm rooms with many bunk beds placed close together, so you will not have the same private space as in a regular hotel. Bathrooms and toilets will also be shared in the room, or in a separate area shared between rooms.
However, now hostels also have private room services similar to hotels. Adding such a variety of rooms is to meet the diverse needs of today’s tourists, who both want to stay in a cheap hostel but also need a private space.
The price of private rooms in hostels is often cheaper than in hotels outside. Therefore, depending on the needs of each person, if you want to be both cheap and private, please choose!
For example, below is a dorm room I stayed in, the beds are close together and there is no curtain. This room is only suitable for men, not women!
A dorm room with beds placed close together and no curtains or closets at all.
Another disadvantage of staying in a hostel is that in dorm rooms there are often no lockers (called lockers ) for each person. Therefore, all your belongings and personal belongings must be preserved by yourself. There are some other hostels that will equip each dorm room with a separate locker with a locker key for each person. If you are careful, you should choose hostels that list this item in the description when booking! Personal items such as soap and towels are sometimes not available! Those of you who are used to staying at a catered hotel should consider when choosing a hostel.
In the description, there is a list of lockers, if you are careful, pay attention to this criterion when choosing a hostel!
Security and safety are also a factor you need to consider when choosing a hostel. Some hostels have mixed dorm rooms , ie men and women share the same room, so if you are used to dressing comfortably like at home, you must be careful to limit it.
There are some very cheap hostels, but the location is far from the center and main amusement parks, so sometimes you will encounter a lot of inconvenience in commuting and moving. And travel costs are often very expensive. Therefore, you should also note, choose hostels that meet the conditions near the center, but cheaply!
Some hostels are far from the center, so at night it is often quite deserted and unsafe. You should also consider these factors.
1.3. How to choose a hostel?
After going through the advantages and disadvantages of hostels , you will proceed to search and choose a hostel to book a room. Usually, people will book rooms on world-famous booking sites such as booking.com , hotel.com, hostelworld.com … Or if in Vietnam you can also book on sites like vntrip , ivivu …
The choice of hostel will be according to each person’s own criteria. However, the common criterion that many people prioritize the most is the low price. Before booking, you should check the reviews (reviews) of the hostel you will be staying at from other guests. These reviews will help you a lot.
For example, some reviews from previous guests on a hostel on booking.com
If you want to find a hostel that includes breakfast, filter by the criteria „include breakfast“. Or criteria such as strong wifi to work, motorbike rental for convenient travel, airport shuttle, etc.
Hostels on booking.com also list in great detail the distance from their hostel location to entertainment venues or famous landmarks. For example, the picture below is the distance from the hostel to the surrounding famous spots.
They detail the distance from the hostel to the surrounding landmarks
Therefore, you should consider the distance from the airport to the hostel and from the hostel to the places you want to visit. From there, choose for yourself an appropriate travel route, saving maximum costs. Usually, the closer the hostel location is to the center, the more expensive it is and vice versa.
1.4. Some notes when staying at the hostel
If you have chosen to stay at a hostel to save costs and minimize services, you need to determine some issues in advance:
- You will not have the comfort and privacy of a regular hotel.
- Necessary items such as towels, soap, brushes, dryers, combs… are usually not available (some hostsel may have them). So you should prepare before each of your trips.
- You must take care of your personal belongings and belongings. Should bring money and other important documents when going out and leave only backpacks and clothes.
- Sometimes you will feel that the room is quite noisy, or too bright due to sharing a dorm room with many people, so this problem cannot be avoided. You should prepare to close your ears, cover your eyes before you go.
2. What is Homestay?
Just like hostels, homestays are a new type of tourist accommodation popular in Vietnam in the past few years. Homestay is a form in which guests will stay and live with the host and local people.
In the original sense, when you rent a homestay to stay, you will stay with the host, can eat with them too. It is also possible that you will participate in some of the household’s daily activities such as cooking, gardening, shopping, etc.
Of course, your bedroom will have to be separate and private. The rented guest rooms will be separate from the landlord’s room. However, as I see it, there are now quite a few homestays where the owner does not live there, but in another house next to or right next to it. That means you will rent a room in a large house and live according to your preferences.
2.1. Advantages of homestay
One of the most outstanding advantages of staying in a homestay is that you will live in harmony with the culture and customs of the local people . You will experience everyday life as well as immerse yourself in daily life in the lands you visit. Thus, you will learn more about their historical culture. Currently, Western tourists are very interested in this type of travel experience with local people.
In the northern regions such as Sapa, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, etc., this type of homestay tourism is very developed and retains its meaning. However, in some other places, homestay no longer has the same meaning as the original. You will not have to stay with the host, but will stay with other groups of tourists in the same house, or in a large house alone.
If given the opportunity or opportunity, you will sometimes be led by the host to places that only the locals know about. Or they will guide you to participate in a stage or a job that is only available in that locality.
2.2. Disadvantages of homestay
One of the downsides of homestay is the amenities. Because this is basically the home of the locals, it has been renovated and decorated to welcome tourists back to stay. So there will definitely be a lack of amenities or services like in a hotel.
Another disadvantage that you will have to accept, is the issue of “ arbitrary membership „. Sometimes living with the landlord will make you feel uncomfortable but that is the rule, the way of life of such people. So you have to accept and adapt to have an interesting discovery trip. However, for many others, this disadvantage is their advantage and enjoyment. Many people choose to stay at a homestay to experience the local culture , style and lifestyle.
2.3. How to choose a homestay?
Choosing a homestay is also a matter of concern. Usually you will choose according to spacious criteria, have a private room or eat with the host, the price includes meals, etc. In my opinion, for foreign guests when coming to Vietnam, their top criteria is to experience life with local people, to do daily tasks with them or to explore places that the host will recommend. to them.
However, nowadays, some homestays have their own houses and live separately from the host, so the above factors are less and less important to Vietnamese people. Mainly you will choose convenience, comfort and affordable price.
2.4. Some notes when staying at a homestay
When choosing to stay at a homestay, you need to note some of the following points to be comfortable and happy with the host
- Because you live with the landlord, you should remember to pay attention to the problems of their eating and sleeping time.
- Should respect the customs and religion that the host follows, avoid discrimination and aversion to get the best trip.
- At homestay, there will be no services such as reception, housekeeping, etc., everything you have to do yourself. From cooking, laundry to other essential items. Therefore, you need to be fully prepared before going.
- Depending on the homestay location, you should prepare the necessary personal items. Because many times the homestay you book will be in the countryside, or far away, so there will not be supermarkets or convenience stores, grocery stores when needed.
- Pay attention to be polite. Do not manipulate the homeowner’s furniture. You should ask carefully what items or services you are allowed or not allowed to use.
3. Conclusion
Here are some basic knowledge that I introduce to you. Thereby helping people understand more about what a hostel is , what a homestay is . After reading this article, I think you can completely book yourself a suitable type of accommodation based on your needs and travel plans.
Good luck!