Finally stopped booking hostels with 12-bed dorms after a nightmare in Barcelona last summer

Used to pack into the cheapest bunk I could find to save $15 a night, but after getting my phone stolen from under my pillow at 3am, I now pay an extra $8 for a 4-bed room with lockers and actually sleep through the night.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_john5d ago

Well sure, but a little risk is part of traveling. I've stayed in dozens of 12-bed dorms across Europe and Asia and never lost a thing. You just have to be smart - lock your valuables in your daypack and sleep with it wrapped in your sleeping bag liner. I actually prefer the bigger rooms because you meet more people. Some of my best travel memories came from late night conversations with strangers in those giant dorms. The money you save adds up quick over a long trip too.

oliver_baker495d ago

Barcelona's a nightmare for theft. I had a similar thing happen in a 6-bed in Prague. @the_john, you're right that being smart helps, but locking stuff in your daypack doesn't stop someone from cutting the bag open in their sleep. People get bold when it's dark and everyone's snoring. The savings aren't worth waking up to an empty wallet. I'd rather pay that extra few bucks and actually get some rest.

johnson.eva4d ago

Oliver in Prague with 6 beds is basically a private room compared to 12. I've stayed in hostels from Bangkok to Berlin. The 12 bed dorms are where the real stories happen. You're trading a little comfort for a lot of experience. Most thefts in dorms are from people who leave stuff out or don't lock it right. I use a small padlock on my daypack zippers and wrap the strap around my arm. Never had a problem. @oliver_baker49 you're right people get bold at night but so do the good conversations. That 3am talk with a stranger from Chile is worth more than the ten bucks you saved on a private room. Fear of what might happen stops you from getting the real travel stories.