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Mon, 30 Jan 2006

The best hostel

I've stayed in many hostels around the world, and there is a minimum set of things that can make the difference from a place to sleep, to a place to stay, to a place to hang-out and to one you enjoy.

First off, you have to have the basics right, otherwise you'll get nowhere fast.

• Have a comfortable bed
• At most 8 people per room
• One bathroom per 8 people
• Provide linen for beds
• Provide a daypack sized locker

• Individual reading lights
• Provide a towel on check-in
• Provide soap in the bathroom
• Have a common area
• Have free maps / brouchures of the local area
• Be able to point out museums, nightspots and other activities
• Have Internet access
• Be friendly and smile
• Have either a backpack sized wardrobe or locker (not everyone likes their stuff on the floor)
• Free washing powder and/or fabric softener

• Provide free breakfast
  It doesn't cost much, only about half the people will be up in time for it anyway
• Have a TV area
  Sometimes you don't want to go out and get drunk
• Have a reading area
  See above
• Have a kitchen, for guests to use
  Not cooking is fun! But cheap kebabs and pizza can get boring fast.
• Provide wireless Internet for free (they are bringing their laptop, so aren't occupying any of your own seating space)
• Assistance with booking other hostels in the same, or other, places
• Assistance with booking further travel stuff (where to go, or actually doing it)
• Have payphones and/or phonecards available
• Laundry area

• Provide dinner, either free or at a price
• Free Internet access
• Free Laundry Area
• Have an attached (or closely associated) bar
• Free pickup from common, large travel points
• Providing complimentary shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste

• Free phonecalls around the world
• Free glass of Champagne or Beer or drink on arrival

Everything on this list is something I've experienced at one hostel or another when I've been travelling – so far not all at the same place.

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Anand Kumria
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