Propaganda About Hostel's You Shouldn't Fall For
Hostels have been the victim of some serious bad PR over the years, mostly fuelled by scary movies and hotel industry shade. But here’s the truth: modern hostels are nothing like the nightmare propaganda you’ve heard. They’re vibrant, creative, social hubs where you can meet travellers from every corner of the world, crash in surprisingly comfy beds, and most importantly spend your money on adventures instead. So let’s bust some of the biggest hostel myths and how you can change your travelling game.
St Christopher's Inn, Edinburgh
“Hostels are unsafe.”
The propaganda: The second you step into a shared dorm, your wallet’s gone, your passport’s gone, and somehow even your socks are gone.
The truth: Modern hostels are basically Fort Knox, but with way better Wi-Fi. At St Christopher’s Inn we have under-bed lockers, often right beneath your bunk, where you can lock up your items and fully embrace your inner party animal without a care in the world. And across the board, there’s a marked improvement too: a 2022 Hostelworld survey found that only 3% of hostel guests reported theft or security issues during their stay.
Add to that: key-card access, 24/7 reception, CCTV in common areas, and a battalion of friendly staff trained to keep everything running smoothly during your stay. Those features, combined with the natural “we’re all in this together” backpacker vibe, create a safety net you rarely find elsewhere else.
Females don't rule out hostels! We have a number of female only dorms in each of our locations ranging from London to Vienna. Coming with the same safety perks as our shared dorms, but with an extra layer of safety and security. Think of it as the best of both worlds, a vibrant hostel and city scene right on your doorstep, but now with a cosy safe space designed to suit you.
Click here to check out our locations now , a safe and budget friendly way to travel.
“Hostels are only for 19-year-old backpackers.”
The propaganda: Hostels are just for broke 19-year-olds on gap years, lugging guitars and living off instant noodles.
The truth: That stereotype is as outdated as thinking hostels make you clean toilets for your bed. These days, hostels attract a wild mix of digital nomads typing away on their laptops, couples exploring new cities together, solo adventurers in their 30s and 40s, even retirees proving age has nothing to do with adventure. And it’s not all bunk beds either, we offer private rooms with en-suites, if you're craving a more private escape. With selected hostels offering apartment style rooms there’s a bed for all age groups. Hostels have also leveled up, becoming community hubs where travelers of every age and budget can swap stories, plan trips, and realise age should never define booking a hostel.
Not sure what image would go here or if it is needed as all the others have one. I tried a couple however thought that they made hostel's look dirty by putting an image of a dirty one if you get what I mean.
“Hostels are dirty”
The propaganda: Imagine grimy showers, mystery stains on the sheets, and bathrooms you’d only enter if you had a death wish.
The truth: In reality, that image is more fiction than fact. Hostels today know reviews rule everything, if a place isn’t clean, travellers will torch it online faster than you can say “one-star rating.” That's why we keep standards high, consistently. We’re talking fresh sheets, clean bathrooms, and spaces that shock anyone who hasn’t been debunked yet! If you have a person in mind who always seems to swat away the idea of hostels, share this blog! You’ll be amazed how many more myths we can debunk.
And here’s the kicker: you’re getting all that for a fraction of what you’d pay at a hotel. At St Christopher’s, you can crash in a dorm for prices as low as £11.49. Click here to explore our rooms across 23 of our locations .
“You can’t have privacy in a hostel.”
The propaganda: Step into a hostel and kiss your personal space goodbye. You’ll be crammed into a room with strangers, brushing your teeth shoulder-to-shoulder, and sleeping inches away from someone’s snoring face.
The truth: Those were hostels years ago. These days, hostel design has seriously leveled up. Curtain-covered pods, capsule-style bunks, and even private en-suite rooms are becoming an additional norm. At St Christopher’s Inn, you can book our private single capsules. A modern upgrade for a hostel bunk, with charging ports and reading lights, it’s like having a budget-friendly mini hotel room, with the bonus of a social scene just outside your curtain.
And if you’re craving full privacy? You can grab a private room (still way cheaper than a hotel) while keeping access to all the perks that make hostels special, bars, events, walking tours, and new travel buddies. The whole “no privacy” myth is hotel propaganda designed to keep you paying triple the price for a bed you’ll barely see. In reality, hostels let you pick your vibe: open dorms if you’re feeling social, pods if you want balance, or a private suite if you need some “me time.”
So no, privacy isn’t dead, it just costs a lot less than you think.
“Hostels are just for saving money.”
The propaganda: Hostels are cheap, sure—but you give up everything else. Comfort? Gone. Convenience? Forget it. Atmosphere? Nonexistent. Basically, you’re trading a bed for misery.
The truth: Total nonsense. Hostels aren’t just about saving money, they’re about the kind of experiences you simply can’t buy at a hotel. Smashing a pub quiz, joining in the cocktail making classes, or swapping stories with a stranger turned friend over a pint. Those are the moments that are priceless. The affordability is the cherry on top, not the whole cake.
Yes, you’ll save cash compared to a hotel. Top benefits such as buzzing on-site bars, and social events that make meeting fellow travelers ridiculously easy, especially when you are a solo traveller.
So while your wallet will thank you, the real win is the community, the culture, and the memories you’ll make. Cheap? Absolutely. But sacrifice? Not a chance.
Top Tips when booking a hostel
Check the reviews - Reviews are your best friend. Your fellow travellers say it how it is, so if a hostel has glowing reviews, give it a chance it just might surprise you!
Explore room options - A lot of hostels now have an amazing range of rooms. From private capsules, female only dorms, to 20 bed mixed dorms, it’s important to take your time in picking what is the best option for you. If you need any help, you can contact a team member by clicking here .
Location - One of the most important factors to save you from expensive late night taxi fairs. Our hostels are always planted right in the middle of the city so you’ll never be far from the action.
Check what’s included - Packing items such as towels and chargers can save you the hassle when getting to your destination. Make sure to check out the food and drink offers, with us, 25% off food and drink if you’re a hostel guest!
Book direct - Booking direct is almost always the cheapest option, with exclusive deals and complimentary benefits. Make sure to minimise spending on your room, to maximise excitement on your trip.