Unpopular opinion: hostels aren't actually cheaper once you add everything up

I did a week in Portland last summer. Stayed at a hostel that was $45 a night. But then I had to pay $10 for breakfast, $8 to use the lockers, and another $5 for towel rental. Plus I ate out way more because no real kitchen. My buddy got a motel 6 outside downtown for $65 a night with free parking and a mini fridge. After I added earplugs and a sleep mask I bought, we spent about the same. Has anyone else crunched the numbers on this?

2 comments

2 Comments

averywright9d ago

Hostels nickel and dime you to death nowadays. $4 for a padlock at the front desk, $3 for a shower token, $7 to store your bag for a few hours after checkout. Motel 6 gives you a room, a fridge, and a microwave for not much more. The math barely works in a hostel's favor anymore unless you're splitting a $100 private room with three other people.

the_susan9d agoTop Commenter

Did you ever stay at one of those hostels that gives you a free breakfast of stale bread and jam...