Hostels are still a bit of a mystery to some. In some cases, hostels are run by Housing Associations and charities, accommodating certain clientele such as students, drug addicts, or homeless people, on a more long-term basis. Most hostels today are geared towards accommodating international travellers of all ages who are looking to save some money and make new friends in a foreign environment. Here is a list of some differences between what you can expect at hostels, in particular at Ocean Island Backpackers, and most hotels.
| Hostels - pros |
Hostels - cons |
- Cheaper than anywhere else to stay in Victoria especially in the summer. Some, like ours, offer a range of accommodation—from shared dorms to mini-private rooms to hotel-style rooms. We also have great discounts on longer-term stays.
- Meet all kinds of interesting people from around the world. Get inside tips from fellow travelers, find travel partners and make new friends.
- More social and less formal atmosphere.
- Lots of places to be besides your room—café with live music, Dining Room, etc.
- Extensive kitchen facilities mean you can save money by cooking for yourself OR eat (& drink) cheaply in our café.
- Wicked travel information online (www.oceanislandvictoriaguide.com), in print and in person! We can steer you away from the typical tourist traps and tell you about all the fun and interesting things you can see and do in Victoria and area that are off the beaten path.
- Information more geared towards traveling on a budget.
- Travelers generally have a different philosophy in terms of their trips—these are often not prearranged.
- Cheap do-it-yourself laundry, high speed and free wireless, cheap internet terminal access and tech support.
- Secured bicycle and baggage storage, longer term available.
- Guitar, games and an assortment of books are available for guests to borrow.
- We also host fun café events like Quiz Nights and Twister Competitions.
- With the WWOOFing and Work For Stay program, guests can do some housekeeping or other work for a free bed.
- Many independent hostels tend to have more character, are more colorful and often showcase unique décor.
- Inexpensive summer tours to beautiful natural spaces.
- Environmentally friendly as space is shared and there is a lower consumption of resources.
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- Sorry, no porters, you’ll have to carry your own bags up the stairs although, there’s usually someone around to help!
- No elevators in most hostels, and here it’s only a maximum of four flights of stairs.
- Dorm rooms can mean less privacy and more noise. We sell ear plugs if you need them… as well as offer private rooms!
- We clean the facilities daily but we ask that guests to help do their part and clean up any of their own messes.
- Clean sheets are provided, but you must make your own bed in dormitories and in our smaller private rooms.
- Towels are not included in your stay. There’s a $5 deposit, $4 of it which you get back upon return.
- No phones in rooms, but we have 5 payphones around the building that receive incoming calls, and we also sell long-distance phone cards.
- No wake up calls. Alarm clocks are available for sale at the Front Desk for $5.
- No concierge but there’s an enormous amount of print and online information available here for what you need. If that’s not enough, our Front Desk staff is happy to help you out.
- The Front Desk is often staffed by only one or two people. This can mean a wait during busy times.
- No room service.
- No TVs in most bedrooms although we do have wireless internet throughout building.
- Breakfast is not included but we do sell many breakfast items at the Front Desk for a few dollars.
- No visitors allowed in dorm rooms—meetings have to take place in common areas. This does not apply to those staying in private rooms.
- We have 28 full bathrooms located around the building, most shared by a few rooms.
- A lot of our private rooms are very small to accommodate those on a tight budget. We also have larger ones. It’s best to check our extensive website for more details.
- No free parking but have suggestions of cheap nearby parking spots.
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| Hotels - pros |
Hotels - cons |
- Privacy, since all their rooms are private ones
- Private ensuite bathrooms almost always available.
- Towels, soaps and other extras often come with the room.
- Buffet or continental breakfast often included in price.
- More individualized service (i.e. wake up calls, concierge service, room service, etc.)
- Generally less busy Front Desk.
- More standardized size of rooms, normally including cable TVs.
- Normally have elevators and porters.
- Often offer free parking.
- Often offer a full service bar and restaurant.
- Some have extra amenities like swimming pools and exercise rooms.
- Some include wireless access or internet computers.
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- More expensive than hostels.
- Very difficult to meet other people.
- Usually no access to a full kitchen.
- Cheapest ones are generally not in the city center.
- Cheaper hotels may mean much lower standards in cleanliness, safety or location, etc. Hostels are all-round cheaper simply due to their very nature.
- Tend to have less character than many independently run hostels.
- Lots of pre-arranged vacation groups staying at hotels.
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"The difference between a traveller and a tourist is this: The traveller isn't sure where he is going whilst the tourist isn't at all sure where he's been." - Paul Theroux, The Happy Isles of Oceania |
