The first time I stayed in a hostel — in the hippie town of Montezuma, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast — the room held only a twin mattress on the floor. The shared shower was outdoors. I’ve blocked out what the bathroom looked like (probably for good reason). These fine accommodations cost $5 per night.

If your memory of staying in a hostel is something like this, it’s time to try the experience again. Modern hostels are chic, comfortable and clean — and still cheap. Thinking about staying in a hostel for your next adventure? Here are a few tips.

Check the amenities — fee or free?

At the Freehand Miami, there’s complimentary iced coffee in the lobby all day long and free bicycles for guests to use. At Isaacs Hostel in Dublin, guests enjoy free breakfast, free use of the sauna and daily free walking tours. Even when the nightly room rate is low, many hostels do offer attractive freebies to guests, such as free Wi-Fi, free coffee and free events/tours.

That being said, you can’t expect hostels to offer every amenity you’d find at a nice hotel. Some hostels don’t have soap or shampoo. Some charge a fee for a towel. Read the description for each hostel carefully before you book.

Even if you’re staying in hostels, you still need travel insurance.

You may not be worried about insuring your $25/night hostel stay, but travel insurance is absolutely essential for any international trip. The right plan can protect world travelers in case of expensive medical emergencies and other crises. We recommend the OneTrip Emergency Medical plan for budget-conscious travelers. It’s really affordable travel insurance that includes only post-departure benefits: emergency medical/dental and emergency transportation benefits, as well as benefits for travel delays, missed connections and lost/stolen or damaged baggage.

Before you book, decide how much privacy you want.

Some hostels in high-demand urban areas do have large rooms packed with bunk beds, but that’s not the norm. A more typical arrangement is a room with four beds (two bunks) and a shared bathroom. If you’re a light sleeper, or you just prefer to have your own space, you can get a private room with a shared bathroom.

When choosing a hostel, it’s all about the location.

El Misti Ipanema is just steps from the world-famous beach in Rio. Generator Paris gives you a million-dollar view of Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur from the rooftop deck. Castle Rock Hostel is right below Edinburgh Castle. For frugal travelers, it’s a huge thrill to stay in the heart of iconic cities without paying hundreds of dollars for the privilege.

Design-focused hostels offer an unforgettable stay.

Why settle for a bland, beige hotel room when you could stay in an old jail cell in Stockholm or a 150-year-old neo-Baroque building in St. Petersburg? Upscale hostels — sometimes called poshtels — have the look and feel of boutique hotels for a fraction of the price.

Do be aware, however, that these upscale hostels may charm you right out of your travel budget. Some have award-winning restaurants and lively cocktail bars on site, where the price of dinner and a few drinks may be double the nightly room rate.

Read more: The Pros and Cons of Staying in Poshtels

Look for hostels that offer the same safety and security measures as hotels.

Wondering, “Are hostels safe?” The answer, for any modern hostel, is almost always yes. Most hostels offer secure lockers, secure guest access, 24-hour staffing and same-sex rooms.

That being said, you should take basic precautions to keep yourself and your stuff safe. Don’t flaunt expensive jewelry or electronics, and keep your cash, credit cards and passport in your pillowcase when you sleep. We like this tip from TripSavvy: “Before leaving to travel, spend some time placing stickers or duct tape over your laptop and camera to make them look old and tattered.”¹

Read more:

• How to Protect Your Tech While Traveling
• How to Hide Money and Valuables While Traveling

Not all hostels have the same vibe.

As you can tell from its name, Kabul Party Hostel in Barcelona is not a serene place: “Please note,” it tells guests, “Kabul is a Party Hostel where sleeping might be difficult but fun assured.” Not all hostels are so candid about the atmosphere, however.

Geoffrey Morrison, who has stayed at hundreds of hostels around the world, recommends taking a close look at the photos on hostel review sites. “The pictures tell a story, directly and indirectly… Is every photo a bunch of people drinking? Party hostel. Are there lots of photos of people reading or playing board games? Probably chill and relaxed.”² Two of the best hostel websites are hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com.

Some hostel proprietors offer incredible hospitality.

One of the best things about staying in hostels — aside from the low rates — is the warm and friendly staff. Da Lat Friendly Fun in Da Lat, Vietnam, is beloved by travelers for its extraordinarily nice owners, who have (according to reviewers) driven an ill guest to the hospital in the middle of the night, mailed sneakers back to the guest who lost them, and baked a personalized birthday cake for another guest. They make killer banana pancakes, too.

Ready for your vacation? As soon as you’ve purchased your plane tickets or your hostel stays, buy travel insurance. The sooner you purchase, the longer your coverage window. Get a quote!

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