Traveling Europe: Hotel vs Hostel vs Cruise
Which one should you choose and why?
This post is to help those who are planning a trip to Europe and are not sure which would be the best option for them. Perhaps you are traveling with young children and don’t know what would be practical. I will help you better understand some of your options with honest insight on when each accommodation will be best.
Sidenote: I know you might be asking, “What about B&B? Couch surfing? House swap?” I won’t be discussing those because, frankly, I have never chosen those accommodations while traveling through Europe. I would rather discuss what I have first hand knowledge of. Hopefully in the future, I will experience those things and share my honest thoughts.
Hotel
I am sure everyone reading this blog has stayed in a hotel at least once. It’s usually everyone’s first choice when they start planning a trip. Especially if they are new to the whole experience of traveling. Hotels are definitely a great option. They are all over Europe and most will provide a unique look or experience. You can really pick and choose exactly what you want with a few hours of research and scrolling through travel sites. The downside is, they can be expensive in popular cities and you will need to spend a lot for great location, view and amenities/services. You may not mind this, but if you’re just looking for a place to rest your head and be off exploring the city as soon as the sun comes up, there might be a better option for you.
Hotels are a great option during your stay in Europe if luxury and privacy are important to you. I’m not saying all the hotels in Europe are luxurious, but it’s the option you should choose if luxury is what you’re looking for. In addition, the room will be totally yours. Which is nice if you want privacy for your family or to sleep in all day and bar-hop all night without judgement. Hotels are also a good option if you need to stay in a very specific part of a city. Let’s say you’re visiting someone during your stay, you will have an easier time finding a hotel that’s near them than you would a hostel.
When to stay in a hotel:
- Comfort & luxury is important to you
- Looking for a specific location & room
- Guests will be visiting you during your stay
- Traveling with children and/or a baby
When not to stay in a hotel:
- Traveling on a budget
- Solo traveller
Hostel
Hostels are similar to hotels except instead of booking a room, you’re renting a bed. Many backpackers, students and budget travelers stay in hostels because it’s a much cheaper way to stay overnight in Europe. It’s important that I preface I have found hostels to be in better locations than hotels for a fraction of the cost. (Just make sure you look up the address before reserving.) Almost all include free breakfast and wifi too, which can be a lifesaver. Some hostels will have private rooms around the same price as hotels, but most are shared rooms with multiple bunk beds and a shower/toilet outside of your room. However, not all hostels are the same and you may be surprised what you prefer from a hostel. Rooms can be unisex, have private bathrooms, look like a hotel, look like a sleepaway camp, be crowded, be almost empty… In London, I stayed in two different hostels. One was with 4 beds, but it was noisy, smelly and unsafe. The other was a 14-bed room above a bar, but was quiet, clean and everyone was friendly. The 14-bed room was also less than $20 a night and half the beds were empty! The only downside was waiting in line to shower because there were only two tubs for the entire floor.
One thing that is really great about hostels is you can easily make friends during your stay. That’s why I always recommend hostels for people traveling alone but don’t actually like feeling alone. I’ve met some amazing people while staying in hostels. The staff is usually extremely helpful and friendly too. They’re always people passionate about traveling and love getting to know new faces. A majority come from a different country as well. When I was staying in Barcelona, most of the staff were students interning for the summer from other countries.
Maybe you’re not traveling alone, but with a large group of friends. Hostels are also great for that because you can all choose to stay in a large room together (if the beds aren’t reserved already). Hostel websites will usually give you the option of exactly which room you can pick. It varies in price and can be anywhere from a private queen bed room to something like a 20-bed room full of bunk beds. If you’re going to Europe with ten friends, all being in the same room might be a fun idea and something that isn’t easy to come by with a hotel or cruise.
When to stay in a hostel:
- Traveling Solo
- Traveling with a large group of friends
- On a budget
When not to stay in a hostel:
- On a budget but like complete privacy (cheap hotel would be better)
- Don’t like sharing a bathroom & shower
- Traveling with a baby/children
Cruise
Cruise ships are a fun and easy way to travel because they’re like inclusive resorts and move every night. You have all you can eat buffets, free and priced restaurants, bars, casinos, spa, live entertainment, pools, gym, library/computers and kids clubs. It’s very different compared to the hostels and hotels in Europe.
I should note that cruises are loved and hated by many. I’d say a majority of relaxed vacationers love them, but people that travel as a hobby or career don’t seem to like them. The reason they’re so great for vacationers is they don’t require much effort. It’s really great for seniors and parents traveling with children. On the other hand, purposeful travelers like to see many things and to immerse themselves in a city. It’s difficult to do that when you arrive to a port at 9AM and need to be back to port by 6PM that evening.
I personally like to think of cruises as a traveling sampler. I get to visit different countries/cities for a day, and if I really enjoyed them, I can come back and stay longer in the future. In the past, there have been some destinations I’d look forward to visiting, but after going for one day on a cruise, I’d be glad I didn’t choose to stay there for long. Usually because it didn’t have much to offer besides a few great pictures. Who wants to fly 10 hours and pay for a hotel just for a few pictures? 😉
When to go on a cruise:
- Don’t really care where you’re going, you just want to relax
- Traveling with a child who gets easily bored
- Scared of flying in a plane
- Don’t like changing accommodations, but want to visit different countries in a limited time
When not to go on a cruise:
- Don’t like schedules and having a time limit
- Free wifi is a must for you
- Couldn’t care less about included food and entertainment, you just want to be on land exploring
I hope you found this information useful and have a better understanding of where you should stay during your time in Europe. 🙂
-Ayla ♥
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These are great tips, Ayla! 🙂 Especially about hostels. Safe travelers will always pick hotels, but I guess hostels have a flair of their own, especially in Amsterdam, Portugal and Sweden
Thank you! 🙂 Yes, so many cool and unique hostels in Europe!
Ayla, that was a great travel post. Thank you very much. I felt like you have a fair and unbiased comparison. I learned quite a bit about hostels. Yes, this was really helpful.
Thank you, Tim! Maybe unbiased because I enjoy all three 🙂 I’m so glad you found it helpful.
You are welcome. Happy and safe travels.
These were all excellent recommendations. I enjoyed benefiting from your traveling experience.
Thank you 😊❤️
I’ve done all three in the past. I think accommodations are a fascinating topic, just because so much of them depend on one’s lifestyle, funds, and other preferences. For example, I like the convenience of cruises with the fine dining/buffets and ability to pack so many destinations in 1-2 weeks, but it really doesn’t give an in-depth look into the places visited. I stayed in a LOT of hostels while traveling Europe when I was younger and, while I got to meet a ton of cool people (and inexpensively so), I’ve come to that point in life that I would rather get a hotel for privacy’s sake. Having a better-paying job makes a difference, and I guess that’s a part of growing up! Thanks for this post. 🙂
I agree completely:) I have always been a private person but I do really enjoy meeting new people. I think I’m still at the phase where making new friends from around the world is exciting to me. Haha Thank you for your lovely comment ❤️
This is absolutely very detailed and informative blog, Thanks for sharing. keep it coming 🙂
Thank you 🙂 hopefully I will be traveling more in 2021 so I can write more posts haha
That’s a nice post which would be very helpful to someone travelling new to that region. I have travelled in UK and Switzerland using a Youth Hostel membership, and found many families also had preferred the hostels. Some of these hostels also provided a family room and ensuite while most had shared bunkbeds. If one is not too particular about luxury and considering you are out most day, a hostel provides a great option. I found Youth hostels are great and a safe bet, and always in great locations. The bonus is a chance to get to know other travellers, and the shared kitchen is a great place to mingle.
Yes, I agree about youth hostels! I didn’t see any families during my stays but it was because of the type of hostels I was staying in. Some hostels are very similar to hotels in that they have private rooms and activities for the kids (not just young adults hahah).
interesting post and different from your usual! I must say I do prefer a hotel over all choices I think. Of course Air BnB gives us loads more choices these days. I was starting to think a cruise wasnt a bad idea when corona virus popped up and well… i dont think theres a cruise id get on now!
Hahah even before corona I thought it was sketchy we’d all touch the same tongs at the buffet and sit down to eat right after. And how often do they sanitize a ship? Probably as often as a plane 😂 but the cruises I went on always had us sanitize our hands before coming into the dining rooms.
Very informative & great tips to keep in mind for sure!
Thank you ☺️
Informative. Thanks
Great write up and very helpful tips/points there. Thanks much ! 🙂
You’re welcome! Thanks for checking it out 🙂