A hostel worker in Barcelona told me to stop booking private rooms and I saved $400
I used to always book private rooms in hostels because I thought I needed the quiet after a day of walking around. This worker at check-in just looked at me and said "you're missing the whole point, the common room is where the cheap dinner tips come from." She was right. Next night I switched to a dorm bed, met a guy who knew a market that sold day-old pastries for 1 euro. Saved $400 on that 10 day trip just from hearing people talk. Has anyone else had their whole travel budget change because a local told you something basic?