Picked a hostel over a cheap motel in Austin and it changed how I travel

I was planning a 4 day trip to Austin last month and had to choose between a $50 motel off I-35 or a $30 bunk at a hostel downtown. The motel had its own room and a TV, but the hostel had free breakfast and was walking distance to everything. I went with the hostel because I figured I could spend the extra cash on food and drinks instead. Best decision honestly. The place had lockers for my stuff, I met a guy from Sweden who showed me this taco spot that wasn't even on Google Maps, and I saved like $80 total over the trip. The only downside was sharing a bathroom but it was clean enough. Has anyone else picked a hostel over a private room and ended up loving it more?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas.tyler25d agoMost Upvoted

sam17 said "zero chance of snoring roommates" like that's a guarantee at a motel. Man, I've stayed at cheap motels where the walls are basically cardboard and you hear everything from the room next door plus the highway noise. At least in a hostel you can buy earplugs and know what you're signing up for. Also nobody's talking about how motels off I-35 usually have that weird thin carpet smell and a mini fridge that sounds like a dying lawnmower all night. The real question is which one lets you actually sleep, and honestly I've had worse nights at motels than hostels.

sam1725d ago

I get why you liked the hostel vibe, but I'd take that $50 motel any day. After a long day walking around, I want my own bathroom and zero chance of snoring roommates keeping me up. The taco spot sounds dope though, I'll give you that.