Living in a hostel during your travels is quite a neat experience. I have never seen the horror movies but in real life, it's quite a friendly environment.
Balmer's Herberge in Interlaken, SwitzerlandYou essentially pay $20-$25 dollars on average for a one night stay and you live in a dormitory style arrangement. Compared to expensive hotels that can range from $100 and above, living in hostels isn't too bad if you're traveling by yourself or with friends. If you're traveling with kids or a wife that wants complete privacy, then hostel life may not be for you.
The community room at Wombat's Hostel, Munich
Most hotels have a room with multiple beds in them and you share the space with all the other travelers. The bathrooms and showers are communal just like in a dorm. You have the option to go co-ed or with same gender when it comes to the dorm arrangements. The hostel provides sheets and blankets but you have to pick them up and make the bed yourself. Once you're ready to check out, you will have to pull the sheets and blankets and dump them in the laundry.
Foresteria Valdese Hostel in Venice
One of the things I loved about living in the hostels was the opportunity to meet other travelers. Since you're in a dorm style arrangement, people are more inclined to talk to each other and make friends. Most hostels also have a community room and some even have their own bar downstairs for people to socialize in.
