Hostel Life.

It's been a while. Mostly because I've been in London for like a month sorting out stuff which is (oddly enough) not really very interesting. For a while I may be blogging about my teaching experiences. Substitute teaching is going to suuuuuck. Ha.

So I've been in this room of mine for about 2 weeks now and I thought it was time to give my completely unbiased and rational observation on the differences between staying in hostels vs. staying in a room. Let me begin by describing my current room.

- Small. Really, really small. Almost to the point of hilarity (almost). However as a space it is what it is and it's not like I need to perform complex and varied dance choreography in here - so I'm not too phased.

- In a nice/safe area - Wapping. This generally means 'dull' and I guess you'd be right. Lots of families and otherwise young professionals. However, there are some really cool canals and docks close by. It really can be quite pretty.

- Close to a supermarket, gym and happening areas of London.

Ok so that's out of the way. Let me just say that as a base of operations it's perfect. Also there's no lease so if I find a better place I can totally bail. People are welcome to stay on the couches in the living room. Awesome.

(Because you're probably not going to fit in here)

I'm going to break this ANALYSIS down into categories for your reading pleasure. I'm going to bold headings and everything. All the pictures are the ones I haven't put up because they're not really all that useful for you guys to see ... UNTIL NOW!

Privacy
Hostel - Nearly non-existent. Having even one other person in the room all of sudden means you can't talk aloud to yourself, sing, play music or write about that amazing invention you thought of because what if they steal it? Speaking of theft - it can totally happen.

Room - It's MY ROOM. I still can't really bellow out that latest tune from that popular artist everyone is talking about but at least I can hum it convincingly.

*Humorous anecdote(s)*
I mean how can anyone be private in a 12/15/18 bed dorm? There was a time in Manchester when two drunk English guys stormed in at about 4am, one drunkenly/accidentally (?) tried to get into a girls bed, when she pushed him onto the floor he just lay there snoring loudly until another room-resident dragged him into the hallway. Then there are the three tier bunk systems that just seem more like cages than beds. I snore you know. I'm that guy.

(Certainly no privacy if you're attractive and I have a camera. I'm mostly kidding)

Fun
Hostel - Super fun. Everyone is like "let's get drunk" and then lots of fun things happen! Most hostels have been welcoming and friendly in almost every circumstance.

Room - Don't get me wrong - I enjoy my own company. However my house mates *cough* are boring *clears throat* so I don't particularly have a thriving social life in the house. I've got friends quite close though so if I need social interaction it's not far away. I guess I was just spoiled with the house I lived in before travelling.

*Humorous Anecdote*
In Madrid I walked into the hostel and within 10 minutes was talking to two guys from London who were like "We're going to meet some friends and have some tapas and beer - would you like to join us?". Cut to awesome night in Madrid. Next day I meet some Australians and we explore Toledo while drinking red wine. You know what I saw in Madrid? Very little. I saw like a garden and the outside of a palace. I also saw a lot of food and beer ... going into my mouth.

(People from a Barcelona hostel and a fountain!)

(From a Lisboan hostel in Portugal. I'm a robot)

Security
Hostel - I'm reaaally bad with leaving everything out and not locking away anything and I've never been a victim of theft. Although I did lose my headphones. Maybe they were stolen? I have a padlock/key (found on the ground next to a rental car in Napoli) but I never use it because I just can't be bothered, you know? Still the fact is that things COULD be stolen. I'm sure my mother is shaking her head right now - I haven't changed a bit have I motherrrrr.

Room - Key to get into the house but no lock on my door. The key is attached to a big silver 'F' and I absolutely do not see why. This system means my house mates could totally walk into my room and steal all of my valuables including ...... absolutely nothing. This laptop I suppose. Although I'd notice that it was missing eventually and start asking questions.

*Humorous Anecdote*
As I said I just spread my stuff out errrwhere. In Florence I was staying at this hostel that was run by two weird guys that didn't seem to have much going for them in terms of organisation. They'd determine if there was any more room in the hostel by looking in the rooms or something weird like that. Anyway I had somehow managed to spread myself out over two beds in the one bunk and that's the way it stayed for days. This behaviour of spreading my stuff out (unintentionally of course) has occurred at almost every single hostel. Even places that have adequate room for my backpack have fallen prey to my laziness.

(Baggage hold imprints 4EVA)

Cost
Hostel - depends on the area. Italy for some reason just doesn't seem to go for the whole hostel thing and prefer instead to offer 'private' rooms which means you need to be travelling in a group of 3/4 and book the entire room. Portugal are all like "Yes! Stay in this amazing place for a pittance!". Price varies with London being the most expensive to date. In Brighton this weekend I was paying 27 poundssssss a niiiiiiiiight.

Room - 500 pounds a month all inclusive. I've talked to a few people who are doing this 'long stay' thing at hostels here and they pay about 400 pounds a month. Really that just means I'm paying another 25 pounds a week but at least I have my own room, a big kitchen, washing machine, steady internet etc. Worth itttttt.

*Humorous Anecdote*

That time I paid for another night in Rome only to find I stayed out all night and never actually got to the bed before the checkout time. Booking rooms on hostel world is an eternal battle of price, quality and availability. You win some (Bologna) and you lose some (Valencia).

(This is that time I forgot I had booked Wednesday night as well but had already booked different accommodationnnn)

(This particular hostel had free churros in the morning. Breakfast of champions)

Location
Hostel - Hostels are usually pretty well located and easy to get to so I can't really fault them for that. There was that place in the Cinque Terre where the nice owner came to the train station and walked us to the place that was on the main street (the ONLY street). Alternatively there was the place in Lisbon that required one to walk up approximately a bajillion stairs. Calves of STEEL.

Room - Not far from a tube stop on the circle/district line which gets me across the city quite easily. The circle line connects to most lines so I don't usually have to do more than one transfer which is nice. The walk from the tube stop to my house goes past several restaurants and some nice docks where you can see boats. Having said all that, if I stayed at a hostel in this area I'd think it was quite out of the way. Hmmm.

*Humorous Anecdote*
Oh man if I had to go through all the misadventures I've been on trying to find various hostels. Barcelona was baffling what with being sent to a different hostel (it was a chain) then being confused by a bloody one direction pop up store and all the stupid fans obscuring the entrance. Or trying to use the IMPOSSIBLE Napoli train system to get to the hostel there. Or the Rome hostel who informed us we were in a room that was in a building a 10 minute walk from the reception desk.

(These suckers trying to open a door)

Amenities
Hostel - one bathroom for 15 people? Awesome! No kitchen or fridge? Cool! Internet that never works? Yes please!

Room - Everything I need! The shower is pretty weak though. Water saving has never been so ... crushing.

(Now you know. Shhhh)

(Luuuuuunch)

In conclusion, I'm happy with my room but jeez I've had some great hostel experiences. I would say a definite 8/10 on the whole. If you want to know any of the hostels I stayed at for some reason then let me know. I probably can't remember all of the names but they'll be sitting in my gmail somewhere.

Thank you.