I love hostels. Even after over nineteen years traveling the world, I still stay in hostels because they’re the best way to meet people and the cheapest accommodation option in much of the world.

But what makes a good hostel?

And how do you avoid a bad hostel?

After staying in over a thousand hostels since I first started traveling the world, I’ve become adept at figuring out very quickly if the hostel owners know what they are doing or if they just randomly woke up one day and said, “Let’s open a hostel. It sounds like fun.”

While hostels are all about the people, management can do a few things to make their hostel the perfect framework for making your experience better. Certain features make a hostel memorable (common rooms, group activities, kitchens) while others can make them forgettable — or worse (push-button showers, general filth, unknowledgeable staff).

All of my favorite hostels share common traits that make them some of the best in the world.

Here’s a breakdown of what I would look for in a hostel to help you pick the best one for your next trip:

1. Is There a Common Room?

I love meeting new people when I travel. Since I usually travel solo, I need to go out of my way to meet people if I want to be social. Common rooms in hostels make that easy. They help me find people to chat with, get tips from, do activities with, or even travel with.

Plus, they’re good for just having fun. They usually have pool tables or video game consoles, TVs/movies (perfect for rainy days), foosball, ping pong, and comfy couches (comfy couches are a must!). If you want to be social, make sure you stay somewhere that has a decent common room (or several). It’s the best place to easily connect with other travelers.

In warmer destinations, a common area outside is also a big plus. Rooftop bars, patios, BBQ areas, a pool — any social outdoor space is a must.

2. Is It Centrally Located?

Location, location, location. Whenever I’m looking for a new hostel I make sure that it’s near the things I want to see. I don’t want to spend all my time commuting when I get somewhere new. For that reason, I always make sure my hostels are in a central location and that they’re close to public transportation. That way, I can get around easily and don’t need to worry about having to waste money on taxis.

This is especially important in large cities where things are spread out and when you’re on a shorter trip and time is of the essence. Yes, they might cost more money, but you’ll save money on transportation. Plus, the more centrally-located hostels are usually the more popular ones, making them better places to meet people.

Don’t waste your vacation in transit; book somewhere central!

3. Is It Clean?

Sure, budget travelers like things cheap — but that doesn’t mean we like things dirty. While hostels have come a long way in recent years, there are still many that are poorly maintained and in need of a thorough scrubbing. Since it’s easy to get sick on the road, avoid dirty hostels. Gross bathrooms and showers (as well as the increased risk of bed bugs) aren’t worth the risk — even if the hostel is cheap. Invest in yourself. You deserve a clean room!

Since the photos hostels post on their website and social media can be misleading, make sure to specifically read reviews on sites like Hostelworld for hints on cleanliness. If just one person complains, maybe it’s not a big deal. But if numerous reviews mention the lack of cleanliness, take that as a cue.

4. Did You Read Reviews?

Always read reviews before you book. Is the hostel quiet or noisy? Is it a party hostel or more laid back? Are the mattresses comfy? Are the bunk beds squeaky? You can usually answer all of these questions (and many more) by reading reviews.

Websites like Hostelworld and Booking.com have tons of reviews to help you find the hostel that best suits your needs and budget.

While you’ll want to take them with a grain of salt (people love to complain), they are definitely helpful when it comes to picking the best hostel. Make sure you leave reviews too — good reviews help hostels grow and bad reviews can warn your fellow travelers so they don’t make the same mistake.

Additionally, make sure you only stay at hotels with lots of reviews. A hostel might have a high rating on Hostelworld but if it only has 10 or 20 reviews then I’ll likely stay away from it (it’s easy to fake ratings like that). However, if a hostel has hundreds (or thousands) of reviews and still has a rating of 8 or 9 out of 10 then that’s a good sign it’s a solid place to stay.

Generally, I try to only book hostels with a rating of 8 or higher on Hostelworld.

5. Do they Organize Group Activities?

If you plan on staying at a social hostel and want to meet people, choose a hostel that offers group activities. These could be walking tours (my personal favorite activity), pub crawls, trivia nights, cooking classes, or BBQs. These events are a great way to meet other travelers and learn about your destination.

My favorite hostels are always social hostels that organize events. It just makes your stay much more fun and lively!

6. Is There Late Checkout?

Never stay at a hostel with a checkout time before 10am. The best hostels have 11am checkout times, and the really good ones let you check out at noon. Sleep is valuable on the road because you’ll rarely get enough of it. Hostels with late checkout times understand this and are often more relaxed environments. There’s just something wrong about a hostel asking you to be packed and out so early in the morning.

7. Is There a Bar?

Bars are not deal breakers and there are a lot of wonderful hostels without them, but they make for a great place to socialize with other hostel guests. Usually if a hostel has a bar, they put a strong emphasis on making sure the people staying there are having fun, interacting, and being festive.

If you’re looking to be social and meet people, you’ll want to stay somewhere with a bar.

8. Do They Have Lockers?

It’s surprising, but I’ve actually been in hostels that don’t provide lockers or will charge you for them. In this day and age, lockers should be standard. You should never pay for security. This is a deal-breaker for me (especially since I travel with electronics). Always bring a lock with you as well, so you can use the lockers when they are provided.

9. Is There a Kitchen?

Try to look for hostels with kitchens since you can then prepare your own food, lower your food budget, and share a meal with your new friends. Nothing binds people closer together than a shared meal (and a few glasses of wine).

10. Do They Offer Breakfast?

Look for a place with a decent breakfast (i.e., more than bread and cheese) or at least one that begins and ends when people are actually awake (breakfasts that start around 8:30am usually go late). Breakfast is also a great way to load up on snacks for the day, cutting down your food budget.

11. Do They Have Pod-style Beds?

Gone are the days of sleeping on creaky, metal bunks. Whenever possible, look for a hostel with pod-style beds. These beds provide much better privacy and dampen the noise around you so you can sleep better. They usually have curtains too, which are always a big plus in my book.

12. Are There Individual Lights & Outlets?

Before you book, find out if the dorm bunks have their own outlet and light. Not only will this ensure you can charge your devices without having to fight for space, but it means your fellow travelers can turn on their own small lamp instead of the room’s main light. (I hate it when people turn the lights on in the middle of the night. Use your bed’s lamp or a flashlight!)

I don’t need a hostel to have all these things, but a truly wonderful hostel that understands what travelers are looking for has the majority of the things listed above.

Additionally, as more and more people shift to remote work, hostels have started to accommodate long-term travelers who work on their laptops. If you’re a remote worker, these hostels are great places to stay as they have fast Wi-Fi and make it easy to connect and network with other digital nomads. However, if you’re not working online while traveling, avoid these hostels since most people will just be on their laptops working and that’s kind of boring if you’re not doing it too. Instead, stay at a hostel that caters to backpackers. It will be much more enjoyable and you’ll have an easier time meeting people.

In the end, what really makes a good hostel are the people and even the worst hostels will be great if you meet good people. But removing the people from the equation, I look for hostels that have some of the above qualities in them. Hostels that know what you want as a traveler are there to enhance your travel experience, not simply take money from you in exchange for a bed. I would rather stay at a place that is looking to make sure I have a good time.

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Although I’m the travel writer and hotel reviewer, as soon as we pushed open the door to our premier room in the Kempinski Palace Engelberg, my partner James, an ardent climber and skier, declared, “Oh yes, this could be the one.”

Ensconced in the Engelberg Valley, uninterrupted views of the Swiss Alps come standard with every room. Ours overlooked the Titlis summit to the south and the Hahnen and Wissberg mountains to the east. In the foreground, a sprinkling of Swiss chalet-style homes, with their widely projecting roofs and wooden balconies, were covered in a fresh dusting of snow. A red gondola ran from one side of our panoramic windows to the other several times a day.

“We are the storytellers of the destination,” Andreas Magnus, the hotel’s general manager, said. “It’s not just about the hotel, but Engelberg as a whole.”

With a population of roughly 5,000 residents (which balloons to 25,000 in high season), a sense of place is echoed in every shop in town. From the local cheese monger, housed in the Benedictine Monastery, to the main street coffee roastery, owned by siblings Oscar and Sophia, which shares space with a bookshop and papeterie, it’s obvious that the townsfolk celebrate and support one another.

Our four-day, three-night stay at Kempinski Palace Engelberg, the 129-room and suite Grand Dame of the town, proved enough time to explore, relax, and enjoy. Opened in 1905 as the Grandhotel Winterhaus and later renamed to the Hotel Europäischer Hof, it remains the first and only five-star resort in Engelberg.

The brainchild of famed politician and hotelier Eduard Cattani and his architect brother Arnold Cattani, the Grandhotel Winterhaus was purpose-built to awe. Constructed in the Belle Époque style—a blend of Victorian, Gothic, and Art Nouveau—the original structure boasted central heating (major 19th-century bragging rights), as well as rounded roof turrets and the single largest piece of Belgian-made glass, still located in The Palace Bar.

Now operated by the Kempinski Group, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2022, the property underwent a five-year renovation, which included a new hotel wing. It reopened in June 2021. The design aesthetic, created by London-based architecture and interior design firm Jestico + Whiles and executed by Eberli AG, blends tradition with modernity.

Here’s a closer look at the hotel’s standout features and amenities.

The Rooms

I cannot recall another property I’ve visited where every entry-level room (the boutique category) is located on a corner with windows facing two directions. From there, the rooms grow in size, each with brushed custom-made oak desks and parquet floors.

In our premier room, the bed overlooked panoramic windows with storybook-level views. Were there not a considerable amount of freshly fallen snow, our balcony would have provided comfortable seating for two.

The color palette, inspired by Switzerland’s seasons, includes muted greens and blues, invoking year-round mountain freshness. Think bluebird sky-colored rugs and sage green throw pillows with light brown leather accents. Each room features custom box-spring beds from Swiss manufacturer Elite.

The bathrooms, slate grey with white accents, are meant to echo a “wellness oasis” with a separate tub and shower as well as double vanities, a bonus bit of personal space when you’re traveling with a companion.

The finest suites, named Titlis and Belle Époque, parrot the building’s turrets with circular layouts and feature furnished balconies with panoramic mountain views.

Food and Drink

The Cattani Restaurant, the main eatery, is named after Eduard Cattani. Upon entering the space, it’s impossible not to look up at the custom chandelier, unquestionably the room’s centerpiece. It consists of handmade crystal “icicles” that evoke the relief of nearby Mount Titlis.

The complimentary breakfast here was easy yet elevated. Salmon gravlax with dill, a local cheese platter, pulpy, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a daily duo of morning wellness shots made this French brasserie with Swiss influences a can’t-miss ritual.

While I tend to skip afternoon tea outside of Great Britain, you would be remiss to do so here. Family-friendly afternoon tea features a “Beauty and the Beast” tea set. For the adults, three-tiered platters are served in hanging birdcages. The Engelberger Valley Mountain cheese with Branston Pickle was a standout sandwich, while the freshly baked scones with homemade preserve, clotted cream, and lemon curd hit just the right traditional notes without being stodgy.

The most charming spot in the hotel is The Palace Bar. By day, it is a cozy, fireplace-laden space to read a book or watch the gondola, and by night—a cocktail bar with three types of Swiss gin and vermouth (you can try one of each if you order a Swiss Negroni, as my partner James did), respectively, and an in-house Blanc de Noir sparkling wine. Next door, Habanos Cigar Lounge offers a robust cigar menu, as well as an ideal spot to enjoy a whisky or cognac nightcap.

Activities and Amenities

Regardless of season, the mountains are always calling in Engelberg. In summer, cycling, climbing, and golfing are some of the preferred outdoor activities. In winter, Engelberg’s ski area offers 50 miles of ski slopes, with traditional downhill skiing as well as ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and plenty of off-piste adventures. The hotel’s in-house Palace Sports & Rentals features a ski room with heated lockers, a convenient way to start and end a chilly day.

If mountain activities don’t excite you, nearby Lake Lucerne (a 30-minute transfer by car) offers a variety of lower altitude goings-on, including glass blowing at Glasi Hergiswil. Founded by the brothers Siegwart in 1817, the Swiss factory that manufactures glass also offers an interactive museum tour and the opportunity to blow your own orb.

The Spa

Located on the top floor of the hotel, Kempinski The Spa offers a 24-hour gym, an infinity pool, and spa facilities, including a relaxation room with an open Himalayan salt, stone fireplace, and four saunas: the Finnish sauna for muscle regeneration; the bio sauna, with aromatic scents to cleanse and stimulate the respiratory system; the vivarium, a medicinal herb steam for bronchial tubes and lung health; and the traditional steam bath, to release muscle tension.

Guests looking to pamper themselves can choose from a robust menu of treatments and massages, from multi-service journeys like the Alpine recovery, which includes an herbal stamp massage and an express facial, to bespoke body treatments, like the detoxifying body, which uses zeolite rock to purify the skin. I opted for a cellular perfect detoxifying facial, which left my face radiant and refreshed, a tall order courtesy of the brisk winter air.

Family-friendly Offerings

In addition to kid-friendly afternoon tea, the Kempinski Kids Club (ages three to 12) offers a technology-free zone where kids can make handicrafts, bake, and sing karaoke.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The premier rooms and all hotel areas (except the pool area) are ADA compliant.

The hotel’s sustainability initiatives include processing all food waste into biogas that can be used for heating or fuel, offering locally-sourced food and ingredients, using groundwater to cool its rooms, and relying entirely on hydroelectric power.

Location

Engelberg is accessible by heliport, car (40 minutes from Lucerne and an hour from Zurich), and Zentralbahn rail, although transfers are necessary.

A 10-minute walk is Titlis Valley Station, which ascends to the top of the mountain for glacier viewing in the winter, and a cliff walk on the 10,000-foot suspension bridge year-round. Off-piste skiing during the winter and hiking during the summer remain popular activities. In town, the Benedictine Monastery is worth a wander.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Kempinski Hotels is a part of GHA Discovery, or Global Hotel Alliance. Kempinski Palace Engelberg is also part of American Express Fine Hotel and Resorts.

Starting nightly rates at Kempinski Palace Engelberg average CHF 650, or $720.