Price matters, but people and experiences matter more. Here are seven things travellers look for — and how to make sure your hostel delivers.
1. Create more shared spaces
The communal space is the soul of every hostel. A well-used kitchen, a comfortable lounge, a games room, a small bar — these are what turn a place to sleep into a place to remember. Pair the spaces with shared experiences: a weekly pub night, a group cook-up, a culture-swap evening. Become known as a fun place to stay, and backpackers will follow.
2. Invest in a proper kitchen
Backpackers travel on a budget, and cooking in is one of the easiest ways for them to stretch it. A well-equipped kitchen is one of the smartest investments you can make. It saves your guests money, and it brings them together — which is the point of hostel living in the first place.
3. Be clean. Be safe.
Cleanliness is the first thing guests complain about online, and the fastest way to lose bookings. Modern travellers expect a high standard — meet it without exception. Safety matters just as much. Provide lockers in dorm rooms or a safe at reception so your guests can head out and explore without worrying about their gear.
4. Offer a reasonable check-out time
Many of your guests will have had a late night. Pushing them out the door at 9am won’t help your reviews. A slightly later check-out — or flexibility where you can — is a small change that travellers notice and remember.
5. Include breakfast
It’s an added cost, but a powerful drawcard. Even a simple continental spread will tip the balance for budget travellers comparing options online. If you can run a buffet, even better.
6. Fast, free Wi-Fi is essential
This isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. Today’s travellers — backpackers, digital nomads, remote workers passing through — need reliable, fast Wi-Fi to stay in touch, share their trip, and increasingly, to work. Skimp here and you’ll feel it in your reviews.
7. Get your website and booking right
You’ve built a great place — now make sure travellers can find it and book it without friction. A clear, mobile-first website with a fast, easy-to-use booking engine is essential. Make sure that booking engine connects directly to your property management system so rates and availability stay in sync across every channel — your own site, Hostelworld, Booking.com, and other OTAs. Booking errors and double-bookings cost you guests, and they cost you reviews.
Once your website is sorted, stay visible. An active social presence — Instagram, TikTok, wherever your guests already are — is no longer optional. Show off your space, your people, your events. That’s what travellers are looking for when they’re choosing where to stay next.