First Time Staying in a Hostel? Honest Answers to the Questions Everyone Has

If you’ve ever stayed in a hostel — or even just considered it — you’ve probably had at least one of these thoughts. They’re the questions people Google quietly, ask Reddit anonymously, or wonder about while lying in a bunk bed at night.

Is it safe to stay in hostels as a solo traveller?

Short answer: yes — when the hostel knows what it’s doing.

Most safety concerns around hostels aren’t about actual incidents, but about uncertainty: shared rooms, unfamiliar people, and not knowing what’s normal. In practice, the vast majority of solo travellers have straightforward, uneventful stays.

At Generator, safety is part of how our hostels operate day to day. There’s CCTV in public areas (never in rooms, obviously), on-site teams and night security, and controlled access to guest-only spaces. For extra peace of mind, every Generator location also offers female-only dorms.

Are hostels only for young backpackers?

This is one of the most persistent hostel myths — and one that’s been outdated for a while. Backpackers are part of hostel culture, but they’re far from the whole picture.

Depending on the city, hostels attract solo travellers, friends on short breaks, creatives, digital nomads, and business travellers who’d rather avoid a purely corporate hotel setup.

At Generator, the crowd changes by location and season. There’s also real thought behind room allocation to create a healthy mix, rather than throwing everyone together at random.

Am I too old to stay in a hostel?

This question comes up more than almost any other. Many people worry they’ll feel out of place, awkward, or surrounded only by 19-year-olds.

In reality, age matters far less than mindset. Being respectful, comfortable in shared spaces, and travelling with intention go a lot further than whatever number is on your passport.

At Generator, our guest mix spans a wide age range. Events and social spaces are designed to be inclusive, so people can join in — or opt out — without it feeling awkward.

What should I actually expect from staying in a hostel?

Shared spaces, a more relaxed atmosphere, and the option to be social — not the obligation.

Expect dorms or private rooms, communal areas, and people running on very different schedules. It’s less about formality and more about flexibility, location, and atmosphere.

For most first-timers, the biggest surprise is how quickly it stops feeling like a “hostel experience” and just becomes a place to sleep, shower, and head out from — with the added bonus that you’re rarely the only solo traveller around.

How social do you have to be in a hostel?

As social as you want to be.

You can chat with people, join events, or keep completely to yourself. No one expects constant interaction, and most guests are focused on their own plans.

At Generator, every location is designed with different energy levels in mind. For example, at Generator Barcelona you’ll find the lively Lights of Gràcia bar for music and socialising — and just upstairs, a quieter lounge with tables where you can work, read, or switch off. The same balance exists across all Generator hostels.

If you do feel like joining in, there are always events happening across Generator locations — and skipping them is just as normal.

What is proper hostel etiquette?

Hostel etiquette is mostly common sense. Be mindful of noise at night, lights early in the morning, and don’t treat shared rooms like private bedrooms.

During the day, expectations are looser. People are on different schedules, and total silence isn’t realistic in a shared space.

Before every stay, Generator shares house rules with guests so everyone’s on the same page from the start. You can view them here: Generator House Rules.

Coming up next

Part 2: the awkward, unspoken hostel questions people only Google at 2am — from feeling uncomfortable in dorms to knowing when to trust your gut.