Five Times That Staying in a Hostel Completely Changed My Trip

Staying in hostels is not everyone’s cup of tea, but as a spontaneous solo traveler who loves to meet new people and share experiences with like-minded individuals, hostels have completely changed the game for me when it comes to traveling, backpacking, and exploring the world.

Sometimes I stay at hostels that are super quiet and chill, where I only meet a couple of people and still do most things on my own. Other times, I end up in some of the most incredible hostels, meeting some of the most amazing people in the entire world.

I leave with friends, family, sisters, and brothers for life.

If you’ve never stayed in a hostel, I know it can feel daunting to share a room with strangers and start traveling and exploring with people you don’t know.

That’s why I want to use this as an opportunity to ease your hesitation and fear, and tell you about five times that really stand out to me—times when staying in a hostel completely changed my trip in the most positive and impactful way I could have imagined.

Just to be clear, the fact that I had an incredible experience at a certain hostel doesn’t mean yours will be exactly the same. One thing about hostels is that the atmosphere is completely dependent on who happens to be there at the time.

I’ve had friends, fellow travelers, and content creators tell me about their favorite hostels, and sometimes they didn’t live up to the hype for me. It often comes down to the people who are staying there during your visit.

Hostels are proof that people make a place. Who you share a room with, who you meet in the common areas, and who happens to be in the city at the same time can completely change your experience. Keep that in mind, and remember that not every hostel stay will be like the ones I’m about to share.

But more often than not, you’ll walk away with stories, connections, and memories that stay with you. These are a few of my all-time favorite hostel experiences, and how the people I met ended up shaping my journey in ways I never expected.

Vietnam

I’m going to start with one of my very first hostel experiences in Asia. I was staying at a super fun hostel in Hanoi, Northern Vietnam, called Central Backpackers Hostel.

I had arrived completely on my own, but that same day I joined the hostel’s free walking tour and instantly connected with a great group of people. We ended up going out that night together, had a blast, and realized we had all coincidentally booked the same cruise leaving the very next day.

At that point, I had no real itinerary for the rest of my time in Vietnam. But I knew I was going on this cruise, and now I was going with new friends. When we boarded the boat the next day, we had such a fun time together. It’s still one of my most memorable travel experiences.

We clicked so quickly—joking around, having real conversations, and enjoying the moment like we had known each other for years.

On the last day of the cruise, two of my closest new friends from Australia and I decided to keep traveling together. We headed to a small town a few hours south of Hanoi.

We spent another five or six days exploring, staying at the same place, doing activities, taking photos, and just having the best time. We became like siblings—laughing nonstop and making unforgettable memories.

After those days together, we eventually parted ways. But only a few days later, we reunited with even more friends from the cruise, and it felt so special to be in a foreign country and actually know people.

All of it happened because I said yes to a walking tour and a night out with strangers on my very first day in Hanoi.

If I hadn’t stayed at that hostel, the cruise would have been a totally different experience. I would’ve shown up not knowing anyone, while everyone else already had their group. But instead, I boarded that boat feeling confident and connected, like I was part of something.

Even better, I ended up going to a place I hadn’t even planned on visiting. That spontaneous detour took me to Ninh Binh, which ended up being one of my favorite places in all of Vietnam. If you get the chance—go.

Central Backpackers itself was amazing. They had tons of organized activities, free breakfast, happy hours, karaoke, games, and nightly outings. They also ran various tours, which is how we all ended up on the same cruise in the first place.

It’s one of those hostels that really brings people together—and for me, it completely shaped my Vietnam experience.

United Arab Emirates

My next experience that led to something totally unexpected happened during my time in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I arrived in the United Arab Emirates not knowing anyone, and honestly not expecting much.

I had read that hostels in Dubai weren’t very social, so I figured I’d be spending most of my time alone.

But on one of my first nights, while staying at Papaya Backpackers in Dubai, I met a few lovely travelers—and the staff there were also incredibly kind and welcoming. One of the people I met was actually living in the UAE at the time.

He was just in Dubai for the weekend and decided to stay at the hostel because he liked the atmosphere. We hit it off quickly and became good friends.

That same weekend happened to be Halloween, and he invited me to go with him to a massive rave happening out in the desert. I had no idea this event was even taking place—let alone imagine myself actually going to something like that in Dubai.

It turned out to be a Halloween-themed rave sponsored by Tomorrowland. He had already bought two tickets, had a car, and drove us out into the desert where we danced for hours under the stars. It was such a surreal experience—completely spontaneous and one of the most fun nights of my trip.

I never thought in a million years I’d end up at a desert rave in Dubai with someone I had just met the day before. But that’s the magic of travel. When you’re open-minded and meet the right people, anything can happen.

This moment reminded me that incredible experiences often come when you least expect them.

Like I mentioned, I didn’t think the UAE would be a very social destination—but I was so wrong. If you’re ever in Dubai, I highly recommend staying at Papaya Backpackers. It’s easily the best hostel in the city.

They organize great activities, the staff are amazing, and the location near the marina is perfect. If you want a real hostel experience in Dubai, that’s the place to go.

Albania

Next up is my experience in northern Albania, in the charming town of Shkoder. I arrived completely on my own. Originally, I had booked a different hostel—but while staying at a place in Tirana, the capital, I met a fellow traveler who raved about another spot in Shkoder.

Based on her recommendation and the way she described her experience, I decided to cancel my original booking and switch to Shkodra Hostels and Day Tours.

Meeting that girl in Tirana turned out to be one of the best things that happened to me on my Albania trip. Shkodra Hostels and Day Tours is easily one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed at. The staff are incredible.

They bring such positive energy, organize amazing day trips, and make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive.

I ended up extending my stay several times. I joined a bunch of their day tours, even though I hadn’t planned to do much in Shkoder at all. Before arriving, I was nervous about how I’d manage to get to the mountains or visit the famous Blue Eye on a budget.

But on my first day, I joined the Blue Eye tour, and everything changed from there.

I became close with both the staff and the other travelers. The next day, a group of us signed up for a difficult hike near the Montenegro border—something I hadn’t even heard about until the staff recommended it. It ended up being one of my favorite travel days.

The trail was absolutely beautiful, the energy was great, and the staff made the entire experience unforgettable. It was hands down the best hike I’ve ever done in Europe.

That hike, and so many of the moments I had in Shkoder, weren’t even part of my original plans. I wouldn’t have known about any of it without the amazing hostel team and the friend who pointed me in the right direction back in Tirana.

Since then, I’ve met tons of travelers who have also stayed there and had the same incredible experience. It really is one of the best hostels in Europe.

So if you ever find yourself in northern Albania, do yourself a favor and stay at Shkodra Hostels and Day Tours. The day trips are unforgettable, the staff feel like old friends, and your time there might just become one of the best parts of your entire trip.

Laos

Next is my experience in Laos—one of the most amazing countries in the world. If you’ve been following along with my blog, you already know how much love I have for this place and its sense of adventure.

Before arriving, I had heard about an underrated motorbike loop in the south, starting from a small town called Thakhek. It sounded incredible, but I quickly pushed the idea to the bottom of my list.

I don’t drive motorbikes, and I didn’t think I’d find someone willing to take me as a passenger for four days. It just didn’t seem possible—unless I got lucky and met the right people.

Thankfully, that’s exactly what happened.

During my first few days in Luang Prabang, I stayed at a hostel called The Jam, and it turned out to be one of the best places I could have landed. The Jam had a beautiful pool, motorbike rentals, organized tours, food right on site, and a chill, laid-back atmosphere with a really social energy.

It was the perfect environment for meeting people, and I ended up connecting with a great group of travelers—some of whom I had already met on the slow boat from Thailand.

That group ended up becoming my Laos travel crew. And even better, one of them offered to take me on the back of his bike to do the full four-day motorbike loop in the south. I couldn’t believe my luck.

Fast-forward about two weeks—we arrived in Thakhek, the town where the loop begins. We stayed at a hostel for the night, rented all the gear we needed, and left our big backpacks behind. At that point, we were a group of three: two riding on one bike, and one person on another.

Then we met another girl at the hostel who was also looking for a driver, since she didn’t ride either. Just like that, we became a group of four, with two bikes and four people—and it all came together perfectly.

We never could’ve planned it that well in advance. But by staying in hostels, keeping an open mind, and meeting the right people, everything fell into place. If I had stayed in hotels or kept to myself, I would’ve missed out on one of the most incredible adventures I had in Laos.

The motorbike loop brought us to remote parts of the country that felt completely untouched. We saw beautiful landscapes, tiny villages, caves, waterfalls, and so many things I never would’ve discovered on my own. And the best part? We had so much fun.

Every day was filled with laughter, exploration, and connection—made possible because of the people I met at hostels along the way.