Why I Chose to Travel in Hostels

Traveling is one of the experiences that enriches a person’s life the most. Nowadays, there is an increasing trend among young people to undertake frequent trips abroad, either with others or solo.

But with what mindset should we travel?
Some prefer the comfort of a luxury hotel or a private apartment, accommodations that certainly offer amenities and comforts that make the vacation easier.
Others dive into daring adventures in a camper or with a tent and backpack.
As for me, I believe that staying in hostels is the perfect middle ground, the compromise that combines the security of a roof over your head with the sense of the unknown and novelty that I seek in a trip.

The Appeal of Hostels
Hostels, with their affordable prices, allow you to fly more often and visit more places. To date, this method has allowed me to visit about fifteen foreign countries, including France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, England, Morocco, Croatia, Slovenia, Jordan, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, and others.
Each trip is an unforgettable experience, and I hold onto the memories, along with everything I’ve learned.
What I love most about hostels is the opportunity to meet and interact with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. It’s like a portal to another dimension of reality, accessible to anyone with a dreamer’s and adventurer’s spirit, hungry for experiences and life.

My Trip to Jordan
I remember my trip to Jordan a few years ago. I was twenty-one and had never left Europe. I was coming from a period of boredom and frustration, craving something different, an escape from daily life; so I decided to break free from my reality and embark on this solo journey.
So, with my backpack, a flight costing 30 euros round-trip, and just a few euros left for hostels and sightseeing, I landed in Amman, the capital.
Here, at the first hostel I stayed in, I met a young couple. With them, I visited the famous Roman amphitheater, an impressive testament to the millennia-old history of Jordan. I never imagined discovering so much beauty in the heart of such a chaotic city.
During my stay at the hostel, I also had the fortune of meeting some local guys. Talking with them, I discovered the secrets of navigating the country on a budget. They told me about local buses, routes less known to tourists, and how to find the best budget accommodations.
Thanks to their advice, the next day I grabbed my backpack and headed to Petra, the legendary city carved into the rock by the Nabataeans, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Arriving in Petra
Getting there was a journey in itself: hours on a rickety bus, desert landscapes streaming past the window, and the feeling of being farther and farther from everything I knew.
When I finally arrived, I found a hostel that seemed straight out of a desert fairy tale: basic but welcoming, with creaky bunk beds and a terrace where you could admire the starry sky (all for an incredible 8 euros).
Petra left me speechless. Walking among those rocks sculpted centuries ago was an experience I will never forget. I spent hours exploring the site, imagining the life that once unfolded there, exchanging smiles and words with other travelers and Bedouins I met along the way.

More Than Just a Trip
Hostels were the thread that connected my entire trip in Jordan. Places where I not only found an affordable bed but also a community, a refuge, and stories to listen to.
All these experiences made me realize that traveling is not just about seeing new places, but also about opening up to the people and cultures that inhabit them.
Even today, when I think back to that trip, I feel a sweet nostalgia and a sense of gratitude. What began as a way to escape my everyday reality turned into one of the most formative experiences of my life.