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Chose a $22 hostel bunk in Lisbon over a $95 hotel room, here's how it went
Two weeks ago I was booking 4 nights in Lisbon and I sat there staring at two tabs like an idiot: a bunk in a 6 bed hostel dorm for $22 a night, or a basic hotel room near Bairro Alto for $95. I went with the hostel because that extra $290 was basically my whole food and train budget for the trip. First night was rough, guy in the bunk below me snored like a chainsaw and somebody came in at 3am and turned on the big light. But by day two I'd made friends with two Aussies and a guy from Toronto, and we ended up splitting a rental car to Sintra which cost me $14 instead of the $60 tour. The hostel also had a free walking tour board and a kitchen, so I cooked pasta 3 nights and spent maybe $30 total on dinners instead of $90. Biggest tip if you do this: book a bottom bunk, bring earplugs, and pick a place with lockers or you will not sleep. Next time I'd probably do 2 nights hostel and 2 nights hotel to break it up. Has anyone found a cheap private room in a hostel that's actually worth it, or is that just a hotel with extra steps?
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gavins431mo ago
How did you handle the 3am light thing? I used to write off hostels completely, figured I was too old and too light a sleeper for that scene. Then a buddy dragged me into a 4 bed dorm in Porto and it was fine, mostly because everyone had eye masks and kept quiet after 11. Splitting that car to Sintra is the real win though, that $46 you saved buys a lot of pastries. Your 2 and 2 plan makes sense, that way you get the social part without burning out. As for cheap private rooms, they're worth it if the price is under a real hotel, otherwise skip it.
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