One of the biggest costs on your trip will be accommodation. Finding a cheap place to stay is important and hostels are one of the cheapest places are around. But hostels are important for another reason- you spend a lot of time there and they become the place you meet other travelers. Common rooms, kitchens, and dorms are one of the easiest places to make friends.
Hostels provide a lot of things to a traveler: social interaction, a room, a kitchen, local tips, and a nice shower. They are an main part of the travelers travel experience and it is important that you stay at the one that best suits your needs in order to get the best hostel experience you can.
I've looked for hostels online and spent a lot of time looking for the best hostel out there. But you never find the perfect one. That is because everyone has their own experience and a review can be biased. Good people can make a bad hostel good just as bad people can make a good hostel bad. People are the key to your hostel experience. Know that first and foremost.
The best way to find the perfect hostel is to do research and know what you want. Without that, you will most likely turn up at one you don't like. It's important to know how big of a hostel you like, the atmosphere you desire, the type of traveler that goes there, the facilities it has, and its location.
Hostels are generally for younger travelers. They are meant for people looking to connect, party, and, sometimes, hook up- not always in that order. Hostels have a party reputation for good reason since most of the young people who go out partying tend to also spend a lot of that time drinking with people around the world. Additionally, facilities are very important. For many travelers, they simply want a bed and a beer. For others, hostel facilities are important. Using booking sites can help you find what facilities a hostel has. Read the reviews to find out if it lives up to its ad and is as great as the hostel says the facilities are.
Good hostels tend to be famous. Every traveler have heard the name The Flying Pig in Amsterdam or Base in Melbourne. These reputations are carried overseas and discussed by other travelers. So the best way to find a great hostel is to ask other travelers. Hostels are always changing and they will have the most up to date information on the good spots in a city. But remember no matter what the place is like it is all about the people. Find a hostel with good people and you will find the right hostel for you.