Thinking outside the hotel box: Part 2

You've seen the movie "Hostel" right?

Even if you haven't seen it, everyone seems to have an opinion about hostels whether they've stayed in one or not. Stereotypes that come to mind include unsafe, sex-trafficking hubs, dirty, sparse, cheap, frequented by dirty, cheap backpackers, hippy hotspots, only for young people ... the list goes on and on.

Last time I wrote about vacation rentals as a viable and more budget-friendly alternative to hotels. This time around I'm promoting hostels. The hostels of yore and the hostels of today are very different places. While it is true that the majority of patrons are young backpack travelers, in my experience every other bad stereotype about hostels is dead wrong. Even the young backpackers aren't who you'd imagine. Everyone I met was clean and put together, worldly conscious, intelligent and considerate, and that includes the people who run hostels. You'd probably be surprised to know that many staffers of hostels are actually Americans who pay for their travels by working in hostels.

As for the buildings themselves. I can't speak to Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, or even the US, but the hostels I called home in Western Europe - from Germany all the way to the UK - were respectable establishments. I'm sure there are seedy hostels in every major European city, just like there are seedy hotels. The trick is avoiding those and finding the best places. That's why websites like HostelWorld exist - to separate the good from the bad and to help you book a memorable vacation.

Here's the deal: for budget travelers, hostels are amazing. They're super cheap (think $10/day/person), pleasant, and afford you the opportunity to meet lots of amazing people. Some hostels have bunk rooms with 16 beds each (always pick the top bunk if you have a choice). Other hostels have private rooms with featherbeds. It just depends on where you are.

Not ready to give up the hotel yet? I'll do you one better: there is a whole new breed of "luxury hostels" cropping up from London to Istanbul and beyond that include perks like rooftop gardens, pools, theaters, swanky bars, private rooms, and rich furnishings. Who says you have to sacrifice for your budget? They can be found on beaches, in old castles, on the 14th floor of a high-rise, or in the middle of the town square. They're more expensive, but still less than you'd pay for a hotel.

Here's how it works: you search for where you're going on a hostel website (I strongly recommend HostelWorld), then narrow your search by price, bed preference etc. and the site will give you tons of options. Then just pick the highest rated, or your favorite, or the cheapest. HostelWorld uses an extensive rating and reviews system so it's pretty easy to weed out the great deals from the Bates Motels (side note: even if you go for one that looks a little sketchy, it may still turn out fantastically). You'll be required to pay a 10 percent deposit for each place online, then the remainder when you arrive. Some places take cards, some take only cash.

That's it, you're on your way!

Other notes: most hostels have a 48-hour full-refund cancellation policy. Some have a 50 percent refund if you cancel before 24 hours. At some hostels you'll have to pay a dollar for a towel, breakfast and other amenities. Some places provide those amenities for free. Your chosen hostel website will let you know all of these details in advance, as well as providing directions on how to get there from the airport/metro stop/walking/cab. If you have questions, just contact them - the staff usually responds in English within 24 hours. Most hostels also have great relationships with local restaurants and tour companies (just like hotels) so when you check in ask what discounts you can get for local attractions and food.

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to hear more about my hostel experiences or need advice on finding and booking!

Next time: (the overly ambitious) 100 Things to do within 100 miles of Coeur d'Alene this fall.

Julianna Satterly is a Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy graduate who worked as the Editor in Chief of her college newspaper at Washington and Lee University for three years. She's lived in three states, visited 28 others, and has toured 13 countries. Contact her at juliannasatterly@gmail.com, or on Facebook or Twitter @jsattz.