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Is San Cristóbal worth visiting

San Cristóbal is absolutely worth visiting! It’s not only the perfect base to explore all that Chiapas has to offer, the city is also an incredible destination on its own. The fact that it’s largely inhabited by indigenous people makes it unique and unlike anywhere else in Mexico. What’s more, it’s full of trendy coffee shops as well as restaurants. Furthermore, Chiapas is one of the most affordable regions in Mexico.

Is San Cristóbal save

Like with many places in Mexico, safety seems to be a concern for many, mostly due to negative media coverage of Mexico. Hence why I felt this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without addressing this matter.

San Cristóbal, like most of Mexico, is considered save. The only exception is the unstable situation on the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur. However, you do not need to pass this route to get to San Cristóbal, so there’s no need to worry. I just want to mention it so that you know to avoid it! Even though San Cristóbal is safe, you should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else. Avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.

For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling!

When is the best time to visit San Cristóbal

The best time to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas is during the dry season, from November to May. In this period you get warm temperatures and little rain. Note that due to the high altitude, it can get pretty cold, or I might even say very cold, when the sun goes down. So regardless of which time of year you visit, make sure to pack something warm to wear in the evenings!

During my visit which was in February, the day time temperatures were pleasant, around 22°C (72°F). At night it cooled down significantly to around 12°C (54°F), but due to the humidity it felt much colder. Luckily, our apartment had some ponchos that we could use in the evenings.

Where to stay in San Cristóbal

I would recommend staying in or close to the historic centre (Zona Centro). It’s the most convenient way to explore the city as way you will be close to all major attractions. You’ll also have the best coffees and restaurants within walking distance. Here are some of the best accommodation options for every budget:

Best hostel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Kotantik

Best budget hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Casa Azabache

Best mid-range hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: La Estancia

Best luxury hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Collection O Casa de Familia

Here you can see reviews and compare prices of accommodations in San Cristóbal

How to get to San Cristóbal de las Casas

If you are traveling to San Cristóbal from within Mexico or Guatemala, it’s possible to get there by bus. It’s likely to be a very long ride though, depending on where you’re coming from. Check bus routes, schedules and prices here.

Alternatively, the closest airport to San Cristóbal de las Casas is Tuxtla Gutiérres (TGZ), which is located roughly 80km (50 miles) away. To get to San Cristóbal from the airport you can take a taxi, a public bus, a private shuttle or you can rent a car.

Taking an OCC/ADO bus

Those traveling on a budget will probably prefer to take an OCC bus (from the ADO company) from the airport. This is a convenient and affordable way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristobal, it’s a direct bus and the journey takes around 1,5 hours. Tickets are $250 MXN pesos and can be purchased at the ADO counter in the airport, or online. When booking online just make sure to put in Aeropuerto Ángel Albino instead of Tuxtla airport, as the system doesn’t recognize it.

Taking a taxi

Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal. Taxi will cost around $800 MXN pesos, which can be split between whoever you are traveling with, or even a stranger. It might seem strange to some to share a taxi with a stranger, but it’s a common practice among locals. If you are a solo female traveler, I’d recommend you to approach a fellow female traveler and if she wants to share a taxi. I have actually made a few friends this way during my travels!

An important thing to keep in mind when taking a taxi from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal is to make sure to take an official taxi! After you pass baggage claim and make your way toward the exit, you will see taxi counters on your right just before exiting the airport. Head to the counters, where you will book and pay for the taxi. You will then be handed a ticket that you will give to the taxi driver.

Renting a car

If you are planning to do a road trip in Chiapas, I would recommend that you rent a car directly at the airport. This will be significantly cheaper than renting one once your in San Cristóbal, plus it saves you the hassle of figuring out how to get to San Cristóbal from the airport. You should also keep in mind that it’s difficult to rent an automatic car in San Cristóbal, which is important to know for those that don’t know how to drive a manual. Use rentalcar.com to compare prices to make sure you get the best deal!

Although roads in the state of Chiapas aren’t in the greatest condition, driving is considered safe. Just make sure to avoid the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur.

How to get around in San Cristóbal de las Casas

As long as you are staying in or close to the historical centre, San Cristóbal is very walkable and all major tourist attractions can be reached by foot. Taxis are easy to locate and very affordable, should you need them. We paid $80 pesos ($4 USD) for a 10 minute ride from the bus station to our apartment, just to give you an idea of the price you can expect. Make sure to always negotiate the fare upfront and have cash for the fare, as taxis in San Cristóbal generally do not take cards!

Although San Cristóbal is walkable, it is not built for dragging around luggage, especially if it’s heavy. Sidewalks are very narrow and usually made of cobblestone and/or have holes in them. So believe me when I tell you that if you are carrying a suitcase on wheels, you will want to take a taxi if you need to move your luggage from A to B. When we arrived in San Cristóbal, we had planned to walk to our apartment which was about 15 minutes away. We gave up on that after just about 2 minutes, sat down at a local restaurant where we had tacos and margaritas, and then asked the waiter to call us a taxi This might just be the most important thing you take from the San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide :)))

There is no Uber or Grab in San Cristóbal.

Things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas

There are a ton of things to do in and around San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Join the free walking tour

The free walking tour is a great way to begin your trip in San Cristóbal. Discover the history of the city, learn about the culture, traditions and customs and get to know the city from a local perspective. The tour is interactive, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

The tour starts here, in the heart of the city, at Plaza de la Paz. The tours take place every day at 10am and 5pm. They are in English and last about two hours.

Explore the many Artisan Markets

San Cristóbal de las Casas is home to a range of interesting markets that are worth browsing through.

Mercado de Artesanias de Santo Domingo, is a market full of colourful indigenous crafts, such as textiles, jewelry, baskets and weavings. It’s located next to Templo de Santo Domingo and is open every day from 9am to 8pm.

Mercado de Dulces y Artesanias Ámbar is an indoor market where you’ll find sweats, baked treats as well as clothes and handmade items. It’s open every day from 8am to 9.30pm.

Mercado José Castillo Tielemans is the most traditional market in San Cristóbal, over 50 years old. It’s a lively market where can buy local products, handicrafts, all sorts of foods, including baked goods. It’s open every day from 7am to 8pm.

Visit a museum

As the cultural capital of the state of Chiapas, San Cristóbal is home to a number of interesting museums. They focus mostly on textile and the ancient Mayan culture & traditions. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya (Maya World Textile Center)

Inside the Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo, you will find the Maya World Textile Center. A museum that focuses on Mayan textiles and embroidery techniques, displaying over 500 examples of handwoven textiles from throughout Mexico and Central America. The museum features permanent exhibition rooms where you’ll see videos explaining the production process of clothes and textiles.

Note that Maya World Textile Center is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $65 pesos ($3.25 USD)

Museo Mesoamericano del Jade (Jade Museum)

One of the things that Chiapas is famous for is its jade, a precious stone used by ancient Mayas. The museum showcases replicas of Mayan jade jewelry and other jade objects found in Mexican archeological sites.

Entrance fee: $35 pesos ($1.75 USD)

Museum Casa Na Bolom

Casa Na Bolom, which means House of the Jaguar, is an historical building that is now a museum dedicated to the protection of Chiapas’ indigenous culture as well as the environment. It was once the home of Danish archaeologist Frans Blom, and his wife Gertrude Duby Blom, a Swiss photographer. The couple were among the first foreigners to contact the Lacandon indigenous group, which are the only ethnic group to manage to escape the Spanish conquest. Among things you will see in the museum are photos of the Lacandon culture and hand drawn maps of the entire Chiapas rain forests, which used to belong to the Lacandon group. Today Casa Na Bolom operates as a hotel, restaurant, museum and a research center.

Note that Na Bolom is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $60 pesos ($3 USD)

Take a walk down Calle Real de Guadalupe

Wandering the pedestrian street Calle Real de Guadalupe was honestly one of my favourite things to do in San Cristóbal. It’s essentially the main promenade, a lively street where you’ll see street vendors and performers. Real de Guadalupe is lined with trendy coffee shops and restaurants, as well as many arts & crafts stores.

Admire the view from Iglesia de Guadalupe

At one end of Calle Real de Guadalupe you’ll find Iglesia de Guadalupe. You will need to climb a few stairs to get there, which is certainly worth it for the views you get from the top!

Try a cup of Chiapas coffee

This San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Chiapas coffee! Mexico is one of the top 10 coffee producers in the world, with the state of Chiapas making up 40% of the Mexico production. There are a number of trendy coffee shops all around San Cristóbal, almost too many! Our favourite one was Ki Múul, which is located on Real de Guadalupe.

Go on a day trip

San Cristóbal de las Casas is a popular base for doing day trips to the many places worth seeing around the state of Chiapas. I can highly recommend visiting Sumidero Canyon, which is just over an hour’s drive away. We did an amazing day trip that included a scenic boat ride through the canyon as well as a stop in the picturesque town Chiapa de Corzo.

Other popular day trips include Palenque, Agua Azul waterfall and Misol-Ha waterfall. Note that these are roughly a 5 hour drive from San Cristóbal, so it will be a very long day.

For those that aren’t up for so much time on the road but want to visit a waterfall, there is a more manageable option. El Chiflon waterfalls are only a 2.5 hour drive from San Cristóbal. The easiest way to visit El Chiflon is on an organized day trip. However, these usually include a stop at Montebello Lagoons, which may or may not interest you. If you’d rather visit on your own, the easiest option is to rent a car. To make sure you get the best deal, use rentalcars.com to compare prices. It’s also possible to take a combination of a bus and a colectivo. Take an ADO or OCC bus from San Cristóbal headed to Comitán de Domínguez (around $96 pesos), and from there take a colectivo to El Chiflon ($30 pesos).

Visit some of the churches of San Cristóbal

With the state of Chiapas being one of the most religious part of Mexico, it might come as no surprise that there are many churches in this area. Some of the ones worth visiting are:

• Cathedral Santo Domingo
• Iglesia de Guadalupe
• Cathedral de San Cristóbal de las Casas
• Iglesia de San Cristóbalito
• Saint Lucias Temple

I hope you found this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide helpful and that is answered the questions you had about visiting San Cristóbal. If you’re planning to head over to Guatemala from San Cristóbal, check out this post about how to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• 5 Must visit places in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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You might also want to read: How to Get to Tulum

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Where to stay in Tulum

One thing to be aware before visiting Tulum, is that the beach is about 5km from Tulum town. The traffic can be a nightmare so I’d recommend renting a bike or a motorcycle instead of a car. Unless you won’t to spend a lot of time on the beach, I would suggest to stay in the Tulum town. This is because the hotel zone (the beach) is so far away from everything else.

If you’re on a budget and want to stay in a hostel, I’d recommend Lum, Mimosa or Maka. Note that Mimosa and Maka are also hotels! All three are great, the main difference is that Lum is located very close to the ADO bus station, which is convenient if you’re arriving there. While the other two are about 20 minute walk from the bus station. Mimosa and Maka have pools, while Lum doesn’t. Lum has much more of a hostel vibe than Mimosa and Maka, as the latter two are also hotels.

Book your stay in Tulum here!

Your Four Day Tulum Itinerary

Day 1: Take it slow, eat local food & explore the Tulum town

Just to start things off easy, I’d recommend spending your first day exploring the Tulum town and eat some local food. Take a stroll through the town, browse through the shops and admire some of the street art. If you arrive early – rent a bike and head a few blocks from the main road to witness the local life.

For dinner – head to Calle Geminis Sur/Calle Geminis Norte for some street food! You will find lots of tacos and guacamole, as well as burgers and sushi. There are vegetarian and vegan options available, my favourite ones are La Cordobesita Tulum and Perro No Come Perro. They have vegan tacos, burgers and even hot dogs – and yes they’re delicious! Most street food trucks only take cash, so make sure to bring some.

edited with the Film preset pack/photo filters, available here

Tulum Itinerary Day 2: Tulum ruins & beach time

the view from the ruins! edited with the Wanderlust preset pack/photo filters, available here

Grab a breakfast at either Botanica Garden Café, Prieto or Matcha Mama. Then exploring the Tulum ruins (Zona Arqueológica de Tulum). These are Mayan ruins, located on a cliff next the ocean. Walking would take about an hour, so you’re gonna need a car, bike or a scooter. Make sure to get there early, with plenty of water in an insulated water bottle, as it gets incredibly hot and humid during the day and there is just about no shade. The ruins open at 9am, try to be there as early as you can. The entry fee is 85 pesos and can only be paid in cash. Try to have the exact amount as they don’t always have change.

the views are incredible! edited with the Ocean Blues preset packs/photo filters, available here

After exploring the ruins, which should take just under two hours, it’s now time for some lunch and beach time. There are three public beaches in Tulum – Playa Santa Fe, Playa Pescadores and Playa Paraiso, but essentially it’s just one beach as they all merge together. If you’re in the mood for some Mexican food – Casa Galeones is your place. If you’d prefer something fresh & cold, head to Matcha Mama or Raw Love. Casa Galeones is located at one of the three public beaches in Tulum, Playa Pescadores. Matcha Mama and Raw Love are both located in the hotel zone, about a 20 minute drive from the ruins and have vegetarian/vegan options. If you decide to go with the latter two, you can access the beach at Raw Love.

the beach access at raw love – so pretty! edited with the Ocean Blues preset pack/photo filters, available here

For those that want to take a photo with the “follow that dream” sign, this will be your day to do that. It’s located just a few minutes from Matcha Mama, search for “Lolita Lolita Tulum” in your google maps – that’s where that sign is!

For sunset – I would highly recommend heading to Ciel Rose: a sunset bar with a stunning 360° views of the jungle!

Day 3: Cenote day

edited with the Wanderlust preset pack/photo filters, available here

You can not visit the Yucatán Peninsula without exploring a few cenotes! Visiting a cenote is probably the most unique activity in this Tulum itinerary. To get the day started, I’d suggest grabbing a breakfast at either Botanica Garden Café, Prieto or Matcha Mama. Then it’s time to head to explore the cenotes! As there are over 6000 cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula, it can be hard to choose which ones to visit. Try to go early as the later it gets, the more crowded they tend to be – and it’s just so much more magical to explore them when it’s not filled with a bunch people The Gran Cenote opens at 8am, while most of the other ones open at 9am. I would recommend visiting Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera and Cenote Car Wash. The cenotes are roughly a 20 minute bike ride from Tulum town, so again, you’ll need a bike, a scooter or a car.

After visiting a few cenotes – it’s time for a late lunch! For tacos I’d recommend Taquería La Rivera Costena, for vegetarians/vegans I’d recommend La Hoja Verde.

In the afternoon (anytime after 4pm, cause that’s when they open) I’d suggest grabbing some churros from Don Churro Tulum! The best churros in Tulum in my opinion, you won’t be disappointed.

Day 4: Laguna Kaan Luum

If you only have four days in Tulum and you need to leave early, then your trip ends here. But in case you still have time and don’t leave until later, spend the morning exploring Laguna Kaan Luum. It’s a beautiful lagoon, hidden in the jungle, about 8 km (5 miles) from Tulum. You will need to take a taxi or have a car/scooter. Technically you could also bike, but for whatever reason it’s not recommended to bike on this road.

It’s not your average lagoon, as in the middle of it, there is an 82m (270 feet) deep cenote! Despite its proximity to Tulum, it hasn’t really been discovered yet, so it’s mostly visited by locals. It’s the perfect spot to swim, relax and enjoy nature. Paddle boards are also available for rent, so that’s another thing you could do. The entrance fee is 100 pesos (about 5USD) and must be paid in cash.

I hope you find this four day Tulum itinerary helpful! If you have more days in Tulum, I would recommend having a look at these top rated day trips, that will allow you to discover more of the surrounding areas.

If this is going to be your first time in Tulum, you might want to read this detailed post on how to get to Tulum.

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to check out:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• How to get to Tulum
• Five must visit places in Mexico
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Luckily, I have never had any problems during my travels, and the majority of travellers will not experience anything more serious than pickpocketing. I still keep these safety tips in mind when I’m traveling.

Here are 14 tips for staying safe while traveling, that are applicable around the world.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Be aware of your surroundings

Always be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut if something feels off. Sometimes there are certain areas/neighbourhoods within a city that are considered unsafe, make sure to google that or, what I usually do is asking someone at the front desk of my hostel/hotel.

2. Don’t flash your valuables

Avoid flashing your valuables, especially in poorer countries. You will be seen as a “rich person” which could make you a target for pickpocketers. Just an average camera can be worth more than the monthly salary in some countries. You want to avoid standing out as a “wealthy tourist”.

3. Only use ATM’s inside banks

Manipulating ATM’s to copy your credit card information, is unfortunately something that happens around the world. As you probably want to avoid that, only use ATM’s that are located inside a bank branch, preferably during their opening hours.

4. Inform yourself about common scams

Scams happen around the world. Some are universal, like the one where one person will somehow distract you while the other one steals your valuables. Then there are scams that are typical for each country. In order to avoid becoming a victim of one, look up common scams at the country/city you are about to visit.

Another common scam, that I’ve heard about in Bangkok and Costa Rica, but surely happens in more countries: Someone will approach you in a bus or a train station, ask you where you’re going and will then tell you that all buses/trains to there has been cancelled due to a strike/national holiday or whatever. Either they will then tell you that their friend, or themselves, are a taxi driver and can take you to your destination. Of course for an outrageous price. People that fall victim to this scam will believe that all trains/buses have indeed been cancelled and will pay the price, thinking that it’s their only option.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, check out these 21 things you must know before visiting Costa Rica including a common scam that takes place on the road between San José and the airport.

5. Do not carry your passport around

Obviously losing your passport while traveling is a hot mess, so unless you are gonna use your passport, do not carry it around. Instead leave it in a safe place at your accommodation. Carrying it around for no reason is just an unnecessary risk. It could get stolen, you could lose it or you could even just spill a drink on it or which might ruin it.

Some countries state that you must carry your passport at all times – in that case, carry a photo or a scanned copy of your passport. You can even get a notarised copy of your passport at your home country before you leave.

6. Keep an eye on your bag

Always keep an eye on your bag, there are some professional pickpocketers out there. If you’re in a crowded area, never carry any valuables in a backpack on your back, rather move the backpack to your front.

7. Avoid walking around late at night

Many places get more dangerous after dark. Avoid walking around late at night. If you do, stick to the more crowded streets and try walking with a group if you possibly can. Consider taking a taxi if it’s very late and streets are mostly empty, even if you’re with another person.

8. Don’t get wasted

There’s nothing wrong with going out and having a few drinks, but avoid getting too drunk as this might make you an easy target for all sorts of crimes.

9. Do some research before taking night buses

Night buses tend to be a popular option for longer trips, as you can hopefully sleep through most of it as well as not having to pay for accommodation that night. Usually night buses are safe, but in certain areas night buses are a frequent target for robberies. If you are considering taking a night bus, do a quick research to see if the route has a history of being targeted for robberies.

10. Follow your instinct

If something feels off, follow your instincts. This could be your instinct about a person, a place or whatever.

Find the perfect hostel or hotel for your trip here! Make sure to read the reviews before booking

11. Be careful if (sketchy) people ask if you’re traveling by yourself

If someone you find sketchy and/or you don’t know, asks you if you’re traveling by yourself, always say no. Say you’re traveling with a group of friends, your family, your coworkers, whatever – and make it sound like they’re just around the corner. This could be at the cashier line in the supermarket, a random person on the street that just strikes up a conversation – if something feels off about it, do not say you’re traveling by yourself.

I’ve had this happen a handful of times, and to me it just feels weird that a complete stranger is asking me if I’m traveling by myself, why do they wanna know that? They most likely have no bad intensions and are just curious – but I mean it’s an innocent lie, better safe than sorry.

12. Do not take unofficial taxis

In many countries there are a bunch of “taxi drivers” that basically put a taxi sign on their car, but are not official taxi drivers. Make sure to avoid those as they are not registered/tracked and are likely to try to rip you off as they don’t have a meter.

So how do you recognize they official ones from the unofficial ones? The easiest thing to do is to have the reception/a restaurant/wherever you’re leaving from to call one. In case you are flagging down a taxi on the street, look for their registration number and/or if they’re wearing a uniform. If you’re unsure what the official taxis look like, just approach a local and ask.

13. Have a backup phone

In this day and age, not having a phone can be, well, challenging. Especially if you’re in a foreign country. I’m not sure if I’d last a day without google maps in a place I’m not familiar with haha. So I like to have a backup phone, which is just my old phone, in my luggage, in case anything happens to my other one. In case your phone gets lost, broken or stolen – this will allow you to get by until you figure something out. See if your family or friends have an old phone lying around that you could borrow, in case you don’t have one.

14. Walk like you know where you’re going

Even if you don’t have a clue about where you are or where you’re going, walk like you know the place like your palm and have no doubt about where you’re going. Looking lost will make you look vulnerable and thus, an easier target.

I hope you found this post helpful and will be able to use some of these 14 tips to stay safe while traveling – if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner :))

If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• Common Mistakes to avoid when backpacking
• How to save money while traveling
• How to choose a hostel

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Having stayed at hundreds of hostels around the world, let me walk you through how I choose and book hostels. When it comes to booking both hostels and hotels, you can’t just make a decision after looking at a few photos. The fact that the photos look great, doesn’t mean that the hostel is any good. It could even be straight up awful. The most common reason would probably be that the photos are very old and the place hasn’t been maintained since it was build. The pool you might have seen on the photos might not have been in used for years and the place could be falling apart.

Hostels are a great way to save money when traveling, while also giving you the chance to meet new people. In my experience, choosing a good hostel can be the difference between having an awesome or just an average time. 

Here I will list things you need to consider when choosing a hostel.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Filter out the not-so-good ones

Just like with hotels, there are all sorts of hostels out there. Some of them have their shit together, while others don’t. In my experience, hostels with above 80% rating will have their shit together. With that being said – the first thing I do when looking for hostels, is to filter out hostels that have a rating below 80% on booking.com or hostelworld.com. This will help you stay clear of hostels that might or might not have toilet paper, those that haven’t been cleaned for weeks or those that have a broken air conditioning that they’ve been meaning to have fixed but just haven’t gotten around to it. Unless you’re on a very tight budget, don’t choose the cheapest hostel. Spending an extra 1-2 dollar per night can make a HUGE difference in terms of what you get. 

Set your priorities straight

Once you have filtered out the not-so-good ones, you can start figuring out what your priorities are and what type of hostel you are looking for. Here I will list a few factors you should consider.

Party hostel or a quiet one

Are you looking for a party hostel or do you prefer a quiet one? Do you mind loud music playing until late or would you rather have the chance to go to sleep before midnight? Party hostels tend to attract younger guests whose sole purpose of the trip may or may not be to see the inside of as many nightclubs as possible, rather than to explore anything else. If you are more interested in chasing waterfalls and going on day trips, you might not find your type of people at a party hostel. You can usually tell from the negative reviews from angry travelers that were not looking for a party hostel but got one, whether or not a hostel is a party hostel. 

Air conditioning

Are you from a cold country and traveling to a tropical, hot and humid country? If so, having an air con in you room is definitely an important factor when choosing a hostel. Believe me when I tell you, you do want to spend whatever amount needed to have an a/c in your room. I once ended up spending a night in Nicaragua in a room without an a/c due to series of unfortunate events (mainly, we forgot it was Easters so our only options were to sleep on the street or in this very crappy hostel which sure did not have a/c, nor running water) – it was not a pleasant night I spent the entire night awake, not sure if I was about to fall asleep or if I was about to pass out from a heatstroke. You will want to avoid this at all cost

Plug-ins next to the beds

Things like having plug-ins next to the beds, is something that can be easy not to pay attention to, but once you’re in bed and your phone is at 8%, you will wish that you thought of this sooner. So if you are person with a phone, having a plug-in next to your bed is something you want to keep in mind when choosing a hostel.

If you have a power bank (get one here) this probably won’t affect you that much. The same goes for plug-ins that aren’t working. Once again, you can tell from angry reviews from travelers that woke up to their phone at the same 3% as the night before. 

Check-in times

Make sure to look at the check-in times, especially if you will be arriving late. Not all hostels have a reception that’s open 24/7, so always make sure you will be able to check in at the time you arrive. You don’t want to be standing outside with your luggage at 11pm only to find out that you can’t get in. 

Lockers

Almost all hostels have lockers of some sort. Make sure to bring your own padlock (get one here) as most hostels don’t provide one. Some hostels only have small lockers that would fit things like your phone, wallet, passport, etc. Depending on how much you value your stuff, you might want to make sure that the hostel has large lockers that will fit all your things. 

Common areas

Chances are that you are not looking to spend a whole lot of time in your room – and that you want to meet new people. If that’s important to you, make sure that the hostel has a common area where you can hang out.  

Reading the reviews

Once you have narrowed down your choices based on your preferences – you will want to go through the reviews before booking. Reading reviews from people that have stayed in the hostel can give you a lot of valuable information that you can’t find elsewhere. These can be things like if there is a construction going on next door that starts at 6am every morning, are the beds comfortable, is it a party hostel or a quiet one, how the atmosphere is – basically lots of things you will want to know before making a decision. Read the negative reviews and check if the things people are complaining about is something that would be a deal breaker for you. 

Here you can search for hostels and read reviews:

I hope this gave you an idea about how to choose a hostel, and perhaps more importantly, will help you to stay clear of the not so good ones.
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If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• Common Mistakes to avoid when backpacking
• How to save money while traveling
• 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

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