What should I expect when staying at a hostel?

What should I expect when staying at a hostel?

Catharine Hamm (Travel Editor, LA Times) gives expert video advice on: What are the advantages of staying at a motel?; Are bed and breakfast rates comparable to hotel rates?; What are the advantages of a bed and breakfast? and more...

Hostels are as individual as the people who populate them. Some places can be real party places. There can be groups of people who are interested in particular aspects of culture. There may be people who are interested in cooking at a hostel. A lot of times in places that have shared kitchen facilities, you'll learn a lot about cooking. Hostels are not a place where you can stay and loll in bed all day. There is a time out. You do have to leave at certain points so that they can get in there and clean, and sometimes they'll be locked down at night. You may have a curfew at a hostel. You may have to be in by a certain hour. It's a good idea, when you're booking hostel accommodations, to make sure that you understand what the rules are and how they apply to you.