Is Hostelworld.com Safe And Legit? [Plus How To Avoid Potential Issues]

HostelworldHostels
Written By Taz Zaidi

Is Hostelworld.com Safe And Legit?

Hostelworld is a great place to book hostels online.

But staying in a hostel (especially as a first-time solo traveler) can be intimidating - whether it’s due to fear of booking online or safety concerns at the property. I’ve booked through Hostelworld countless times and have stayed in hostels all around the world. Common questions travelers ask regarding Hostelworld include:

  • Is Hostelworld a legit/reputable/reliable site?

  • Is Hostelworld trustworthy?

  • Is it safe to book on Hostelworld?

In this guide, I’ll address these questions, cover safety concerns that travelers face when using the site, and give tips on how to avoid potential issues. If it’s your first time in a hostel, read our Hostel Safety Guide.

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*Agoda.com is a great place to find deals on hostels. For today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Why Hostelworld.com Is A Legit Booking Site

Hostelworld.com was founded in 1999 by Ray Nolan in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, the site’s inventory has grown to 20,000+ properties in nearly 180 countries. The company is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (since 2015), as Hostelworld Group PLC (symbol HSW). To see the company’s annual reports and presentations, click here.

Since acquiring two of its largest competitors (Hostelbookers.com and Hostels.com) in the past decade, Hostelworld has cemented its position as the leader in online hostel booking. Its annual revenue is much less than major online travel agencies (OTAs) like Agoda.com, Booking or Expedia, but HW serves an important niche in the travel industry. This long, solid background makes Hostelworld legit, reputable and trustworthy - in the same class as other OTAs.

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*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How Reliable Is Hostelworld.com?

So we established that Hostelworld is a legit company, but what about reliability concerns from customer?

Common reliability concerns include:

  1. Hostel staff not receiving your booking confirmation

  2. Overbooking (Hostelworld or your hostel over-selling your bed/room)

  3. Hosts not accepting your Hostelworld booking as valid

Reliability Concern #1:

Hostel Staff Not Receiving Your Booking Confirmation

As a Hostelworld customer, you’ll always receive a Booking Confirmation email right after you make a reservation. You also have access to all your upcoming bookings from within your Hostelworld account.

Hostelworld sends a Booking Notification email to your host when your reservation is made. Hosts have access to all the upcoming bookings from within their own account. Hostelworld will send a reminder email to you and your host a few days prior to check-in.

Booking Confirmation email

Booking Confirmation email

Reliability Concern #2:

Overbooking

The available beds/rooms you see on Hostelworld are based on what hosts report as available. Overbooking can occur if a hostel forgets to notify Hostelworld that a bed/room is no longer available (this could occur if there are many walk-in customers in a short period of time), then Hostelworld sells that bed/room online.

However, hostels typically sync their inventory across platforms, meaning availability is updated in real time - so this issue rarely occurs. If you find out your bed is overbooked, you can submit a claim on Hostelworld’s Booking Guarantee page (worth $50 USD).

Hostelworld displays how many beds/rooms remain in inventory

Hostelworld displays how many beds/rooms are in inventory

Reliability Concern #3:

Hosts Not Accepting Your Hostelworld Booking As Valid

Hostelworld.com can not sell a bed/room without the hostel’s permission. Every listing you see on the site is the result of a partnership. Properties create listings and choose a per booking commission rate (between 10 and 25%). To learn more about how Hostelworld makes money, read this guide.

If a host doesn’t accept your reservation upon arrival, even after you’ve presented an identification (passport if you’re a foreign national) and proof of booking, you can report the case to Hostelworld immediately.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How Hostelworld Enforces Policies

Hostelworld mediates issues between guests and hosts. Hosts agree to Hostelworld’s Terms and Conditions when publishing a listing. Guests agree to their host’s policies and Hostelworld’s terms when booking.

If a hostel is at fault for something, like unreasonably cancelling a booking or using misleading photos in a listing, Hostelworld will penalize that host. If a guest is at fault (typically involves cancellation or no-show), Hostelworld penalizes that guest based on the policy they agreed to when booking. For more on the site’s cancellation and refund policy, read this guide.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Is It Safe To Book With Hostelworld?

So, Hostelworld is a legit company that enforces its policies on hosts and guests, but what about customer safety?

Common customer safety concerns include:

  1. Payment (safety of card details and personal information)

  2. Guest safety at the property

  3. Safety of personal belongings

  4. Booking scams and fraud

Safety Concern #1:

Payment

Nobody wants to worry about security of their card details when transacting online. Luckily, you do not need to worry about this with Hostelworld. Your card details are SSL encrypted - protecting you from third parties and making your payment secure. To read Hostelworld’s Data Protection Notice, click here.

Hostelworld only collects payment from guests on the booking deposit fee, which is a small portion (usually around 15%) of the total booking cost. You’ll pay the remainder of your booking total to the host when you arrive at check-in. To learn more about how payments work on Hostelworld, read this guide.

Online payments are secure on Hostelworld.com

Online payments are secure on Hostelworld.com

Safety Concern #2:

Guest Safety At The Property

Safety at the property is a valid concern. It’s probably the biggest hang-up travelers have when considering hostel accommodation. Risk tolerance and standards vary by person, but we can all take smart measures. If you’re new to Hostelworld and prefer to be extra safe when booking, I recommend sticking to listings with many reviews (100+) and outstanding review rating (9+). Also, read a listing’s description and customer reviews from the previous 6 months.

Hostelworld does not dissuade hosts from listing their properties in any geographical areas. If neighborhood safety is a big concern, research local neighborhoods prior to booking. You can see where hostel properties are located by clicking “Map” under the search bar.

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Experienced backpackers will tell you that it’s rare for a dangerous event to take place at a hostel. That said, we can’t ignore that sharing your room with multiple strangers carries some risk. If you’re concerned about safety as a female, know that most hostels offer at least one female-only dorm option. You can filter a search by selecting “Female Dorm” under the “Room” tab.

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In the unfortunate case that your safety is threatened at a property, let the staff know immediately. If they’re unable or unwilling to make concessions, like moving you to a different room, contact Hostelworld. If it’s warranted, contact local law enforcement as well.

Hostels are supposed to be flexible (relative to hotels) and experienced staff members deal with all types of requests, so don’t be afraid to speak up. To learn more about hostel safety, read our Hostel Safety Guide.

Safety Concern #3:

Safety of Personal Belongings

Whether you’re about to sleep or leave the hostel for the day, always lock up your valuables! You can filter searches to display hostels with lockers by selecting “Security Lockers” under the Facilities tab. If you’re seeking additional security, select “Key Card Access” (this will significantly reduce the number of available hostels, as key card is not a standard hostel feature).

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Before leaving your hostel to explore for the day, split your credit cards and cash between your pocket (only take what you need) and your bag in the locker. This way, you’ll have back-up in case anything happens to either. Keep a digital copy of your passport ID page.

It’s also a good idea to purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. Less risk-averse travelers might say full coverage insurance (including theft) is unnecessary, but it definitely helps with peace of mind. Regardless, use common sense and follow a few smart practices when staying in a hostel and you should be fine!

Safety Concern #4:

Booking Scams And Fraud

Hostelworld has systems in place to prevent booking scams and fraud. These systems protect vulnerable customers who aren’t yet familiar with Hostelworld’s platform and/or have never stayed in a hostel before. Hosts provide documentation and photos to prove association to a property before a listing is approved.

Hostelworld reserves the right to ban hosts, no matter how many positive reviews they’ve got. Hostelworld offers a Booking Guarantee. If booking details can’t be found at check-in (meaning the property doesn’t exist or accept you), you’ll receive a $50 USD credit. For more on the Booking Guarantee, click here.

*For the ten things every traveler should bring to a hostel, click here.

How To Avoid Potential Issues When Booking On Hostelworld

There’s always the potential for unforeseen issues to occur when booking accommodation online rather than in-person or through a recommendation. With countless daily transactions, hundreds of properties joining Hostelworld monthly, and the travel industry being highly competitive, it’s easy to understand why.

With that said, there are certain measures we can take to minimize the risk of negative experiences occurring during a trip. Here are some helpful tips to follow when booking your hostel on Hostelworld:

When searching for a listing:

  • Establish your destination, dates and budget prior to searching

  • Use Hostelworld’s search filters to narrow search results based on your own criteria

Only consider listings with:

  • Recent, positive reviews from guests

  • Clear photos showing your bed/room and the property’s entrance

  • Security rating of 9.0 or higher (every property has a security rating)

Selecting a bed/room and finalizing your booking:

  • You’ll notice many appealing hostels, but some are remotely-located. Make sure the hostel is near where you will spend time after you arrive (each listing has a map).

  • Read the listing’s full description. Ensure the hostel’s amenities fit what you’ll need, whether breakfast, laundry or tours and activities. A full description shows that a host put effort into creating their listing.

  • Read your host’s cancellation policy and double-check the price prior to booking.

  • The Booking Confirmation email should arrive within 10 minutes after booking.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

Hostels can be intimidating for first-time guests. But by taking precautions while selecting and staying at a hostel, you’ll avoid most things that could potentially go wrong. To learn more about Hostelworld or hostels, explore our other guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

How To Find Discounts On Hostels In Your Destination

For great deals on a wide variety of accommodation (including hostels, budget hotels, resorts, apartments, homes, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and unique or alternative types), use the Agoda widget below. Just input your destination and dates, then browse the results! Or to go directly to Agoda.com, click here.

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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