Solo traveler says they're done with hostels after nightmare experience

A solo traveler has declared they're done with hostels after a string of unlucky experiences during recent trips. The Daily Mail's travel desk cited the post, published on Sept. 26, 2025, from trainee reporter Alesia Fiddler. In a Reddit post titled 'I think I'm done with hostels as a solo traveller,' the traveler recounts recent trips and writes from what they called the worst hostel they've stayed in yet in Morocco.

According to the post, the traveler describes sharing a room with 'random people' in poor conditions, with 'roommates coming and going at all hours of the night' and 'one person that stinks up the room with BO.' Bedsheets were unclean and bathrooms cramped and disgusting, and 'the grossest bodily noises you've ever heard' from other guests added to the discomfort. The traveler noted they hadn't managed to get much rest and were counting down to going home after a 24-hour travel day.

Reaction on the thread included responses from other solo travelers who weighed in on hostel stays. Some described similar issues, such as a hostel where a girl had her phone ring out full volume repeatedly after midnight and was chatting away. Others said they vowed not to stay in hostels again, regardless of cost savings. Some offered practical tips, including reading reviews before booking because cheaper accommodations can come with tradeoffs.

Not everyone abandoned hostels. Several commenters noted positives, saying hostels can be a social draw and that cheaper stays enable travel. One commenter suggested newer properties with better privacy, and capsule-style layouts were praised as a compromise between socializing and sleep. For example, one traveler who still sees value in hostels said: 'I still like hostels because you get to meet other people. But nowadays I choose ones that are newer and have better privacy so that i can sleep better. Capsule style is great!'

Taken together, the thread reflects the ongoing tension for solo travelers balancing budget, social interaction and comfort when choosing lodging.