I compared 3-star hotels vs hostels in Lisbon last month

Spent 8 nights in Portugal. First 4 nights at a 3-star hotel near Rossio. $120 a night. Tiny room. No kitchen. Paid $15 each morning for a sad pastry. Switched to a hostel in the Alfama district. $35 a night for a private room with a shared bathroom. Huge kitchen. Made my own coffee and eggs. Met a guy who showed me the free miradouro viewpoints. Hotel was quiet but the hostel saved me $340 and I actually ate real food. Anyone else find hostels beat hotels for solo city trips?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_hayes12d ago

Felt this hard. I did a similar thing in Porto last year and the hostel private room was honestly way more fun than any hotel I've stayed in. Saved so much money on breakfast and coffee that I could actually afford to do a wine tour.

tyler_hernandez12d ago

Read this article about how hostels are becoming more like boutique hotels but keeping the social vibe. It totally makes sense why you'd pick a private room over a hotel. The money you save on stuff like breakfast and coffee adds up fast, especially in touristy spots. Plus you get the good location and the chance to meet people if you want to. I bet the wine tour was sick, Porto's known for that. Hostels are honestly underrated for solo travelers who dont need fancy room service.