Welcome to the Comprehensive Guide to Hostelworld.com, the ultimate online platform for discovering and booking hostels. With its extensive features, vast inventory, and responsive customer support team, Hostelworld.com offers the best selection of hostels worldwide. With nearly 20,000 properties in nearly 180 countries, Hostelworld.com is your go-to resource for finding the perfect accommodation.
In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about using Hostelworld.com. We will start by explaining what a hostel is and provide background information on Hostelworld as a company. Next, we will delve into the functionality of the website, address common safety concerns, and discuss the reliability of the platform.
Once we have covered the basics, we will take you step-by-step through the entire process of using Hostelworld.com. We will show you how to create an account, filter your search results, and explain the three types of bookings available (free cancellation, flexible, non-refundable). You will learn how to complete a booking, make payments, change or cancel a booking, and leave a review.
Furthermore, we will explore the additional features and useful information provided by Hostelworld.com. These include the Best Price Guarantee, Experiences, how to contact Hostelworld’s customer support, details about the Hostelworld app, information about the Booking Guarantee ($50 USD), a comparison with other booking sites, group bookings, age restrictions, and airport transfers.
To learn more about a specific topic, simply click on the “Read More” links throughout the guide.
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In this guide, we aim to provide you with all the information you need to confidently use Hostelworld.com and find the perfect hostel for your next adventure. Let’s get started!
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Hostelworld.com is a website that connects travelers with hostels in over 165 countries, offering around 12,055 hostels across all five continents. Approximately 250,000 people per month make hostel bookings through this platform.
Overview: Hostelworld caters to backpackers and budget travelers who seek simplicity and a youthful atmosphere rather than luxury accommodations. It specializes in providing information about youth hostels.
Reservations can be made using any type of debit or credit card, and the website ensures security with VeriSign certification.
Each hostel page contains a description of its features, as well as directions on how to reach it from nearby stations or airports.
Reviews: One notable feature of the website is the inclusion of reviews from people who have stayed at the hostels. These reviews provide valuable insights and help users avoid unpleasant surprises.
In popular tourist destinations, users can also find city maps highlighting key points of interest.
Company: Hostelworld was established in 1999 with the aim of simplifying hostel reservations worldwide. By 2006, it had grown to employ 70 staff members in offices located in Dublin, Sydney, and San Mateo, California.
It’s important to note that the website doesn’t guarantee availability for those who make a reservation. If any issues arise, the website takes responsibility solely for the deposit paid during the reservation process.
Hostelworld proudly sponsors UNICEF.
What exactly is a hostel? If you’ve never experienced staying in one, you’re likely aware that hostels provide shared accommodation and are a great way to stretch your travel budget. However, the true essence of hostels lies in their unique social atmosphere, which can truly transform your journey. Travel blogger @glographics captures this experience beautifully with the following quote:
“With a hostel, you get to pay half the price for twice the fun.”
If you’re new to the world of hostels, let us debunk some misconceptions and answer all your questions about what a hostel is. Prepare yourself, because your travels will never be the same again…
So, what exactly is a hostel?
No two hostels are the same, but we guarantee you one thing: it will never be boring. To put it simply, a hostel is an affordable type of accommodation that focuses on fostering a shared social experience. Check out the video below for a more detailed introduction:
It may sound a bit vague, so we reached out to our travel community and asked them to define a hostel in just three words. Here are some of the best responses:
🌟 Embracing The Unexpected 🌟 Literally Adult Playgrounds 🌟 Social. Friends. Adventure. 🌟 An Experiences Imaginarium 🌟 Anything Can Happen 🌟 Diverse Social Exchange 🌟 Design. Creativity. Interaction. 🌟 Price. Location. Social.
Who stays in a hostel?
One of the most wonderful aspects of hostels is the opportunity to meet a wide range of people from all corners of the globe. Staying in a hostel introduces an element of excitement, as you never know who you’ll encounter, unlike being secluded in a hotel room.
2. Hotwire.com:
Hotwire.com is a subsidiary travel website that specializes in offering discounted prices on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages. It was founded in 2000 by Karl Peterson, Eric Grosse, Gregg Brockway, and Spencer Rascoff. The initial funding came from Texas Pacific Group (TPG), and several major airlines also invested in the company’s launch. Hotwire operates by selling off unsold travel inventory from its partners at reduced rates.
In 2003, Hotwire.com was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp for $663 million. The acquisition allowed Hotwire to benefit from cross-advertising with Expedia, reaching additional unique visitors each month. The company initially started with opaque airline tickets and later expanded to include opaque hotels and rental cars. In 2003, they also introduced vacation packages, and in 2004, select retail travel products were added to their offerings. Hotwire eliminated airfare booking fees in 2007.
Hotwire is currently a part of the Expedia Group and is managed by its president, Neha Parikh. The company has a leadership team consisting of a General Manager and six Vice Presidents. It has grown from 4 employees to over 300 employees since its inception.
As of 2019, Hotwire reported over 9.5 million unique monthly visitors and 91 million pageviews. Its main customer base comprises individuals aged 25-54, with a slight majority being male. While Hotwire’s revenue figures are not independently published, as a subsidiary brand of the Expedia Group, it contributed to the group’s overall revenue.
Hotwire’s product offerings revolve around airline travel, car rental services, hotel reservations, and vacation packages. The company fills unsold inventory from its partners, which allows them to clear out supply and sell at discounted prices. Hotwire follows an “opaque” sales model, where the participating companies are revealed to customers after the purchase is made. The company emphasizes transparency by providing upfront prices and travel dates for its products.
Hotwire has received recognition for its customer satisfaction, earning the highest ranking in customer satisfaction for independent travel websites in J.D. Power and Associates’ Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study. In 2014, the company’s mobile app received Travel Weekly’s Silver Magellan Award.
