Can I get a private room in a hostel, and does it affect the price?

Yes, many hostels offer private rooms that include a lockable door and sometimes an en‑suite bathroom. Prices for private rooms typically rise to €40‑60 per night, narrowing the cost gap with budget hotels but still often cheaper than a full hotel room.

How safe are shared kitchens in hostels?

Shared kitchens are generally safe; most hostels enforce cleaning schedules and provide basic cookware. To minimize risk, store valuables elsewhere, label your food, and clean up after use.

What if I have dietary restrictions that require a private kitchen?

If you need a dedicated kitchen, consider booking a hostel with a private kitchenette (some boutique hostels offer studio‑style rooms) or a budget hotel that includes a small kitchenette. This will increase nightly costs by roughly €15‑20 but ensures compliance with dietary needs.

Hostels vs. Budget Hotels for a European Tour

Question: Should a traveler choose 'Hostels' or 'Budget Hotels' for a European tour, considering the cost per night, privacy, and access to kitchen facilities for meal savings?

Prepared by the ChoiceScore Research Desk · Editor-approved for the curated library · Reviewed July 31, 2026

It depends Choice Score: 72/100

Direct answer

For most budget‑conscious travelers, hostels provide a lower nightly cost and kitchen access, but budget hotels win on privacy and consistent comfort.

Summary

Hostels typically charge €20‑30 per night, offer shared dorms with communal kitchens, and enable meal‑cost savings of up to €15 per day. Budget hotels charge €50‑80 per night, provide private rooms but rarely include kitchen facilities, meaning meals must be bought out. The overall cost advantage of hostels can be 30‑45 % lower for a two‑week trip, while the privacy premium of budget hotels may be worth it for solo travelers who value personal space and consistent amenities.

Choice Score breakdown

Cost Efficiency 85/100 — Hostels are substantially cheaper per night.
Privacy & Comfort 65/100 — Budget hotels provide private rooms and en‑suite bathrooms.
Meal Savings Potential 78/100 — Shared kitchens in hostels enable significant food cost reductions.

Best for / Not best for

Best for

Backpackers
Travelers on a tight budget
Those who enjoy cooking on the road

Not best for

Travelers who need guaranteed privacy
People with strict dietary restrictions requiring private kitchen space
Those who dislike shared bathrooms

Scenarios

Optimistic Hostel Experience (45% likely)
The traveler stays in well‑rated hostels with clean shared kitchens, finds a private locker, and saves on meals by cooking most breakfasts and dinners. Nightly cost averages €25, and meal savings reach €12 per day.
Likely Mixed Approach (40% likely)
The traveler books hostels in high‑traffic cities where prices rise to €35/night, but switches to budget hotels for a few nights to rest after long travel days. Kitchen use is intermittent, saving €8 per day on average.
Pessimistic Budget‑Hotel‑Only Trip (15% likely)
All nights are booked in budget hotels at €75/night, with no kitchen access, forcing the traveler to eat out for every meal at €15 per day. Privacy is high but total cost spikes.

Calculations

Metric	Result	Formula
Average Nightly Cost – Hostels	25 EUR/night	(low_end + high_end) ÷ 2
Average Nightly Cost – Budget Hotels	65 EUR/night	(low_end + high_end) ÷ 2
Meal Savings from Shared Kitchen	168 EUR	daily_meal_savings × trip_days
Total Cost – Hostel‑Only 14‑Night Trip	518 EUR	(nightly_hostel_cost × nights) + (food_out_cost × days_without_cooking)
Total Cost – Budget‑Hotel‑Only 14‑Night Trip	1,260 EUR	nightly_hotel_cost × nights + food_out_cost × nights
Cost Difference (Hostel vs. Hotel)	742 EUR	total_hotel_cost − total_hostel_cost

Pros & cons

Pros

Hostels are typically 30‑45 % cheaper per night than budget hotels, freeing up funds for activities or longer stays.
Shared kitchens enable substantial meal‑cost savings and allow travelers to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Hostel environments foster social interaction, making it easier to meet fellow travelers and exchange tips.

Cons

Privacy is limited; dorm rooms often have bunk beds, shared bathrooms, and limited personal storage.
Noise levels can be higher, especially in central city hostels with active common areas.
Quality and cleanliness vary widely; some hostels may lack reliable Wi‑Fi or secure lockers.

Assumptions

Hostel nightly rate range: €20‑30 — Based on average prices reported by Hostelworld and Booking.com for 2024‑2025.
Budget hotel nightly rate range: €50‑80 — Derived from typical rates on Expedia and Trip.com for 3‑star budget chains in Western Europe.
Meal cost when eating out: €15 per day — Average cost of a simple breakfast, lunch, and dinner at mid‑range cafés.
Meal savings when cooking: €12 per day — Assumes two meals prepared in a shared kitchen (breakfast + dinner) at €3 per meal versus €7.50 when bought.
Trip length: 14 nights — Common duration for a European backpacking tour.

Practical next steps

1. Define your trip length, daily budget, and privacy tolerance.
2. Gather average nightly rates for hostels and budget hotels in each destination (use sites like Hostelworld, Booking.com, or Expedia).
3. Estimate daily meal costs if eating out versus cooking; factor in kitchen access.
4. Apply the calculations above to each option, adjusting inputs to your actual itinerary.
5. Compare total projected costs, weigh privacy needs, and decide which trade‑off aligns with your travel style.

Methodology

The analysis combined publicly available average price ranges from major booking platforms (Hostelworld, Booking.com, Expedia) with standard European meal cost benchmarks. Three cost‑comparison calculations were built using mid‑point rates and a 14‑night itinerary. Scenario modeling incorporated variability in nightly rates, kitchen access, and traveler privacy preferences. All assumptions are explicitly listed, and the choice_score reflects the balance between cost efficiency, privacy, and meal‑saving potential, adjusted for data uncertainty.

Sources

Sources support specific claims; they do not replace our analysis. Read the research and source standards.

FAQ

Can I get a private room in a hostel, and does it affect the price?: Yes, many hostels offer private rooms that include a lockable door and sometimes an en‑suite bathroom. Prices for private rooms typically rise to €40‑60 per night, narrowing the cost gap with budget hotels but still often cheaper than a full hotel room.
How safe are shared kitchens in hostels?: Shared kitchens are generally safe; most hostels enforce cleaning schedules and provide basic cookware. To minimize risk, store valuables elsewhere, label your food, and clean up after use.
What if I have dietary restrictions that require a private kitchen?: If you need a dedicated kitchen, consider booking a hostel with a private kitchenette (some boutique hostels offer studio‑style rooms) or a budget hotel that includes a small kitchenette. This will increase nightly costs by roughly €15‑20 but ensures compliance with dietary needs.

Related decisions

How much can I save by cooking my own meals while traveling in Europe?
What are the best hostels for solo female travelers in Western Europe?

Disclaimers

Travel costs and accommodation prices fluctuate seasonally; the figures used are averages for the 2024‑2025 period and may not reflect current rates.

Privacy and safety experiences vary by property; always read recent guest reviews before booking.

Meal‑cost savings assume access to a functional kitchen and basic cooking skills; individual results may differ.