I'm going to school in Belfast this year & would love to go down to Dublin for St. Patricks Day in March. Since I am the stereotypical starving student, I was planning on staying in a hostel during the trip. However, one of the cheapest places with openings for the entire weekend is entirely mixed-gender dorms. My mother FREAKED when she heard I was even considering staying someplace that could have more guys than girls in it.
I can see her point but it seems like lots of females use hostels all the time and mixed dorms are a lot more common than single gender. But, I've never stayed in hostels before.
How dangerous would it be to stay in a mixed dorm? Do I need stay only in places that have female-only dorms?
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I suggest you look at hostels that cost a little more. I think the mixed-gender dorms sound like a setup for not getting any sleep. Maybe your mother would subsidize a better arrangement!
Posted by
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
104 posts
Hi Genifer,
I stayed in 8 different hostels this summer, and about half of them were co-ed dorms. I never found it a problem, but I made sure I was at safe, clean hostels that did not have a "party hostel" reputation. I traveled alone, and I never felt unsafe.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
I've stayed in mixed dorms all over the world. On the whole, it's not dangerous at all sharing a room. But use common sense - lock up your belongings, don't drink so much you come back to the hostel and black out.
I would make every effort to avoid party hostels like the previous poster mentions - especially during St. Patrick's Day. Usually, any hostels offered by Hosteling International are mellow, quiet, clean and safe. But always read the reviews from other travelers before you book your room. Check out review websites like BugEurope.com or Hostelworld.com - many of these websites ask reviewers to rate certain aspects of the hostel - safety, cleanliness, atmosphere, etc.
You still have a few months to save some more money. Maybe you can save enough to try and pay for a single room in a hostel if all they have is mixed dorms and you are uneasy about it. Otherwise, try finding a guesthouse or B&B with a single room. Many have one very small room with a twin bed and a not so great view that they are willing to rent for cheap, so shop around. Sometimes the difference between a bunk bed in a hostel dorm and a private room in a guesthouse is just another 20 Euro - your Mom may be willing to split the difference with you if it will give her added peace of mind.