Hostels vs Couchsurfing
Jul 1, 2014, 2:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
Nothing against Hostelworld, but I like the reviews and detail in HI.
Romelle
Jul 6, 2014, 4:16 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Europe
Programs: SK EuroBonus, DL SkyMiles, AAdvantage
Posts: 48
I usually use Hostelworld, and I think the review system there works quite fine. Hostels from HI usually show up there as well. HI usually have only one or a few hostels in every city, so I don't exactly see how an improved review system helps if you don't have a choice anyways 
+ you miss out on a lot of potentially better and possibly even cheaper hostels. Although I'm aware of couchsurfing, I've actually never thought about it when planning a trip. I'm going to keep it in mind for the future though.
What I sometimes do is use Hostelworld to find hostels in a city, and then google the name. If the hostel have a website, you might be able to book them cheaper there, or at least with more flexibility for the same price (if not, I'll book through HW of course). Shaved a few €€€ off an upcoming trip this way the other day (HW would show the cheapest available flexible rate for one hostel; another one simply offered reductions through their own website).
+ you miss out on a lot of potentially better and possibly even cheaper hostels. Although I'm aware of couchsurfing, I've actually never thought about it when planning a trip. I'm going to keep it in mind for the future though.What I sometimes do is use Hostelworld to find hostels in a city, and then google the name. If the hostel have a website, you might be able to book them cheaper there, or at least with more flexibility for the same price (if not, I'll book through HW of course). Shaved a few €€€ off an upcoming trip this way the other day (HW would show the cheapest available flexible rate for one hostel; another one simply offered reductions through their own website).