You have a point when you say the destination has something to do with this. If the place is a popular party destination, I guess most of the traveler crowd would be party people unhesitant to use drugs and what not. My last vacation was to Goa, India and here's what I did. I did not want to stay in a hostel so I convinced a bunch of friends to tag along with me. We pooled in out finances and booked a nice hotel room - 3 people per room in 2 double-room suites. It cost us each roughly the same it would in a hostel. Of course, you can't really do this if you're inclined to travel solo. So I guess reviews would be the next best thing.