Craziest Hostel Story/Experience?

[TJFreshman22]

I'm considering taking a vacation to Europe (likely Germany and Switzerland) next year. Only other vacation I've been on is when I went camping at Kejimkujik national park which was awesome for camping with my mates by the lake so planning to do something a bit larger and explore some parts of the world I've never been before. I love reading about history which is why I think Germany would be cool, and Switzerland is just gorgeous to maybe stay in an old fashioned small hotel, or some older homes/bed n breakfasts through airBnB.

Likely staying in Hostels will be the best way to save money and meet some interesting people along they way I'm told. What are they like/would you recommend that over a hotel?

I have never stayed in one before so don't know what to expect. Cost per night, any place to lock your backpack/gear up? How many people in a room is recommended or is common? Is there a lot of sex that happens there or is everyone usually pretty respectful of the common areas? Or if I bring a girlfriend is there any privacy like you may find with a Harry Potter style train carriage or mostly open room concept? Finally do you generally tend to meet people for a couple days, or more just play cards, or grab some drinks with the people there for that night only if everyone is coming and going, or do people mostly just keep to themselves a lot of the time?

Any other tips and advice are appreciated.

[AmandaYVR]

I'ved never stayed in a hostel. I wouldn't like it at all. Even in my 20s that would have been a stretch for me. My closest experience to that was staying in a very cheap hotel in Paris (I forget what arrondisement it was in.) Got a small room, shared it with a girl friend and her boyfriend, so I slept on a cot which was hella uncomfortable on my back. But what was really memorable bad was it was one bathroom per entire floor. And you can imagine how busy it was. Waiting and waiting to get in there, door always locked. Finally I was able to get it one morning, had a shower, but it was the most disturbing shower I've ever had. There was no curtain or door on the shower. It was just a basic showerhead coming out of the wall, not detachable, and it sprayed into the room, all over the fixtures, soaking the toilet and sink. There were black, thick hairs all over the floor, wet. After that experience, I said, "Nope, never again." I need my own bathroom in the room.

But what was memorable in a good way about that place, was it had the coolest underground cave restaurant. We had an affordable breakfast in there. It has coved ceilings and was painted creamy yellow or grey, brightly lit. I like interesting interiors with low or cozy ceilings. Like a burrow.

I went all over Europe that trip. Glad I went, had some amazing experiences, but also some really bad ones. Don't travel with a group who doesn't get along. That's travel rule #1. And never, ever leave your luggage unattended. Yoink. No bueno.

[ineedatan]

Alright, here it goes - hostels are ideal if your main focus is to save and you care to engage and meet other travellers that may potentially have the same interests as you and you get to have a travel buddy from meeting them.
An AirBnB is my personal choice however as I can still save a significant amount (especially if I'm splitting with friends) and have privacy (unlike the risk of staying at a hostel - having things stolen, being harassed by staff, the issue of sharing washrooms and it's uncleanliness - I've had my worst experience in Marrakech - Morocco), plus it gives you an experience of the place you're visiting the same way a local does.
Another option I've heard positive feedback from friends (but haven't personally tried) is HomeStay (more for the student life or one going in a work Visa, but have had friends that opted this choice for as short as a 2 week vcay. They love the comfort of a home as well as having a host show them around, reccomend spots based off their interests, teach them some lingo and keeps the place real clean like a bed and breakfast. re-state://background_color_rgba (0, 0, 0, 0), font_color_rgb (77, 77, 77), justifyLeft, p