“Are hostels safe for solo female travelers?” is a common question I get asked as a Black solo female traveler. And to be honest, I understand. However, the idea of going to a whole new country and sleeping next to strangers in $10 bunk beds sounds creepy and unsafe.
At the beginning of my solo travel career, I did have some skepticism. There were not many Black students in my study abroad program in Spain, let alone staying in hostels. And as a Black solo female traveler, I had to be mindful of where I went all the time, and hostels seemed like a recipe for disaster.
In reality, though, hostels are not as sketchy as they seem! I’ve stayed in over 30 hostels (and counting) worldwide. So I am familiar with what it’s like to stay in a hostel in the U.S and abroad for a memorable travel experience. Here are my best hostel safety tips for solo female travelers and why I think hostels are safe for us.