We talk about unusual professions, extraordinary hobbies and experiences that not everyone dares to repeat.

Moving to another city for many begins with searching rented apartment. But sometimes even the most temporary option becomes permanent, and the hostel serves as your home. Living in a room for 6-8 people is much cheaper than living in a rented apartment, definitely more fun, but guaranteed to be more dangerous.

We found three heroes who lived in Kyiv and Odessa hostels from several months to a year and asked them about living conditions, relationships with neighbors and administration, the delights of “dorm” life and troubles.

Yuliy, came from Lvov to Kyiv, lived in hostels for a total of more than a year

Yuliy, photographer, lived in hostels for more than a year

“The first hostel I wanted to check into in Kyiv was located on the territory of a bakery. It had only one window, and the smell was as if I was in a men’s gym. I didn’t risk checking into it.

The next one I lived for a couple of months, and the last one I lived for almost a year. Lived in dorms for up to 6 people. The monthly fee ranged from 900 to 1200 UAH.

Hostels have their own rules and trends.

For example, “old-timers” often turn into administrators. People in general are very contrasting. Personally, I met a lot of interesting personalities there: a typical gopnik who came from Donetsk, who later turned out to be a skilled musician and played the piano very well, an incredibly kind foreigner, Rastafarians, good-natured people and, on the contrary, evil characters from whom it would be worth staying away. We even had a guy who borrowed money from everyone and just disappeared.

In the hostel I met interesting personalities: a typical gopnik, who later turned out to be a skilled musician, a kind foreigner, Rastafarians, good-natured people and, conversely, evil characters

The third hostel became the last straw in my experience. Initially, I liked it there, as much as one can like living in such a place. And everything would have been fine if the owner had not fallen in love and forgotten to put up a fence on the first floor.

When the mistress had a lover, it turned out that she was ready to give love exclusively to him, so she became much harsher and angrier with us. But I was ready to endure this - rudeness and a negative attitude, of course, are unpleasant things, but you can get along with them.

It all ended one evening. While I was in the shower, they broke into my room and simply took out my laptop. The hostess then tried with all her might to pin the blame on me. After that I moved out.

Pros of living in a hostel:

1. Cheap
2. There is an opportunity to develop your own communication skills and learn in practice how to better connect with people

Cons:

1. Not safe. You can never be sure that your things won’t get lost, or that no one will “accidentally” spoil them. Always keep your eyes open - my main rule for living in hostels.
2. Time restrictions. You should go back to certain time so as not to disturb others.
3. If you are a cocoon person, then this is a problem. In a hostel you will only be able to be alone in the toilet, and even then not for long.
4. The owners always have their own truth - your word doesn't actually mean anything.

Adviсe:

1. Be sure to look at the comments about the hostel on the Internet. Of course, you can only find them if the hostel is official. Be somewhat paranoid - you still go to a place where there are a lot of people you don’t know.
2. Do not leave important things in the hostel. Always take money, documents, and other valuables with you.
3. Remember: you will have to search common language with a huge amount different people. Therefore, you need to cultivate perseverance of character. Take care of your nerves.
4. Learn all the rules of the hostel, because he who is informed is armed. This can be used to appeal to the owners.
5. If you decide to stay in an unofficial hostel, it makes sense to get copies of the owner's documents.
6. It’s ideal to move in immediately with a friend or get one already on the spot. A friend who will be “on the lookout” is a good opportunity to somehow protect yourself.
7. Check information about hot water, and about other “advantages” of the hostel. Everything they tell you needs to be checked.

Vladislava, came from Dnepr to Kyiv, lived in hostels for about 3 months. During this time I changed 3 hostels.

Vladislava, journalist, lived in hostels for about 3 months

“Hostels are an ideal find for a budget tourist, but in Ukrainian reality this does not work. The stories of my friends who have traveled the world and lived in hostels are radically different from what we have.

In the world, fewer stars for a hotel only means that you will not enjoy certain privileges. In our realities, this means that you will have to live in the dirt - both in everyday life and in human terms.

I don't know anyone who hasn't seen at least one cockroach in a hostel. It seems to me that there should be minimal cleanliness there. However, in every hostel I lived in, you could find fungus in the bathroom.

Another huge problem with hostels is hazing. This was especially true of the last hostel, where I lived for 2 whole months. I came across a situation where guests who live there for months or even years have a certain relationship with the owners, and therefore enjoy certain privileges. They are rude and receive support in all conflicts that happen.

One day I put my shoes as if in in the wrong place, after which they began to openly and familiarly be rude to me. In response to my request to discuss this issue in the morning, and not late evening after a working day, I heard only reproaches, and in the morning I received a call from the owner of the entire network of hostels with an urgent request to behave more correctly or pack my things.

A huge problem in our hostels is hazing. Guests who live there for years are in touch with the owners and enjoy privileges

All I needed was to just come after work and get some sleep. That's why I practically didn't communicate with anyone. This provoked general persecution - they began to harass me on any issues. In the end, I had to move out - it couldn’t go on like this.

Another scourge is food theft. These are the very “delights of community life.” You can never be calm about what you yourself bought.

Be prepared for the possibility that your personal belongings may be moved from place to place without your knowledge. For example, we had only one closet, and it was filled with the things of permanent residents. The rest kept things in suitcases. It got ridiculous: personal hygiene products disappeared, it was simply impossible to find your underwear. There was no talk of any turnkey lockers, but I know that some hostels have them.

Another scourge is food theft. These are the very “delights of community life.” You can never be calm about what you bought yourself

One day, while I was away, one of my roommates sat on my bed and didn’t realize there was a laptop there. In order to later figure out who crushed my computer, I had to conduct a whole detective investigation - and only a day later I found out what really happened. After that, the neighbor did return the money to me, but this amount, of course, was not enough for repairs, or, especially, for a new laptop.

In general, you need to learn to survive in hostels. You don’t get enough sleep, you don’t feel relaxed, you’re constantly under nervous tension.

Pros:

1. The most important thing is saving. You don't spend huge sums on housing. It seems to me that money is better spent on experiences, especially when traveling.
2. Hostels often have convenient locations. According to my observations, the price does not depend on the location
3. Hostels are about communication. I think this is also a plus. If you are lucky and you meet interesting people, this way you can make good new acquaintances

Cons:

1. Rude owners and admins are big problem Ukrainian hostels. I'm ready to endure the dirt, but rudeness just turns me off. Especially if it comes from people who are in leadership positions.
2. Dirt. There are simply countless insects there. The hordes of cockroaches are downright scary.
3. Selective justice, the inability to prove one’s case, hazing.
4. Theft.

Tips/lifehacks:

Sergey, lived in a hostel for 8 months

“At first it was cheaper to live in a hostel in Odessa.

Life there is always exciting. At a minimum, because you have the opportunity to constantly communicate with other guests, most of whom are foreigners. You know that there is a huge flow of tourists in Odessa. During my life in the hostel I managed to find huge amount friends from other countries. One guy even invited me to visit Britain. I think when I have time, I will definitely go.

If you live in a hostel for a long time, you can become an administrator or at least his assistant. Then you not only save on housing, but also receive a salary. For example, I immediately found a common language with the owners of my hostel, so my life was quite comfortable, and after a while I began to work part-time on shifts instead of the admin.

Overall, I am satisfied with life in the hostel.

Pros:

1. If the hostel is located in a tourist city, then you can count on an interesting international company. There's a lot here positive aspects: communication, the opportunity to practice the language, the emergence of connections, etc.
2. Saving. Living in a hostel is beneficial. Renting an apartment, especially in Odessa, is much more expensive. The main thing is to always follow the numbers and keep records. But in my case everything was simpler. Having made friends with the owners fairly quickly and becoming a permanent resident, I could pay even less. It all depends on your charm and sociability.

Cons:

1. No personal space. It’s quite difficult to be alone in a hostel, so it’s better to develop your communication skills
2. Curfew. Here, either arrive on time or stay out until the morning. Although friendship with the administrator may provide some privileges.

Adviсe:

1. Be positive and outgoing. This advice is unlikely to help introverts, but in a hostel it is important to establish a common language with people. There is no other way.
2. If you want to live in a hostel for a long time, follow its rules. At least in plain sight.

The tourist fever that gripped the world in the 20th century dictated its own rules. Luxury hotels are becoming less and less in demand; inexpensive, minimalist accommodation options are becoming more and more needed. Now everyone price category holidays have their supporters, but hostels do not lose their popularity and are opened in hundreds all over the world.

What is a hostel

A hostel is a guest house of absolutely any size, the owners of which offer their guests a minimum of amenities at an attractive price. A bed, a bedside table, a shared kitchen and a shower - that’s probably all that a standard hostel can provide to a traveler. However, many people don’t need more for a comfortable stay.

The very first hostel was a school classroom with bags of straw spread on the floor. The author of this economical solution belonged to the German teacher Richard Schirmann, who wanted schoolchildren to travel a lot, but did not have the money to provide them with housing while traveling.

	Hotel	Hostel
	Depends on the type of room and number of stars	Always lower than in a hotel. The cheapest rooms are for mixed-sex guests with maximum number places
Number of guests		Usually from 4 to 20 people per room. At the same time, the hostel has several 1-2-bed rooms
	You can choose any power system or abandon it completely	The price sometimes includes “European” breakfasts and tea; everything else you need to prepare yourself in the shared kitchen.
Service	The price includes room cleaning, regular change of linen and towels	The room is not cleaned daily. Linen and towels are changed every 3–7 days or when there is a change of guests
Room availability	The lockable room is equipped with everything necessary furniture, electronics, most often a refrigerator, air conditioning and TV. Every room has its own bathroom, regardless of category.	The guest is provided sleeping place and a lockable nightstand. Air conditioning is not available everywhere, and TVs, sofas, tables and everything else are located in common areas. Shared bathroom in the room or on the floor. In the worst case, the hostel may only have 1–2 bathrooms for everyone
Additional services	Hotels provide dozens of services, ranging from unlimited spa use to car rental. You can check the entire list on the website of the hotel or tour operator, as well as from the administrator	The list of hostel services is minimal: bicycle rental, transfer, tour desk, parking. Although there are hostels in Europe with their own gyms and home theaters

Hostel booking features

Popular resources for booking hostels are:

• www.hostelbookers.com
• www.hihostels.com
• www.hostelworld.com
• www.hostelsclub.com
• www.hostels.com

* All of them require a 5-10% prepayment at the time of booking.

As a rule, payment for the hostel occurs when booking, but if part of the funds will need to be paid on the spot, check in what currency it is better to do this and withdraw the required amount in advance.

The cost of renting a place in a hostel depends not only on its comfort, but also on the country in which it is located.

Also, do not ignore the hostel rules and internal regulations. In some of them you cannot bring guests, listen to music, or drink alcoholic drinks or smoke.

Pros and cons of hostels

Like any accommodation option, a hostel has its pros and cons.

Let's start with the pleasant things:

• The main plus, of course, is the price. Although in large European cities hostels are a little more expensive than the norm, they still cannot compare with hotels.
• Hostels are also good for large, diverse companies that gather there. Here you can find a travel companion for any excursion, learn a couple of new dishes or an unfamiliar game.
• Hostels gather guests from different countries, and the staff, as a rule, speaks one or two languages, so it’s easier to improve your foreign language skills here than at a hotel.
• Hostels try to compensate for the lack of many material amenities with entertainment. Discos are held here, free excursions are organized, and people gather in the common areas. board games and books.

And now to the negative points:

• The hostel is almost always noisy and privacy is nowhere to be found.
• Total strangers from different countries can live in the room. Some of them snore, some take photographs of everything in sight, and some chat on Skype at night.
• Despite the lockers, cases of theft of valuable property are not uncommon.
• The bathrooms are located at the end of the corridor or, if you're lucky, in the room, but still cannot be considered personal, so toothbrush It's better not to leave it there.
• During rush hours, that is, in the morning and evening, a crowd gathers in the bathroom and kitchen and you can stand in line for a long time.

The most unusual hostels in the world

Hostels also compete for attendance, just like hotels, but they take advantage not of luxury, but of unusualness. There are some among them that require reservations six months before the trip.

Yunak Evleri, Türkiye

One of the oldest hostels in the world is located in caves next to the Cappadocian “stone pillars”. From the outside it looks intimidating, but inside tourists will find not stone beds at all, but rather cozy rooms with electricity, water and modern appliances.

Radeka Downunder Coober Pedy, Australia

There is a good accommodation option for those struggling with claustrophobia in Australia. In the former mines there are unpresentable hostel rooms, which can be reached in best case scenario after a six-month waiting period.

Jumbo Stay Hostel, Sweden

One of the planes available in Stockholm never flies anywhere, but passengers regularly board it. The fact is that it houses a hostel, where takeoffs and landings from the nearest airport are constantly broadcast, and the interior decoration is almost unchanged. So those who are afraid of flying can start fighting their phobia on board the Jumbo Stay Hostel.

TuboHotel, Mexico

It was necessary to build a hostel near the Teposteco National Park in as soon as possible and with a ridiculous budget. Therefore, the builders decided to remake the cuttings of concrete pipes to match the numbers. Now inside each of them there is a small wardrobe, a double bed and lighting.

Brumund Vandrerhjem, Norway

They decided to build a childhood dream - a tree house - in a Norwegian forest. The rooms are designed for 5-7 guests, there is a lake instead of a shower, squirrels often come to visit, and if you have too much alcohol, there is a chance you simply won’t get home.

There are also hostels in railway carriages (Sydney), former prisons(Ljubljana), at lighthouses (California) and in other unusual places.

Hostel rules

The basic rules of accommodation are the same all over the world, but before you book a place, you need to clarify the features of the chosen hostel. General points include:

• Smoking is prohibited in individual rooms or throughout the property.
• Prohibition on returning to the hostel after 23:00–01:00.
• Prohibition of being in the room during cleaning (from 11:00 to 12:00).
• Prohibition on active pastime, communication and noise in the rooms after 23:00.
• Prohibition on using other people's products or things without the owner's permission.

Undocumented rules include staying in the bathroom for no more than 20 minutes and actively participating in general entertainment.

It’s always like this, you travel for two days, then you write about the trip for a week (when will you live?).

In general, I have two unanswered questions: the Venichka Erofeev Museum in Kirovsk and the Sheri Hostel in Apatity.
I saved both topics until last because:
- to write about the museum, concentration on the subject was required
- to write about the hostel, it was necessary to remove oneself from the subject in time and space.
In three days, enough removal has occurred, so today:

Actually, this picture says it all. But if it is not said clearly enough, then

This is what "Sheri" looks like on the website

And so - in reality

This is not a claim, but a preface.

It would be easier to write unambiguously positive feedback about price-quality ratio, helpful staff and made with soul. A variety of such reviews are presented on the hostel’s website.
It would be easier to write and definitely negative feedback about suck, horror and lost money.

But the fact of the matter is that impressions of “Cheri” are deeply ambiguous. I don’t want to scold them indiscriminately. The guys are trying and have done a lot of good things, and they command respect from many, starting from the fact of their existence. However, I also don’t want to praise indiscriminately. There are many friends who travel to the north, and they should have an objective picture and understand what exactly they are choosing if they choose this place to live.

But let's start with the good. From the good:

Nice site. Clear, informative, easy to find. Containing information also about other housing in Apatity and Kirovsk, and not just about your loved ones. And also about other useful things and interesting things in the area.
- communication skills. Fast, friendly and adequate response to both calls and letters. A rarity for domestic establishments. Personal communication is also very pleasant.
- large and noticeable signs, eliminating the problem of finding a building hidden in the depths of courtyards. Also rare.
- the wi-fi promised by the site was indeed there and worked quickly enough for us to watch a movie without any problems.
- in the common hall there was a mini-library, i.e. a good-sized shelf with books, which were very useful to me on a sleepless night.

Now about the bad.

The general appearance of the building where the hostel is located gives a rather unattractive impression at first glance. It's not the hostel's fault; it's not the only one located in the building. I am not at all against depressive dungeons, but there was no such photograph on the website. Everything on the site was nice, clean and colorful. Therefore, right from the first glance at the building there appears unpleasant feeling that you were slightly cheated. This impression (as well as the characteristic composition of care and devastation) is further reinforced by the appearance of the entrance...

Of the three entrances visible in the photo, the last one belongs to the hostel. The first one is a snack bar. This is the work schedule. Knowledgeable people everyone will understand without explanation.

The first person we saw upon approaching the hostel was a character who could hardly stand on his feet, periodically falling into a snowdrift. It was about one o'clock in the afternoon. By 6-7 pm the number similar characters in the vicinity of the building increased to 2-3, and their activity increased. They weren't aggressive, but for some reason they didn't improve the atmosphere.
To close the diner topic. For snacks, there are only frozen semi-finished products in boxes that can be heated in the microwave. The pathos of the establishment is not to eat, but to drink.

Inside the hostel, the motives for the discrepancy between the virtual representation and reality intensify. Here, for example, is the kitchen in the picture from the website

But here she is in the picture from reality

And so wherever you throw it. On the one hand, there are cute details that are very conducive to the establishment.

On the other hand...

The double room we lived in, at first glance, contains everything you need

Plus some nice optional extras.

At a second glance, it turns out that although the cribs and bedding are clean and made from Ikea, the wall next to the bed is openly and unpleasantly dirty. And the only available tee does not hold a charger for a mobile phone and the mobile phone remains uncharged

But I was ready to survive this too; I was devastated by what happened next. And then it turned out that the soundproofing in the hostel was zero. At the same time, our double room (and a double room in a hostel is the most expensive and implies that people pay for maximum privacy) is located in the most accessible place imaginable, literally at the crossroads of all roads. And at the same time, a children's sports team lives in the hostel...

Just 4 evening hours, during which a dozen healthy, athletic and sociable teenagers were cruising past our door, and I was a ready-made patient at the neurosis clinic.

No, I understand that the hostel is not the National Hotel. I understand that living in a hostel involves a shared toilet, shower and kitchen. But I was not prepared for the fact that life in a hostel completely excludes personal space.
Of course, not all citizens are so sensitive to sounds, and there are lucky ones who are able to completely ignore them. But if you are one of the breed of sufferers who need silence, then it is better to realize that when you go to a hostel, in terms of sounds, you are dooming yourself to the situation of a reserved seat carriage, completely dependent on random fellow travelers. And even in a reserved seat carriage this matter is easier, there somehow all sounds are polished by the sound of wheels

But the bummers with personal space didn’t end there either. Considering the sound environment, I couldn’t sleep, all I could do was read. To read you need light. The light in the room was provided by two long fluorescent lamps on the ceiling. All. There were no small lamps by the bed (which even a reserved seat carriage provides). And the number two-local. And my happy companion was already sleeping sweetly....

What's offensive about all this? Besides the fact that I decided to go to a hostel, indulging the greed of some of my relatives who wanted to save a thousand on the difference between a room in a hostel and a hotel?

The offensive thing about this is that most of the shortcomings are very easy to fix. With minimal costs. There is very little difference between the cheapest tee and a slightly more expensive one. You can still buy cheap or even find for nothing the simplest wall lamp. Washing a wall or even hammering a hole in a door with plywood doesn’t cost anything at all.
With sound insulation, of course, it is more difficult. But even here you can get by relatively little blood, taking into account the huge selection of soundproofing materials and the ability to change the location of rooms with different numbers of seats.

I think that main problem It’s not about money at all, but about mentality. The fact is that in the country of victorious socialism, communal apartments and camps, the concept of the need for personal space is simply not in our heads. Even in the young, advanced and pretty heads who created and run this hostel.

Guys! A hostel is cheap accommodation, but it is not a barracks. And you need personal space even in a hostel. IMHO.

Due to the complexity of the emotions I experienced, I do not post my review on the hostel website. But if its owners accidentally stumble upon my description, please do not be offended.
Guys, I really have sincere sympathy for you and your business. But I can’t help but evaluate this matter from the inside, since my husband and I have been renting out our apartment for short-term rent for many years, which is essentially very close to what you are doing. And do you know what attracted clients to us and made them regular customers? Two simple things. Thoughtfulness of little things - we were constantly evaluating the apartment and asking others to evaluate it in terms of what else a guest might need: an umbrella? shoe dryer? blank notepad? And secondly, honesty in providing information. We also didn’t have a “National”, but we had some shortcomings, such as a leak in the ceiling, dirt on the common staircase, etc. We took photographs ourselves, described them and posted them on the website. Those who might have been put off by it were put off by it. But right away. And not when they have already booked an apartment and have nowhere to go. In any case, both those who refused and those who agreed to put up with the shortcomings were grateful for the honesty.

And this is reputation. Perhaps the most important thing in the hotel business.

There are dozens of hostels in Moscow, the services of which are preferred by travelers who do not want to spend big money on renting a hotel room or apartment through Airbnb. The cost of saving is the need to sleep with strangers in the same room, queues in a shared shower and at the stove, lack of personal space and high level noise. At the same time, there are those in Moscow who live in hostels as permanent residents, that is, for months or even years. The Village I met three of these people and talked to them about why they do this.

Photos 1–10

Egor Slizyak

Sergey, has been living in the Apricot hostel for more than two months

I came to Moscow from Magnitogorsk. I am a master of sports in sports acrobatics, now I am studying in my second year as a physical education teacher. I’ve been living here for three months in a room for eight people. The people in it are constantly changing - both men and women populate. Most often there are four or five of us here, but in total there are more than 30 in the hostel. Since I have lived in this hostel for a long time and know everything, sometimes I am offered to work as an administrator.

I live here because renting an apartment or a room is much more expensive. In addition, upon arrival I also have to pay a deposit. And most importantly, relatively inexpensive apartments can only be found on the outskirts of the city. And I think that if you live in Moscow, then in the center. So I come to some Khimki, look around and realize that it’s as if I was back in my home provincial city: the same measured life, the same stalls with vegetables and fruits. What's the point of moving then?

Yes, living in a hostel means that all I have in Moscow is a bed. But it is located in the very center of the capital. In the evenings I walk to Red Square and back - it’s nice. And I'm going to live like this for as long as I can. That is, exactly until I get married and have children. If I suddenly start earning decent money earlier, I still won’t rent an apartment - it’s stupid. It's better to invest in a mortgage.

Our hostel provides free tea, coffee and sugar. There are also chess, checkers and an Xbox game console. Often in the evenings I invite my guests to watch a movie together - we gather on the sofa in the common room.

We have two showers and two toilets here. There are basically no queues there. After all, everyone comes to Moscow with different goals, and, accordingly, the time of awakening is different for everyone. But there are often too many people in the kitchen, especially in the morning and evening. It happens that there is no place at the table, and then I go to eat on the sofa in the common room. And it happens that in the morning the stove is busy. But you can always take a shower first, and during this time the stove will usually be freed up. Sometimes we cook with our neighbors and have dinner together.

If you live in a hostel for a long time, it is more convenient to sleep on the bottom bed - if the beds are bunk, like ours. In the morning I got up, took out a suitcase with things from under the bed, got dressed and went. Yes, there are no closets here, like in most hostels. But I’m fine without wardrobes - things in my suitcase are always in order, I don’t need to look for anything.

Of course, sometimes you really want to be alone. But this is difficult in a hostel - there are people everywhere. That’s why I sometimes ask the administrator to let me into a free room for an hour just to sit. This way I unload and life is wonderful again. But here it must be said that I am used to such conditions: throughout my childhood I went to sports competitions, where I lived with other guys, so I have quite a lot of experience interacting with unfamiliar people in everyday life.

Even in a hostel you get a feeling of home if you live here for a long time. For example, I always want to improve something, to make the space more comfortable. We have a map of the world hanging in our hallway, but it's dark, so I hung a cute garland on it. I often help repair things and furniture. And if the cleaning lady doesn’t have time to wash something, I can easily take on part of the work myself - wiping the floors, say. I live here, why not.

Guests also come to me. We cook together, drink tea in the kitchen, watch TV in the common room. It is not prohibited until 23:00.

I also started learning English on my own. That’s why I like that foreigners often come to our hostel: they get to practice. If I rented an apartment, I would not have had this opportunity.

Some habits of cohabitants are difficult to get used to. For example, we live with a woman who works in the field network marketing. And she tries to lure any interlocutor there. At first, my upbringing did not allow me to tell her that all this was not interesting to me, so I had to listen to her for an hour.

We also had a guest who liked to drink. He came to the hostel drunk, sat on the windowsill, smoked, turned on music and sang along. The other day he was evicted.

And recently a family from Yakutia lived here. They ate meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These people arrived at the hostel with a huge suitcase, and the meat in it took up most of it - they filled the entire refrigerator with it. Every morning began with cooking meat, and it was some kind of game, something like venison. The smell permeated the entire kitchen. Small children came with them, who jumped on the sofas, screamed, turned on cartoons when I wanted to watch the Olympics, and disturbed my sleep. But they also left recently.

On last week we had five children living together at the same time preschool age. The hostel turned into kindergarten. Anything can happen. But the hardest thing is not with children, but with those who come to the hostel and behave as if they expected to stay at the Metropol - they turn their noses up at everything, everyone criticizes.

Living in a hostel means All I have in Moscow is a bed. But it is located in the very center of the capital. In the evenings I walk to Red Square and back - it’s nice

Nikolay, has been living in the Napoleon Hostel for a year and a half

A year and a half ago I came to Moscow from Rostov-on-Don. The branch of the university where I studied in Rostov was closed, and I had to transfer to the Moscow branch. First I came to get settled in student dormitory, but it turned out to be simply terrible, with ancient repairs. Then I went to Booking.com, and this hostel was the first one that the site returned at my request. It is called "Napoleon" because, according to legend, Napoleon stayed in this house. It so happened that I didn’t get along with the university, and I got a job as an administrator in a Georgian restaurant.

I work in a restaurant in shifts, from 09:00 to midnight. Then the keys remain with me, and I can stay overnight at work - and this happens several times a week. These days I don't pay for a hostel stay and then go back and take any available bed. It turns out I don't have one permanent place, I wander all the time.

Like all the people who live in our hostel full-time, I can wash and dry my clothes for free at the local laundromat. Sugar, salt, powder and toilet paper free here too. It would seem that all these are little things, but believe me, life becomes much easier when you don’t have to think about them. In addition, the rooms in the hostel are constantly cleaned, and I only wash the dishes after myself.

I live in a shared eight-bed room - that is, designed for both men and women. As a rule, with the exception of the summer season, three or four people, mostly male, live here. I'm friends with the staff, so sometimes I'm allowed to live alone in empty rooms. Even as an old-timer, they allow me to delay payment for a couple of days, although usually guests are fined 50 rubles per day for this.

I like this hostel because of its location - I live in the very center of the city. It's just a stone's throw from Red Square, there are clubs and a Dixie store nearby. Another big plus is communication. There are a lot of interesting people here who are not like others. However, because of this, funny or strange stories. We had an incident this summer. A Cuban arrived at the hostel, and he was either drunk or on drugs. He hit the administrator in the face, and then went to the kitchen to cut his veins. But the knife turned out to be dull, so it turned out to be a pool of blood, but suicide did not work out. He was then taken to a psychiatric hospital.

There was also a woman who lived with us who worked in a tailor shop - an ordinary, calm lady. One day I woke up and decided to lie down a little longer, so I heard her getting ready for work. And suddenly she started arguing with herself. First he says: “Get up and go!” And then she answers herself: “No! Whom I told - lie down! I even felt uneasy that I was sleeping in the same room with such a person - you never know.

Before my eyes, couples formed several times among the permanent residents. In principle, their life was no different from the life of other people who live together: they come home from work, cook something, watch TV in the common room, then go to bed. It’s just that all this happens in a hostel, not in an apartment. I also had a relationship with a girl from the hostel. We started dating when I moved here - she already lived here with her mother. We slept together behind a curtain in a shared eight-bed room - this is allowed if you pay half the price for the second person. And then I found out that she and her mother were scamming guys out of money in bars. Well, we met for a short time and parted.

Once a dark-skinned guy of about 35 settled with us and introduced himself as an African ambassador. He moved into my room and began to pester a young Russian girl. When he began to openly harass her, I threatened him with the police, he was very scared and next morning disappeared. There were Chinese people who constantly ate rice and fried cucumbers. The fried cucumbers stank very much, and they cooked the rice in whatever they could. Often in the morning I would go to put the kettle on and find rice in it.

It's no secret that there are a lot of people in Kitai-Gorod gay. Once we had a man living with us who applied self-tanner and painted his eyebrows.

People like our hostel because it has a homely atmosphere - you can chat, drink, hang out. But we didn’t have a lot of fun - we sat in the kitchen, drank and went for a walk. We have a very developed culture of communication: watching movies together, playing poker, playing video games. Last year a lot of French people came, we drank, had fun, and watched films. In other hostels everything is much stricter.

The hostel has two shared showers and one in a private room for two. There are very few queues. Small accumulations are observed either early in the morning or before bedtime. Sometimes there are incidents in the kitchen - if you don't label your food in the refrigerator, someone can easily eat it. We had one guest, so he always ate other people's food. He was later caught doing this and ran away.

It can be difficult when there are a lot of people living in a room at the same time. In the morning, everyone starts getting ready at once, rustling things. And some can easily start talking loudly at 08:00. However, I still feel at home here. I had the idea of ​​moving to an apartment, but then I thought: “What am I going to do alone within four walls?” I came to the hostel, watched TV, chatted with people in the kitchen, played a game of PlayStation with one of the guys. That is, it is never boring. In addition, people here are constantly changing. I often go home and think, I wonder who will settle in today, who I will meet today.

There are people who need privacy and personal space. But I’m fine - I curtained my bed, and I don’t care what happens around me. There was a time when I wanted to move out - it’s hard to bring girls here. The hostel administration does not prohibit doing this, but the girls themselves do not like it, they do not approve. Six months ago I dated a Muscovite, and she spent the night with me five times on the bed in a shared room for eight. She didn’t like that everything was common here, she didn’t like the people around her. Although this did not stop us from covering the bed with sheets and having sex with all the sounds. And this despite the fact that that night in the same room with us lived teenage athletes, girls and boys aged 13–14, who had come to Moscow for training camp.

I don't really care if there is anyone else in the room or not. The exception is an acquaintance who has also lived here for a long time and whose dream I respect. I won’t do anything like that with him. And so - please. In addition, in the summer a lot of tourists come to the hostel, during the day they all walk, the rooms are empty, and you can take advantage of this. I have never rented a private room for two in a hostel. For what? I feel comfortable doing whatever I want in an eight-seater.

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to tell people that I live in a hostel. It happens that I meet Muscovites, they fall for my external attractiveness, but when they find out that I live in a hostel, they immediately disappear. It seems like I’m comfortable here, but sometimes it’s psychologically pressing that I don’t have anything of my own. Many people ask, how is it possible that you go to a common toilet, sleep in a room with strangers who change every day? This attitude towards hostels in Russia makes me feel a little inadequate.

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to tell people that I live in a hostel. Sometimes I meet Muscovites, they fall for my external attractiveness, but when they find out that I live in a hostel, they immediately evaporate

Vladimir, has been living in a 20-bed room for more than a month
in a hostel without a name (former Like Hostel)

The hero was unable to take part in the filming due to a work injury

I came to Moscow from Azov. By profession, he is a casino video surveillance manager. I was invited to work in the near abroad, but when I arrived in the capital, the offer was withdrawn for an indefinite period. So I decided to stay in Moscow, because it’s always easier to fly from here, I have a transit point here. I don’t know how long it will take for me to be called back to the project, so I didn’t rent an apartment, but stayed in a hostel. And now I’ve been living here for more than a month while I work at a construction site.

For me, a hostel is more likely not a hostel, but a boarding house. If you have read the novel “Père Goriot” by Balzac, you will understand what our hostel is like from the inside. 200 years have passed since this work was written, and we don’t live in France, but the essence remains the same. Only now it’s called not a boarding house, but a hostel.

I've lived in different hostels, and each one has its own rules and conditions. For example, some of them do not accommodate citizens from neighboring countries on principle. My previous hostel had a tiny TV that was impossible to watch. But I’m a Soviet man, I was brought up watching TV, and it’s important for me to turn it on in the evening. This, you know, is such good old schizophrenia - changing channels on the remote control. Therefore, when I got to the current hostel and got the opportunity to watch TV normally in the evenings, it was very valuable for me.

Despite the fact that this hostel has no restrictions on accepting people of different nationalities, upon check-in, administrators assess the level of adequacy of the client. They don’t accommodate just anyone, and I really like it. They always look at how a person dresses and how he speaks. However, a negative person will not stay in any hostel - he will feel that he is not welcome here. We have a lot of people who came to Moscow to study, but there wasn’t enough space in the dorm or something like that. There are also young Muscovites who want to live separately from their parents.

What I like most about the hostel is that there is always someone to talk to in the kitchen in the evenings. You can freely sit down and discuss politics, religion, sports, life. World disputes are resolved in the kitchen. There, leaders, outsiders, and those worth listening to are identified. You can argue, defend your point of view, part as almost enemies, and wake up in the morning and go out together to smoke, because yesterday everyone spoke out in the kitchen. Today that dispute no longer matters, it was yesterday.

We at the hostel often forget each other's names - there are too many people, the old ones move out, the new ones move in. Sometimes I meet the same neighbors four times in a month. But names are not important. The main thing is that living together with so many people gives you the opportunity to speak out, creates the illusion that you are being listened to, that someone is interested in your thoughts and feelings. This is important to me.

I can’t say exactly how many people live in the same room with me. All the beds are curtained, and we often do not interfere with our neighbors. But there are a lot of people, and, of course, queues for the shower happen all the time - after all, he is alone, and there are several dozen of you. Therefore, you need to be able to maneuver. It often happens that you take a turn and go to fry eggs while others are washing. In such conditions, of course, you try not to linger in your soul - otherwise people begin to pull the door handle. It’s also not possible to prepare serious dishes in the kitchen, because someone is always breathing down your back.

I never bring girls here. The hostel is not suitable for sex, and the only way out is to retire to the shower. But you need to be completely impatient; a sane person would hardly think of bringing someone to the hostel to have sex.

In general, Moscow is a good city, life in a hostel is more than satisfactory for me. Until a job offer comes, I will live here.

Living together with so many people gives you the opportunity to speak out, creates the illusion that you are being listened to that someone is interested in your thoughts and feelings. This is important to me

Photos 11–13 - Katya Balaban

Hostels are inexpensive youth hotels where travelers who prefer to save as much as possible on their accommodation usually stay.

Usually the hostel room is large room with bunk beds and individual bedside tables for 10-20 people. There is usually one bathroom per floor. Further than fewer people located in the room, the more bathrooms, the more expensive the cost of living. Some hostels are in no way inferior to 2-3 star hotels in terms of living comfort, but the cost of living there is still 20-30% lower.

A feature of most hostels is the cohabitation of men and women, but usually guests are philosophical about this.

Based on the characteristics of shared accommodation, hostels have their own rules:

• do not smoke in the rooms;
• do not come to your room late at night;
• do not stay in the rooms during the day when cleaning is being done;
• don't make noise

There may be other requirements, but basically it all comes down to natural norms of behavior in a civilized society.

Pros of hostels

Price

This is the first and main advantage of such accommodation.

In existing European hostels you can find the cost of a bed for only 5-10 euros per night.

Location

We think you don’t need to prove the advantage of locating your home close to attractions in the city center. Even if the cost of such a hostel is slightly more expensive than living on the outskirts, the amenities and cost of transport will more than compensate for this difference.

Communication

Living in a hostel is a great opportunity to make new friends, learn first-hand news from other places and practice using a foreign language.

Kitchen

At budget travel It is very important to be able to cook your own food. Most hostels offer their guests a kitchen where you can warm your tea and a quick fix prepare simple dishes.

Cons of hostels

In front of strangers

Living in the same room with a large number strangers will not be a comfortable pastime for everyone. And if you are in the same room and there are a mix of men and women, you won’t be able to change clothes or have privacy. Although... the next day all the guests may already be good friends for you.

Requirements for silence

Complied with in all hostels strict rule– observance of silence in the evenings. If you can’t sleep or like to party in the evenings, you need to forget about it in the hostel.

Bathroom at the end of the corridor

In most hostels, the toilet and shower are shared across several rooms and are located on a separate floor. Such a service will not be comfortable for everyone.

Sleep disturbance

In a hostel, you cannot predict in advance what kind of neighbors you will have in your room. Someone will snore, and someone will toss and turn in their sleep. If you have light sleeper and you can’t fall asleep after waking up - you need to think about choosing a way to spend the night.

Let’s not argue that it is quite possible that the disadvantages of some turn into preferences for others. But based on the growing popularity of hostels, this once again proves that options for this method of accommodation are finding ways to attract every group.

How to choose the right hostel?

Despite the apparent simplicity and democratic atmosphere of the hostel, for the same price you can get different quality of accommodation services. We will try to formulate the details that you should pay attention to when choosing a place to live.

Study the description and reviews of guests

Before choosing a hostel, carefully study its description, photographs and reviews from guests. At the same time, we advise you in advance to exclude reviews from the “always offended”, who constantly don’t like everything, and the “super-optimists”, for whom everything is always great. Of course, descriptions and reviews may not be very objective. In this case the most best way- advice from friends who will probably tell you honestly and without concealment all the nuances of living.

Facilities

Check the availability of hot food, the size and equipment of the kitchen, the frequency of cleaning and the condition of the bathrooms.

Are there wardrobes or at least hangers for clothes in the room?

The presence of a heater or air conditioner in the room will create a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation in large crowds or adverse weather conditions.

Is the room price included bed sheets and towels.

Be sure to pay attention to the presence of luggage storage or safes. Considering the mass strangers in one place - such precautions will not hurt.

Service

In addition to accommodation, some hostels offer their clients additional services, often included in the price of your stay. These could be tea bags, coffee, kitchen equipment, refrigerator, iron, washing machine etc.

It is very important to have WiFi in the hostel.

In addition, for additional fee You can have breakfast, rent a bike, book a tour or get discount cards to visit local attractions or events.

Men and women

When booking, please note the room conditions for men and women. Most hostels do not differentiate between men and women, but in some cases you can select a room in advance based on gender. If this criterion is important for someone to increase comfort, it is better to choose a convenient option in advance so as not to look for leftovers upon arrival at the place.

House Rules

It's no secret that most hostel guests come for entertainment, which smoothly turns into nightly festivities. If you are not comfortable spending such a night at night, choose a hostel that prohibits making noise and bringing strangers in after 11 pm.

In addition, most hostels have a occupancy limit. As a rule, this is no more than 3-7 days of stay. If there is no such clause in the rules, be careful, because it may be inhabited by migrant workers or homeless people who make a living by stealing from clients.

Location

As we wrote above, no one will dispute the advantages of living in the city center. If there is no difference in cost with distant hostels, there is practically no need to rack your brain before making a choice.

Discounts for young people

Despite the fact that the cost of living in hostels is quite low - special international programs for young people allow you to get additional discounts on their services:

• International Youth Hostel Federation for 10 USD it offers everyone the opportunity to purchase a special card, which gives a 5-10% discount in hostels around the world;
• Hostels of Europe costs 15 USD and offers 5-15% discounts in 3000 European hostels;
• International Student Identity Card(ISIC) - for 400 rubles offers schoolchildren from 12 years of age and students to receive 5-30% discounts in hostels, museums, cafes, theaters and on public transport.