The Best Hostels Valencia - Hostelworld Review

HostelWorld Review — Finding the Best Hostels (Valencia, 2024)

This is your guide to finding the best hostels in Valencia, Spain. In this Hostelworld review, we’ll look at how to find cheap hostels, Valencia’s best youth hostels, and top tips to stay safe. Read through this guide to make your trip to Valencia (or anywhere else) just a little bit easier with Hostelworld. 

What is Hostelworld?

Hostelworld is a one of the most trusted online platforms to find and book hostels. Valencia (Spain) has a fairly large offering of hostels, so a platform like this makes it easy to plan your stay. 

If you’re a solo traveler – the best part about the platform is that it has an added function you won’t see on platforms like Booking or Expedia. You can actually chat/meet/make plans with fellow travelers! 

Since hostels generally involve getting a bit comfortable with strangers, this is a great option to make you feel a bit more safe – and to make friends! 

Hostelworld specializes in hostels, so I find it’s the best option for solo travelers, backpackers, and anyone traveling on a budget. 

Although this Hostelworld review will focus on my fellow Valencia travelers, the tips and tricks stand true for just about any city. But in case you don’t want to read too much – let’s look at a quick list of the best hostels in Valencia.  

What are the best hostels in Valencia?

In case you want a done-for-you approach to finding your hostel, here’s a quick list of the best hostels in Valencia. Hostelworld is a great way to book them, so I’ll leave a link for each of them:

Those are some of my top recommendations for Valencia. Hostels are everywhere throughout the city, and every traveler has their own preferences. 

So let’s go through how to use Hostelworld, so you can find the perfect low-price accommodation, in case any of those 5 don’t work for you. 

How to Use Hostelworld

Hostelworld is fairly intuitive, especially if you’ve ever used any other tools like Booking, Expedia, Skyscanner, etc. 

Here are the steps to use Hostelworld:

  1. Enter your destination and dates. Make sure to also mark how many guests! 
  2. Scroll through or continue filtering. I like to keep my options open, so I usually scroll through, but you can also filter by price, location, and rating. 
  3. Check the reviews. This is always the first thing I do when I find a contender. 
  4. Choose your room type. Some hostels will have different offerings for rooms. Pay attention to see if they’re mixed groups and what the bathroom situation will be like! You can also compare prices to see if extra privacy is worth it for you. 
  5. Book your stay. Depending on the hostel, some will offer free cancelation and other perks. There are also many that don’t charge you until you get here. 
  6. Chat with other guests. Once you make your reservation, Hostelworld lets you reach out to other people staying with you. This is a great way to break the ice, make new friends, and just make sure you’re comfortable with your temporary roomies. 

I find the platform is pretty straightforward. 

You also have the option of just using Hostelworld as a search engine, and then booking directly with a Hostel. Sometimes this will save you a couple euros, but personally – I find that having a middleman with a customer service team can be a big help, especially in a city where you don’t speak the language.   

Now let’s look at the good – and the bad – things about Hostelworld, so you can decide if it’s right for you. 

Hostelworld pros and cons

Like any online search tool – Hostelworld is not perfect. But overall, I think it’s a good option for the average budget traveler

So let’s keep this Hostelworld review going by looking at the pros and cons (all just my opinion, of course). 

Pros

  • Super easy to use 
  • Makes booking quick and easy 
  • The app is great for solo travelers 
  • Secure international payments
  • English-speaking customer service 

Cons

  • Small booking fee 
  • Not every hostel is on the platform 

Overall, I would say that convenience is the biggest reason to use Hostelworld. So if you’re a beginner traveler or you’ve never stayed in a hostel before – then I would highly recommend it. 

The easy payments and the chat function are a huge relief for anyone that’s just starting to step out of their comfort zone. 

But if you’re an avid backpacker – then you’re probably comfortable looking for hostels outside of the platform and saving yourself that €5 booking fee. I still think the app is a great tool if you’re looking to make friends (since you can contact your fellow travelers). 

So regardless, I think the pros outweigh the cons here. 

Tips For Finding the Best Hostel (Anywhere in the World)

First, let’s look at some tips and tricks to finding the best hostel with Hostelworld. This section applies to basically any city in the world. We’ll look at tips that are more specific to Valencia further down in the article.   

So here are my recommendations for finding reliable and cheap hostels:

Check Reviews

This is always my #1 tip. Read through those reviews before doing anything else! I also recommend looking for things that bother you specifically. 

For example, if you’re a super light sleeper – make sure the rooms aren’t connected to a bar or restaurant. If you’re worried about cleanliness, then check for comments about that. If you’re worried about language barriers, make sure the staff are friendly and speak English well. 

You also want to check for comments about free WiFi, any breakfast options, and how noisy or comfortable any bunk beds are. 

Since everyone on Hostelworld is looking for hostels (unlike people on Booking), the reviews tend to be more honest and relevant. So make sure to use these to help you make your decision. 

Double-check the Location

I highly recommend keeping Google Maps open while you’re looking for your hostel. Then, double check how far away your hostel is from the areas you’ll be frequenting the most. 

Because if I had a nickel for every time a “perfect location” turned out to be a 30-minute walk… 

For me, the location is always one of the biggest decision-making factors. So make sure you’re double-checking it! 

Get a Free Cancellation if Possible

You never know what could happen, so I always recommend going for a free cancelation whenever possible. 

Especially if you’re solo traveling or backpacking through Europe – plans can change pretty quickly! So having a free cancelation policy is a great way to give yourself flexibility and peace of mind. 

Check Bathroom Options

Some hostels have bathrooms for each room, while others have shared facilities for multiple. So if you have a preference on the amount of privacy you’re getting, make sure to check this out. 

Usually on Hostelworld, the facilities will be listed towards the bottom. 

Look at Safety Options

For solo and budget travelers – safety is always a major concern. Make sure to check which kinds of safety options the hostel will offer. 

Check for some things like:

  • 24-hour reception
  • Lockers
  • Location 
  • Mixed/Separated room types 

Those are some of the biggest concerns for most people. Lockers are a huge plus if you don’t want to carry your stuff around, so make sure to look for that! 

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out 

The Hostelworld App lets you contact both staff and fellow travelers, so take advantage of this! 

One of the best things about staying in hostels (besides the price point) is the people you meet along the way. So having the option to contact your fellow travelers beforehand is a great way to make friends. 

And even if you’re not necessarily interested in connecting with others, you can still reach out just to coordinate and to know who you’ll be sharing a room with. 

Contacting the staff is also a great idea, as they can help answer specific questions you might not be able to figure out for yourself. So don’t be afraid to send that message!

How to find cheap hostels in Valencia

All of the above tips work for basically any city in the world. But since Abroad in Valencia is all about, well, Valencia – let me give you some tips to enjoy this Mediterranean gem. 

Here are some specific tips to find the best hostels in Valencia:

  1. Know what you want to see. The beach is relatively far away from the center, so know what your priorities are. 
  2. Book directly if you’re comfortable. You can always directly contact the hostel if their website seems trustworthy. 
  3. Come during off season. Valencia in the summer and Valencia during Les Falles are two different worlds. Try coming in an off season for a less touristy feel. 
  4. Talk with locals. It might not help you get a cheaper hostel, but it will make your experience a million times better! Plus, you never know what good karma you’ll get out of learning a bit of Valencian! 
  5. Stay right outside the center. Public transport is super simple and it’s easy to get around on foot – so don’t be afraid to stay a few minutes outside the center to get a better price. 

Best Hostels: Valencia, Spain

Now, let’s look a little more specifically at Valencia. Hostels are everywhere throughout the city, so sometimes it can be hard to know where to go. 

And considering that some places are really pushing the limits as to what “centric” means – I wanted to give you some specific recommendations. 

So here is some advice from someone who’s lived in the city since 2018. These are the best hostels in Valencia, chosen for their location, price point, and reviews

SOM Hostel Boutique

Reason Chosen: Affordability 

SOM is the cheapest hostel in Valencia that also offers safe, trustworthy, and comfortable accommodation. 

Because there might be cheaper options, but SOM is the perfect choice for people looking for “cheap, but not sketchy”.

The only downside is that it is not centrally located. It’s located in L’Eixample, which literally means “The Expansion”. But I chose this one because even though the location isn’t ideal – it’s not a bad location either

You’re 1 minute away from The Túria River Gardens and about 5 minutes away from La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, one of the most popular tourist attractions. 

Plus, you can easily catch a bus on the road that is parallel to the river. So if you don’t want to walk 20-25 minutes to the city center, this is a good option. 

In other words, if budget is your priority – then this is the best option without sacrificing comfort or safety. 

Quart Youth Hostel

Reason Chosen: Location

Quart Youth Hostel Valencia is located in my neighborhood, so naturally I think it’s the best one!

But besides my personal bias, this is a great spot for tourists. You’re on the border of the city center, while also still being very close to the Nord Train Station and the most important metro station. 

This means you have a quieter hostel with super easy access to both public transport and the excitement.  You’ll be just one block away from the Quart Towers, which is the old gate into La Ciutat Vella. 

As an added plus, you’re right next to my favorite pizza place in the city (L’Italiano). You can get a super good takeaway pizza for around €10.

So I would rate this one as the best overall.  

Home Youth Hostel

Reason Chosen: Location & Reviews 

Hôme Youth Hostel is right in front of Valencia’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – La Llotja. So if you’re looking for the historic center, it literally doesn’t get any better than this. 

This hostel also has some of the best reviews out of any of them in city, with most people only complaining about the “lack of privacy”. 

Which, let’s be honest – if you’re staying in a hostel, you have to be able to get out of your comfort zone with this a bit. 

This hostel is also slightly more expensive due to the location. But if you’re willing to pay about €20ish more per night to get an unbeatable location – then this is it. 

Cantagua Hostel Valencia

Reason Chosen: Location

The other most popular area of the city is Russafa. This is the trendy area with lots of modern coffee shops, bars, and other activities. 

So if you’re looking for nightlife – this is the spot for you. 

In other words, Cantagua Youth Hostel is a great option for people looking for a cheap place to sleep after a night out. And if you’re not planning on enjoying the nightlife – then bring earplugs

They also offer private rooms, so if you want a bit more privacy, this is also a great option! 

Urban Youth Hostel Valencia

Reason Chosen: Affordability

This is my last suggestion for Valencia hostels, and this one is on a completely different side of the city!

If you’re looking forward to the beach, rather than the historic city center, then this is a great option for you. 

It’s about 5 minutes away from the port on foot. And since most of the accommodations in this area are either Airbnbs or luxury hotels, this is one of the few coastal hostels.  

But it’s primarily on this list because it’s a decent option at a very low price point

So while Urban Youth Hostel wouldn’t be my first option (personally), people looking for a budget beach vacation should check this one out!

Notable Mentions

In case you need some extra options to look into, here are some other reliable hostels:

Final Review: Hostelworld

Overall, Hostelworld is a great option for people looking to book hostels. Valencia has plenty of great accommodations, and even some very centric options. 

With this tool, you’re able to explore the world, meet new people, and not spend too much money! 

So I would definitely recommend using Hostelworld as a reliable, convenient, and safe option to find cheap hostels in Valencia. 

More Resources for Valencia

Need more help planning your trip to Valencia? Here are some other resources to point you in the right direction:

FAQs

Is Hostelworld legit?

Yes, Hostelworld is a very reliable site to book hostels. It offers low booking fees, easy payments, and great customer service. 

Is Hostelworld cheaper than Booking.com?

Both come out to around the same price, but Hostelworld generally has lower booking fees. The cheapest option is always booking directly with the hostel – but that’s not always the easiest option. 

Need help planning your trip to Valencia?

Here are the tools I use for the cheapest (and most reliable) vacation planning:

  • 🏠Booking – Affordable hotels and apartments
  • 🏠Hostel World – Safe and budget-friendly hostels 
  • ✈️Skyscanner – My favorite tool for cheap flights
  • 🚗Discover Cars – Best place for car rentals
  • 🚄Trainline – The easiest way to book local trains in advance
  • 📶Airalo – eSim cards for easy internet access while traveling
  • 🦺Safety Wing – The #1 travel medical insurance 
  • 💸Airhelp – Cancelled flight compensation (it’s free!)
  • 💱Wise – Easiest low-fee way to transfer currency 

Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These are links to services I personally recommend using for your trip to Valencia. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission from these brands if you choose to make a purchase. Your support helps me pay my bills and eat more bunyols!

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