That hostel booking trick everyone uses is costing you more.

I kept seeing people book dorms through the big sites for $35 a night, but last week in Barcelona I walked into a smaller hostel off Las Ramblas and got a bed for $22 just by asking at the front desk. They told me they hold back rooms to avoid the 15% commission from those platforms. Has anyone else tried just showing up and haggling for a walk-in rate?

2 comments

2 Comments

lindareed15d ago

Totally agree with what @colesanchez and the OP are saying. Did this exact thing in Lisbon a few months ago, walked into a tiny hostel in Alfama around noon. The guy at the desk was super chill, said the online price was like 30 euros but he'd do 18 if I paid cash and skipped the booking fee. Ended up in a sweet 4-bed dorm with actual privacy curtains, way better than the big ones on the apps. It's become my go to move whenever I land in a new city, just ask politely and be ready to negotiate a little.

colesanchez15d ago

Walked into a place in Prague last year around 10pm, totally desperate cause my first hostel double booked me. The guy at the desk was just chilling watching TV, I asked if they had anything left. He gave me a private room for what the dorms were going for online. Said the booking sites take such a huge cut that theyd rather cut you a deal in person than give those apps a dime. Felt kinda sketchy just rolling up with no reservation but it worked out way better than I expected. Now I always check if theres a backup plan to just show up if the prices on Hostelworld look stupid.