Superior for those under 25 or broke. Author forgot some features of hostels:<p>- Sharing a small space with loud, rude, drunk, and smelly people.<p>- Forced to hear other people’s music, videos, and phone conversations.<p>- Shared toilets and showers not cleaned very often.<p>- Curfews.<p>- Constant risk of some “chill” hostel companion stealing your stuff.<p>- Staying in inconvenient, low-rent, even dangerous parts of town.<p>If you like the frat house experience or can’t afford something nicer, go for the hostels.<p>And anyone can pay for cheaper laundry service in places like Mexico or SE Asia. Or learn how to wash your own clothes.