Yes, hostels are super fun to stay in. There are always new
people down to party, staff is usually awesome and everyone is looking to make friends. Definitely don’t miss out on the experience of getting woken up at 5am by six
loud British guys in your room. That is definitely a must have backpacker experience.
Really though, if you are going to visit a city, try spending some time with people who
live in the city. They are the key to discovering that city. Some of the very best
experiences on my trip came from CouchSurfing. Don’t be scared to try it
because if you find a good host, it will be ALL worth it. Couchsurfing experiences can change your life. They help you see what humanity is truly capable of. Despite being from a completely different countries, real couchsurfers all have a tie to each other that is honest and beautiful.
Our best Couchsurfing experience happened by chance. We weren't suppose to end up in Italy but due to cheaper routes we ended up in Rome for 5 days. I messaged a guy a couple days before we arrived on the off chance he would be able to host us. He agreed to let us stay with him and his roommate. Ernesto and Michel ended up being amazing hosts that cooked us homemade Italian meals every night! I never thought I would enjoy sitting at a small kitchen table drinking delicious red wine, learning Italian and being silly so much in my life. I laughed harder in those 3 days than I do weeks combined in the states. There is something so beautiful about laughing your
way through another culture.
Now it's your turn. Go out and experience that perfect feeling of being alive with a complete stranger. Nothing can be more real.
