Hostel Buzzwords

Hostel listings include a variety of jargon. The first time I traveled abroad, I stayed in a hostel in Paris, France. I didn't want to stay in a large dorm room, but I couldn't understand why I needed to pay for all three beds if I wanted to stay in a three bed private room. In order to make the process more simple, here's a breakdown on the words you need to know before you plan where you lay your head. Rooms and bathrooms are usually described using a combination of the following words.

Single: Single rooms are rooms for one person, with one bed, usually a twin. It can be very diffcult to find single rooms, especially during the weekend or in large cities with limited options like in a hostel in Seattle WA.

Twin: A twin room is a room with two twin beds, each sleeping one person.

Double: A double room hosts two people, in one bed. If you want a private room but you're not comfortable sleeping next to the person you just met on the train, it's best to skip this option.

X-Bed/Dormitory: These accommodations list how many beds are available in a certain room. It doesn't mean that your room will be full necessarily, but it's better to expect it than be unpleasantly surprised when you realize how much noise ten people can.

Private: A private room is a room that is booked by only you or your party. You will not be sleeping with people you do not know. A private bathroom means that you will not be sharing a bathroom.

Shared: A shared room or bathroom means that you will have to play nice with your fellow travelers and will not be the only one in the room/bathroom.

Ensuite: An ensuite bathroom is one that is attached to the room. You do not need to go down the hallway to use it.