The hostel market is booming in Guadalajara, and around Mexico in general as the country warms up to a concept that was born 100 years ago in Germany. Hostels differ from their older, more famous cousins, hotels, in a number of ways. Whereas guests in a hotel might interact with the reception desk and with room service by telephone, the whole design of the hostel encourages guests to interact with each other and promotes cultural exchange and activities in the city.
While frequently referred to as “youth hostels,” there is no upper age limit placed on guests of these installations. Their college dormitory-style sleeping arrangements and shared common areas that promote socializing with strangers tend to appeal more to an adventurous, younger crowd though.
And while they may have an image as dingy, insecure halfway houses to many who have never stayed in one, or as lures for the sick torture and butchery of unsuspecting travelers in certain Hollywood movies, these depictions couldn’t be much farther from the truth.
Modern hostels offer clean beds, shared or private rooms with private bathrooms for individuals or groups, communal kitchens and living areas, meals, drinks, laundry service, group outings and 24-hour reception for much less than the cost of a comparable hotel.
Outings could mean cheap trips to tourist spots such as Tequila, bike rides or even a night on the town.
Like hotels though, hostels run the gamut from bare bones to picturesque, so it behooves travelers to do a little research before venturing forth. The internet provides plenty of platforms for voyagers to investigate their options and read guest reviews.
According to the Registration and Licensing Office of Guadalajara, there are 21 hostels in the city records. There are a further 11 in Tlaquepaque, and one in Tonala. The majority are concentrated around the downtown areas. Prices in the metro range from about 150 pesos for a bunk in a shared room to over 500 pesos for a private room (split among your party).“It’s great to create new options of hostels in town,” says Gerardo Estrada Casarin, director of operations for Hospedarte, a group that operates two hostels in Guadalajara. In the four years since Hospedarte opened, Estrada has seen the hostel ecosystem in the city balloon from about four or five ventures to the plethora from which travelers can choose today.
Hospedarte is certified by the Hostelling International Quality System, which sets and checks for standards of security and cleanliness. Hostelling International counts over 4,500 affiliated hostels around the world.
It’s no surprise that quality control is a topic of interest to Estrada. “It’s important every single hostel runs well and takes care about facilities, about activities, about the real concept of a hostel and not be just like ‘hotel’ with ‘s’ in the middle.”
Accordingly, Hospedarte participates in a monthly, as-yet-informal meeting of about ten hostels in Guadalajara to keep up to date on practices and further the cause and quality of hostels in the community. These meetings are open to management of all area hostels.
One challenge they face is getting more Mexicans into their facilities. As in the United States, hostels do not have a long-ingrained mindshare, and many nationals do not consider the option when traveling around their own country. Estrada says 70-80 percent of his guests are foreign.
Yair Hernandez, manager of Hostel Beds ‘n Travel, says Mexican business travelers account for a surprising amount of his domestic traffic. As many such patrons travel light and alone and may be in the office most of the time, they don’t require the extra space and expense of a hotel. He added that those who have tried the hostel route always seem pleased.
One of his guests, Gilberto Magaña, 42, of Mexico City, agreed. Compared to hotels, he called the hostel “Very pretty, very tranquil. It’s different, but you can really relax.” Magaña is spending most of his week in Guadalajara in a training seminar for work, but he has managed to meet a few of the other guests in the evenings, guests he called “very good people.”
When pressed as to whether he would consider hostels for similar trips in the future, Magaña didn’t hesitate before his “yes.”
To book a hostel for your next cultural adventure, try sites like hostels.com or hostelworld.com. They provide information, pictures, and reviews and usually let you book online.