Backpacking across Europe is a tradition for many. With its well-trodden paths, diverse destinations, and abundant hostels, Europe is a safe, fun, and easy place to explore. I started my backpacking journey here over 15 years ago and I still make it a point to visit every year.
Hostels are a big part of the European travel culture, especially since many European countries can be quite pricey. They’re everywhere and are the preferred choice of accommodation for young travelers, although older travelers use them too. But even the cost of budget hostels can add up if you’re traveling for an extended period.
That’s where HostelPass comes in. It’s a membership program that offers discounts on selected hostels and activities across Europe. But is it worth it? Will it actually save you money? Let’s dive into the details of HostelPass to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your next European adventure.
HostelPass is a digital discount card for travelers that offers up to 20% off on hostels and tours/experiences across Europe. It’s a great way to save money if you’re planning to stay in hostels while backpacking around Europe. You can check out hostelpass.co for a full list of hostels and experiences. Each hostel page gives you an idea of what to expect in terms of features and amenities, the benefits you’ll get as a HostelPass member, and a handy "Atmosphere" meter that rates the hostel from "Relaxed" to "Party."
Hostels and experiences are available in most major cities across Europe and the list keeps growing every month. An annual HostelPass membership costs 29.99 EUR. You can also use the code NOMADICMATT to get a 25% discount!
To get a HostelPass membership, just visit hostelpass.co and purchase the annual membership. Your pass is valid for a year from the date of purchase, so make sure to time it right with your travel plans. Once you’ve got your pass, you can start booking accommodation and activities through the HostelPass website. When you find a hostel or activity you want to book, just select it and you’ll be given the booking link. Follow the link and make your booking. It’s that simple!
HostelPass currently offers over 100 discounts. Most of these are hostels, with discounts usually ranging from 10-20% off. Some hostels also offer other perks like free breakfast or a welcome drink. There are also discounts on experiences, activities, and museums, such as 15% off a Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh, 10% off canal cruises in Amsterdam, and 12% off a food tour in Paris.
Discounts are available in 18 countries across over 40 cities in Europe, with more being added regularly. The countries currently offering discounts are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
The pros of HostelPass include its affordability, lower hostel prices than booking via Hostelworld, discounts in most major European cities, discounts on both hostels and activities/tours, and regular addition of more destinations and discounts. The cons are that it’s currently only available in Europe and not all major cities in Europe offer discounts.
Is HostelPass worth it? If you’re heading to Europe and can plan your trip around the hostels and activities available on HostelPass, then you can easily recoup your investment and save even more. You’ll need to stay at about 5-7 discounted hostels to get your money back (depending on the price per night). But if you also take advantage of the discounted tours and activities, the savings can be much greater. If you’re only going to Europe for a week or two, then you might not recoup the cost of the pass. But it’s worth doing the math to be sure.
A few FAQs about HostelPass: You can’t share the pass with a friend, but you can add users to your purchase at checkout. For example, if you’re traveling with three friends, you can put all four of you on a single pass. You’ll need to pay for four passes, but all four passes will be on a single account, so everyone will get the perks and discounts as you travel. You can also gift a pass. The recipient’s pass will become valid from the day they first use it, not the day you purchased it. You need to book through HostelPass’ site to get the discount. Travelers need to be at least 18 years old to get a HostelPass membership. An annual HostelPass membership costs 29.99 EUR per person.
I’ve always thought a digital discount card for hostels was a great idea. While you may need to plan your travels to align with HostelPass’ discounted destinations, I think the effort can easily make the savings worthwhile if you’re traveling around Europe for a few weeks or months. Best of all, you can use the code NOMADICMATT to get 25% off your HostelPass membership!
