Editing Hostel (section)

{{Short description|Cheap, sociable lodging}}
{{For multi|other uses|Hostel (disambiguation)|student housing|Dormitory}}{{Not to be confused with|Hotel}}
[[File:Hostel Dormitory.jpg|thumb|Hostel dormitory room in [[Taiwan]]]]
[[File:Centabay Lodge.jpg|thumb|A house that has been converted into a hostel in [[Paihia]], [[New Zealand]]]]
[[File:Pai Circus Hostel.jpg|thumb|Outdoor pool and shared space at a hostel in [[Pai, Thailand|Pai]], [[Thailand]]]]
A '''hostel''' is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable [[lodging]] where guests can rent a [[bed]], usually a [[bunk bed]] in a [[dormitory]] sleeping 4–20 people,<ref name=rich>{{Cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-04-19-0904160230-story.html | title=Hostels are an economic godsend and a rich, worldly philosophy | work=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=April 19, 2009}}</ref> with shared use of a lounge and usually a kitchen.<ref name=Beds/> Rooms can be private or shared - mixed or single-sex - and have private or shared bathrooms. Food and beverage, laundry services, luggage storage, and lockers may also be available.<ref name=rich/>

Hostels are popular forms of lodging for [[Backpacking (travel)|backpackers]] and with [[youth travel]],<ref name=Beds/> however very few impose age limits.<ref name=rich/><ref name=Size>{{Cite web | title=Hostels Market Size, Trends, Industry Share, And Global Forecast 2023-2032 | url=https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/hostels-global-market-report |access-date=2024-01-18 | publisher=thebusinessresearchcompany.com}}</ref> The global size of the hostel market was estimated at US$7.21 billion in 2023 and was projected to grow at a 6.5% [[compound annual growth rate]] until 2030.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/20/2984199/28124/en/Hostel-Market-Size-Share-Trends-Analysis-Report-2024-2030-Experiential-Travel-Sustainability-and-the-Rise-of-Green-Hostels.html | title=Hostel Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2024-2030 - Experiential Travel, Sustainability and the Rise of Green Hostels | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=November 20, 2024}}</ref> In 2019, there were an estimated 5,829 hostels in Europe and 4,738 hostels in Asia.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1094387/number-of-hostels-worldwide/ | title=Total number of hostels worldwide as of October 2019, by region | work=[[Statista]]}}</ref> The typical guest is between 16 and 34 years old, although it can vary depending on the country.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} Many hostels are locally owned and operated.