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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Travel
Tory Shepherd

‘The horror – 14 alarms in the morning’: backpacker hostels evolve as young people seek privacy over packed dorms

A young man in a youth hostel dining area
Working holidaymaker Frazer Graham says hostels these days need to find a balance of privacy, socialising and local experiences. Photograph: YHA Australia

Grungy hostel rooms crammed with bunk beds, shared mouldy bathrooms and rat-infested kitchens were once accepted as the price of cheap travel.

And there are still plenty of hostels keeping that grimy tradition alive, if online reviews are anything to go by.

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