Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

Students at Colorado State University are starting to think about their spring break plans. Whether students are going home or traveling around Europe, they’re starting the planning process.

In 2018, about half of the population between ages 18 and 34 planned on traveling for spring break. In conjunction, about 1 in 10 U.S. college students will study abroad. Travel or study abroad is a great way to experience different cultures and see the world — but it isn’t necessarily cheap.

One way to cut costs while enriching your travel experience is to stay in a hostel rather than a hotel. A hostel is a type of shared accommodation that’s cheaper and more focused on social atmosphere than a hotel. Typically, staying in a hostel involves sharing a room with possibly up to 20 people, which may sound overwhelming. However, college students are trained professionals in this regard. Just think back to dorm life.

College can be kind of scary at first — it’s a new place with lots of new people — but one of the fastest ways to make new friends is with people who live in the same hall as you; they’re also new and are having a similar experience. Hostels are a lot like that. They’re a great way to find like-minded friends.

Instead of shelling out for a private room — which can be isolating and cost upward of $125 a night depending on destination — students should try booking a bed in a hostel, which usually costs around $25 per night.

Shared accommodations encourage guests to talk to people. Hostels often have a shared kitchen or a designated hangout area, like a bar or restaurant. This really encourages you to meet new people. When I was staying in Paris, I met my travel buddy for the city on the rooftop terrace of Les Piaules hostel.

On top of the fact that hostels host a lot of similar travelers and have nice spots to hang out, most of them also organize events for their guests. These can range from walking tours of the city to bar crawls, which really help you get to know the people you’re staying with.

Finding accommodations for a trip doesn’t have to be expensive. hostels are a cheap, fun way to meet new people and experience new culture.”

Exploring a new city on your own can definitely be scary. Most hostels are run by locals, which is another huge benefit. They can tell you the things to see, the best times to go and the best places to eat.

Staying at a hostel can really enrich your traveling experience while lowering the price as long as you’re careful about where you stay. It’s important to read guest reviews beforehand. The best website I’ve found for researching hostels is The Broke Backpacker — the authors rank hostels in different cities based on price and different travelers’ needs.

Many could argue against hostels because they feel that their stuff is unsafe. However, most hostels nowadays have lockers where their guests can store bags, so just remember to pack a lock, and you won’t have any issues!

Other things that could be important for students to pack are a towel and bedsheets. Lots of hostels have these items available for their guests for free, but some charge an additional fee.

Finding accommodations for a trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Hostels are a cheap, fun way to meet new people and experience new culture. This is true everywhere, not just in Europe. There are hostels in all sorts of places, from New York to Los Angeles. There are even some here in Fort Collins! They all have different aspects of culture to share and new people to meet. With that in mind, happy traveling!

Allie Huber can be reached at letters@collegian.com or on Twitter @a11iehuber.