Beds for Backpackers

Travelling isn’t easy right now (or advised), so we’re offering support to stranded travellers, by pairing them up with hostels. Thankfully, most backpackers have made it home, but if you or someone you know is overseas and needs a safe place to stay, we may be able to help.

Even if you have little to no money left, that’s okay. We know the average backpacker’s budget doesn’t cover unexpected travel extensions. Luckily, we work with an incredibly kind bunch of people throughout the world, who make up our hostel community. All the hostels listed below are offering free beds for backpackers. Some hostels would welcome a little helping hand to support them with basic tasks, as they’re going through a tough time as well. If that’s the case, you’ll see a tick in the ‘Volunteer’ box next to their name.

Hostels are required to follow their government’s advice on cleanliness and social distancing, so if you need a safe place to stay during the Covid-19 pandemic, these hostels can offer that.

Community

We’re encouraging kindness and an understanding that we need to look out for each other, even more so now than ever before. Hostels are often small, independently run businesses and as travelling has been paused, they need support too. Despite this, +70 hostels across +30 countries have already signed-up. We’re simply here to coordinate Beds for Backpackers, hoping to reach a wider audience and pair up travellers with the generous hostels offering their support.

If you choose a hostel that’s asking for some volunteering, you can chat to them about what’s expected when we put you in touch. You will never be expected to assist for more than 3 hours a day (20 hours per week) in exchange for your accommodation. As travellers, we don’t need to tell you that some of the best hostels are the ones where everyone gets stuck in and it feels more like a community than a place to stay.

How to request a bed:

1. Send us an email at givingback@hostelworld.com with your chosen hostel and an arrival date.
2. We will speak to the hostel and then put you in touch with them directly.
3. When you chat to the hostel, you can arrange how long you need a bed for and ask any questions you have.
4. If the hostel you’ve chosen is asking for volunteer support, they will explain what they need before you arrive.

Together we’ll all get through this, and that’s why being a kind and helpful community is more important than ever.

We hope you’re safe and well wherever you are!