Hostel Life

How hostels work, solo travel, budget tips and meeting people on the road.

Hostel bunk beds with individual curtains, a wooden ladder, a shelf and a reading light on each bed

Are dorm rooms worth it?

The real math of the dorm, what money can't buy, who dorms are for and who they aren't. By people running a hostel for 10 years and 65,000 guests.

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Bright hostel dorm with a curtained bunk bed and a green door open to a terrace with plants

Are hostels safe?

The number one question from first-time hostel guests, answered by people who have hosted travelers for 10 years: lockers, staff, reviews and what can go wrong.

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White geodesic dome on a wooden deck, surrounded by palm trees and forest, with the sea and the channel mountains in the background

The best Costa Verde destinations for couples

Romantic experiences by destination: sunset over the channel, dinner in Paraty, a cabin on the expedition and a dome with a view. Build the trip scene by scene.

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Group of travelers chatting in wicker armchairs on a wooden deck under the trees, with a colorful kombi van in the background

Hostel, guesthouse or hotel: which should you choose?

An honest comparison of price, privacy, social life and service across the 3 formats, by people who have run a hostel for 10 years. And the hybrid option.

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Interior of a wooden geodesic dome with a made double bed and triangular windows open to the greenery

Are hostels still worth it after 30?

Yes, with the right choices. After 10 years running a hostel, we share the real ages of our guests and why the measure is the house's vibe, not your ID.

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Yellow hostel facade with green doors, wave murals and a sign asking for quiet after 10pm

How does a hostel work?

The beginner's manual by hosts of 10 years: dorms and private rooms, bathrooms, the shared kitchen, what is included, etiquette and check-in.

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Group of guests toasting with bottles around a tall wooden table beside the pool, with dense forest behind

How to meet people when you travel solo

Tactics we have watched work for 10 years from a hostel front desk: the shared kitchen, the big table, house activities and the question that opens any chat.

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The ferry crossing the São Sebastião channel toward Ilhabela, with the island's mountains in the background

How to plan a budget Costa Verde trip

The 6 step method for planning the budget: set the ceiling, pick the season, design the route around logistics, book in the right order and track spending.

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Group of travelers gathered on a rock slab at the top of a trail, with the sea and the islands of Paraty bay in the background

Solo travel on the Costa Verde

Why the Costa Verde is ideal for solo travelers: social bases, hikes with company, the expedition where everyone arrives alone and a condensed 7 day itinerary.

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Yellow facade of Hostel da Vila's shared dorms, with green doors and blue wave murals painted on the walls

How to travel the Costa Verde on a budget

12 proven money-saving tactics between Rio and São Paulo: the free ferry on foot, the R$ 20.50 boat, trails instead of taxi boats and hostel kitchens.

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