Occasionally, we hear that a place is no better than a flophouse or den of thieves. Given my role here at this internet nexus of hostelling, I'll name no names. Hundreds of cool destinations across the globe have only one hostel. Hundreds more need one. Simple presence, however, isn't enough for greatness.
People come, people go.
Yet the essence of a great hostel is in the spirit of the hostellers who stay there. Well-designed and managed hostels can do a lot to bring out the natural ease, joy, and camaraderie of hostellers. There's nothing like a cold welcome to get you off on the wrong foot. While I know that the actual layout of the building can make it difficult, even small rooms can be inviting. Seats can be comfortable, walls can feature art and maps, room layout can encourage conversation, and there can be easy access to resources, games, books to trade, etc.