[Samurai_Jack]

I never understood the concept of a ‘Hostel” is that like a free hotel? Who’s funding, maintaining, cleaning and managing it?

[21twelve]

I stayed at some while hiking through Europe years ago. Maybe they are subsidized a bit by the government to promote tourism?

Although the owner probably does all right. Cram 8 to 10 people into a regular hotel room and charge them all $10 a night.

[21twelve]

https://www.loaferslodge.co.nz/index.html

Looks a lot nice than the ones I stayed in! Appears to be small rooms for one or two people. A bed and some shelves. Bathrooms, living areas, etc. are common use.

[livius]

They’re not free. They’re very cheap, because they just provide minimal services, people either sleep in bunks in dorms or in tiny 2-person rooms, and get up and leave at the crack of dawn.