I've stayed in hostels in 9 different countries. Here's why they're my preferred option — especially for solo travel.

• I've stayed in at least 20 hostels in nine countries.
• They're always my top choice for solo travel. The main advantage is that they're super cheap.
• But they're often more centrally located than hotels and Airbnbs and have kitchens for meal prep.

Hostels are my preferred option when I'm traveling alone.

I've never stayed in a hotel or an Airbnb by myself. I'll reserve a bed in a hostel dorm instead.

I've stayed in at least 20 hostels in nine different countries: Austria, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the US.

Here's why they're my accommodation of choice.

They're often dirt cheap

Hostels are usually the cheapest option for accommodation. I've paid less than $15 a night for last-minute hostels in Costa Rica — one of which even had a pool — about $40 to stay at one in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and about $180 for three nights in Paris.

This is much less than I'd pay for a hotel — especially given the central locations of some of the hostels I've stayed in.

I stayed at one in Reykjavík, Iceland, located on the city's main shopping street, and one in Hamburg and Munich, Germany, just a couple of minutes walk from the main train station.

And as a solo traveler, I wouldn't have anyone to split the Airbnb or hotel cost with. In a hostel, I just pay for my one bed.

Dorms aren't that bad

Hostels have a bad reputation, and often it's not deserved. Yes, I've stayed in rooms with people who've snored, hogged the bathroom, crawled in late from a club, or set their alarm for the crack of dawn to catch a flight. But if you have earbuds and an eye mask, it's not that bad. Hostels increasingly have been installing individual curtains round each bed, too, so that you can block off the noise and light at night.

You usually have to make your own bed and strip off the bedding when you leave. But this is a quick task and is one of the ways that hostels keep prices low.

Hostel dorms are generally cleaned every day. You usually have a shelf by your bed with an individual light and plug socket, and almost all hostels have lockers in the rooms.

Dorms aren't always perfect, though. At one hostel, I found a dental retainer under my bed. At another, in Salzburg, people in my dorm placed their damp socks on the radiator to dry after a day of walking in the snow, leaving the room stinking. And at one in Paris, the hostel bar below played loud music into the early hours.

Hostels have everything you need

Hostels often provide many of the facilities you need. Almost all of the hostels I've stayed in have had kitchens, meaning you can save money on breakfast or coffee. This is a real standout compared to hotels, where you generally have no choice but to buy breakfast from either the hotel or a bakery.

Usually, there's enough kitchen space to make a full meal. This can really help you save money on meals while traveling.

And if you don't fancy cooking, some hostels offer cheap breakfasts, too.

In some cases, they're free.

Hostels usually have laundry facilities you can pay to use, vending machines for snacks, and a lounge area for reading or socializing with other guests. Many even have a bar.

Meet new people

You might not make lifelong friends at a hostel, but you'll often find people to chat with while you have your breakfast or make a coffee. Hostels attract people from all over the world, and many are the extroverted type, meaning that conversations are plentiful and varied.

You can also get recommendations for the city you're visiting from other guests.

You can book yourself onto an excursion

Unlike Airbnbs and many hotels, some hostels host their own social activities or help you book excursions. For example, the hostel I stayed at in Salzburg, Austria, played "The Sound of Music" in its lounge every night. Some hostels offer free tours of the city, board game nights, and group meals. The hostel I stayed at in Belfast offered discounts for booking a tour of the Giant's Causeway.

Leave your bag after checkout

Like hotels, but unlike many Airbnbs, hostels often let you leave your bag there after you check out — in most cases for free. This means that on your last day, before your flight or train, you can continue to explore the city without your luggage weighing you down.