Went back to a hostel in Portland I stayed at 10 years ago and barely recognized the place

I booked a bed at this hostel in Portland, Oregon last week that I first crashed at back in 2014. Back then it was just old bunks, a common room with a broken couch, and a sign about free pancakes on Sundays. Now theyve got keyless entry codes, pod style bunks with privacy curtains and USB ports, and a whole app for booking laundry time. The prices went up too, $45 a night vs the $22 I paid back in the day. But honestly the free pancake breakfast was still the same deal and thats what matters most to me. Has anyone else gone back to an old hostel and seen how much things changed?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jenny1mo ago

Right, but it's not just hostels, it's like everything has gone through this weird upscale makeover in the last ten years. Coffee shops used to be about a good cheap cup and now it's all minimalist decor and pour-over stations with $7 lattes. It's like the whole world decided to get fancy and charge us more for the same basic good times.

stella_murray1mo ago

Think about what this does to your brain though. All that minimalist decor and fancy lighting is designed to make you feel like you're getting a premium experience so you'll pay more without complaining. It's the same psychology as those hostels that slap a coat of grey paint on and call it a "boutique" stay. We're being trained to think basic stuff isn't good enough anymore.

barbaraw477d ago

Have you ever noticed how even grocery stores are doing it now? The ones near me all got "artisan" bakery sections and fancy lighting, but the milk and eggs cost the same as they did before the remodel.