Hostelworld Social Pass – No Booking Required

Q: What is Hostelworld's Social Pass?

Hostelworld Social Pass is your all-access pass to a 3-million-strong community of travellers.

Q: What features are included with my Hostelworld Social Pass?

Chat with travellers nearby, City Chats, Chats based on shared interests, Travel Plan Chats and Private Messages, Browse Travel Plans and share your own, See who's going where and when, Browse Traveller Profiles, Join curated Events, and switch locations in the app.

Q: Is the Hostelworld Social Pass a subscription service?

No, it is a one-time purchase with no automatic renewals.

Q: If I'm travelling solo or between bookings, is the Social Pass designed for me?

Yes, Social Pass helps you meet people nearby, join a global travel community, and turn solo travel into social travel.

Our global travel community
‍loves it

Join them

Levin

Nice to meet people, It connects the whole city.

Charli

Helped me to meet people.

Sam

Being a solo female traveller it really means a lot to me also that I can find a larger variety of people who are down to just hang out and have a great time. Thank you so much for making this a feature.

Vanessa

I have used the chat for meeting many travelers!

Faith

It was very helpful

Sara

Very useful for solo traveling!

Lulu

It was useful to see what others were up to in the city both to make friends and also get recommendations.

Antonios

It is quite fun but the biggest thing is how useful it is. It is what sets apart from other options when booking for hostels.

Tamas

I love the feature that lets you chat to people that are in the city you are visiting.

Seyma

I find it helpful. Because of chat feature, I can ask people where I should visit where is the best place to see sunset etc. And avaible to see which people stay with me at same place etc.

Lizzy

Made loads of friends

Frequently asked questions

What is Hostelworld’s Social Pass?

The Hostelworld Social Pass is a feature in the Hostelworld app that lets you join our global travel community of over 3 million travellers without booking a bed. It gives you access to the social features of the app where you can Chat with travellers nearby, share your Travel Plans, join Events and find people to hang out with. Choose a pass for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months or 1 year – it’s a one-time purchase, no subscription required.

What features are included with my Hostelworld Social Pass?

With your Social Pass, you get access to our entire suite of social travel features in the Hostelworld app:

Chat with travellers nearby - City Chats, Chats based on shared interests, Travel Plan Chats and Private Messages
Browse Travel Plans and share your own - See who’s going where and when
Browse Traveller Profiles – check out age, languages, bio, travel stats
Join curated Events - pub crawls, taco nights, beach parties, hikes, just to name a few!)
If you move on to another city, just switch locations in the app and keep connecting In the city you’re currently in

All this in the Hostelworld app!

Is the Hostelworld Social Pass a subscription service?

No, the Hostelworld Social Pass is a one-time purchase. It is not an ongoing subscription. There are no automatic renewals, no hidden fees, and no strings attached. You pay once for the duration you choose.

Will I be charged again automatically when my Social Pass ends?

No, you will not be charged automatically since Hostelworld Social Pass is not a subscription. If you’d like to continue your Social Pass after it ends, just purchase a new Social Pass to keep the adventure going!

How long will I have access to the community with my Social Pass?

You can purchase Hostelworld Social Pass for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months or 1 year. Your Social Pass activates right after purchase and stays live until midnight on the last day of your chosen duration. You can check the details anytime in your Profile in the Hostelworld app. Once your Social Pass expires, access to the social features ends unless you buy another Social Pass.

Where can I access and find the chats in the Hostelworld app?

In the Hostelworld app, tap Chat in the bottom-bar navigation to access Chat features. You’ll find the City Chat for your location and the opportunity to send Private Messages to other travellers. These chat features are unlocked through the Social Pass, now even if you don’t have a Hostelworld booking.

If I change location or city, what happens to my Social Pass access?

Hostelworld Social Pass is built for travellers on the move. When you arrive somewhere new, you can just change your location in the app to gain access to the local Chats and Events in your new destination. At the same time, you’ll lose access to the previous location’s Chats and Events. Keep your location updated, so you’re plugged into the travellers nearby, not the place you’ve already left.

Do I need to book a hostel bed to use the Social Pass features?

Nope, Hostelworld bookings and Social Pass are separate from one another. Booking a bed gives you access to all of our social features, as does purchasing a Social Pass. Just pick what works best for you. The sweet part? With Social Pass, you can jump into the community without a Hostelworld booking. So, whether you’re planning, just browsing or travelling somewhere long-term as a volunteer, studying abroad or a digital nomad, you can Chat with travellers, share Travel Plans, browse Traveller Profiles and attend Events by purchasing a Social Pass.

If I’m travelling solo or between bookings, is the Social Pass designed for me?

Absolutely. The Hostelworld Social Pass is created exactly for travellers who want to meet people nearby, join a global travel community, and turn solo travel into social travel. Without needing to book a stay, you can still connect with like-minded travellers, share your plans, and make friends wherever you are.

Where can I see my Social Pass status and remaining days?

To see the details of your Social Pass, just open the Hostelworld app, go to your Profile, under Settings you’ll find the Social Pass section. Find all the details of your Social Pass, such as current location, Social Pass duration, activation date, and expiration date. You can acquire a Social Pass for a week, a month, three months or a year – depending on your needs.

How many travellers can I connect with using the Hostelworld Social Pass?

When you join with the Hostelworld Social Pass, you’re stepping into a global travel community of over 3 million members – all in the Hostelworld app. The number of people near you varies based on the popularity of the destination and seasonality among other things. Before purchasing Social Pass, you’ll see how many people are in the City Chat of the location you’re at. Every Chat, Event and Travel Plan connects you to real travellers. Whether you’re backpacking solo or on a group adventure, Social Pass helps you find people nearby who share your vibe, your route and your sense of adventure.

Does the Social Pass include booking perks or discounts on hostels?

Hostelworld Social Pass connects you with other travellers by giving you access to Chats, Events and the broader traveller community within the Hostelworld app. Social Pass makes your travel experience more social and better than ever! Social Pass doesn’t include booking discounts or exclusive hostel deal packages, but make sure to book your accommodation in the app to guarantee best hostel prices.

Do I need Social Pass if I already have a Hostelworld booking?

Hostelworld bookings and Social Pass are separate from one another. A booking unlocks social features. A Social Pass unlocks the same features without a booking. Pick whatever fits your trip. Before, only people with a Hostelworld booking could join the community. Now anyone can. Social Pass just opens the community to everyone, even if you’re not staying in a hostel. It’s great for people in between trips, staying somewhere long-term, or for those just want to find travellers nearby to hang out with!

Your fast track to new travel buddies!

Get Social Pass in our app and join Hostelworld’s community of travellers wherever you are – no booking needed

Social Pass... What?

Find your people

Use it when you want

Goes where you go

No booking needed

One-time purchase

Getting your Social Pass is easy!

Go from solo to social – it all starts with a chat!

Your Social Pass, your way

Travel the world, make friends along the way.

Our global travel community
‍loves it

Frequently asked questions

Get the Hostelworld app

Meet travellers and explore the world.

Social Pass

Your fast track to new travel buddies!

Get Social Pass in our app and join Hostelworld’s community of travellers wherever you are – no booking needed

Social Pass... What?

Find your people

Use it when you want

Goes where you go

No booking needed

One-time purchase

Getting your Social Pass is easy!

Go from solo to social – it all starts with a chat!

Your Social Pass, your way

Travel the world, make friends along the way.

Our global travel community ‍loves it

Frequently asked questions

Get the Hostelworld app

Meet travellers and explore the world.

Our global travel community
‍loves it