Hostelworld has absolutely cornered the hostel market, with most venues signing away pricing. This allows hostelworld to equalize prices in a given location, ra

Hostelworld has absolutely cornered the hostel market, with most venues signing away pricing. This allows hostelworld to equalize prices in a given location, raising them above board although occupancy is down (many empty places during the busy season) while the guests are focused in a few places (as lower rated places can't lower their prices). So for hostels, 3rd party booking is all that is left. Often, contacting them directly, they won't even know what their price is (while a few years ago they would give a discount to hostelworld, hostelbookers etc.)