Hostels v. Hotels v. Airbnb

I always have a difficult time explaining hostels to my American friends.  I very rarely get a good response from them.  They often assume they are only for college students, or that they are dirty or dangerous, or they want to stick with a more luxurious view of travel by staying at nice hotels.
When traveling alone, hostels are my preferred place to stay.  Yes, some are dirty and some are definitely more "party hostels" full of younger people.  Bathrooms and kitchens can be questionable.  It is important to read the reviews before booking.  In general, I'd say they are not really family-oriented, but some of them do accommodate families.  Many have private rooms, and overall, I'd say they are set up to be more social than hotels, which makes them a great option for solo travelers.  Many are keeping their dorm rooms to half capacity for Covid.  I have never been the oldest person at the hostel, and I am now 39 years old.  Think of them as just "basic accommodation."  You'll get a basic bed, shower, a thin towel, hopefully hot water, hopefully internet, barebones kitchen, and a secure place to keep your stuff.  You'll also save a lot of money and make new friends.  Staying in a hotel is definitely a nicer experience, but if you're traveling long term, this will become expensive quite fast.  To give you an idea, my private room at a hostel in Mexico City was $23 USD per night, and my dorm room in Oaxaca was $11 USD (both of these include all taxes and fees).  The dorm room was normally shared with four people, but for Covid it was limited to two people.
Airbnb is usually not the cheapest option, but they can be unique, more privacy than hostels, and they often have usable kitchens for long term stays.  Some cities have suffered from over-tourism, partly due to Airbnb.  For example, Venice, Barcelona, and Reykjavik have had a negative impact from this.  Other times, it can be a great option for both the tourist and the owner.
Hotels