We at AG Traveler are big fans of hostels. When done right, they can be a convenient, safe and reasonably-priced accommodation when you're traveling.

So we are thrilled to see that Hostelworld.com had such a successful response to their 2011 Hoscar Awards(Hostelworld.com Customer Annual Ratings). According to the website, one million customers reviewed more than 25,000 hostels in more than 6,000 different locations.

The awards were for several categories, including best large and small hostel, top 3 per continent and best in each country.

Check it out here.

Hint: If you're visiting Lisbon, you have a lot of good choices.

But, as always, we encourage you to do your own research and make your own choice. Positive user reviews are an excellent gauge but that still doesn't necessarily mean it's right for you.

Happy travels and be safe!