The Ins and Outs of Hostel Living
Whether you’re doing it solo or taking on the world with some friends by your side, hostels are a great way to travel cheap and meet fellow explorers. If you aren’t familiar with hostels, you’re basically bunking with strangers that are also travelling the world without breaking the bank. Hostel beds range anywhere from $10 to about $100 depending on the location, time of year, type of room, etc. There are private rooms if you’re looking for a more hotel-like experience; but more widely utilized are the 4 bed dorms, 8 bed dorms, 12 bed dorms, unisex dorms, female dorms… all types! Hostelworld.com is the most popular website for all of your hostel needs. Hostel conditions vary widely, although they all serve the same purpose. Some have 10 rooms, some have 50, some have common areas and kitchens for guests to mingle, and some are attached to bars or restaurants. Whichever vibe you’re going for, I guarantee there will be more that enough places that’ll spark your interest.
After finding the hostel you’re ready to book, it might be helpful to know some hostel etiquette and what to expect when you arrive. It can be an intimidating environment if you haven’t experienced it before. My first hostel stay was awesome, but I’ve had some questionable experiences to rival the good ones. You can’t win every time, but I’m a hostel fan regardless. Here are some tips to make your stay run as smoothly as possible.
1. Mixed Dorm?
This one’s for my female travel birds. Your decision is entirely based on personal preference and what you’re comfortable with. Keep in mind that you and your hostel mates are going to be living in very close quarters, so if you’re a female traveler and don’t want to run the risk of unwanted male attention, maybe opt for an all-girl’s dorm. Fear not though, hostels usually have 24-hour reception and security and you’re in a room with other people that will most likely going take action if they see something suspicious. I’ve personally been treated with respect by almost all of my hostel mates.
2. Hostel Etiquette
It’s important to be aware that you aren’t the only person staying in this room. That means no late night or early morning phone calls, no flipping on the main light when you get back after dark, keeping the shower lengths to a minimum, and maybe don’t reorganize your suitcase at 5 AM. You don’t want to make enemies out of your hostel mates, so just try your best be respectful of other people’s space and comfort. Hostels will give you lockers to put your things in, so make sure to utilize them and keep your stuff in your space as not to mess up the room for everyone else. You’ll have a personal light by your bed you can use as well, so you don’t wake up the whole room but are still able to see and get situated when you get back after a long day. As for showers, some hostels will have bathrooms in the dorms, and some will have showers that the whole floor shares. Either way, try to keep your bathroom time limited since a lot of people are going to need to use them. This may seem like pretty basic knowledge, but I’ve witnessed a lot of people that just have no idea how hostels work, which I guess is understandable if it’s a first-timer. Last but not least, I wish I had some better advice about snoring, but there’s not much you can do about that one. Some hostels will sell earplugs, and if you’re the snorer… just apologize in advance.
3. Making Friends!
You’re going to come across all types of people once you start staying in hostels. There’ll be some people who want to mingle and meet friends, and some will just want to keep to themselves. It’s polite to say hi to your new roommates, but if they want to be left alone, let them be. If they want to be friends, go for it! I’ve met some wonderful people in hostels that I still keep in contact with. However, be ready for some weirdo’s. There are tons of personalities out there and these are going to be people from all over the world with different cultural norms, so what you find rude they might find normal. Staying in hostels requires an open mind. Just try to go with the flow as long as you feel safe, but prepare for some unique experiences. I promise you’re going to acquire quite the list of funny and outrageous stories. But sometimes, you’ll get a totally chill room. It’s all up to chance… and that’s the fun of it! You never know what you’re gonna get.
4. What To Bring
Staying in a hostel is a little more high maintenance than hotels or Airbnb’s since you have to worry about your stuff potentially getting stolen when you aren’t around. Hostels will provide lockers for you to put your stuff in, but try not to bring a giant suitcase… it probably won’t fit. I recommend carry-on size luggage and an extra bag or backpack. Some hostels will provide a key for said lockers and some won’t, so I’d keep a little padlock on hand just in case. As for what to pack in your bag, just try to make everything as easily accessible as possible. Unlike a private space, you aren’t going to be able to unpack and keep your things sprawled out. Every time you leave the room, you should pack up. Packing cubes are great for easy access to clothes, smaller sized toiletries are a good idea so you can keep them all in one bag, and face/body wipes are helpful just in case the shower/sink is occupied when you really need it. A travel towel is also a great purchase to save you from having to pay for renting one over and over again. Some hostels give them out for free, but I’d say a good 80% charge a couple of euros per towel. I’d just do your best to be as prepared as possible to keep it easy on yourself, but remember you’re going to be within a decent distance from pharmacies and convenient stores, so don’t stress too much about having EVERYTHING you need.
5. Rude Roommates
Although most travellers are pretty cool, open minded, polite and interesting individuals, there are going to be some people that just don’t care to have basic manners or follow hostel etiquette. I wouldn’t plan on getting the best sleep of your life while staying in hostels. There’ll be a lot of door slams, bed squeaks and flickering lights throughout the night, so if you’re a light sleeper, a sleeping mask and ear plugs are going to be a life saver. As for rude people in your dorm, just try not to overreact. Avoid those you aren’t comfortable around, stay out of the way and just try mind your business. Confrontation isn’t totally necessary unless someone is being exceptionally intolerable. Inconvenience kind of comes with hostel territory. It’s pretty much the only downside of hostel living… the rest is totally awesome.
You’ll get used to the differences between hostels, bnbs and hotels the more you explore them. The more hostels you stay at the more bearable it will all become. Even though I love hostels, it can get tiring after a while, so if you’re planning a long trip, I’d split up your time between hostels and Airbnb’s. Trust me, you’ll have a whole n
