Hostels provide backpackers with inexpensive readily available accommodation while travelling abroad. They can sometimes be great sources of information, a great place to meet other travellers and a place to have a lot of fun.
However, hostels can also be loud, dirty and uncomfortable and there are certain unwritten rules about staying in them.
Check out my top recommendations on how to survive staying in hostels.
1. Check Reviews
Okay reviews aren’t 100% accurate, but they do generally give a good overall rating for what to expect. Do you really want to stay somewhere with really terrible feedback? No, me neither. Some hostels are now super modern with high-tech facilities giving up-market hotels a run for their money. A lot now have bars, communal facilities, pools and more – sometimes its worth paying a bit extra to get a much better place to stay.
2. Book Ahead
Many of the more popular hostels book out fast, so make sure you avoid being left with nowhere to sleep by booking ahead, plenty of time in advance.
3. Compare Prices
A lot of hostels now offer private rooms as well as dorms, and sometimes if you are travelling with a friend or partner it can work out cheaper to go for the private room rather than the dorm.
4. Don’t Bring Your Own Bedding
Nowadays most hostels offer bedding, so it’s not really necessary to bring extra sheets or sleeping bags with you. Sheets will either be provided or you may have to hire them from reception. It’s not really worth bringing your own as they take up too much space in your luggage and can be annoying to cart around if you’re travelling for a long time.
5. Pack Earplugs and an Eye Mask
Hostels can be noisy places and if you’re sleeping in a dorm, drunken revellers coming into your room late at night is not uncommon. If you don’t want to be disturbed and want to try and get a decent amount of sleep then ear plugs are the way to go. You may also want to wear an eye mask too, to avoid being woken up by the light turning on in the middle of the night.
6. Don’t Leave Valuables Lying Around
Unfortunately some hostels are notorious places for getting things stolen and things frequently go missing from dorm rooms. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving your valuables out in the open and lying around. Some hostels will provide you with lockers and keys, or bring your own, it’s best to use locks to keep your valuables locked up and safe.
7. Bring a Padlock for Your Rucksack
If the hostel doesn’t provide lockers a good option is to buy a padlock for your rucksack, lock it up and attach it to the bed so no one can steal it.
8. Remember to use a Torch
Be respectful to other travellers by using a torch or your phone light if you want to stay up and read or search for your toothbrush when you come back late at night. Don’t wake everyone up by turning on the light as you’re only likely to annoy people.
9. Be Friendly But Firm
If people staying in your room are being annoying, loud or rude, don’t be afraid to speak to them to try to get a better situation. Most people will be receptive, but if they aren’t, go to reception to complain.
10. Check the Opening Hours
Some hostels will stay open all night, allowing you to come and go as you please at any time during the night, but others have curfews and may lock their doors at midnight or even earlier. If you want to go out, make sure you know what time your hostel closes to avoid being stuck outside with nowhere to sleep.
11. Ask to See the Room Before You Check in
If you haven’t booked ahead or don’t know anything about the hostel you may want to check out the room before you decide to stay there. These days hostels can vary a lot from very scummy, dirty and basic to clean, chic and even luxurious. You may also want to find out who you’ll be sharing with.
12. Bring Flip Flops and a Quick Drying Towel
Sometimes bathrooms in hostels can be dirty with the amount of people using them. Wear flip flops and take a quick drying towel, sometimes there isn’t any space to hand washing up to dry.
13. Not Happy? Move.
Don’t be afraid to ask to move rooms, or even change hostels if you are enduring a really terrible experience.
Hopefully if you follow these top tips you will get a more pleasant hostelling experience. If you any any more advice let me know in the comments section below.
