10 Tips for Staying in Hostels: Best Hostel Tips
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The very first time I went to Europe, 18-year-old me was excited beyond belief. I was also unconcerned with anything to do with accommodation and didn’t bother to look up tips for staying in hostels.
Instead, I made a lot of newbie mistakes as a first-time hostel goer. Mostly, I booked the wrong places, putting budget above comfort like any student would do. Honestly speaking, I’m embarrassed to admit some of the situations I’ve found myself in!
In the years since, I’ve stayed in all sorts of hostels from private rooms in hostel-hostel hybrids like the Hostalin Madrid with my mom to mixed dorms with 29 other people along the Camino de Santiago. Needless to say, I’ve learned a ton. Thus, I’m pleased to say that I am now well versed with all the tricks of the trade for staying in hostels.
To help you make the most of your trip, let’s go over some vital hostel tips that I wish I knew during my first trip—and some helpful hostel etiquette as, well.
10 Tips for Staying in a Hostel
Once you’ve found and booked your hostel you’re excited about, here are 10 helpful hostel tips.
1. Pack your belongings during the day
Everyone wants to sleep well at a hostel. (Well, maybe not at party hostels! Read about hostel types to find your ideal hostel.)
Do yourself and your bunkmates a favor by packing during the day. To clarify, rustling through your pack late at night or early in the morning won’t be appreciated.
Rather, do all of your sorting, purging, and clothes-folding when people are awake. This way if you do need to get up early, at least you can swiftly grab you organized pack before slipping out the door.
To stay organized for your own sanity—as well as that of your bunkmates—we recommend using packing cubes. This way, you’ll know exactly where things are, save yourself the hassle of searching, and help you avoid making noise at odd hours.
2. Bring earplugs and a mask
If you want to get some sleep, an excellent hostel tip is to bring ear plugs and a comfy sleep mask. It is almost certain that people will snore, sleep talk, and mill about the room around the clock.
Specifically, people often come in very late, or leave super early in the morning to catch their next train or flight.
Other noisy and light-inducing things to consider when finding a hostel: creaky beds, old buildings, location of bathrooms, and street noise.
If you snore, people will understand. That’s par for the course when staying in a hostel. On that note, you may want to let others know you snore as a courtesy. Passing out individually-wrapped ear plugs is well received, in my experience.
In the end, pop in your earplugs, and don your eye mask, and you’re good to go! (By the way, I’ve tried many ear plugs over the years, and the Flents ear plugs are my favorite. I do recommend giving them a try!)
3. Be ready to check in
When checking in, have your booking information handy. Depending on the location, not all hostels have high tech booking systems. If you can show them your confirmation, that can go a long way if there’s any confusion. Along with your booking information, get your passport and payment method ready.
Note that some hostels are still cash-only. Others prefer cash to avoid booking and software fees. If you haven’t prepaid, find out what the preferred payment method is.
While many hostels operate 24/7, not all do. If you’re going to be late, notify the hostel. This courtesy will be appreciated. Moreover, your bunk won’t be given away!
Lastly, check-in is your opportunity to ask for the bunk you want if you didn’t do so during the booking process. See how to choose and book a good hostel.
Pro Tip: It’s always good to have cash on hand when traveling. Many years ago I had a problem with my debit card. The hostel was gracious enough to let me stay the night without paying as it was very late. The next day, I was able to sort it out and pay. But, this will not always be the case, so get cash on your way!
4. Maintain your privacy
Since hostels are communal spaces, you’re probably going to want some privacy.
For one thing—sadly—theft does occur in hostels from time to time.
Second, you might need some down time after a busy day.
That being said, let’s go over a few basic steps for maintaining some level of privacy in the hostel.
Try your best not to leave things lying around or flash your valuables in front of your roommates. In other words, don’t count your cash or leave your passport out.
Instead, keep things tucked away, especially valuables. You can use a money belt or other type of small bag to store your valuables.
If you do need to re-organize your pack, try to do it when you’re alone in the room.
Next, a sarong, pashmina, or other lightweight travel towel is great for hiding items—or yourself! Hang one on your bunk, and take a nap in peace.
5. Take advantage of common areas
Whether you want to save money by cooking or need to work, hostels offer many different types of common areas that may interest you.
Not only did you pay for these areas, but they are also where you might meet some new and interesting people from all over the world.
Finding a global, like-minded community of people to eat with, tour with, or simply share tips on how to get to the airport is sure to be a highlight of any backpacker’s trip!
Some hostels offer amazing common areas including:
- Kitchen
- Patio or rooftop terrace
- Lounge
- Game room
- Pool
- Café/bar
- Coworking space
With these things in mind, our favorite hostel tip is to take advantage of this hostel-specific feature.
6. Lock your belongings
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: theft happens in hostels.
For this reason, always keep your valuables with you at all times.
If the hostel offers a locker, use it.
You should also bring a lock to lock your backpack or suitcase.
“But they can just steal my suitcase or slash my backpack,” you say.
We understand and share your concern. By and large, thieves search for easy targets: passports lying around, a wallet under a pillow, or cash peeking out of the top pocket of a backpack.
Put a lock on your bag, attach it to your bedpost or to your friend’s backpack, and use lockers. This may not be fail-proof, but it’s a great deterrent.
We review the best travel locks for hostels in our hostel packing list.
7. Attend events
If you want to get to know the local area, enjoy your favorite activities, or meet other people, you may be in luck!
Many hostel offer free tours, classes, or organize meals together.
If you’re staying alone, this is your opportunity to interact with locals and other travelers. Take El Granado in Granada, Spain, for instance. They organize get togethers so guests can get to know each other.
Plus, the more people you know, the more comfortable you’ll feel. It’s nice to know there is someone watching out for you, too.
For the most part, the quiet, hotel-hostel hybrid properties don’t offer any events.
In any case—event seeker or not—make sure you do your research to choose the ideal hostel type for YOU!
8. Showering at hostels is nothing to worry about
Showering at hostels may sound intimidating, but it’s really not a big deal in the end.
To begin with, hostel showers and bathrooms will either be in the hallway or ensuite (in your room). On the whole, the are very clean.
To be succinct, bring shower shoes and a hanging toiletry bag, and you’re all set.
By the way, since lots of people are using the showers and bathrooms from day to day, it’s your job as a guest to tidy up after yourself. Don’t leave hair or shaving remnants behind, for one thing.
If you want some [relative] privacy, ask the front desk staff when the showers are least busy.
9. Respect others
As has been noted, hostels are communal. The hostel experience isn’t the same as staying in a hotel where you may not speak to anyone after checking in. (Though we think you should be respectful wherever you go!)
In essence, hostels run on mutual respect and a sense of camaraderie.
Just because you’re staying there doesn’t mean you don’t clean up after yourself or act a fool.
Here are some general tips for hostel etiquette:
- Never touch or move other people’s stuff—gear, laundry, phone chargers, food, you-name-it. If it’s not yours, leave it be.
- Avoid making noise late at night or early in the morning. Rustling through plastic bag and talking to your friend in the dormitory rather than the common room, are some examples.
- Please don’t stay up playing on your phone. You may think it’s no big deal, but it lights up the whole room. Use your phone in the common areas, and go to bed when you’re done.
- Keep rooms locked. You might think it’s no big deal to leave the door to the bunkroom unlatched while you run down to get your laundry, but leaving your roommates’ items in a vulnerable position is a big no-no.
10. Trust your instinct
Although hostels are generally safe, unexpected things happen once in a while
In reality, we think you’re going to be just fine (more than fine, really!).
Regardless, this wouldn’t be a complete list of tips for staying in hostel without addressing safety.
Start your stay by introducing yourself to the staff at the front desk upon arrival. Feel free to ask questions, get advice, and make yourself at home.
After that, use common sense, and trust your instincts.
If you feel unsafe or something just isn’t sitting well, inform a hostel staff member. They can help to investigate and make things right—which might include changing your room.
We also highly recommend you get travel insurance to guard yourself against the fallout from theft, illness, or injury. Use the widget below to get a quote.
Best booking tools for backpackers and other hostel-goers
Check out our recommended booking tools for self-planned itineraries:
Flights:
- Google Flights – Start your planning here. To get an idea of flight prices and routes, browse Google Flights by using the explore map.
- Skyscanner – Find flights that other search engines miss.
- Expedia – Best all around booking tool, search for hotels, flights, cars, vacation packages, and cruises. No matter where you are going, this booking tool help every type of traveler get the best value every time.
Accommodations:
- Booking.com – Access a clear, easy, and transparent hotel booking process that includes hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and more. It’s great for anyone who likes to stay organized and do research.
- Hostelworld – The leading provider of online hostel reservations to budget, independent, and youth travelers, Hostelworld has has a great search interface and the largest inventory of hostels to choose from.
- Airbnb – Rent a room or entire apartment to live like a local. (Use my link to get $65 off your first stay)
Transportation:
- Rome 2 Rio – Begin planning your in-country travel with this website offering air, train, bus, or taxi routes.
- Rail Europe and Trainline (our preference) – For train and bus travel in Europe, try these two. You can also purchase train and bus tickets directly from suppliers.
- Bla Bla Car – Find a carpool ride with this ridesharing APP. Just chip in for gas!
Travel Insurance:
- World Nomads – Don’t forget to protect your investment from trip interruptions to unexpected injuries.
Go to our resources page for more booking tools we use to plan our trips.
It’s time to have some hostel fun!
There you have it! I could go on and on about hostel tips we can all follow to both have a good stay ourselves as well as better our fellow bunkmates’ trips. But, I think these tips are a good place to start.
For more tips for staying in hostels, please feel free to check the related articles, below!
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