10 Ways to Have a Better Hostel Experience
Hostel Hangout | Bar, Montenegro | March 2023
Hostels can carry a bad wrap of being dirty, party heavy, sleezy, unsafe and generally just a chaotic resting space. While this can be the case, there are many hostels that have put thoughtful time, patience, and thought into their spaces for a safe, collaborative, restful and most importantly clean experience.
While your hostel neighbours are out of your control, here are 10 go to travel hacks to enhance your hostel experience.
1. Bring Your Own Towel
Many hostels will charge you to rent a hostel during your stay that is small crispy and over bleached. I suggest getting a body size quick-dry travel towel. I’ve had mine for over 3 years, it has saved me money, fits my body and is a perfect addition for beaches, picnics or sweaty days. I also consider packing the hand towel version for working out, washing my face and a smaller option.
2. No Disco Lights
You may be thinking of course I’m not packing my disco ball but what I mean is don’t flash your phone’s flashlight. If everyone is already asleep in the room, put your phone down in one place - maybe the edge of your bed, shelf etc. It’s going to free up both of your hands to do the task you need to do and you wont accidentally create a strobe light in your neighbours face (meaning they’ll be a better neighbour in the morning). The alternative is to invest in a headlamp.
3. Get Settled When You Check-in
When you arrive in your room, and have determined which bed is yours, put your pajamas under your pillow, your charges in an accessible place and your toiletries at the top of your bag. You’ll appreciate this after a day of exploring when returning tired and likely into a dark room trying to get ready for bed. If the hostel has a locker or drawer, put your items in there in a tidy and orderly way that will make future you happy. It could be stacking your packing cubes, or keeping your snacks near the top.
4. Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated.
The golden rule that never dies and applies especially in daily new social settings like hostels. And please men, when approaching women, please keep your sister, niece, aunt, or mom in mind of how you would want a man to approach them.
5. Bring a Pair of Sandals
A pair of sandals like Havaianas (you’ll also make friends with Brazilians) or the rubber Birkenstocks will reduce the chance of nasty feet from the showers. In hostels people have been wearing their shoes everywhere on the streets, and the amount of foot traffic is exponentially higher than any Airbnb and you never know what skin conditions others have. By packing sandals you’ll have a slipper to literally slip on as comfortable footwear after a day of touring, nighttime bathroom breaks and beach trips.
Luma Terra Hostel | Prague, Czech Republic | August 2024
6. Bring a Lock
Bring a lock (I suggest the keypad kind because if you loose that key you’re screwed) especially if you’re a digital nomad or content creator and travel with expensive gear. If a locker only fits some of your belongings, put the very hard to replace items like electronics, medicine or personal items in the locker safe with a lock. Hostels will charge you to buy or borrow a lock, again it’s worth the investment upfront.
7. Trust Your Neighbour.
If you carry the thought that a fellow traveller or bunk mate may steal from you, then they’re probably thinking the same thing. Say hi, be friendly, don’t forget your manners and read the room of someone’s energy. Folks may also be using hostels as affordable options for business trips, job interviews, family visits, remember it is not always young 20 year olds on beer cruises, and we need to be mindful of everyone’s journey.
8. Prepare for a Full Night’s Sleep
Yes you can get a full night’s restful sleep at a hostel. How? Ear plugs and eye masks are a must have. I’ve seen hostels have jars of ear plugs on the front desk (bless them) because if you're in a shared dorm I would be willing to bet money one man will be snoring. I’ve heard really good feedback from travellers about the Loop ear plugs, and good for cutting noise or stimulation in busy social spaces. The GOAT of all sleep masks are Manta Sleep eye masks because it allows you to blink and keep your eyelashes as you rest (the silk version is great for your falsies girlies).
9. Get Creative in the Bathroom
Weirdly hostels don’t have a lot of shelf or counter space in bathrooms. If I ever create my own you better bet that this will be at the top of the list. I find the way to solve no storage space is a hanging toiletry bag to make your bathroom routines easier. Imagine being in a shared bathroom, showering and reaching outside the curtain to grab your shampoo instead of off of the bathroom floor. I stole my mom’s Eagle Creek 3 years ago, resewed a couple pockets to maximize space but if I had to buy a new hanging toiletry case I’d explore CALPAK’s and Samonsite’s.
10. Stay Hydrated
Hostels may offer filtered water fountains or have drinkable tap water, but it simply may not always be the case. I appreciated Two Pillows Boutique Hostel in Malta where I’ve stayed twice as they provided filtered water jugs to fill your reusable water bottles. Bringing a reusable water bottle will ensure before or after longer travel days (especially if you’re flying) that you’ll stay hydrated, save a few dollars of buying water and the plastic that would come from this. I’m a loyal fan of the LARQ water bottles, I have 3 variations depending on the trip and have left them in a hot steamy car for over 24 hours and the bottle still had ice in it. Yes girlies, it’s worth replacing your giant Stanleys for.
Are there any tips to have a better hostel experience that I missed? Drop them in the comments below to share for other travel friends.