Summary

The article provides essential tips for first-time hostel stayers to ensure a comfortable and secure experience while traveling.

Abstract

Staying in a hostel for the first time can be daunting, but with the right preparation, it can be a positive experience. The article outlines five key tips: preserving sleep with earplugs and sleep masks, preparing belongings the night before to minimize disturbance, using a locker for secure storage, checking what amenities the hostel offers, and adopting an offbeat schedule to avoid crowds. These tips are designed to help travelers navigate the potential challenges of shared accommodations, such as noise, lack of privacy, and security concerns, turning hostels into a good, cheap, and comfortable housing solution.

Opinions

The author initially believed hostels to be dirty, noisy, and uncomfortable but changed their perspective after experiencing them firsthand.
Hostels are seen as a viable housing option for travelers seeking affordability and comfort, provided they follow certain guidelines.
Respect for others' sleep is emphasized, suggesting that travelers should not only expect consideration from their roommates but also set a good example themselves.
The use of lockers is considered essential for the safety of personal belongings, with the author stressing the importance of not locking the key inside and having a spare key.
There is a note of caution regarding trust; while community and sharing are part of the hostel experience, the author advises against being too trusting of fellow roommates.
The author expresses disappointment in some hostels moving away from traditional amenities like communal kitchens, which are key to the hostel experience and help travelers save money.
Living offbeat, or adjusting one's schedule to avoid peak times, is recommended for a more relaxed and private experience in shared spaces.

5 Tips for Staying in a Hostel for the First Time

A short survival guide

Photo by Greta Schölderle Møller on Unsplash

Whatever the subject is, first times are always stressful.

Staying in a hostel for the first time, especially alone, raises many questions. Everyone has an opinion about hostels, and it can be difficult to untangle the real from the fake. This is why many people are afraid of taking the plunge.

A few years ago, I was convinced that hostels were dirty, noisy and uncomfortable. Today, I think that they can be a good, cheap and comfortable housing solution, as long as you follow a few simple tips.

Here is my survival guide for staying in hostels, crafted while traveling alone through Europe mainly.

1. Preserve your sleep

Sleeping in a hostel means sleeping in bunk beds, in a room shared with 6 to 12 total strangers. Everyone travel for different reasons, which reasons can lead them to get up very early in the morning or get back really late at night. Some people snore, others will have absolutely no respect for your sleep and will make noise regardless of the time.

You absolutely need to bring earplugs, even several pairs of them. I tried to sleep without, and I literally got awakened every few hours.

Bringing a sleep mask is also highly recommended, as curtains are often not the best, while some people see no problem in switching on the light during the night.

2. Get your things ready the day before

Just because other people may show no respect doesn’t mean that we should act the same way. Let’s try to set a good example. If you are an early riser (even 8 a.m. seems to be considered as early in hostels!), get your things ready before going to bed.

Just pile up the clothes you’ll wear the day after, put aside your toiletry kit, and simply take everything to the bathroom as you wake up, so you don’t disturb people’s sleep making too much noise. Plus you won’t have to complicate everything with your phone’s flashlight or having to zip zippers in the quietest possible way (spoiler alert: whatever you do, it will still be the noisiest thing in the world when in a quiet bedroom).

When you’ll be ready, you’ll just have to grab your backpack — that you’ll have set ready the night before — your coat, and leave. Easy!

3. Bring a locker

Most of the hostels offer some lockers to buy, but it will be more expensive than if you just buy one and carry it with you. You’ll absolutely need a locker, so you’ll be able to store safely — at least we hope so — your things during the day.

Use it also when you are out, or in the shower. Don’t trust people too much, even if it’s sad to say, you don’t know who is with you in the room.

Two tips: make sure that you don’t lock the key in the locker (it almost happened to me), like putting the key in your coat and locking your coat inside — and always keep a duplicate key in another place. If you have one in your backpack, keep the other one in your coat or your jean’s pocket. You don’t want to live the scene when you’ll have to ask the reception to break the locker and everything — even if it can (long) after become a funny memory.

4. Check what the hostel lends

Before closing your suitcase, check on the hostels' website or in reviews what is made available or not. For example, some hostels don’t lend towels, others don’t lend hairdryers. And if you need them, you’ll have to pay. Avoid that by simply checking the information out.

Also, check if they have a kitchen. Most hostels have one because it’s one of the key principles of the accommodation. However, it seems like the business model is developing, and they now tend to look more and more like regular hotels except with bunk beds. In the last one I went to, there was no kitchen, and external food was not allowed. It’s really annoying to have to buy expensive food out when you are here to save money.

5. Live offbeat

If your bedroom is full, and the bathroom is crowded at night or in the morning, the best tip is to live offbeat. Just wake up before everyone, or shower early when you get back from your day. You’ll have all the space that you want for yourself! No more queueing and losing time.

To sum up:

Bring earplugs and a sleep mask
Get your things ready the day before
Bring a locker and have spare keys just in case
Don’t trust people too much
Check if towels or whatever are loaned and if there is a kitchen or not
Live offbeat

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