Hostel Etiquette: Know Before You Go
To all the hostel newbies — hi, hello, welcome! The world of hostels can be daunting, but we’re here to ease your woes. If you’re nervous, know that we were too at first, which is why we’ve gathered our best tips and tricks for your first safe, social and comfortable stay in a hostel. Let’s get right into it!
After check in…
Do: communicate with your roommates
When sharing communal living spaces, like mixed dorms, it’s best to introduce yourself to your roommates. Feel free to say hello, introduce yourself and include minor details about yourself/your travel plans if the conversation continues past formalities. In the name of safety, we recommend keeping this introduction brief. Saying “Hi my name is (blank), it’s so good to meet you” and not sharing more is a great way to start off. If you're really hitting it off, we recommend moving said conversation to the hostel’s bar/common area.
Across the board, your roommates likely aren’t going to share much about themselves and vice-versa. This essential-only type of communication in hostel dorms is expected and practiced by most travelers in the name of safety and respecting each other's personal privacy. It’s best to talk to your roommates about things like changing the temperature of the thermostat, opening windows, if you’ll be leaving at 4 am for check-out, and anything else that might affect those in said space. Don’t expect much more than that (and don’t pry info out of others). If you really want to mingle, save the socialite in you for your hostel’s bar/common room.
Do: be respectful of communal spaces (keep all of your items in one area: your locker)
In communal dorms, it's best to keep all of your belongings in your locker or on your assigned bed. In a hotel room, you might leave your toiletry bag out near the sink, shoes by the door and more to best emulate your space at home. In a communal dorm with four to 12+ people, you aren’t going to be able to do that. Twelve toiletry bags cluttered around two sinks in a dorm makes that space unusable. Twelve pairs of shoes lined up near the door cause for a tripping hazard when stumbling in at 2 am. We recommend keeping everything in your locker, organized for efficiency, so you can grab your toiletries and head to a makeup station when need be, or the showers for a shower, etc. As always, bring a lock for said locker so you don’t have to worry about your valuables being accessible to others.
Don’t: be disruptive during sleeping hours (or the loud drunk stumbling in at 4 am)
This is a make or break for everyone in your room. It’s okay to come back late (and a little tipsy), but don’t turn on the lights; we recommend using your phone's flashlight instead and trying your best to tiptoe into bed. Be courteous of light sleepers; don’t chat between midnight and 8 am, and avoid anything else that could disrupt someone’s slumber. During sleeping hours, being respectful of those around you and their unknown schedules is a must.
Don’t: change fully in the dorms (no one wants to see you nakey)
I think this one goes without saying, but if possible, do all of your clothing changes in the bathroom. If not, at a minimum, change your undergarments/underwear in the bathroom and then change your clothes in your room.
Don’t: shower during peak times (aka in the morning)
In every hostel, the busiest time of day is in the morning. People are checking out, leaving for day trips or simply preparing for the day. For those reasons, this is the worst time of day to take a shower. We recommend showering at night, when the showers are less crowded, and even then suggest being quick. Your 45-minute everything-shower routine won’t fly here. Again, it comes back to being respectful, and the fact that you are sharing these amenities with people whose schedules you don’t know — so be quick and kind!
Other dos and don’ts:
FOOD
-Don’t eat in the dorms (it's messy, people have allergies unknown to you, no one wants bugs, etc).
-Do store food in the fridge, and label it with your name and date (if need be).
GENERAL
-Do lock that locker!
-Do pack up your belongings the night before check out. As mentioned, the morning is the busiest time of day, and to get in, out and out of other people's way, it's best to pre-pack most of your belongings before checkout.
-Don’t take personal calls in the dorms; bring them into the hallway or common space.
-Do have lights on during waking hours and off between midnight and 8 am. If you come home at 3 am or check out at 5 am, use your phone's flashlight to navigate.
-Do be considerate and alert. Hostels are shared spaces; do your best to be kind, courteous and alert.
Tag @theedgemag the next time you stay in a hostel so we can stalk all your latest and greatest adventures!