Hostels. Some people love them, others fear them. There was a horror movie called Hostel where everyone became the target of a crazy butcher. The movie caused unnecessary fear among the unenlightened. This article is intended to expose what it is really like to stay in shared accommodations and provide some helpful tips for those who may consider it.
The honest truth is that staying in a hostel usually involves a compromise in privacy, quality of sleep, and expectations of cleanliness. In return you can save a lot of money, meet interesting people, learn more about the area you are traveling in, have a great time, and maybe even make new friends.
Typical dorm room with 4 beds.
About Sleeping in Dorm Rooms
- Many hostels offer an assortment of sleeping options, from private rooms to community dorms with 4, 6, 8, or 12 beds. Dorm rooms are popular with backpackers because of their low costs. Many times there are bunk beds in the dorms, but not always.
- Sometimes the rooms are gender segregated, but co-ed arrangements are becoming more common.
- Many hostels provide sheets and pillows, however you may wish to carry a travel sleep sheet. They are silk or cotton cocoons that ensure comfort and cleanliness. Silk sheets compress well and take up very little space in your backpack.
- People will come in at all hours of the night, so bring an eye mask and earplugs.
- If you come in late, use a small flashlight or the light from your phone rather than turning on the overhead light. Go through your bag and get your pajamas ready in the hallway, change in the bathroom, and get into your bed quietly as a courtesy to those who are trying to sleep.
Room with a sink in a hostel in Paris, France.
Bathrooms, Showers, Cleanliness
- Some hostels have en suite bathrooms that you share with your roommates. Other places have toilets and showers down the hall from your room.
- Bring a pair of flip flops to wear as shower shoes.
- Most hostels do not provide towels, so you will want to carry a pack towel or a beach towel with you. I recommend a pack towel because they dry quickly and take up very little space in your pack.
- Cleanliness varies from property to property, so read the reviews before you go. It’s much cleaner than camping, but far from 4-star maid service.
- Don’t expect soap, shampoo or hairdryers. Bring your own.
Cable locks and zipper locks can help deter theft.
Safety and Security in Hostels
In my experience, most backpackers are looking to travel on the cheap and are people with good intentions. However there are always a few people out there to be wary of. By taking a few simple precautions, you should be worry free in your stay.
- Don’t travel with valuables like jewelry or a lot of cash. If you can travel without your laptop, please do.
- If you carry much cash, divide it up in several places so if they find one cache they won’t get it all.
- If you bring an expensive camera, laptop, phone or iPad, it’s best to keep it out of sight. The fewer people who know about it, the better. If the hostel offers a safe or lockbox, use it. If not, you can curl up with your device at night or keep it under your pillow. Another alternative is to put it in your bag and lock the zippers on the bag. Then use a cable lock to secure the bag to the bed, so it can’t walk away.
- Dorms typically have a lock on the door, and those sleeping in the room have a copy of the key. But don’t count on the door always being locked. People are forgetful. Once I woke up and found that someone coming in late had left the door ajar all night.
- Use common sense. Don’t get drunk. Trust your instincts.
The Money You Will Save
Hostel dorm rooms are almost always your cheapest option. The more people in the room, the cheaper it will be. Prices depend on the area you are in. Look on places like hostelz.com or hostelbookers.com to get an idea of prices ahead of time. In some places, private rooms are comparable to hostels, so do some research.
Meet Other Travelers, Learn More and Make Friends
Meet interesting people and make friends.
It’s easy to meet other travelers at the hostel’s included breakfast, in common areas, and in your dorm room. Solo trekkers enjoy the opportunity to connect and share stories with others. The backpackers you meet will have a lot of advice and information.
I’ve met people coming from places I intend to visit, and they told me where to stay and what to avoid. I’ve met people traveling in the same direction and we met up in the next city for dinner and sightseeing. Hostels are an invaluable resource for great travel information while you’re on the road and a great place to meet interesting people.
Dorm accommodations are not for everyone, but if you have an open mind you could save a lot of money and stay on the road longer. You have to be open to less privacy, lower standards and be more thoughtful of your security, but it’s a small price to pay for the more enriching experience. The opportunity to meet interesting people, make new friends and have a great time could be worth it!
If you want to share a story about your experience in a hostel, please comment below.