Staying at hostels is a great way to save money while travelling and to meet some super fun people. I have stayed at hostel’s all over the world and for the most part I have had a ton of great experiences. Staying at a hostel is very different from staying at a hotel, motel or a Holiday Inn. In a hostel, typically you are sharing a room with 4 or more people, and you are sharing a bathroom, kitchen and common area with all the other guest at the hotel, or on your floor. This can be great because you get to meet so many awesome travellers, but it can also be hard because living with strangers can be super hard. I have put together a list of “hostel etiquette” which I believe can help make living in a hostel nicer. For a better hostel experience follow this list of hostel etiquette.
Try to keep it down from 10pm – 9 am.
No one likes to be woken up when they are sleeping. So try to be respectful and be quiet from the hours of 10 pm – 9 am. I feel like those hours are pretty fair. I know that you may need to make some noise, opening up bags, cupboards, and getting into bed, but try to have your conversations in the hall. If you are coming into the room at 2:00 am, definitely try to keep it down.
Respect others personal space – in the kitchen, the rooms, in the common areas, and in the bathroom.
Remember that you do not own the hostel, so don’t act like you do. Pick up after yourself, put your personal items away and respect that each common area is for each of the guests. Also, keep from engaging in intimate actions while in the room – DON’T BANG IN THE SHARED ROOMS. Your roommates don’t want to hear/see the love portion of your eat, pray, love trip. Find other places for that part of your adventure – Nomadic Matt has a pretty great article all about this.
Be nice and introduce yourself to your roommates.
I love making friends, and hostels are great places to do that. Say hello to your roommates and enjoy their company if you can.
Cleanup after yourself in the bathroom.
I think that one of the most important things to remember when talking about hostel etiquette, is to clean up after yourself in the shared bathrooms. The bathroom is not your personal space – actually the only personal space you are paying for at a dorm style hostel is your bed. If you are sharing a bathroom with others take the time to clean up after yourself. Don’t leave your bag of toiletries on the counter, don’t leave your towel lying on the floor, take your hair out of the drain and wipe your tooth paste from the sink. I’m not saying you have to find the cleaning products and Mr. Clean the whole bathroom, but be nice and clean up after yourself. We have all heard the saying leave a place better than you found it, and I think that saying should be followed in every shared hostel bathroom. Be nice and keep the hostel clean.
Cleanup after yourself in the kitchen.
Like the bathroom, the kitchen is also a common space that you should try to keep clean. I think that it is great to make your own meals while travelling, just remember to clean up after yourself, wipe the counters, do your dishes and sweep the floor if necessary. Pro Tip: write your name on all of your food.
Hopefully, these tips will help everyone to enjoy the glamorous hostel life a little more. Enjoy your travels.
Love you,
