Be a wonderful bunkmate the next time you stay in a dorm with these important hostel rules, tips, and etiquette.
As someone who frequently stays in hostels while traveling, it always surprises me that some people just don’t understand the basic manners that goes with sharing a room with strangers. Some folks can be straight-up inconsiderate. I mean, how hard is it to follow basic (albeit unspoken) hostel etiquette?
But I understand that there are hostel newbies out there. So, I thought I’d put together a public service announcement for everyone planning to sleep in hostels on their travels. In other words, this is a list of the best hostel tips I believe everyone should follow for the happiest hostel experience.
I don’t think it goes with much saying, but this list is mainly filled with common sense tips, and if you are simply kind and considerate, you should have a pleasant experience. You def don’t want to end up the star of a hostel horror story!
»Read More: Solo Female Travel Tips in Asia
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First things first, are hostels safe?
It’s only normal to wonder – is it safe to sleep in hostels? Overall, the answer is yes, hostels are entirely safe to stay in. But of course, when you stay in public accommodation, you open yourself up to increased risk of things like theft or harassment.
While these are things you should be aware of, I want to stress that hostels are generally overwhelmingly safe! Recorded hostel crime is very low, and I’ve never had any issue over my many years of budget travel.
If you’re still uneasy about sleeping in hostels, I recommend booking a room in a dorm segregated by gender, a hostel free of worrisome reviews, and/or traveling with a friend your first time!
Benefits of Staying in Hostels
If you need more convincing, here are some of the reasons I’ve enjoyed sleeping in hostels throughout my travels!
Hostels offer the unique and fantastic opportunity to meet fellow travelers.
Not only are you sleeping in a shared room, but hostels typically have social lounges, bars, kitchens, are more., that allow you to connect with new people in a way that you couldn’t in hotels. Meeting new people from all over the world has truly been one of the best things about staying in hostels for me, especially as a solo traveler!
Hostels are affordable.
A bunk bed in a hostel is way cheaper than a private room in a hotel. Depending on where you are, hostels can range from as cheap as $5 to $40 per night. When you spend less on accommodation, you have more to put towards attractions, food, souvenirs, and future trips.
Hostels have fun events.
Given the social nature of hostels, many host exciting events for guests. For example, I’ve seen hostels host nightly walking tours, family-style dinners, bar crawls, and seasonal events.
Hostel staff are usually very friendly and helpful.
This isn’t to say that hotel staff aren’t too, but those who work at hostels are often fellow, young, world travelers who know the area particularly well. They’re a wealth of information and can share insight into the best local attractions, eats, off-the-beaten-path things to do, and more.
What to Bring to a Hostel
When sleeping in a hostel, I recommend packing a few essentials to ensure you wake up well-rested.
- Earplugs: people snore, it’s just a fact of life. But earplugs can be life savers that help you sleep through the noises of your bunkmates.
- A sleeping mask: it’s inevitable someone will be (accidentally) rude and turn on the lights at some point. A sleeping mask blocks that out as you sleep.
- A secure lock: hostels bring many people together, which means an increased chance of theft, one of the biggest cons of staying in a hostel. Bring a padlock or combo lock to keep your valuables safe in a locker.
»Read more: Best Hostel Essentials: Must-Pack Items When Staying In Hostels
Hostel Etiquette: 15 Unspoken Hostel Rules Everyone Should Know
There aren’t any official or legally binding hostel rules and regulations for guests. But if you want to be the best bunkmate you can be, these are some ways to make a good impression.
1. Take your phone calls to a private space.
I get it. Traveling means being away from home and loved ones, and catching up with friends and family is necessary while traveling.
However, it’s considerate to take phone calls to a private space outside the dorm. If others are trying to rest or relax in bed, the last thing they want to hear is the intimate details of your phone calls. If it’s the middle of the day and no one’s there, have at it!
2. Wear headphones.
Jamming to a killer song or trying to catch up on a favorite TV show? Great! Relaxing to the max during travel downtime is a must for mental health.
But please, please, please put your headphones in while doing so. I don’t want any spoilers to Game of Thrones or to hear the tail end of your podcast.
3. Don’t turn on the room light when everyone else is still sleeping.
This is one major piece of hostel etiquette that grinds my gears! And it seems like it should go without saying, but please don’t turn on the big light in the middle of the night or very early morning.
It’s straight-up rude to others who are sleeping, and it’s totally unnecessary. Instead, use your phone flashlight to move around or the small private light at your bunk, if your bed has one.
4. Don’t zip and unzip your bags or crumple and uncrumple your plastic bags while everyone is sleeping.
Don’t save your packing for 4 am in the dorms when everyone is sleeping. Try to plan ahead and pack (read: open and close) your bags ahead of time. But if you have to do a bunch of packing early or late at night, take it out to the hallway to avoid disturbing others.
Suitcase zippers and plastic bags become the loudest sound in the world to sleepers who are woken up in the middle of the night. Trust me, I’ve had many early hostel mornings thanks to a crinkling plastic bag.
5. Don’t chat with friends loudly in the room late at night or early morning.
Again, while people are sleeping, minimize all noise. How would you like to be woken up in the middle of a deep slumber to a bunch of chatty Kathy’s who were too rude to chat in the common areas?
Many hostels have designated quiet hours, which typically range between 10pm to 8am, give or take an hour.
6. If you’re a mega loud snorer, maybe consider booking a private room.
The truth of the matter is people snore. It’s a fact of life. And as a guest at a hostel, you take that risk and should therefore prepare accordingly with earplugs. But, if you’re aware that you shake the rooftops from dusk to dawn with your snoring, maybe consider taking pity on your fellow bunkmates and opt for a private.
7. Don’t make a mess and have your things all over the floor.
In a dormitory, you’re sharing the floor space with anywhere from 3 to 24 other people. Don’t make a mess and spread your belongings everywhere. This also just begs for theft or someone to accidentally step on your things. Plus, I would bet that that hostel floor isn’t particularly clean.
8. Clean up after yourself in shared spaces and the communal kitchen.
Same idea. You’re sharing a kitchen and common area with many other travelers. Do your dishes, clean up your spills, pick up your things…you get it.
Bonus tip for those staying in a dorm with a kitchen – don’t eat food that isn’t yours!
9. Don’t have sex in your bunk.
No one wants to hear, see or feel your sex life through the shaking of a bunk bed. Go find a cheap private room or some other private area without an audience. And enjoy 😉
10. Sort out your alarm in the morning.
If you have a hard time waking up to an alarm, don’t subject everyone else in the room to the torture of hearing your alarm drone on and on. Turn the volume down a bit, put it directly under your pillow and try your best to resist the snooze button. Your roomies will thank you.
11. Don’t shower in the middle of the night while everyone’s sleeping.
Some dorms have bathrooms attached to them, which means a midnight shower can be loud. Not to mention, grabbing your clothes and toiletries from your backpack or suitcase can also loud.
If the showers are down the hall, fair enough! But remember the other hostel tips about keeping lights and noise out of the dorm during quiet hours.
12. Don’t hog the bathroom.
When staying at a hostel, you’ll most likely be sharing the few stalls with others so be considerate. If you’re traveling to a place that has limited hot water, think of your bunkmates and keep your showers short.
13. Don’t eat or drink in the dorm.
Obviously, water is fine or a quick and non-messy snack, but it’s usually a rule most hostels have anyways with the threat of a fine. If you must eat or drink, please, at the very least, make sure it’s something that won’t stink up the place.
14. Don’t make a drunken scene.
Vacations are all about having fun and enjoying yourself, and if alcohol (or other substances) fall under that umbrella for you, that’s totally cool!
But keep your wits about you enough to the point where it doesn’t affect your roomies. It’s not fun for others to have to clean up after a drunk person or worry about the health of a stranger.
15. You can do as you please after 8 am.
Look, if you’re not an early bird, it’s not the responsibility of others to walk on eggshells late into the morning. In my opinion, once 8 am hits, early risers are free to roam the room as they see fit. However, if you are a morning person, please refrain from romping around before 8.
What to Look for When Booking a Hostel
When booking a hostel, I always try to choose one that has certain features. And although beggars can’t always be choosers, or it’s sometimes hard to tell by the listings, there are some basics I’ve come to appreciate. The best hostels have:
- Privacy curtains
- An own outlet, light, and/or shelf/hook per bunk
- A secure locker provided to each guest
- Complimentary breakfast
- Cozy shared lounge or kitchen
- Booking.com or Hostelworld review no lower than an 8.0, preferably 9.0 or higher
Hostel Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Stay
Alright, so now that we’ve established some good ground rules for staying in a hostel, what about some tips to make it a pleasant experience for yourself?
- Be open to chatting with new people: one of the main reasons to stay in a hostel is to meet others! Be open-minded and willing to make new friends.
- Don’t be afraid to use the common spaces: the best conversations tend to happen here.
- Take pics of your laundry: some hostels offer laundry service, and it’s not uncommon that things get lost or mixed up in the wash. Keep track of everything, so you don’t leave anything behind.
- Take advantage of the staff’s knowledge of the area: hostel workers often know the best cafes, restaurants, and attractions in their city. Don’t be afraid to pick their minds!
- Lock up your valuables, take them with you, or better yet, don’t even bring them along. Theft is the biggest con of staying in hotels, but it can be preventable.
- Find the best prices by booking on Hostelworld, Booking.com, or directly with the hostel.
- Consider booking a private at a hostel: some hostels offer private rooms that may or may not have shared bathrooms, and take the privacy of a normal unit at a more affordable rate.
There you have it – my ultimate how to hostel guide! What are your favorite hostel rules and recommended hostel etiquette?
That’s so funny I was going to write a very similar post to this! {or at least started thinking about it} Solely because I couldn’t believe some of the travelers and their hostel behavior last year lol. I want to pass this along to everyone I know because it’s so true. Hostel etiquette is a thing! Good read x
Oh my goodness seriously! I just assumed these were common sense things but I’ve also encounter a lot of rude people in hostels so I quickly write this up one day after a particularly bad night in a hostel lol 😂 glad you enjoyed and can relate!