Hostel Survival Guide: Everything you need to know about staying in hostels
- margauxgathy6
- May 1
- 7 min read
Hostels are the best way to travel on a budget and be social, especially when you’re solo. 90% of the people I meet in hostels are solo travelling as well, and everyone wants to make friends, so don’t worry about not being able to find anyone. You’ll quickly learn the conversation starters that everyone uses: where are you from, how long have you been travelling for, where have you been so far… etc.! They are also set up for travellers: really helpful staff, organised activities, luggage storage, and lots more.
Staying in hostels seems daunting at first, and if you have never stayed in one, you probably have a lot of questions. This guide should cover most of them and give you some general advice and a list of essentials to make sure you have everything you need to make your stay as safe and comfortable as possible. I have stayed in over 100 hostels in my life, so my experience is hopefully useful to you!
Contents
Booking Hostels: How to choose the right hostel for you
The best place to book hostels is on Hostelworld. I recommend getting their app as it not only makes it easier to book, but it also gives you access to the chat feature, which allows you to connect with others in the hostel and the city you’re staying in. I have met so many people on it, so I really recommend. Hostelworld reviews are also very difficult to fake, and they are so valuable when choosing the right hostel. As a bonus, you also collect flags whenever you stay at a hostel in a new country!
I usually stay in hostels with the highest rating possible for the price. The number of reviews is also very important! The best ones are 9.4 stars and upwards, but you can view a breakdown of the ratings in the reviews section. For example, I really value cleanliness, so will be prepared to sacrifice some aspects of the rating, ‘Facilities’ for example, as long as the cleanliness score is near 10. This will change based on the person, but don’t immediately be put off if the overall rating is low: it may have a higher rating on something you care about.
Things to Look For in a Good Hostel
You need to decide what you are looking for in a hostel. This is very personal, but I’ve outlined a few things below.
Room types: most hostels have dorms and private rooms. The dorms are almost always the cheapest option if you are travelling solo, but a lot of people sometimes book private rooms every now and then to take a break from the dorm life. Dorms normally range from 4 - 12 beds, but I have seen bigger! In my opinion, the best size is a 6 bed. Usually, these rooms are less cramped, have enough people in them to be social, but aren’t overcrowded and loud. If you can book a female dorm, I highly recommend it. They are often cleaner, quieter (less snoring!), and don’t smell bad. I have also had some of my best conversations in female-only dorms.
En-suite vs shared bathrooms: I personally prefer shared bathrooms rather than en-suite ones in a dorm, especially if it is a mixed dorm. En-suite bathrooms create a lot of noise, are often not cleaned as frequently, and are more likely to be occupied. Leaving the dorm to go to a shared bathroom is often a better option.
Bedside lights and sockets: where possible, try to find rooms with bedside lights and plug sockets. Most hostels have these, but it is much safer to be sleeping with your devices than leaving them across the room plugged into the one outlet there is.
Social spaces: these are really important as they are the best places to meet other people. Your dorm mates may not be there when you check in, or may not want to socialise, so your best bet is being in a common area. If you are staying in a private room, this is especially important.
Hostel activities: hostels that organise activities and tours are amazing, whether it’s a pub quiz, walking tour, or cooking class. This is such an easy way to meet people who have similar interests to you. I try to look for hostels that have activities in the daytime rather than just at night, as these can be more difficult to meet people through.
Photos: the photos on Hostelworld are very telling. Make sure you can see pictures of the rooms (these might be in the ‘choose room’ section), and bathrooms. You don’t want any bad surprises. If the hostel has a lot of photos of parties, that is also a good indication of the atmosphere you’re getting into.
Security: a 24hr front desk and security lockers are really important. I also always prefer lockers to be in the rooms rather than outside them.Â
Free breakfast and towels: not all hostels have free breakfasts, and most don’t give you towels, but I always love it when they do, especially if it’s a beach location. If you’re not getting up really early, then a free breakfast is always a benefit, and a great way to meet people and make plans for the day.
Curtains on beds: this is something that is also down to personal preference. Curtains give you a lot of privacy, which is great, but I have found that hostels with curtains are a lot less social. People tend to just sit in their beds and shut the curtains, basically preventing any conversation. If you want curtains, make sure the hostel also has a good social area and plenty of activities.
Filtered water: if you’re travelling in countries where you can’t drink the tap water, having a hostel that provides filtered water is a huge benefit. It saves you a lot of time and money, so is definitely something to be aware of.
Laundry: for long trips, laundry is essential. If you are staying somewhere more than 2 days, I recommend making sure your hostel has laundry services. This saves you going out and finding some, so is much more convenient.
Bedbug reviews: bed bugs are most travellers’ worst nightmare. If you see a bedbug review on Hostelworld, don’t book that hostel. They spread very easily, end up in your bags, and require a lot of treatment to get rid of them. Check your mattress and pillow for signs as soon as you get in your room, and get out ASAP if you see any!
Dos and Don’ts of Hostels
Most of these tips are for dorm rooms, but in general, basic etiquette applies. Hostels are shared spaces, so be respectful of people around you.
Say hello when you enter your room! A smile can go a long way in starting conversations and making friends.
Be clean and tidy, especially in the bathroom.Â
If the lights are off, leave them off! This is especially the case past 9pm. Don’t turn the lights on until everyone is awake or it’s past 10am/checkout time. Use your torch or small bedside light if you have one. Lights out means silence: no talking, watching videos, phone calls, or loud packing.
If you’re watching something, use headphones. And if you’re on a phone call, leave the room and do it outside in a common area.
Don’t leave your stuff everywhere: use the lockers provided, leave it in your bag, or on your bed.Â
Don’t hog the bathroom: this is especially important if it’s en-suite or there is a small number of bathrooms. Other people need to use them.Â
If you’re leaving early, pack the night before. If you’ve still got stuff to do in the morning, take your bags outside of the room and pack outside.
If you’re a heavy snorer and you know it, please book a private room! It’s not fair on others.
Please don’t bring anyone back into the dorm after a night out. No matter how quiet you think you’re being, everyone knows what’s going on and no one wants to listen to it.
If you need to set an alarm, no problem. Alarms are part of being in hostels. Just turn it off as soon as you can, and don’t hit snooze. Nothing is more annoying than alarms going off every 5 minutes.
Essentials for Hostels
Here are some essential items that you will need to make your hostel experience comfortable and safe:
Towel: most hotels don’t provide them. While you can usually rent one for a fee, to save money, bring your own.
Padlock: lockers in hostels are almost always secured via padlock. While some hostels let you buy one, most do not, so bring your own. I recommend a combination padlock rather than one with a key, in case you lose it!
Tote bag/ hanging toiletry bag: I’ve found this so useful to carry things to and from the bathroom. Otherwise, you find yourself with an armful of stuff that you end up dropping everywhere and losing.
Shower shoes: an absolute must! Regardless of how clean the hostel is, a pair of light flip flops are essential for the shower.
Earplugs and/or eye mask: for snoring, doors opening and closing, people packing, talking, and everything else, you need a good pair of earplugs. I love my ones from Loop, but any silicone ones are also great. If you are sensitive to light, pack an eye mask too.
Hopefully this provides a good overview of staying in hostels. I was sceptical at first, but I’ve met so many incredible people and made some amazing memories thanks to hostels, and am yet to have a bad experience! Shared accommodation is also more sustainable than hotels: leave only your footprints behind!
Bonus Section: My Favourite Hostels around the World
I’ve stayed in some really incredible hostels that will stay with me forever. Here are some of the best that I want to share with you:
Lub D: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bounce: Noosa, Australia
Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel: Hanoi, Vietnam
Flock Hostel: Kathmandu, Nepal
Adventure Q2 Hostel: Queenstown, New Zealand
Pipes Hostel: Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia
Hive Hostel: Ella, Sri Lanka
Aha Lanta Cozy Hostel: Koh Lanta, Thailand
Mooka’s Home: Da Lat, Vietnam
The Imperfect Downtown Hoi An: Hoi An, Vietnam
Adventure Inn Marahau: Abel Tasman, New Zealand
Glow Worm Accommodation: Franz Josef, New Zealand
Haka House Wanaka: Wanaka, New Zealand
Homy Seafront Hostel: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
