12 Hostel Etiquette Travel Tips that will change your life

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Picture this: you’ve just arrived at your hostel after a long day of travelling. You’re exhausted, and all you want to do is collapse into bed. However, your shared dorm is full of other travellers with their own hidden quirks waiting to make a compromising decision that effectively leaves you more exhausted, irritable, and tired. The person on the top bunk puts their alarm on for 5 a.m. and doesn’t wake up to it, so you’re lying there for the noise to stop. The girl across from you in the bottom bunk comes into the hostel late and takes a shower at 2 a.m., waking you up. Then there’s the guy who snores and sounds like a saw rummaging through a piece of wood all night. You get the point. People are peopling and it can be annoying. But so can you. So…to make your stay enjoyable for both you and  fellow travellers, it’s essential to provide hostel etiquette as much as you expect it.  Get ready to navigate through this blog, as I am going to give you hostel travel tips AND how to handle people who lack hostel etiquette.

 

 

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1. Be Mindful of the noise

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 Hostels can be vibrant, lively, and fun spaces, but it’s crucial to be mindful of your volume. It’s okay to be a little loud and talk amongst others if it’s during the day. However, remember, when it hits a certain time of night, (10 pm-11 pm) it’s important to keep the noise to a minimum. 

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For example, use headphones when watching or listening to something. If you need to talk on the phone, go outside and chat before making your way back to the dorm, and avoid using plastic bags or materials that make rustling noises. It really makes a huge difference. 

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Unfortunately, sometimes loud noise is inevitable even with hostel noise regulations. This is because there are so many people and even if everyone decides to speak softly, the compilation of noise can turn strident.  

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How to handle all the noise:

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      • Wear headphones

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      • Bring ear muffs and eye masks

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      • Communicate politely with people if they are being too loud

     

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    2. Don’t snooze your alarm 

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    This is an add-on to the previous step. Do not snooze your alarm. Especially if you are waking up very early in the morning. It’s best to get up straight away and make sure you are getting a good night’s rest. You don’t want angry and grumpy people the next morning, especially when you are the culprit to their sleepiness. 

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    How to handle early risers:

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        • Make time to take at least a 45-minute nap (if you can)

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        • Wear ear muffs to sleep

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        • Listen to meditation techniques/ calming music to relax you

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      3. If you’re checking out early morning, pack the night before 

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      Packing the night before not only allows you to be physically and mentally prepared for the morning but it prevents noise circulating through the hostel as other people are sleeping. Imagine it’s 3 a.m. and you hear people scurrying through bags and moving their stuff around, all because they weren’t prepared. As stated previously it’s best to not use plastic bags, it not only makes a lot of noise, but it’s awkward when you’re trying to pack everything promptly and you just hear the sound of a plastic bag.

      It’s giving chewing loudly in a cinema.

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      How to handle disorganized travellers:

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          • Remind them to pack the night before

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          • Honestly, a really underrated hostel travel tip is to offer to help people pack the night before. It’s not only a kind gesture, but you might receive a peaceful night’s sleep.

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          • Pay a little more for a smaller dorm or private room, if you absolutely cannot handle it.

         

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        4. Respect Personal Space 

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        In a shared dormitory especially of 4-6 people and with different demographics and personality types, personal space is a precious commodity. Be considerate when moving around the room and try not to invade someone else’s designated area. Also, make sure that you put your belongings near you and don’t scatter your stuff everywhere. If you are in a rush, however, just put your things on your bed and clean up when you get the chance.

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        How to handle invasion of personal space:

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            • Proceed to move things around if they are truly in your way. It’s your space, it’s okay.

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            • Communicate with people if their stuff is obstructing any room or your comfort.

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          5. Lights Out means Lights Out

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          When everyone has had a long day and wants to crash in their hostel bed, respect the unwritten rule of turning off the lights. If you need to use your phone or read, invest in a dim light that won’t disturb your dorm mates. Or even go under the covers. Remember, the glow from your screen might seem small, but it’s more likely to earn you some disgruntled glares. 

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          How to handle your beauty sleep being disrupted:

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              • Wear eye masks.

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              • Try to sleep facing the wall or facing away from the center.

             

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            6. Maintain Cleanliness 

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            Cleanliness as well as hygiene is a necessity in the realm of hostel etiquette when sharing a hostel. Make sure to keep your personal belongings organized and confined to your area. Be sure to tidy up after yourself in communal spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms.

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            The best advice is to use packing cubes and pack light if needed, so your possessions are organized and easy to navigate.  

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            Furthermore, always make sure to eat your food outside of the dorm. The food can get really smelly and attract all sorts of bugs and insects. 

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            Lastly, make sure to bring roll-on deodorant. One: people may have asthma, and aerosol cans can cause respiratory reactions in a lot of people. Two: it’s understandable after a long day of exploring that you may be sweaty and smelly. That’s why having deodorants and perfumes nearby is great for maintaining your hygiene.

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            How to handle messy people:

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                • Say “Who’s is this? don’t want you to lose anything” as a polite way of saying “grab your crap and clean up after yourself.” lol

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                • Usually, people (especially women) will probably want to smell decent, so if someone asks, lend your perfume to them.

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                • Honestly, for most of these, if you really cannot handle people, invest in a private room. You will feel much more comfortable.

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              7. Share the Kitchen and outlets

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              Be mindful of others who also need to use the facilities. Avoid monopolizing the space for extended periods and clean up after yourself promptly. Don’t forget to label your food and respect the other travellers by not eating their food.

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              Eating someone else’s food and drinking their beverages is just.. really? What prompted you to think that would be the a great option. Honestly, if you’re that broke and hungry just be honest and ask someone if you can have some of their food. Or you can budget your travels better.

              Fortunately, I have a free mini travel budget planner you can use to prevent these things from happening. It allows for your travels to be more organized and less compromising.

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              How to handle food thieves:

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                  • This is something you can definitely call someone out for. Obviously do it politely, but you can tell them.

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                  • Put your food in a reusable bag, label it something unappetizing like “spotted dick” or something that would make people deter from eating it.

                 

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                8. Embrace Shower Time Efficiency

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                Shower time can be a scarce resource, so make the most of it while being considerate of others waiting their turn. Keep your shower time to a reasonable length ( maximum 30-40 mins in the bathroom overall) and avoid hogging the hot water. Putting people in positions where they have to have cold showers (unless they’re a gym bro) was probably the blueprint to a higher demand in hostel etiquette. Nevertheless, If you have a long routine, try to do parts of it outside the bathroom, if you can do so.  

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                How to handle selfish people:

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                    • Try to get in there first. Many hostels will have a bathroom in the dorm, however, some will have a bathroom with multiple showers in the hallway. So, try and shower (if you can) at times no one else is.

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                    • When it comes to hot water, sometimes not washing your hair and having a really quick shower to get the sweat off is perfectly fine. You can bring hair products like dry shampoo, to help you out with oily holiday hair.

                   

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                  9. Lock It Up

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                  Safety is paramount, so always use the lockers or storage provided in hostels. Protect your valuables by keeping them secure, and don’t forget to bring your own padlock. Yes, a hostel can be a place of trust, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

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                  Remember, you are surrounded by strangers and acquaintances, so you don’t really know what people are capable of, your safety comes first! 

                   

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                  10. Be Mindful of Early Birds and Night Owls

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                  Hostels cater to a diverse crowd with different sleep patterns. If you’re an early riser, be considerate of those who prefer to sleep in, and keep noise to a minimum. On the flip side, if you’re a night owl, try to be as quiet as possible when you return to the dormitory after hours.  

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                  Providing for each other like this and understanding each other is a perfect demonstration of hostel etiquette.

                   

                   

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                  11. Give back what you borrow

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                   If you need to borrow something from someone in the hostel, (which can happen more than you think), always ask politely and return it promptly. Whether it’s a charger, a book, or a hairdryer, respect the owner’s belongings as if they were your own. Remember, when you lend something of yours kindly ask for it in a timely matter, so that people don’t forget to give back your belongings.  

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                  How to handle borrowers:

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                      • If someone doesn’t give back what is yours, say you need to use it straight away. If they still are not giving it back (aka they stole it), tell the people in your hostel room (so they protect their belongings and may even help you get it back), and/or let the hostel reception know.

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                    12. Be polite and make friends

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                    Last but not least, hostels are all about creating connections and building a global community. Make sure to engage in conversations, share travel tips, and be open to meeting new people. Remember, some of the best memories are made through the friendships formed within those hostel walls. 

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                    AKA, don’t be afraid to make friends. Surprisingly this is a huge part of hostel etiquette.

                     

                     

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                    And there you have it. By mastering these 12 hostel travel tips and etiquette’s, and taking on you’re now equipped to share spaces with grace and respect. Embrace the diversity, be mindful of others, and cherish the unforgettable experiences that hostel life offers. Understand that you chose to stay in a shared space, so it’s best to pick a dorm or a room that aligns with your needs. Finally, even with all of these tips, sometimes we slip up-we are human after all. Just don’t let it ruin or define your time abroad.

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