Shared Hostel Rooms: 8 Ugly Truths & Harsh Realities

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Going into a shared hostel room for the first time? Prepare yourself with this brutally honest hostel guide!

Dorm rooms with 20 strangers might seem a bit daunting. Or just crazy. 

Sharing a hostel room can either be the best thing for solo travellers, or a complete disaster.

Depending on your personal experiences (if any), I’ll leave it up to you to decide which route you’re going to go down.

Whilst doing research for this post, it was actually really hard to find a decent and honest review about shared hostel rooms for backpackers.

This really surprised me, as it’s definitely one of the things I’d want to read about as a new backpacker. 

But before we begin, I want to say I am a huge advocate of shared hostel rooms. But, with the pros always comes a few cons, which is what I will be sharing in this post today.

If you’re unsure of whether to book a private room or a shared dorm, this realistic, down-to-earth and maybe-somewhat-controversial post may point you in the right direction. 

Other posts you may like:

• Tips for Travelling Abroad for the First Time
• Tips for Staying in Hostels: A First Timer’s Guide
• Tips for First Time Flyers (+ Solo Travel Advice!)
• How To Know If You’re Ready To Travel Solo

Shared hostel rooms: The Lowdown

🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.

Which type of shared hostel room shall I choose?

You may have started your research by typing ‘hostel rooms in…’ into Google, and then being absolutely bamboozled by the number of different hostels for backpackers and their different rooms, sizes, prices, and any other information out there. 

Every hostel will be very different from the next. 

If you’re reading this post, 9 times out of 10 you’re going to be a traveller like me (wanting to meet other people, need a cheap-ish room, value cleanliness and hygiene, want to be in the hot-spot).

So, you need to know the ins and outs of the different hostels for backpackers to help you book the right place to rest your head at night. 

Let’s begin with the room situations. 

• Mixed dorm: Men and women 

• Female/Male dorm: pretty obvious, a dorm for either just men or women 

• Family room: Usually a double bed with a couple of bunk beds. Perfect for a group of friends. 

Most of my travels have been with my gay best friend, Matt, so we have always opted for a mixed dorm.

Most dorm rooms are set up with bunk beds, but I have experienced some with single beds in a row (imagine a bit like Annie, minus the singing). 

You can usually pick the size of your dorm room.

The more people squashed in, the cheaper it will be. For example, a four-bed dorm will usually be quite a bit more expensive than a 20-bed dorm.

Remember: saving money on a cheap £5 hostel is pointless if you aren’t going to be able to relax and sleep. If you need to spend a bit more to allow yourself more comfort (for example a 4 or 6 bed with females only), it’s worth it.

Then there’s the type of hostels for backpackers: party, surf hostel, city hostel, budget hybrid hostels, capsule hostels etc etc.

Make sure you book the right hostel for you to allow yourself to have the best experience possible. Obviously, if you’re an introvert, a crazy party hostel may not be for you.

Shared hostel rooms: 8 Ugly Truths

1) Say goodbye to your precious 8 hours sleep

Well, sort of.

If you’re staying in a Base Backpackers in Oceania, then you’re not sleeping very often.

No, it’s not that bad. I have spent hundreds of nights in shared hostels and yes, you do sleep. Just some nights are better than others. 

However, I do recommend earplugs and an eye mask. People can be selfish and open curtains at 6 am letting the brightest sun known to man shine onto your face.

Oh, and people do have sex. This is one thing you really do need to know and not be surprised about. It’s a done thing in backpacker hostel rooms (but more on that later). 

🗺️ My backpacking must-have:  I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!

2) You’ll share everything…with everyone

Staying in a shared hostel room means everything is shared.

Shared bathroom, toilet, kitchen, sleeping area, communal rooms, plates, cups… all of it. 

This obviously means you have a very little amount of privacy. 

Even though you will have the choice of hostel room size and sex, the kitchen, lounge and other spaces are going to be shared (even if you’re only in a shared room with your 3 friends). 

Getting dressed in the morning can be a bit of a challenge. I’m not an incredibly private person, but I’d rather Bill with the Spongebob pants doesn’t see me leaving the shower first thing in the morning. 

I used to take my clothes into the bathroom with me, or change behind a hanging sheet tucked up onto the bars on my bunk bed (ideal for bottom bunk). Top bunk is a bit trickier and you may want to stick with the bathroom exchange. 

When taking long phone calls, it’s best to head to a busy communal area or a quieter spot. I always walked down the street on the phone as I just felt more comfortable than people earwigging in the hostel room. 

When it comes down to sharing an erm…intimate moment in a hostel room, there isn’t really much privacy. People will do it openly, or try and be a bit more private and fail, but again, more on that later.

3) Put your safety first, kids!

In regards to safety, I have felt safe the majority of the time in shared hostel rooms.

My very first hostel experience (way back in 2014 in LA), and I was terrified. I slept with my phone, iPad, DSLR camera, GoPro, keys, and laptop underneath my pillow. Yes – my pillow!

I quickly learned the best way to keep my valuables safe was by using a locker. You can usually buy a padlock from the hostel, or take one with you. They’re super cheap on Amazon. 

Some people carry around different size padlocks just in case you arrive at a small or overly large locker. It pays to be prepared!

The more comfortable you get in hostel rooms, the less you worry about this.

You kind of get swept up in the ‘we’re all in this together’ attitude and get complacent about where you leave your belongings. 

I’ve been super lucky with never having anything stolen, but I definitely do need to be a bit more careful and maybe not become so relaxed. Even if you become friends with your roommates and feel comfortable, remember anyone we meet on the road we cannot fully trust. 

🗺️ My backpacking must-have: If you’re solo travelling, don’t forget to take earphones for busy public transport. Listening to a podcast or tuning out from the noise is a lifesaver on a busy city trip!

4) Not all shared hostel roommates will be on your wavelength

Then, we have the thoughts in bed of ‘who else is going to rock up in this room tonight?’ as realistically, anyone can stroll in at any time. 

Ask yourself: how comfortable are you with this? Not all shared hostel roommates will be in their 20s and approachable.

I’ve been in shared hostel rooms with all sorts of people and some have been a bit more – rogue – than others (more on that later). 

Be warned that a random man may enter a hostel room in the middle of the night and cause a scene. And, if you’re a female like me, you probably will panic! That’s why I like either being in a really big room with tons of like-minded girls like me, or a small female-only hostel room. 

If you are considering a mixed dorm and you’re a solo female traveller, be prepared to possibly be in a room with all men due to them being the only guests there at the moment.

I’ve never minded it, but make sure you put your preferences first!

🗺️ My backpacking must-have: Solo travelling on your interrailing trip? Stay safe by carrying your cash or card in a money belt. I know it sounds silly, but Europe can be chaotic and pickpockets are known to work in busy areas. it’s better to be safe than sorry!

5) You’ll have to say goodbye to a lot of new friends

There is such a great sense of togetherness when you’re having conversations with people from all over the world, especially when you have the same common interest (…travel, if you haven’t guessed it).

The best (or worst) part of shared hostel rooms is the people you will meet. 

I’ve met so many friends in hostel rooms that I still have to this day. As I said before, staying in a hostel really brings a ‘we’re all in this together’ vibe. 

You may not be able to speak the language of everyone in the room, but you can connect with others just through the vibes you are giving off and body language. Some of the best people you will meet may only speak a little English and you will still end up having the greatest time with them!

Hostels can be buzzing, multicultural hubs with people from all walks of life. It’s an amazing and unique experience to discover how other cultures live and even meet people to tag along and travel with. 

My trip routes have sometimes been changed entirely due to friends I have met in hostel rooms along the way.

But, there is a downside to meeting such amazing human beings and forming these wonderful connections. 

Saying goodbye.

Without a doubt, one of the hardest parts of travelling and staying in hostel rooms is leaving the people you have formed such great bonds with.

6) People DO have sex in shared hostel rooms

Depending on what type of hostel you’re staying in, you may come across some unwanted experiences happening in your room (unless you’re the one involved, then hopefully the experience is more than wanted). 

It’s pretty much a given that when you stay in a shared dorm in a party hostel, travellers hostel or just a shared dorm full of backpackers, you are going to come across people having sex in your hostel room. 

Don’t worry – it isn’t as bad as you think. Most people are quite respectful and try and do it when no one is around or in the room. 

One way people try and cover up their adventurous doings is by hanging a sheet from the top bunk to drape over their bottom bunk.

But nine times out of ten, your shared hostel roomies will be respectful.

Of course, if you’re single, backpacking, and want to have fun, you’re fully entitled to go crazy and do what you want. It quite literally is your time for it!

Another common way to sleep with someone in a shared hostel room is to actually book into a private room for the night. This is the best case scenario!

🗺️ My backpacking must-have: A wheelie backpack! Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips and when you need more than a carry-on!

7) You’ll need to build good relationships in your shared hostel room

The bottom line is; be respectful.

If there are people in the room, keep noise to a minimum to avoid keeping others up all night (whatever you may be doing).

If you find someone is being disrespectful in this sense, it is a tricky one. I’ve fallen out with friends over it. When you’re travelling for a long time, we all have needs and moments of madness!

But, if you’re the one having to listen to it, it can be quite irritating and can cause hostel drama. 

If you find yourself in this position, a quick comment the next day can usually do the job to just make them know you feel uncomfortable. Most people don’t want to put you in an awkward position. 

If it isn’t getting any better, with any kind of disrespect from roommates (sex or not), be sure to tell your hostel manager. They can move your bunk to another room.

If you’re lucky, you will experience none of this. But, it does happen. And you can’t really expect people to abstain from sex for 6 months whilst they’re on the road, and not many of us backpackers have the money to get a private hotel room to do it.

🗺️ My backpacking must-have: The tap water around the world isn’t always safe to drink, so I use my filter water bottle pretty much every day to keep myself hydrated. I take it everywhere with me, and it works in every country where you can’t drink tap water! You can grab yours here. 🚰

7) Your personal experiences of shared hostel rooms will give you some of the funniest backpacking memories

Honestly, I love shared hostel rooms.

The laughter, craziness, and stories you can tell forever are just never-ending. I have hundreds of experiences and stories I could talk about. The friends you make are just unbeatable.

You are all thrown in this mad, unique experience together, fumbling around to make the best of it. And what a joy it is! 

Some of my funniest and best memories of travel have happened in a shared hostel room. Honestly!

Well, they’re usually disastrous stories that end up being hilarious later down the line. But it’s all life experience, isn’t it?!

🗺️ Travelling Europe? I love interrailing so much I’ve created a whole interrailing section on my blog. Grab your interrailing pass here!

8) You will make crazy decisions in a shared hostel room

I once met the ‘love of my life’ (he wasn’t, but the more you get to know me, you’ll realise I’ve had a few of these) in an 8-bed shared hostel room in Melbourne, Australia. 

He was only on holiday in Australia for 2 weeks, and I’d only been travelling for about 3 months (I was planning to travel for about 15), and I committed to leaving my trip and becoming a step-mother to his child in Yorkshire, England, in about 4 days. 

Shared hostel rooms can definitely lead to crazy decisions 😂

Luckily, this romantic decision of mine didn’t come to life and I carried on travelling. 

I’ve had sleepovers in shared hostel rooms with a group of around 15 people with all of our mattresses on the floor.

Drinking games that escalate to lifelong friendships happen in shared hostel rooms.

The chaos, drama, craziness and uniqueness of a shared hostel room is worth it, I promise.

🗺️ My backpacking must-have: Whilst out during the day, I use a tote bag to hold my belongings like my camera, notebook, purse and Microfibre towel. It’s easier to pack away than a big beach bag, and can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need it!

Staying in a shared hostel room? Don’t forget to pack…

• A padlock: to keep your valuables secure when you leave your hostel room.
• A hanging wash bag: to make sure all your toiletries are kept in one place, and won’t get confused with anyone elses
• Speakers: because, well, who doesn’t love music? Just make sure everyone in your room gets a chance to pick a song! (And no one minds you playing the music)
• A microfibre towel: Not all hostels will provide you with towels for free. Bring your own to save extra ££.
• Earphones: for loud nights and disruptions to your sleep.
• Flip flops: if you’re using shared showers.
• Eyemask: for uninterrupted sleep.
• World travel adapter or an extension lead: so you’re not using more than one plug!
• Your laptop or tablet: for movie nights, of course! 🍿

Shared hostel rooms: In a Nutshell

Before I sign off, let’s not sugarcoat every person you will come across in a hostel. You will meet arseholes. Complete and utter, arseholes. Unhappy people who want to make your life difficult. 

There are some people you will not get along with, some that will pass by and you won’t even remember their name, but it’s all part of the experience.

Ask anyone who has stayed in a shared dorm before. It’s all part of the adventure.

Are you going to stay in a shared hostel room on your next trip? I’d love to hear about it!

Connect with me on Instagram or leave a message in the comments below! 🥰

Happy travelling!

Jennie 🙂 x

🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.