Tips for Staying in Hostels: A First Timer’s Guide

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 🙂

Tips for staying in hostels: So you’ve decided to stay in hostels? Congrats, this is one of the BEST ways to meet people if you’re solo travelling, and a way to really enjoy your backpacking experience to the fullest.

If you’ve arrived on this page, then chances are you’re very close or have already booked your first backpacking trip. YAY!

I’m here to guide you through every step of your travel journey, ensuring you have the confidence and mindset to travel the world.

And today’s topic: the best tips for staying in hostels!

Need tips for making friends in hostels? I’ve got you covered! Check out my making friends in hostels guide here.

Tips for staying in hostels

After nearly 10 years of on and off travel, I have my fair share of tips for staying in hostels. 

As you’ve probably worked out, staying in a hostel is one of the ‘done’ things when you travel for the first time. 

Not only is it the cheapest way to travel, but it’s the best way to meet other people and gain a few travel buddies (if that’s what you’re looking for). 

One of the main reasons backpackers stay in hostels is because of how cheap they are.

Plus, how much of the room will you actually be seeing? If you’re travelling for the first (or hundredth) time, you’re going to want to be out exploring. Not cooped up in a hostel room!

Save your precious travel savings on accommodation, book into a shared dorm room and you’ll have way more money to spend on bucket list experiences. Yay!

In this post, I delve into all of the different aspects of shared dorms, and some tips for staying in hostels.

Hopefully, you’ll leave feeling way more confident about hostels than you started!

So, let’s get started!

If you want a ‘reveal all’ review of hostels, check out my post here. 😏

🗺️ 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. PLUS, their new feature allows you to chat to your room mates before you’ve even arrived!

Why stay in a hostel? 7 reasons to convince you!

If you’re umm-ing and ah-ing about whether or not to stay in a hostel, here’s 7 reasons to convince you hostels are just about the best things ever.

🤩 You’ll meet way more people than if you stay in an Airbnb or hotel. Shared dorms are like a pathway leading you to heaps of new friends. 

🤩 Most organise events for you. Think bar crawls, day trips, live music nights…the list goes on. Most hostels will put on events for backpackers and make sure everyone feels involved.

🤩 They’re cheap! Even in continents that are a bit more pricy (Oceania, Europe…), hostels are the cheapest option. Prices range between £3 – £30 a night in most places, and if you look hard enough, you can usually get a great money saving deal. Save money by staying in hostels!

🤩 You’ll have a kitchen to cook in. Say goodbye to spending all of your travel savings in restaurants, and start stocking up in supermarkets to cook in the hostel kitchen.

🤩 You can stay long term. Although you can stay long term in some hotels and Airbnbs, it’s going to rack up to a pretty hefty price. Long term stays in hostels are normal and a lot of digital nomads do it for a few months at a time. 

🤩 Job opportunities. If you’re looking to top up your bank balance as you travel, hostels are great for making links and finding job opportunities. 

🤩 They’re FUN! From BBQs to swimming pools, organised events to being surrounded by like-minded people, hostels are FUN. And you’ll never be alone (unless you want to be).

Travelling for the first time? You’re in the right place! Check out my backpacking essentials packing list to ensure you have everything ready to go!

TOP TRAVEL BUY: 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!

BUT before you book a hostel, be aware that…

• You won’t have much privacy. Especially in a bigger shared dorm room.
• Your night’s sleep may be disturbed, on numerous occasions (because of a number of things. I’ll let you use your imagination there).
• There’s a possibility that you won’t ‘gel’ with anyone in your room. This is ok! Don’t let it put you off of your hostel journey altogether. Give it a few nights, and if it’s still not working, ask to change rooms.
• If you’re a bit of an introvert (like me), it can get a bit overwhelming at times. Like I said earlier, mix it up. Have a few nights in a hostel, then change to an Airbnb or hotel. Do what feels right for you.

📸 Solo travelling but still want to take photos? I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)

Top 21 tips for staying in hostels

Let’s get down to making sure you feel confident about your stay in a hostel.

All of these tips have been written because of my prior experience in hostels, and everything is from my own experience!

If you’ve had a different experience, I’d love to hear about it.

Need tips for making friends in hostels? I’ve got you covered! Check out my making friends in hostels guide here.

1. Always carry a padlock

Even if you ‘trust’ everyone in your hostel room, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Carry a padlock with you to ensure you can lock up your valuables every time you leave the room.

I use this coded one from Amazon, and I’ve had it for years!

🗺️ My travel must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

2. Pick the type of dorm based on your personality, needs and wants

Ok, let me break this part down for you.

Hostel rooms are either mixed, female or male. Whichever you choose is personal preference. I find female dorms are a bit easier for privacy if you’re staying for a long time.

It’s also down to you to decide how big you want the shared dorm room to be. Hostel shared dorms usually start at 4 people, and can go as big as 20 people in a single room. This can get wild, as you can imagine!

In my opinion, 6-8 beds is best.

This gives you a good opportunity to meet other people, but it’s not big enough to get lost in the crowd of people and not make any proper connections.

But again, this is a personal preference.

🔌 Whilst you won’t want to be glued to your phone whilst travelling the world, I highly recommend carrying a power bank. Losing battery whilst solo travelling and not having a map would not be ideal! Depending on where you are, it may get hot so your battery will drain faster than normal. I use this power bank, and it’s not let me down yet. It easily lasts for a whole week trip!

3. Book in advance during peak times

I like booking hostels as I go, but this is one of my best tips for staying in hostels I can give you for peak times.

Don’t get caught out trying to book your favourite hostel and find it’s fully booked (this has happened to me, and I ended up staying in a hostel where a rat was eating my Oreos).

Book in advance if you can.

You can book all of your hostels from Hostelworld here.

4. Bring an eyemask and ear plugs

Ok, I’ll be honest. I say to bring these, but I don’t actually end up using either.

But I know some friends and travellers who SWEAR by eye masks and wouldn’t stay in a hostel without one.

(Well, I did use an eyemask when someone pulled the blinds up at 5am after I’d been drinking the night before).

Be sure to pack your neck pillow and eye mask!

5. Do your washing up

Hostel kitchen etiquette is a thing.

People will notice if you’re not doing things like your washing up or leaving a mess on the counters.

Do the right thing, clean up after yourself and leave no trace.

Easy! 🙂

6. Label all of your food in the fridge

One of the worst things about a hostel kitchen is there really isn’t a foolproof way to make sure your food doesn’t get stolen.

I’m pretty sure every backpacker has experienced buying food they’re really looking forward to, then finding it’s been stolen (*cry*).

The best piece of advice I can give you is to label your food. Keep it in a plastic bag, and label it. And don’t forget a date!

Some hostels have a labelling policy, and if your food is left without one, they’ll chuck your food away to give someone else room in the fridge.

Oh yeah, strict kitchen rules in hostels are a thing!

7. Leave any unwanted foods in the kitchen and label it ‘communal’

Leaving to catch a flight and have a whole jar of peanut butter left?

Chances are you’re not taking the peanut butter with you on the plane or your next 13-hour bus journey, so leave it for all to use in the kitchen cupboards.

Just label it ‘communal’ so it doesn’t get thrown away by mistake.

🗺️ My travel must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

8. You’ll have a preference between the top and bottom bunks

And you won’t want to change it after a few tries on both.

Both have their pros and cons, but I prefer the bottom.

It’s a good way to get some privacy (you can hang a sheet from the top bed over your bunk) and you have somewhere to sit without climbing up a ladder every time.

🗺️ My travel must-have: Don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road!

9. Say hello to your hostel roomies (they’re probably feeling just as nervous as you!)

What do you have to lose by saying hello and introducing yourself?

Say hi, get to know your roomies, and who knows, you could be off adventuring with them the following day!

Just remember, everyone was a newbie to solo/couple/group travel once. You’re not alone, I promise.

Love group tours? You HAVE to check out the Kiwi Experience bus (it’s actually how Tom and I met!)

🗺️ My travel must-have: Make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every beach trip!

10. Invite the newbie to your group activities

Remember YOU were the newbie just a few days ago…?

If you see someone who’s just checked in, invite them out to lunch or on one of the group activities you’re booked on to. They’ll appreciate it, and you’ll be adding even more people to your travel crew!

🗺️ My travel must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.

11. Use the common areas to meet even more people

Most hostels will have a common area which can be used as an extra area to meet even more people.

From swimming pools to jacuzzis to lounges and TV rooms, it’s a great place to step out of the comfort zone of your dorm and meet some other newbies.

If you’re still struggling to make new friends, chat with your hostel guide (who can usually be found at reception) and they can book you into some activities.

🗺️ My travel 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!

12. Bring flip flops for the shower

Even if your room has a private bathroom, chances are, it’s not going to be ultra-clean.
Bring flip flops. Thank me later.

These flip-flops are perfect! Buy here.

🗺️ My world travel 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!

13. Buy a travel pillow that you can use in your hostel bed

Hostel sheets and pillows aren’t great (surprise). If you invest in a good travel pillow (like the ones you use on the plane), you can double it up and use it in your hostel bed.

Alternatively, grab a few t-shirts and jumpers and fold them under your pillow to create a higher pillow raise.

My favourite travel pillow is this one. You can buy it here!

🌎 Travelling for the first time? You’re in the right place! Check out my essential travel kit for EVERY type of trip, big or small!

14. Book hostels with a free breakfast

This is becoming more and more common and is something I really recommend you look out for when booking your hostel.

Hostels providing breakfast means you can stock up in the morning and save extra pennies on having a small lunch later in the day!

You can book all of your hostels from Hostelworld here.

15. Do.not.set.multiple.alarms

I repeat.

And repeat again.

You are not going to make any friends if your alarm goes off five times every morning.

Or if you leave your alarm running when you’re in the shower (oh my god, the stress of this when I’m trying to sleep).

If your alarm goes off, be sure to turn the sound down straight away.

Consider your fellow travellers!

TOP TRAVEL BUY: 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!

16. Don’t turn the main light on at night (or dark mornings)

Again, be considerate!

I’ve arrived at hostels late at night and used my phone torch to find my bunk. It’s annoying, but if you’re sharing with others, you can’t be turning the light on at 3AM for your own personal benefit.

🚰 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.

17. If you have an early start, prep the night before

There is nothing more annoying than someone rustling through their bag for 30+ minutes at six in the morning.

Don’t be that person!

Prep the night before and be ready to leave. And if you’ve accidentally hit the hostel bar instead of packing, do it in the morning quietly!

You can book all of your hostels from Hostelworld here.

18. If you need to make a phone call, do it away from your dorm room

Out of respect, take your long phone calls out of the dorm room. Head outside or to a shared common room.

Your roomies may want to sleep at any time of day (jet lag, exhaustion etc…) so respect their needs and don’t be speaking super loud in your shared dorm.

19. If you’re spraying anything, do it in the bathroom or outside

Another given tip for staying in hostels: don’t spray heavy smells around other people.

People have allergies. Coughs. Sensitive noses.

Just keep the spraying to a minimum away from others.

20. Don’t sit on someone else’s bed unless you’ve asked

This is an awkward one if you’re on the top bunk.

Wanting to sit down is inevitable, but if you’re looking to make friends, just make sure you ask before you do so.

🗺️ My travel must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

21. Yes, people are going to have you know what. It’s unavoidable.

It’s better to know before you go, right?

In reality, it’s inevitable that people will be sleeping together at night (or during the day) in hostel rooms.

Just make sure you feel comfortable with what’s happening in the space you’re in.

Most of the time, it won’t happen when you’re in the room. And some sneaky backpackers use a sheet to hang over their beds to get a bit of privacy.

If you walk in and it’s happening in an erm, awkward, place, just cough and let them know you’re there.

But realistically, it’s going to happen. Most backpackers are young, solo and single, so it’s a reeeeal thing we gotta deal with when staying in hostels.

It is also common to book a private room for when these ‘things’ happen. Hostel life!

22. Embrace everyone’s differences

The one thing I LOVE about hostels is how you will meet people from all walks of life in them.

From gap year students to posh grammar school travellers, farmers, city workers, tradies, solo travellers, couples, families, you name it; you’re going to come across them in hostels.

Embrace it.

Enjoy it.

And speak to people you wouldn’t normally speak to!

Travel is all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and meeting other people. The people you meet won’t all be like you. And for me, that’s part of the fun!

Tips for staying in hostels: A quick packing list

Tips for staying in hostels and if you’re there for the first time.

It is *essential* you have the following items.

• 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! 🍿

Tips for staying in hostels: FAQS

What should I know before staying in a hostel?

If you’re kind, friendly, and welcoming, you’ll go far in hostels.

Be open to meeting people from all walks of life.

Be accepting of people you may not normally meet!

The majority of the time, the people you meet will be good. But of course, you might meet people you don’t click or gel with. And that’s ok!

Remember to always lock away your valuables (even if you trust your roommates), label your food, be kind and listen to others.

Is staying in a hostel a good idea?

This all depends on the type of person you are and what you are looking for as your travel.

If you are a solo traveller, staying in a hostel is one of the best ways to meet other travellers.

Or if you’re in a couple, you might want to rent a private room in a hostel to still be included in the social events and parties.

Staying in a hostel is cheaper than a hotel and Airbnb, so if you want to stay long term, a hostel may also be a good choice.

Hostels get a bad rep, but they can be comfortable and a great place to stay.

How do you become comfortable in a hostel?

Take a travel pillow with you wherever you go, and make sure you valuables are locked up, even overnight. This will give you peace of mind whilst you’re sleeping.

Make sure you pick a shared dorm size that you are comfortable with, not just the cheapest.

Choose a private room if you are unsure (they should still be cheaper than a hotel).

Hang a spare sheet from the top bunk over the bottom bunk for some extra privacy whilst you sleep.

How do you survive in a hostel?

You’ll survive in a hostel if you have a positive attitude and a want to meet likeminded travellers.

Be kind, don’t steal anyone else’s belongings, share food, be polite and just enjoy it!

You’ll only ‘not survive’ hostels if you’re rude, unsocial, impolite or arrogant. Basic human manners go a long way, especially in your hostel experience!

Are phones allowed in hostels?

Of course! Phones are allowed in hostels. If you find a situation where they’re not, you might want to check where you’ve ended up, because you’re not in the right place 😂.

Are hostels safe?

Yes, and hostels go above and beyond to make sure their hostels are safe.

The whole point of hostels is so solo men and women feel comfortable and can stay in different locations cheaply. The majority of hostels have different measures in place to ensure they are safe.

You cannot book and stay at a hostel without showing your ID and filling in multiple forms. Everything is regulated and checked.

You can also ask to change dorm rooms if you feel uncomfortable or uneasy with someone, but in all of my experiences of hostels, this has only happened once.

Like this post? You might also like…

• Backpacking Essentials & Packing List (+ Downloadable Checklist!)
• Tips for First Time Flyers (+ Solo Travel Advice!)
• Travelling East Coast Australia: A Beginners Guide
• 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)
• 7 UGLY Truths About Shared Hostel Rooms

Tips for staying in hostels: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it.

21 tips for staying in hostels, prepping you to dive right into sharing a room with strangers.

(I promise, it isn’t that scary).

Just think; if you’re uncomfortable, or you don’t like it, you can leave! There’s not a hard and fast rule stating that all backpackers MUST stay in hostels.

It’s your choice and your travel experience. You do it how you want to.

But, I do recommend hostels. They’ve introduced me to friends all over the world, some of which I still keep in contact with today. They’re the best, I promise!

Have you got any tips for staying in hostels? Let me know in the comments!

Remember, my DMs are always open and I’m more than happy to chat through any hostel or backpacking questions with you! You can contact me on Instagram here 🙂

That’s all from me, so happy travelling! 🙂

Jennie x

📍LIKE THIS POST? SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📍

Hey you! 🙋‍♀️ I quit my job in 2021 to become a full-time travel blogger + visit as much of the globe as possible. Come and join me on my chaotic and hilarious travel journeys!

📷 Instagram: @jennie_wanders

🎥 Youtube Channel: Jennie Wanders 📍Pinterest: Jennie Wanders Travel Blog